Thinking of going pro...

S

Stratous

New member
Hey guys...

I'm thinking of expanding my side detailing to a more professional level. I figured I would shoot for more business on the weekends to begin with, then eventualy work it into a full time thing.



Me:

I am 21 with a H.S. diploma and some college.

I have SOME experience with accounting, management, and business in general (went to college for computers, but it sucked). My Grandpa was a VERY succesful entrepenuer, my dad tried his own and wasn't so succesful (his own fault, I could have saved it).



I have FULL experience with a rotary and orbital buffers, as well as all the pads and chemicals. I have a Makita buffer, PC, and a Craftsman 9" polisher for light duty stuff. I also have an old school industrial carpet cleaner, a 6.5hp wet/dry vac that detaches as a blower and a truck load of products.



I work at a body shop and have an agreement with my manager to use the double wide wash stall on weekends to make a little extra money.



I have a few questions:

In the past I have just charged a flat rate to family and friends. I will admit I was selling myself short and am worth a lot more than I charged. I want to switch from a flat rate to an hourly rate.

What is a fair hourly rate to charge? I am very good, but don't have a reputation.

Is mobile detailing any better? I would be really nervous about having water and shade, as well as not having ANY business in the winter.

What else would to recommend I get?



I don't know how far I will push it, but right now it's fun, and I really enjoy doing it.

ANY other recomendations are greatly appreciated.
 
Reaserch research research.... And no I'm not being an anal forum geek I'm talking about real life research. Open a phone book and start calling other detail shops in your area. See what the going rate is and then figure yourself accordingly. Pre-plan. What is your recourse if you accidently burn through paint on a corvette or other high end ride? (should be thinking insurence here) If you don't have a few tens of thousands in the bank for just such accidents you need to call around and see what kind of insurence is available to you that would cover it.



Mobile detailing has advantages. But so does having a fixed location. That you can look up on this board and see which one actually suits your needs better. Being in the snowbelt like me I would probably lean more towards a fixed location.



Then you have to look at accounts. Need to stock on and paying retail like alot of the weekend detailers do is simply not good for business. So go find a specialty shop or contact some companies of products your using to see what kind of price break you can get.



And of course you have to advertise in some fashion. Start cheap. Get some business cards made up and make them nice. Hand them out and start getting the word of mouth train in motion. If you can start putting together a scrap book of your work to show potential clients what you can do.



You can do it cheap to get started but to do it right you're looking at a pretty sizable investment. In money and time. Hopefully it all works out for you.
 
If you are near the Twin Cities area, give me a call. I'd be more than happy to help you get things started and give you pointers from my experience. Shoot me an email...

todd at bobbyandstevesautoworld.com
 
Where in MN are you? Depending on the area it can be tough. Best thing I ever did was get my car up to Autopian shape and then got some very nice magnets printed up with a slogan and I got more calls just driving around the Twin Cities and letting my car sit at work.



I am not sure if this is a rules violation and if it is please do take the picture down but it only cost me $100 and this is what they looked like:





6412qvm.jpg




Those are my old ones and the verbiage has changed as when I had them printed up my skills were much less than they are now and I was hesitant to put down more than light scratch removal.
 
Ryan, is that the Minnetonka area?



I have a permenant location downtown and it is excellent for the winter months because a heated garage is a huge selling point for the area. Lots of people don't have the access to get their own cars washed in the winter and business can actually pick up.

Mobile is a lot of fun and I would like to branch out to run both a shop and mobile rig. I fit everything I needed for exteriors in the trunk of my VW and made over $1000 during 4th of July weekend.
 
todd@bsaw said:
Ryan, is that the Minnetonka area?



I have a permenant location downtown and it is excellent for the winter months because a heated garage is a huge selling point for the area. Lots of people don't have the access to get their own cars washed in the winter and business can actually pick up.

Mobile is a lot of fun and I would like to branch out to run both a shop and mobile rig. I fit everything I needed for exteriors in the trunk of my VW and made over $1000 during 4th of July weekend.
Click to expand...

Hey Todd,



Its actually Woodbury, East side baby! J/K. Yeah I did the mobile thing for two years but I got so sick of sweating my butt off every weekend so I brought it home to the garage. My problem is marketing, I sometimes have problem selling myself and I hate being pushy. Most of my business is referrals.



Thats great that you get that many washes. I dont want to be a wash and go business, I like the restoration and surface perfection aspect. So do you work for B&S or do you just rent the place and kick back to them. Im curious to hear how you operate.



How much would you charge me to come down there and use your carpet shampooer on my Maxima? I have a small one but its on its last leg.
 
I also prefer the restoration and doing exteriors but you soon realize that not so many people care about how the outside of their vehicle looks and their interiors usually reflect that aspect... blah.



I am one of the store leaders at the downtown location and used to moonlight as a detailer in the car show scene in the summer and on weekends. It just happened that the owners were looking for something to use the empty building on our lot for, because it was just eating away at property taxes sitting empty. I brought up the idea of expanding our services to include detailing and have been solely running the single-garage shop since November of last year.



Thankfully, we've picked up a lot of business in the downtown area and have acquired exclusive contracts with many of the high-rise office buildings that we are already looking to expand next year. I work based on commission and a percentage of the total sales minus our overheard. It's touch and go some weeks but since I am technically the only person on my payroll it tends to work out. I am basically managing and operating my own shop using the BSAW name and logo with the marketing and financial backing of the owners.



For our future plans next year, we will tear down the empty building and build a new 6-bay lube center and I will take over the old 4-bay lube building for a new detail center. Let's just say I'm excited. Feel free to stop by anytime and say Hi, I always appreciate company at work (this goes to any local Autopians!). Ryan, I'll let you play with my extractor. :)
 
Stratous, spend as much time as you can with Todd. Pick his brain...



86 the 9" Craftsman... spring for a pc as soon as you can afford it.



Get a business plan.



Work inside, trust me, it is warmer!



Good Luck.



Jim
 
Jakerooni - I have most of that covered...



I am a Parts Manager at a body shop I work at with my brother...If I screw something up, I can tear it down, prep it and mask it...Then my brother can spray it.

Being the Parts Manager I have made many connections when it comes to supplies. I get a 35% discount through Keystone Auto who carries the entire 3M detailing line, and PPG paint line. I can also get up to 50% off through O'Riley's.



My Aunt is a profesional "printer", and can print a full deck of cars for me CHEAP!





Todd - I live in Coon Rapids, and I'm working in Plymouth. I think I would start the business in the Plymouth / Medina area. I just love the west side and there is a lot of money there.

I will think about giving you a call. I have two details lined up (2 Silverado Crew-Cabs), and we'll see how it goes. One is a friend and I told him $150 for the outside only, and the other is a complete and I told him $250 for such a big truck...Both of them just said "When do you want to do it?" Both trucks have great potential.

I think I would use them for word of mouth, and up the price a touch, or even go hourly, and quote hours like the body shop does.



I would like to keep the business more professional using chemicals like Menzerna, Pinnacle, Zaino...



Jimmy - I have a PC packed in with my Makita...It's in the list PC just blends in.



I am currently working two jobs already, and want to wait a little bit before I pick up a third...But I will detail on the weekends. Hey, I'm single, 21 and still live with Mom...I might as well work.





Thanks guys...I will keep in touch.

I just got done working a full week with 14 hour days...I'm gonna go get drunk!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top