Things have changed here.....

Let me just clarify that this is a wash.....no two bucket method. I still use good practices like top first bottom last and all debris is removed since I'm pressure washing and degreasing the lower panels first. I believe it's still safer than most non-Autpian home washes and tunnel washes.



A quick status update:



This deal is catching on exponentially.

I did 10 this morning from 8-11 and had to stop since I've planned a family trip this weekend. 8 of these were told about special from another customer. I am booked with 10 per day for the next week. Some are wanting it every week and some bi-weekly. This where I'm loving this plan.....they are staying clean and making my job easier for the 20.00 dollars. I'm even getting five dollar tips thrown in.



I've been told by a few that I should be charging 25-30.00. I will not though. Twenty dollar bills are easy to hand out. If anyone is thinking about this, please do it. You will work hard but you can also train someone to take it over for you as you build. Good luck.
 
Justin Murphy said:
Let me just clarify that this is a wash.....no two bucket method. I still use good practices like top first bottom last and all debris is removed since I'm pressure washing and degreasing the lower panels first. I believe it's still safer than most non-Autpian home washes and tunnel washes.



A quick status update:



This deal is catching on exponentially.

I did 10 this morning from 8-11 and had to stop since I've planned a family trip this weekend. 8 of these were told about special from another customer. I am booked with 10 per day for the next week. Some are wanting it every week and some bi-weekly. This where I'm loving this plan.....they are staying clean and making my job easier for the 20.00 dollars. I'm even getting five dollar tips thrown in.



I've been told by a few that I should be charging 25-30.00. I will not though. Twenty dollar bills are easy to hand out. If anyone is thinking about this, please do it. You will work hard but you can also train someone to take it over for you as you build. Good luck.
Click to expand...



What are you averaging time wise per wash? Total man hours that is.
 
I did a bad Expedition this morning by myself in 22 minutes. That's from show up to leaving....not just washing.



Here's my process....



Spray wheels with Wheel Brightener 4:1 mixed in a 2 gallon beam sprayer.

Then...

Spray tires, wells, lower panels, bumpers, mirrors, and windshield with degreaser mixed in a 2 gallon beam sprayer.



Pressure washer from roof to bottom removing all products applied.



Hand wash vehicle rinsing mitt out after each panel....I use a Grit Guard as well.



Pressure wash all soap off.



Spray with spray wax.



Dry and shine tires.



When you get this down and get it out of your head that it's not YOUR car and they are getting what THEY want, you can do it in 20 minutes.
 
Justin Murphy said:
I did a bad Expedition this morning by myself in 22 minutes. That's from show up to leaving....not just washing.



Here's my process....



Spray wheels with Wheel Brightener 4:1 mixed in a 2 gallon beam sprayer.

Then...

Spray tires, wells, lower panels, bumpers, mirrors, and windshield with degreaser mixed in a 2 gallon beam sprayer.



Pressure washer from roof to bottom removing all products applied.



Hand wash vehicle rinsing mitt out after each panel....I use a Grit Guard as well.



Pressure wash all soap off.



Spray with spray wax.



Dry and shine tires.



When you get this down and get it out of your head that it's not YOUR car and they are getting what THEY want, you can do it in 20 minutes.
Click to expand...



Sounds like a very good wash as well. I'd let you do that to my car... maybe. haha



Great work man, expect some PMs or emails or whatever from me as I might need a little advice. :goodjob



Edit: What do you do for water recollection? Is that necessary in your area?
 
lecchilo said:
Sounds like a very good wash as well. I'd let you do that to my car... maybe. haha



Great work man, expect some PMs or emails or whatever from me as I might need a little advice. :goodjob



Edit: What do you do for water recollection? Is that necessary in your area?
Click to expand...



I knew this was going to come up. It is not necessary here. I would comply as soon as I had to though as I would be shut down.



PM me any time or even call me. I'm very open to suggestions to try out as well. I'll be the guinea pig for anyone's idea!
 
