Selling the business...

Scottwax said:
Having price shoppers as customers isn't a good thing unless you only care about doing cheapie details.
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I care about making money, profit specifically, which I can do on any job I take on. I think having price shoppers as customers is great because in the end they are still paying customers. I don't care if all they want me to do is clean a seat, a carpet, the windows or just wash & wax the outside for them. It is my belief that if you provide great service on those small jobs it will bring them back for the larger ones or perhaps bring in referral business. I see this all the time with my hand washing, it is a feeder for detail work.



IME most price shoppers are the ones that have never had a car detailed before. It's natural for someone with no experience in buying something to want to know what they'll get and what it'll cost. Sure, they may not be the "ideal" car crazy customer but sometimes they can turn into one. I have many customers that started out as, "How much does it cost?" and subsequently turn into repeat customers.



I guess it comes down to your business model and how busy you want to be. A large part of our difference of opinion stems from the way our businesses are set-up. Being fixed it is much easier for me to take on the small cheap jobs because I don't have to worry about the costs of traveling to them or the time involved.
 
Michael.



That is solid thinking. But look at it from a sole proprietor perspective, It is us and only us doing the work. Right now I am booked into december, with the last 2 days of november claimed. Along with the first 3 days in december. I have simply no room, to put a small seat clean, a wash and wax. These people i have scheduled are repeat business, It would be business suicide for me to bump one of them for a new client.



as an owner op, I have to look at who, and what type of client i want to cultivate. The first time I see a client there is a lot of training of the client as to what i do, answering questions, talking via phone or email That is work too, a cost not many associate with their business. Every time after I see that client i do not have to repeat that initial cost, Netting me a higher profit. Making my overall work flow faster, smoother, and easier.



I focus on taking care of the clients I have, They take care of me, New clients come by referral only. That is some what of a risky choice for most, but given the people I target, and that clientel, it has succeeded greatly.
 
It all depends on what business model one operates within. As a mobile single operator, it doesn't makes sense to take on small piece work jobs unless you are slow and/or go after that type of work. From a fixed location perspective, I'm sure that they would/should take on that job in a heartbeat. Keep in mind, all those small jobs add up. I use to do tons (100's yearly) of $40 Body Shop clean ups. They were easy and made great "fill in's" for in-between jobs.
 
MichaelM said:
I care about making money, profit specifically, which I can do on any job I take on. I think having price shoppers as customers is great because in the end they are still paying customers. I don't care if all they want me to do is clean a seat, a carpet, the windows or just wash & wax the outside for them. It is my belief that if you provide great service on those small jobs it will bring them back for the larger ones or perhaps bring in referral business. I see this all the time with my hand washing, it is a feeder for detail work.
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I have found it very unprofitable to drive around and do $25 piece-meal details. 99% of price shoppers are only loyal to price. Once they find someone cheaper, they move on.



If you are just starting out, sometimes you have no choice but once you get established, it isn't worth turning away high end jobs to take care of the cheapie ones.
 
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