Teen/student detailers?

Porkanbeans

Porkanbeans

O RLY?
Just curious as to what your business plan is since many of us don't deal with business registration, taxes, etc. and, consequently, can't grow or market our detailing "businesses" to the degree of the Anthony Oroscos and Scotts out there. What kind of volume do you get, and what is your most popular sale? What do you do to make yourself look professional while staying within the "boundaries" we are kept to as part-time detailers working out of our daily drivers?



Also, I need to start up detailing again for the summer, and I'm trying to come up with something professional to market myself. What are some ideas you have tried and what has worked well for you? Word of mouth hasn't helped me as much I thought it would.
 
while I am still in college, I can relate....



I just try to do as much word of mouth advertising and business card handouts as possible...remember, everyone who has a car is a potential customer. I recently underbooked one car to gain some more hopefully....well, it paid off because the yukon 4dr i did for 160 with the works (leather, carpets, exterior polish and sealant, etc) got me two more cars for the same price (will take about 2 hours less each) so sometimes its good to under book, other times not! Maybe try that if you are looking to get some more business while in school?



also, try your school newspaper for some people who want their cars cleaned up. When dealing with teens though, you may be doing work for less compared to adults who really have money to spend. If that doesnt bother you, then go for it. I do my friends truck for next to nothing (40 bucks for a wash and wax and front seat cleaning) but he helps me get other people because "his car is so shiny all the time!"



do a superb job on the cars you get and it will turn into more cars....I just started advertising a little, and next week I have 4 cars lined up for full details....no where near scottwax, or the other pro detailers who have been in business for some time, but in due time, I hope to get up there!
 
I have a succesful business, I am well known and people from Houston, Austin and Dallas want me to come and detail their cars....BUT....I am also a failure at business because I can't grow to meet those expectations. Why? Well in order to properly grow one must be able to slip from "worker" mode to "manage" mode. This I can't do as I am such a control freak. I am unable to train others to do what I do, in terms of working for me, because I always feel that they will not deliver the results I want. Some may see this as me being a "perfectionist" but I see it as "crippling".



If you viewed my latest post in the "Click and Brag" section, on the 2 black Porsches, you may be astonished to know that I did more apologizing for stuff that I could not make perfect than accepting my clients thanks for, what she called a "beautiful job".



So, my advice to ALL people seeking to get into this business is....LEARN TO MANAGE OTHER PEOPLE! I have a difficult time at it but I am learning....slowly. Sure I can detail the hell out of your car and make $500 BUT think of the potential if you could teach and manage 4 other people to do the same?



Now for a college or summer gig my advice would be to network and use guerilla marketing tactics. Get to know car salesman, mechanics, tint guys, bodyshop people, etc. Ask them if you can put up a business card holder in their shop. Tell the salesman that you will give his or her new buyer a free wash. You can then upsell a wax to them or an interior detail once the new buyer calls you.



Pharmaceutical reps are GREAT people to get to know as they always compete with other reps to get the business of doctors. They like to schmooze.....so give these reps a nice price for say, a wash, vacuum, windows, wheels and tires and they will then hand the doctors your card and say....."Give this guy a call, a free car wash is on me" It makes them look good and it gives you opportunity to build a client base.



Hope that helps,

Anthony
 
There are a couple of other threads on marketing for us young, part time detailers on the first page. I'm in the same situation as you (as far as being a student goes) and listed some things that worked for me.



I actually have space at a local used car dealership so I don't work out of my car usually, so that adds to having a "professional image." I also have pretty nice business cards and a well done website which I feel helps a lot. As far as volume goes, there are weeks when I have one detail and others when I have 8 or 9. My most popular package BY FAR is a full detail.
 
I just started detailing for others this summer, and already I have bookings for the next two weeks, while its not one car everyday for the next two weeks...it makes me feel good to know I have details to look forward to.



To get my name out, just yesterday I donated a free exterior detail to a Wings of Mercy silent auction. I know something like this would benefit me because the people attending pay for $80 for their seat at this event alone. Also, with a local auto mechanic I have cards sitting in his waiting room, yesterday I did my boss' truck - which now led to 4 more details because of people who seen his truck last night and wanted theirs done.