I offered a service similar to this in my Minneapolis shop and had a great client base of regular weekly washes. I would also get great tips and many jobs turned into full details. My entire Friday was usually filled up with nothing but washes for my regulars so they could have their "fun" cars ready for the weekend.
 
todd@bsaw said:
I offered a service similar to this in my Minneapolis shop and had a great client base of regular weekly washes. I would also get great tips and many jobs turned into full details. My entire Friday was usually filled up with nothing but washes for my regulars so they could have their "fun" cars ready for the weekend.
Click to expand...



Glad to here this.



You have any tips for the process or what supplies you use?



Thanks!



I'm really impressed on how this thread has turned out.
 
My only tip is to take very good care of your regular wash customers and they will repay you with regular business.



A once-a-week wash for a Lexus GS460 may not seem worth your time, but that regular customer had me detail his "summer" car, his wife's car, his brother's car, and numerous co-workers vehicles. The Lexus never had (or needed) anything more than a wash because I always threw in a quick 1-step, leather condition, or spot polish when I had extra time and the customer appreciated the extra care.



I did a pick-up service to a lot of corporate offices in the financial district and was on a first-name basis with a lot of CFOs, day traders, and other execs. I would smile when I showed up at the office to pick up one vehicle and I would bump into 6 other clients that would see me in the hallway and toss me their keys "while you're here". One guy even joked that he lost $10,000 while he was running back to his office to get his car keys for me.
 
todd@bsaw said:
My only tip is to take very good care of your regular wash customers and they will repay you with regular business.



A once-a-week wash for a Lexus GS460 may not seem worth your time, but that regular customer had me detail his "summer" car, his wife's car, his brother's car, and numerous co-workers vehicles. The Lexus never had (or needed) anything more than a wash because I always threw in a quick 1-step, leather condition, or spot polish when I had extra time and the customer appreciated the extra care.



I did a pick-up service to a lot of corporate offices in the financial district and was on a first-name basis with a lot of CFOs, day traders, and other execs. I would smile when I showed up at the office to pick up one vehicle and I would bump into 6 other clients that would see me in the hallway and toss me their keys "while you're here". One guy even joked that he lost $10,000 while he was running back to his office to get his car keys for me.
Click to expand...



Very good info here.



What about your setup? Can you share pics and process? Chemicals?



Thanks for your time!
 
My detail shop was set up in conjunction with a downtown gas station and convenience store that also had 6 full service repair bays and 4 quick lube bays. We offered a pick-up service to many of the parking garages in downtown Minneapolis for anything from a simple car wash and lube change to 80k service maintenance and a full detail at no additional charge.



As far as chemicals and process, the wash was very simple just like you're offering. At the time we were using Rightlook products. I had an electric Landa pressure washer that I used to rinse. I used one bucket with a grit guard and wheels, dried with an Absorber, dressed the tires, cleaned the windows, and worked like a raped ape. We also included a quick vacuum and "dash wipedown" which was a damp microfiber. I could knock out a wash in 10-15 minutes and we charged $25.
 
Very nice Todd.......very motivating as well.



Update:

I'm going today to look at getting a larger tank. I'm at 60 gallons and can do 5-6 easy with it but I need a larger one. I do not want to get a trailer so I'm getting a 100 gallon unit from Tractor Supply. It will be the same footprint as the 60 in my truck bed. I will be trying Optimum's No Rinse in a few "tests" to see what my times are.



I to get off the "what I make hourly" crap. 200.00 in 4 hours is still 200.00 in 8 hours. All I can do is what the market will allow and what I can do physically.
 
You had mentioned earlier that you can do 10 cars in one sitting. You do that with a 60 gallon tank? Are you running a gas or electric pressure washer? The best I can do with a 125 gallon tank is 4-5 using an electric transfer pump and garden hose.



I too have seen a drastic drop in customers - about 60% drop - and am looking intently at this thread for ideas.
 
