New to starting detailing

[followalong]

Hello I am new to these forums and today I was going to purchase a lot of stuff from autogeek. My mother convinced me i need to start out small, such as buying from Walmart or local automotive stores. I am thinking of starting out small on the exterior only doing hand wash, wax, and tire shine. For the interior I am thinking of doing vacuuming, and using a quick detailed. Below I will list the products I have found and please give me feed back. Is charging $40 for a hand wash, wax, and tire shine unreasonable? Is charging $30 for vacuuming and using a quick detailer on all surfaces and maybe clean spots off the carpet?



Interior charge $30 using products:

Vacuuming

Folex to remove stains

Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer

Leather conditioning with Lexol Leather Conditioner or Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Cleaner/Conditioner





Exterior charge $40 using:

Hand wash with "Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner"

Hand waxing with "Meguiar's Nxt Generation Tech Wax 2.0"

Tire shine with Meguiar's Hot Shine Tire Foam



Are these products good to start out with? I plan on detailing cars with simple products until I get a customer base then upgrade and buy products in bulk. Are the prices too low or too high?

 

[dfoxengr]

If you're using a good wash technique (2 buckets with grit guard) and good microfibers on the exterior, then your price is probably right on for a new detailer. As you progress and add steps and products, your prices should go up. I'd skip the interior leather "treatments" as they don't condition leather hides since the leathers you'll come up against are likely coated ones. I'd provide leather cleaning as an add-on though (maybe $20-30 depending on number of seats) and use a good product like Griot's interior cleaner. It's expensive but only use it on leather and it'll last a long time. Use the interior quick detailer for all other surfaces. Don't spray any product directly on leathers though as it can discolor them. Spray on towel then wipe.



Maybe look into the Garry Dean wash method with ONR (optimum no rinse) for a very fast wash with no hose required. And really quite cheap. Just need a 5 gallon bucket, 10 or so quality MF towels and the ONR.



Do some cars, increase prices by a little and see people's reactions to your prices, keep increasing to where you're making $40ish/hr and keep an eye on your target market. If they won't pay that, then you need to offer lower prices but do less for them. I think most pros on here probably make 60ish/hr before taxes.



Good luck.

 

[followalong]

If you're using a good wash technique (2 buckets with grit guard) and good microfibers on the exterior, then your price is probably right on for a new detailer. As you progress and add steps and products, your prices should go up. I'd skip the interior leather "treatments" as they don't condition leather hides since the leathers you'll come up against are likely coated ones. I'd provide leather cleaning as an add-on though (maybe $20-30 depending on number of seats) and use a good product like Griot's interior cleaner. It's expensive but only use it on leather and it'll last a long time. Use the interior quick detailer for all other surfaces. Don't spray any product directly on leathers though as it can discolor them. Spray on towel then wipe.



Maybe look into the Garry Dean wash method with ONR (optimum no rinse) for a very fast wash with no hose required. And really quite cheap. Just need a 5 gallon bucket, 10 or so quality MF towels and the ONR.



Do some cars, increase prices by a little and see people's reactions to your prices, keep increasing to where you're making $40ish/hr and keep an eye on your target market. If they won't pay that, then you need to offer lower prices but do less for them. I think most pros on here probably make 60ish/hr before taxes.



Good luck.

Ok thank you very much for your response! Yes i was worried about the leather conditioner. Yes I have looked into the ONR but I was worried, that maybe they have big mud build up, then what would I do? I do not have a power washer. The ONR would be good if I decided to go to peoples houses instead of them come to mine. I will look more into it though. Also I forgot to ask, what is your opinion on the wax and Tire shine product I have chosen?

 

[Wasatch]

NXT is a pretty good over the counter wax, easy to apply and wipe off, not much longevity though. If you really want to do a proper job get a DA Polisher and at least apply a polish before your LSP.

 

[Dan]

Your mom is a smart lady. Starting out small is really best. Its easy for those of us that have a passion for detailing to get outta control and buy lots of stuff you don't need.



Most of your product choices are great. I love NXT, looks really great on such a variety of cars, it cleans the paint a bit and conceals a bit. I'd skip on a dedicated carpet product for now and just use an APC. You don't need many products, in fact, most of us could get by very well with under 10. This might be an interesting read for you:



http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/137104-six-products.html

 

[followalong]

Your mom is a smart lady. Starting out small is really best. Its easy for those of us that have a passion for detailing to get outta control and buy lots of stuff you don't need.