The key is, when you are young...to get people to trust you with their car you need to do the absolute best work you can do. Dont look at a job that you get and say "oh Im only getting paid $150 so I dont have to make it perfect" Look at that job as an opportunity to build your credibility as a detailer and shock the customer with your results. Every detail you put out is a reflection of your work/business. I was struggling for the first couple weeks of summer, now all the sudden since I got in with the right people in the community I am getting more and more details. Dont be afraid to give away a free or half off detail to someone you know in your area that will be a big mouth and spread the word of your business...he may think he's getting a great deal with the free/discounted detail - but the word of mouth advertising and refferals he will do for you is unmatched what you would pay in advertising in a local newspaper where people know nothing personal about your work.



To make myself look professional if being mobile, I try to have my car looking it's best - and when people come to me, we just recently re-did our garage to give it a more "shop-type" look. You can see the pictures in the Garage Forum



Also, look into getting some professional looking business cards. I got mine off from professorprint.com and I always get compliments on how sharp or professional they look. Got mine out the door for $165 for 2,000 cards
 
Joshua312 said:
Dont look at a job that you get and say "oh Im only getting paid $150 so I dont have to make it perfect" Look at that job as an opportunity to build your credibility as a detailer and shock the customer with your results. Every detail you put out is a reflection of your work/business.
Click to expand...



Absolutely right. Strive for perfection. Detail the cars like they are your own (very important). People are quick to say they had their car professionaly detailed if/when someone asks.
 
I'm 18, and I've been detailing cars for a while. I've handed out flyers in my neighborhood, and I often get calls from those, but a live in a pretty high-end neighborhoods (a "normal" car is a corvette, or a mercedes) so needless to say, the people have money. I always do THE BEST JOB I can possibly do in the given amount of time. What i've also seen work is that, even when your payed for just a wash ($30 for me) I'll throw on a light coat of your normal wax, just to make it look and feel a little better, and they LOVE that. It takes all of 10 minutes more. It's always doing your best the first time around that will keep them coming back for more.
 
Thanks for all the help guys. I'm going to try and get some business cards/postcards out there. Since a lot of my customers will buy a wash and wax at first, then call for just washes for a while, I was thinking of offering wash and maintainence packages for an entire year, pay up front. It'll keep me at their homes year-round and perhaps it'll get me more full details every now and again. Maybe offer a strictly wash package and the customer can get a wax or full detail for that much extra when I show up, and a weekly wash and wax every 6 weeks package, etc. I think this will sell in my market, which is suburbia/SUV soccer mom land. There are a few upper-class neighborhoods with disposable income thrown in there too. Thoughts?



Thanks again for all the advice.
 
I dont know if I like the package deal...while you may be saving people money in the end, you are also cutting way into your cost compared to what you would be making...take a package of 200 bucks for two waxes and 6 washes....wash = 25 bucks, wax = 60....thats270 = 70 less you would have made = one wax for free....I dont like the idea, but some like it and its worth it for them....most people I deal with though, dont want to spend more than 15 (most) on a wash...and I am not about to load up and travel for anything less than 50 bucks...
 
Take Anthonys advice and run with it.



I am in the process of learning to RUN MY BUSINESS and not to BE THE BUSINESS.



I detail for a client with a very large painting business. I recently found out he has very little experiance painting but he has a large profitable business! That is the way to do it!
 
but there is something to be said about detailing a car yourself....gives me something to do and its fun for the most part...



what I am planning (while still a student for one more year) is to over the next two-three years build this detailing business of mine to a point where I need to hire out other employees. I will then work with them, train them to do things properly, and then sit back on the beach everyday and enjoy myself while others make me money! Thats is the good life.....



for the time being, I will develop my customer based and grow the business with the occasional help from friends until the time comes to where I cant get in 15-20 details a week on my own....



and even at that point, I think that I will still want to help out on the hire priced cars, and also take the wash and wax jobs myself since its not really that hard to do! I would leave the tough/tiring work to someone else! that way, I wouldnt have to pay someone 30 bucks for a wash and wax when I can do it myself and make 70
 
toyotaguy said:
what I am planning (while still a student for one more year) is to over the next two-three years build this detailing business of mine to a point where I need to hire out other employees. I will then work with them, train them to do things properly, and then sit back on the beach everyday and enjoy myself while others make me money! Thats is the good life.....
Click to expand...



I want to do the same exact thing you are doing. Only I dont think the "sitting on the beach making money off others" part is going to work out too hot, as your business grows I think you will find somewhere you need to be.
 
most of the time I will be at the beach....there will be those days where I have to be somewhere for sure, and I know this, and I was half way joking....
 
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