My Saturday wash started at 8:30am ...



I use 2 buckets for washing after I hit it with the qt foam sprayer / tires & wheels & wheel wells are done first / windows inside & out last / quick dash wipedown / I use a leaf blower to dry / then I go over the entire car and door jambs with spray & gloss to minimize the water spots



I finished at 11:45 am ...



3hrs every week ... today - its friggin raining like a stuck pig outside! $15 / I could call someone to spank it up as soon as the sun comes out - HELL YEAH!
 
krzdimond said:
You had mentioned earlier that you can do 10 cars in one sitting. You do that with a 60 gallon tank? Are you running a gas or electric pressure washer? The best I can do with a 125 gallon tank is 4-5 using an electric transfer pump and garden hose.



I too have seen a drastic drop in customers - about 60% drop - and am looking intently at this thread for ideas.
Click to expand...



That pump you have uses water volume instead of pressure. That's why you're using so much water. I use a gas pressure washer and the tips allow for more pressure and less water volume. I can do 5 per 60 gallons......I go and fill up at a local business that has let me for years now.



I found a 100 gallon tank today at Northern Tools that has the same footprint as my 60.....just taller.....for 199.00 plus tax.



I'm also doing homes and decks. I get 400.00 per house and I have 3 lined up now. I use their water when I clean their house.
 
Justin Murphy said:
That pump you have uses water volume instead of pressure. That's why you're using so much water. I use a gas pressure washer and the tips allow for more pressure and less water volume. I can do 5 per 60 gallons......I go and fill up at a local business that has let me for years now.



I found a 100 gallon tank today at Northern Tools that has the same footprint as my 60.....just taller.....for 199.00 plus tax.



I'm also doing homes and decks. I get 400.00 per house and I have 3 lined up now. I use their water when I clean their house.
Click to expand...



Wait, what exactly do you do with a house? Just spray the walls, decks and call it a day?
 
Justin Murphy said:
That pump you have uses water volume instead of pressure. That's why you're using so much water. I use a gas pressure washer and the tips allow for more pressure and less water volume. I can do 5 per 60 gallons......I go and fill up at a local business that has let me for years now.



I found a 100 gallon tank today at Northern Tools that has the same footprint as my 60.....just taller.....for 199.00 plus tax.



I'm also doing homes and decks. I get 400.00 per house and I have 3 lined up now. I use their water when I clean their house.
Click to expand...



Quanity the new autopian way. :bow Justin you will soon find money gets better doing what your doing. Work gets easier. I wish you the best of luck man. Sounds like your off to a great start!
 
wicho661 said:
Wait, what exactly do you do with a house? Just spray the walls, decks and call it a day?
Click to expand...

It's all about the chemicals. I mix the chemicals into a 5 gallon bucket and it gets injected inline between the pressure washer and high pressure hose. I have a high soap and high rinse tip for the upper levels.......up to 45 feet......so there is no need for ladders. I then use a low soap and low rinse for lower levels. Spray on the soap, let sit, and rinse......not blast. It's not really "pressure washing" as most (and even I) think. It's about letting the chemicals work and then using water volume, rinse. I can do a 2000 square foot home with some decks in 4-5 hours. Average pay is 400-500.00 per house. I know of some guys that can do it in 2 hours.....by themselves! See why I'm adding it to my services?



I have a cabin rental company just wanting me to wash of the decks and fronts with no chemicals. 20 at 75.00 a piece. It's not glorious and it's kinda boring but it's money.



PM me with any questions about this and I will help. This is a car care forum. LOL!
 
Barry Theal said:
Quanity the new autopian way. :bow Justin you will soon find money gets better doing what your doing. Work gets easier. I wish you the best of luck man. Sounds like your off to a great start!
Click to expand...



Thanks so much for the encouragement. You do some amazing work.



It is kind of boring doing the same thing over and over but hey, it's steady paying work.
 
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