Should i go for it?

Status
Not open for further replies.
W

wizardofahs

New member
i've been thinking about starting to do some real detailing to make some much needed extra cash... just it seems like lots of obsicles to get over... IE insurance, advertising, customers, mobil vs doing it at my house... all sorts of stuff. I really could use the money and love doing it. All the people i've detailed for so far have been more than overly satisfied. I like doing it, have the time to... just need to overcome all that other stuff so i can do it. The biggest issues are insurance and finding a place... i think mobil might be easier for me. But i really don't want to invest in all the $400 tools. I really think those are the only two major issues... I can advertise at my current workplace (auto parts store... my boss actually sugested i do this) and customers are always satisfied... just have to find a place where i can detail, and cover my *** incase something happens.
 
For insurance, you can check with your home owners or car insurance agent about a business rider on your policy.



As for advertising, I made up flyer and left them at enclosed ATM locations on weekends, put them on cars at DFW airport (until I was told I couldn't), and on houses in high end neighborhoods. I also have a sign on the back of my car:



1shinelg.jpg




I have one person who saw it more than 8 years ago, and I still do his cars, his partner's cars and their CFO's cars. All together, just the 3 of them amount to about $10,000 to $12,000 a year and that doesn't include customers I have picked up when they see me do their high end cars.
 
IF you don't want to get too big then you don't have to do it legally... Just go around your neighbhorhood door to door and explain what you do and ask if you can detail their car. There is a decent amount of money to make just by doing houses around you. By the time you do that, then you should have enough money to get bigger if you wish. i.e. legally with business licesnses, insurance, etc.



If you are afraid of damaging someone's car, then only do the stuff you are really good at and don't offer anything other than a light polish and wax if you are afraid of using heavy compounds on people's cars.
 
JUST GO FOR IT!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY

NYD:D
 
Hey Scott how can you say that you do cars for three people and you take in $10,000 to $12, ooo a year just for these 3 people. Its impossible unless you do 4 cars for each person and you charge $1000.00 per car
 
auto care usa said:
Hey Scott how can you say that you do cars for three people and you take in $10,000 to $12, ooo a year just for these 3 people. Its impossible unless you do 4 cars for each person and you charge $1000.00 per car
Click to expand...



These people probably have atleast two cars each and I'm sure he is doing more than just one friggin' complete detail for them. I'm pretty sure he is probably going to their house (or office) once a week to provide a basic wash package. I could probably prove his math a lot easier than we could prove yours. I mean every detail we get isn't a complete $150 package that includes some rotary action. We have to do the basic wash package too.
 
Here, I will do some hypothetic math:



2 cars per client

3 clients

4 full details a year at $150 a car



That's $3600 a year. Weekly wash at $25 a pop, times 6 cars, times 52 weeks => $7800



Checks out to me. That's $11,400 a year just from those clients.
 
Hey big guy. See let me explain to you the difference between a backyard detailer and a professional. A professional detailer will have the best products, offer the best service and do the best job possible. A professional detailer doesn't wash cars for a living @ $20.00 to $25.00 per car. The professional detailer, if he is any good will make at least 5 or 6 times the money that the car washer is making per hour. I would rather take that same time that it would take to wash a vehicle, and market my business. Marketing is everything. You can be the best detailer in the world, but if people don't no, your screwed. I say let the car washers wash cars and leave the detailing to the professionals. Do you want to make $25.00 per hour, or $150.00 the choice is yours. As a professional you can pick and choose your work. This is one of the biggest reasons that I choose not to do dealer work. Not enough money and to much B.S. The backyard detailer takes what the professional turns down and that includes dealer work. When you are good you name the price, you give them the location and they come knocking at your door.So much for washing cars!!!!!!!!!!!
 
auto care usa said:
. A professional detailer doesn't wash cars for a living @ $20.00 to $25.00 per car. The professional detailer, if he is any good will make at least 5 or 6 times the money that the car washer is making per hour.
Click to expand...



This is how I need to give my prices to people according to your?



wash is $150



clay is 240



Wax and polish is $300.



Interior is $240



Ok your total is... $930!!!!!



Come on buddy. How many people go for the $930 detail job? Give me a break.



Some people on here actually like keeping customers, and not bragging, and saying alot of stuff to make them feel better.



Go take your "best" supplies and 70,000 vehicles in 30 years and go somewhere else. ok
Originally posted by auto care usa

big guy
Click to expand...
:sosad
 
auto care usa said:
Hey big guy. See let me explain to you the difference between a backyard detailer and a professional. A professional detailer will have the best products, offer the best service and do the best job possible. A professional detailer doesn't wash cars for a living @ $20.00 to $25.00 per car. The professional detailer, if he is any good will make at least 5 or 6 times the money that the car washer is making per hour. I would rather take that same time that it would take to wash a vehicle, and market my business. Marketing is everything. You can be the best detailer in the world, but if people don't no, your screwed. I say let the car washers wash cars and leave the detailing to the professionals. Do you want to make $25.00 per hour, or $150.00 the choice is yours. As a professional you can pick and choose your work. This is one of the biggest reasons that I choose not to do dealer work. Not enough money and to much B.S. The backyard detailer takes what the professional turns down and that includes dealer work. When you are good you name the price, you give them the location and they come knocking at your door.So much for washing cars!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...



wait I have a choice between making $25 an hour or $150 an hour... So you make $150 an hour? In another thread you stated that you that atleast 4 hours to detail so you charge $450 for a detail? I bet the customers are just rolling in for the $500 detail.