Most of your product choices are great. I love NXT, looks really great on such a variety of cars, it cleans the paint a bit and conceals a bit. I'd skip on a dedicated carpet product for now and just use an APC. You don't need many products, in fact, most of us could get by very well with under 10. This might be an interesting read for you:



http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/137104-six-products.html

That artcile is very interesting thank you for posting it. So I skip the Folex and what kind of APC should I use? Will APC work on Carpet? How many car would 18fl oz if NXT do you think? Also, a question about your article you posted. What do you do when you have a job that has alot of dirt build up, do you still use ONR?

 

[Dan]

That artcile is very interesting thank you for posting it. So I skip the Folex and what kind of APC should I use? Will APC work on Carpet? How many car would 18fl oz if NXT do you think? Also, a question about your article you posted. What do you do when you have a job that has alot of dirt build up, do you still use ONR?

Megs APC+ works on anything from dirty engines, wheels and tires to leather (at different dilutions). Its great for carpets as well. Optimum Power Clean is another favorite, but it is considerably more expensive.



18oz of NXT should do 18-20 cars if you apply it thin (as you should).



The rule of thumb is, if you can pick up the dirt off the surface of the car (think pinch), you need to rinse first, then use ONR.

 

[followalong]

Megs APC+ works on anything from dirty engines, wheels and tires to leather (at different dilutions). Its great for carpets as well. Optimum Power Clean is another favorite, but it is considerably more expensive.



18oz of NXT should do 18-20 cars if you apply it thin (as you should).



The rule of thumb is, if you can pick up the dirt off the surface of the car (think pinch), you need to rinse first, then use ONR.

Ok, a couple more questions. I am planning on purchasing my products locally and Megs APC is not avaliable. Would you recommend 303 Products - Aerospace Protectant? Also should I use NXT or Meguiar's® Mirror Glaze® - Professional Hi-Tech Yellow Wax Liquid?

 

[Accumulator]

.. I am planning on purchasing my products locally and Megs APC is not avaliable...

Check your local autobody/paint supply store. Lots of "pro products" are usually available at such places, but don't let them talk you into buying something that they just want to sell

Would you recommend 303 Products - Aerospace Protectant?

It's a good product for what it is but I don't think you need it. I'd use something else for tires and I can't think of anything I'd use the 303 on (at least not for what you're gonna be doing).

Also should I use NXT or Meguiar's® Mirror Glaze® - Professional Hi-Tech Yellow Wax Liquid?

For your situation I'd think the NXT is the better choice (more cleaning & concealing).

 

[brownbob06]

where did you find 303 aerospace protectant locally? I can't seem to find it OTC... I like using 303 on exterior trim and interior. IIRC NXT will stain trim so you will want to have something like 303 to cover trim pieces on vehicles.

 

[tom p.]

Your mom is a smart lady. Starting out small is really best. Its easy for those of us that have a passion for detailing to get outta control and buy lots of stuff you don't need.

+1.



Follow, I think I'd focus more on some sort of (business) plan so you can attract customers and build a base. You will find that far more challenging than selecting a handful of products. It's a tough environment out there...possibly tougher than you might imagine. The marketing part of the biz requires some level of planning/execution. The other stuff is e-z.

 

[followalong]

Check your local autobody/paint supply store. Lots of "pro products" are usually available at such places, but don't let them talk you into buying something that they just want to sell









It's a good product for what it is but I don't think you need it. I'd use something else for tires and I can't think of anything I'd use the 303 on (at least not for what you're gonna be doing).







For your situation I'd think the NXT is the better choice (more cleaning & concealing).

Ok i will make some calls today! O'reillys is where im getting most my stuff, I dont think they have it there though.

Ok should I just use the Megs Quik Interior detailer instead?

Good to know, i will be buying that one then thank you so much for your help!

 

[followalong]

where did you find 303 aerospace protectant locally? I can't seem to find it OTC... I like using 303 on exterior trim and interior. IIRC NXT will stain trim so you will want to have something like 303 to cover trim pieces on vehicles.

I have seen it at O'Reilly's locally.

 

[brownbob06]

I think we're missing a couple key pieces of information here as to whether time needs to be spent marketing and stuff.



Are you just doing this on the weekends as an extra source of income? Are you still in high school and just looking to this as a summer job? Or are you looking to make this your main source of income?



