Volume of Business

I

imported_Jakerooni

New member
For those of you with fix locations on average how many cars do you guys get out a week? How many people working for you?



I'm trying to see if I'm on par with most places or not. I had a guy tell me he's doing about 35 cars a month with 2 guys helping. At first I thought this was alot until I actually went through and looked at my bookings. This week was slow we only did 11 cars but last week we had 18 come through and that seems to be about average. I have one employee that helps me out full time and then another that comes in on saturdays to help out.



Am I on par for a two man operatation or are you guys out there just killing it with more?



Just trying to think of better ways to advertise. I'm thinking I should be close to the 20-25 cars a week.
 
Jake, here's how my new shop has been running...

With me as a manager/technician with another full-time detailer, we have been doing about 20 cars per week. The shop has 4 bays and I try to keep all of them full five days per week doing 2 full details each (or 1 full detail, two interiors). We do plenty of express detail services as well, so I am averaging that into the total number of full details.



I will soon be hiring another detailer... part time or full time, I'm not sure yet... to help out on the work load and to give me some time to actually manage. I figure the max capacity with my 4 bays is low 32-36 per week, and I plan on hitting that.
 
About 5500 square feet which included 2 wash bays, an office/showroom and about 8 spots to work on vehicles. One of the keys to doing high volume is having a dedicated person prepping cars (2 at a time) and a final inspector/finisher. That saves time for the detailer and allows them to produce more volume. A decent detailer can do 3-5 vehicles per day no problem in my scenario. When you're constantly staring at 20-40 vehicles on your lot, you think of ways to get them done quicker and more efficiently. :scared: :think2
 
You are correct. I sold my business in Michigan about 3 years ago to a close friend who is still doing really well (considering how bad the economy is). I sold out to corporate America after getting burned out (I thought) after 10 years in business. I'm actually considering moving back, taking over the business and starting up a Rust, Fab & Paint protection company + dealer lot washing. Crazy idea; we'll see what happens.
 
OK so it sounds like with my two man operation I'm pretty on par. Right now I have a single bay that can fit two cars in easily enough. I want to hire another guy but I can't seem to find any one with actual skills. I've tried training a noob and he's coming along but he's still got a ways to go and he's talking about leaving for a factory job already. I've been scouting out my next location already in a town about 20 miles away from the current location (and my house would be halfway between both of them) So running them both would be easily manageable. Should I be able to actually find some skilled people to work for me.
 
Have you ever tried Craig's List? Sometimes training people with no experience works better that searching for someone with experience.
 
David Fermani said:
Have you ever tried Craig's List? Sometimes training people with no experience works better that searching for someone with experience.
Click to expand...



I tried postaroo.com (just another website to post listings on) Got one hit but I had to laugh. The guy was a little older (probably early 40's) told me his back is getting bad so he couldn't do interiors but he was making $45/hr at his last detail job and would expect the same. And then proceeded to tell me that he has all sorts of connections and would bring them to me but I would have to give him a 20% kickback for any customers he brought me..... I really tried not to laugh and sent him on his way.



Last guy I had came with 3 years expeience.. Current guy had zero experience. Both were/are ok at best. But I still have to babysit, doublecheck, and correct. I really want a guy out there that I don't have to babysit and is there because they put the customers first before their paychecks. (meaning no hack and slash just to get a car out and the next one in) so I can concetrate on growing and expanding the business. I want to be out getting contacts and contracts in so my guys are operating at or as close to maximum compacity as possible. And finding someone with those skills is proving rather difficult.
 
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