You know... Math is great at proving stuff. If it doesn't add up, then it probably isn't true. Maybe you should try actually doing math. Windows does come with a built in calculator for all your adding needs.
 
So much for washing cars!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...



So your saying that you don't wash the vehicles before you detail them???? You just detail them as is, or tell the customer not to show up unless they wash the vehicle themselves?
 
auto care usa said:
As a professional you can pick and choose your work. This is one of the biggest reasons that I choose not to do dealer work. Not enough money and to much B.S.
Click to expand...



I have a pretty good memory so you can't fool me this time, but you said you worked for the largest caddilac dealer in western NY. So much for picking and choosing your work! :D :p
 
auto care usa said:
You can be the best detailer in the world, but if people don't no, your screwed.
Click to expand...



Time for vocab class children.



No - Not so. Opposed to "yes". Used in refusal or denial.



Know - To preceive directly with sense or mind.



You just got burned by a highschool kid (with more intrity might I add:D ) twice in the same day.





Pretty sadddd.........
 
Just checkin' in...got a few seconds from normal job...



Um, isn't this the same guy who claimed that "HE" has detailed over 70,000 cars in 30+ years, which, by our very conservative calculations worked out to something like...



5.55 cars per day, every day of the year (including saturday's and sundays, no vacations, no sick days, etc FOR 30 YEARS)





And then, everyone had to apologize to him because he was "just trying to help," and now he's back "telling us like it is."



:rolleyes: :nixweiss





Sorry!
 
I disagree Auto Care USA. I Think some of the most popular detailers don't use the best products. They can't afford them. They use the best Economical products. I think a lot of the 'back yard' detailers as you put it here are much better than the 'professionals.' The back yard guys don't do it for income first... they do it because they love detailing cars. In my book doing it for a love of detailing gives better results than a love of money. As for washing cars... i think for most the people here it's not just about money (as it seems to be for you) It's about keeping the cars and customers happy. If one of my customer asked me to wash their car i would be more than happy. I'd even have them watch and help so they can learn the proper procedure and teqnique. I wouldn't say "take it up the street to those guys who aren't as good as me". I thought you were all about customer service...
 
auto care usa said:
Hey Scott how can you say that you do cars for three people and you take in $10,000 to $12, ooo a year just for these 3 people. Its impossible unless you do 4 cars for each person and you charge $1000.00 per car
Click to expand...



They get their cars washed every single week, waxed every 2 to 4 weeks and detailed about 3 times a year.



How in the world did you come to the conclusion I was only doing a single detail a year on each of their cars? :nixweiss
 
Dr. Jones said:
I disagree Auto Care USA. I think a lot of the 'back yard' detailers as you put it here are much better than the 'professionals.' The back yard guys don't do it for income first... they do it because they love detailing cars. In my book doing it for a love of detailing gives better results than a love of money. As for washing cars... i think for most the people here it's not just about money (as it seems to be for you) It's about keeping the cars and customers happy. If one of my customer asked me to wash their car i would be more than happy. I'd even have them watch and help so they can learn the proper procedure and teqnique. I wouldn't say "take it up the street to those guys who aren't as good as me". I thought you were all about customer service...
Click to expand...



I couldn't agree more. I use Meguiars Body Shop Pro surface prep products and either #26 High Tech Yellow or Pinnacle Souveran.



As far as washing cars goes--it is steady income even when the weather is bad. When someone has 4-5 cars, even on a rainy day they want a couple of them cleaned so when the weather gets nice, they have a nice clean car to drive. Besides, when I wash them every week, I know a hacker isn't screwing up all the hard work I put into them.



My regular customers are very good to me. One gave me a $150 tip for Christmas and 2 others gave me $100 tips. Several tip me at least $5 per wash, every single week. I charge a minimum of $25 for washes and up to $35 for Suburbans and Excursions.



Today for example, I had 3 washes and a wax job at the aforementioned customer's office. Took me 4 1/2 hours and I earned $180. That's $40 an hour and it is nearly triple what I was making as a restaurant manager.





Oh, and auto care-I don't touch dealer cars. I don't have to. Not when I regularly detail Bentleys, Diablos, S-class Mercedes, 5 and 7 series BMWs (including a Z8 and an M1), Porsche, Ferrari, Lexus, etc.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top