I don't mean to be contrary to others, but if this is just a weekend thing marketing doesn't necessarily need to be done. I started last year just doing work for family on the weekends and it didn't take long through word of mouth alone before I was almost too busy to keep just doing it on weekends. I've put an ad on craigslist and a couple fliers up but I never got any work from them, it's always been word of mouth and referrals. The best thing you can do is do a great job on every vehicle you do, that's the most effective marketing you'll ever encounter.



But like I said, I think we need more information before we can make recommendations like that lol.

 

[followalong]

+1.



Follow, I think I'd focus more on some sort of (business) plan so you can attract customers and build a base. You will find that far more challenging than selecting a handful of products. It's a tough environment out there...possibly tougher than you might imagine. The marketing part of the biz requires some level of planning/execution. The other stuff is e-z.

Ok thank you! I have places I am going to advertise at, that I have already checked. Also i am just starting out with the basics such as hand wash, wax, tire shine, and interior stuff like vacuuming, and using interior detail products.

 

[brownbob06]

hmmmm... I've never seen it at my O'reilly's... it's 2 doors down from my work so I'll walk down there and check in a couple minutes... I know they keep some stuff in back (like 3m finesse it and thigns like that,) so maybe it's in the back if I ask for it.



Thanks man.

 

[followalong]

I think we're missing a couple key pieces of information here as to whether time needs to be spent marketing and stuff.



Are you just doing this on the weekends as an extra source of income? Are you still in high school and just looking to this as a summer job? Or are you looking to make this your main source of income?



I don't mean to be contrary to others, but if this is just a weekend thing marketing doesn't necessarily need to be done. I started last year just doing work for family on the weekends and it didn't take long through word of mouth alone before I was almost too busy to keep just doing it on weekends. I've put an ad on craigslist and a couple fliers up but I never got any work from them, it's always been word of mouth and referrals. The best thing you can do is do a great job on every vehicle you do, that's the most effective marketing you'll ever encounter.



But like I said, I think we need more information before we can make recommendations like that lol.

Oh I am so sorry I missed putting that information in! I am still in high school but I home school, so I am allowed to work full time and do school at night. Which is ideally what I would like to do. I am going to start out this summer doing it, and see how it takes off from there, if business is going well I will do it full time. I do have a few people that I have detailed cars for before that are wanting me to do it again. Also where I live my father knows a lot of the owners of the parts and repair stores and I have contacted them, and they said they would refer people to me and hand out business cards, because those places don't do detailing.

 

[followalong]

hmmmm... I've never seen it at my O'reilly's... it's 2 doors down from my work so I'll walk down there and check in a couple minutes... I know they keep some stuff in back (like 3m finesse it and thigns like that,) so maybe it's in the back if I ask for it.



Thanks man.

You are welcome!

 

[brownbob06]

Oh I am so sorry I missed putting that information in! I am still in high school but I home school, so I am allowed to work full time and do school at night. Which is ideally what I would like to do. I am going to start out this summer doing it, and see how it takes off from there, if business is going well I will do it full time. I do have a few people that I have detailed cars for before that are wanting me to do it again. Also where I live my father knows a lot of the owners of the parts and repair stores and I have contacted them, and they said they would refer people to me and hand out business cards, because those places don't do detailing.

Gotcha, a business plan may be something to work on. I wouldn't not do it just because you don't have one though (if that makes sense.) Maybe you can get your mom to work it into your home school though as an economics project or something lol. I wasn't home schooled so I'm not sure how that all works though.



I stopped at my O'reilly's, they have to order it but they can have it in next day. It's kind of expensive through them though, 16.99 for a 16 oz. I believe. 32 oz. can be had for 19.99 on detailersdomain.com though.



Starting off small is a good idea, but that doesn't mean you have to buy OTC. You can usually find better products and/or better prices online. You'll still be starting out small but with better products. The only thing is that the temptation to order more than you need is much greater online I believe. In store they have the essentials so there isn't much temptation. But online you see everything under the sun and the "maybe I'll try this for just a couple bucks more on my order since I'm already paying shipping" sets in lol.

 

[tom p.]

Ok thank you! I have places I am going to advertise at, that I have already checked. Also i am just starting out with the basics such as hand wash, wax, tire shine, and interior stuff like vacuuming, and using interior detail products.

Good, cuz it's the critical bit. And don't overlook free sources like Craiglist, etc.



(I have found that Pepboi has a pretty decent selection of products if you have access to one of their stores. I'd also identify where your local body shop supply store is and get a line card from them. That resource can be important to you as you build up and need more products.)