Any Mobile Detailers Using a Trailer?

R

ReflectionsADS

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I have been detailing now for around 10 years family and friends. I am in the midst of getting a local mobile detailing business started as i'm very confident in my abilities. I have completed and present my business plan to banks and all is well in that aspect. I am at this point torn on the amount I should be asking for, soley for the reason that i read this thread, and i see a considerable amount of you do mobile out of your normal every day vehicles. Maybe i don't see the behind the scenes.



Question: Should i go in to the bank ready to sign a $20k loan for a fully loaded trailer w/ advertising package and have some left over for equiptment, or sign for a $5k loan and rely on customers having water hook-ups and electricity?



Obviously i'm torn because $20k to start-up is a lot, but i know i have the mindset to do very well, but $5k is less of a risk for a startup business. Please provide you're thoughts or any input you may have.



-John
 
I started my professional carrier detailing about 6 months ago. I used my F150 and pulled an open trailer that held my tank, generator and pressure washer.



Could I get everything done that way? Yes.

Was it fun? No



I know that you did not ask if whether using a trailer or a van was a better idea. But, just to give you an idea of what I, personally, experienced... I will tell you that having the ability to carry water is smart. Further, I would use a van.



Having a water tank does not have to cost a lot. A used open trailer can be had for a few hundred dollars. A large fresh water tank can be had for less than $100 on craigslist/locally. A step nicer is having an enclosed trailer...$1k+. The best is having a large van.



Advertising? Yes. Make sure to spend money on having vinyls added to your rig. It's cheap advertising.



Having a trailer you will fear theft and it's not as easy to work out of. Driving/parking/fuel cost all suck with a trailer.



I can't tell you to spend $20k or not. I know that if I had to run a trailer-rig I would have a 4-cylinder truck pull a small enclosed trailer. Total of about $10k'ish if I wanted to save money. $20k is for a pretty nice rig. I would suggest start off meager and work up to nicer.
 
My buddy buys used vans from his county every now and then for his business (not a detailing business). They are typically all Ford vans, and have @ 100,000 miles on them, and are white. The county does a pretty good job maintaining their stuff (mechanically), and he can typically get another 100,000 miles out of them. Most of the time, he can pick one up for $5,000 or less.



Just a thought - if you are wanting to start out cheaply, check with your county / local municipality for a used van.
 
Thanks, both are very good ideas. I have actually given thought to the van or SUV idea. I just bought a truck (not 4 cyclinder haha) but i intended to pull the trailer with it. But the van idea seems much cheaper and would actually be able to fit all the things the trailer would too. I am going to look into what i would pay for a used van and go from there. Thanks!! Any other imput or suggestions are always welcomed!!!



-John
 
johngs4 said:
Thanks, both are very good ideas. I have actually given thought to the van or SUV idea. I just bought a truck (not 4 cyclinder haha) but i intended to pull the trailer with it. But the van idea seems much cheaper and would actually be able to fit all the things the trailer would too. I am going to look into what i would pay for a used van and go from there. Thanks!! Any other imput or suggestions are always welcomed!!!



-John
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When just starting out, I would go as simple as possible. If you have all kinds of overhead hanging around your neck and a large loan to pay off, a large amount of what you make in your first year will be going to pay for the loan and maintenance on all your stuff.



Scottwax has been detailing since I believe 1994. To this day I believe he still details out of the trunk of his car - no trailer, no watertank, no pressure washer, no extractor, no air compressor (that I know of), no generator (that I know of). He washes with ONR and cleans carpets with Biokleen and brushes he attaches to his DA.



In the beginning, I would recommend detailing that way, with not a ton of money out of your pocket or worse, a loan payment each month. Once you become more established, if you want to go the trailer, watertank, pressure washer, extractor, air compressor, generator route, feel free. In the beginning, I would keep it simple.
 
Very good idea. Thank you. The only real reason i was thinking trailer route was to have the water tank, generator, vaccum, hoses, etc... that way i didn't have to rely on a water hook-up or electric if i was at a job that didn't provide that.
 
Like I said, I would wait until you are running a profitable operation before diving into such expensive equipment. You will need a wet vac and a alteast a DA (probably a rotary also) but I would hold off on the trailer, water tank, pressure washer, generator, etc.



I am not sure what Scottwax uses for electricity if he doesn't have a power outlet nearby. Some people have an inverter hooked up to their car to run a DA or rotary with.
 
Return on investment is KING.



Gross sales is not the same as net profit. Keep your investment as small as possible when starting a new business, minimize risk until you know it will work.



While the adage 'it takes money to make money' is true; whose better off- The guy who spends 5K and makes 45K in sales, or the guy who spends 20K and makes 60K in sales? 40K = 40K, I don't care how you look at it.
 
bert31 said:
Like I said, I would wait until you are running a profitable operation before diving into such expensive equipment. You will need a wet vac and a alteast a DA (probably a rotary also) but I would hold off on the trailer, water tank, pressure washer, generator, etc.
Click to expand...



+1, ROI



This being my first year in business for myself, I bought used whenever I could. Spent less than $1000 and I've got all the essentials, and no cheap brands either. Doing this enabled me to recovered most of my investment in the first two weeks.
 
I started with my '85 S10 and about $3500 for a 125 gal tank, pressure washer, generator, shop vac, hoses, products, supplies, and some extraneous bull$hit that i haven't used that much. I had the cash, and did detailing as some side work to my regular job.
 
also dont forget some places you can not leave your trailer un hitched. a local detailer i know switched from trailer to van because he got tired of get harrassed by the PD in our areas. also it is hard to park a trailer in some instances. my with drives a 2500HD with a 27 ft trailer for her horses and she has been doing it for 8 years, she does pony rides and petting zoos for kids parties, and she is always fightng traffic and parking situations are always a topic.
 
I did take a look at my my basic expense report if i did get the trailer vs. working out of my truck, and it looks like i'm definately going to start out small and work myself up. The trailer includes a lot of what i would like and need but at the same time, it doesn't include everyting, and then i'm looking at an additional $5k or more for equipment. I've already started buying products and equipment that i will need, and by the time i am ready to open for this coming season, I will be fully invested on my own and ready to begin. I do still have one issue though, since i will be mobile, how do you feel about telling a customer that you will have to use their electric and water hook-up? To me it seems a little un-prepared i guess. Any suggestions for that?
 
StrutMotors said:
Return on investment is KING.



Gross sales is not the same as net profit. Keep your investment as small as possible when starting a new business, minimize risk until you know it will work.



While the adage 'it takes money to make money' is true; whose better off- The guy who spends 5K and makes 45K in sales, or the guy who spends 20K and makes 60K in sales? 40K = 40K, I don't care how you look at it.
Click to expand...



This was my original point. And exactly how i saw it. 40k = 40k. But i've decided to minimize my risk as you stated until I really get going.



-John
 
I had thought about a trailer,but was able to get a nice truck instead. This truck has 125k on it. All my detail things are in the back, locked and covered. The list:

60 gallons of water

Pressure Washer 50' hose

Aztec Heated Extractor

wet/dry vac

Coleman Powermate Generator

Flex, PC, Rotory

12 x 12 Tent

All the products
 
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