business figures/sucess/new state/full time help!! i dont want to fall short

Q

quamen

New member
Well im going to do a nice flyer when i startup. I want to do more then a flyer, but is that to much info to be giving out. i dont think so, but want advice. it is like a commercial or anything else. For instance. You see a million places sell them same exact thing, but they always advertise not only why u should buy it there,but they offer this and that.



I think that should be as for detailing. Say you have all ur competition out there and they all have flyers. Flyers just say prices and location etc. But if a customer has say 2 flyers that are pretty similiar in price and apperance, she will most likely just chose either one on a hunch. i believe a flyer attached with maybe small one page of why choose my detailing or something along those lines. Most places dont do this there may be a good reason but i think someone should ,especially if ur just starting out and somone donest know ur work. What do you guys think of this idea?



im starting in a new state and when i did detailing part time in jersey im a jerk and never took pics of my work(pa now i live).just my own truck after i detailed it. So i have no previous pics etc. im going to do my families rides and take pics as advertisement. But to anyone else here in Pa it is a new busines, so what do u think reasonable expected salary for about a 7 month season can bring in?



I plan on working full time, mobile operation, complete details, with other interior and wash jobs everything. Since i never did it full time, im worried cause i dont want to not make much. Maybe to paranoid about supporting myself. I remeber all the time in jersey people wanted to me detail there rides, but i was at work full time and on my days off i would have no energy. You think a realistic income can be 10 k and up easily first season starting off? im really clueless on this due to never having it as a full time.



Also one more questions. What is the radius you guys travel to do work? I always wanted to hit jersey back up. but it is 60 miles. just do details there cause the pay scale is high and get more for each car but a distance. Pa you have to drive everywhere to but maybe a 20 miles 30 mile max or so. i just hope to god that i can pull in the custmors i need to make it. If i dont take the risk ill never know if i can do it or not.



i want to be able to get that goal or 10 k or so cause that is all i need,but more would be awesome. wonder if i can do that on my first season alone. im experienced for about 5 years or so. i have roatary, da, truck, i just need some more mobile equipement.



im dediacted into giving this all i have. into buying all the equipement etc. i know this is a long post, but please answer as much as possible.

Thanks
 
I would also suggest taking a business management and a marketing course this winter at your local community college. I took marketing in high school and in college, plus I had been a restaurant manager before getting into detailing so I already knew how to run a business and how to market one.



I wouldn't expect to make a huge amount of money in your first year, you need to get your name out there. Once you have a strong customer base, you will get a lot of repeat business and referrals. It just doesn't happen overnight though. I doubled my income of my first year the next year.
 
quamen said:


1-"Well im going to do a nice flyer when i startup." "is it like a commercial or anything else."

2- "Flyers just say prices and location etc. But if a customer has say 2 flyers that are pretty similiar in price and apperance, she will most likely just chose either one on a hunch. i believe a flyer attached with maybe small one page of why choose my detailing or something along those lines."

3-"im starting in a new state"

4-"Pictures"

5-"what do u think reasonable expected salary for about a 7 month season can bring in?"

6-"I plan on working full time." "Since i never did it full time, im worried cause i dont want to not make much."

7-"You think a realistic income can be 10 k and up easily first season starting off?"

8- "What is the radius you guys travel to do work?"

9- "im dedicated into giving this all i have."

10-"i know this is a long post, but please answer as much as possible.

Thanks"

Click to expand...



It sounds like you actually know more than you think you know. Hey, you've already got a few years of experience in detailing. And you've got some equipment and supplies, too. That's more than most people have when they start a business. Since you've moved to PA all you need now are new detailing customers! The way I see it, you've got to start to look at all of this as a simple learning curve. In other words; there is really no one out there that knows everything about everything when it comes to how to run a detailing business. We are all at different levels. Hopefully you will gain much valuable information from the replies posted.



In regard to your specific questions, please read my responses below:



1- Yes, flyers are like a commercial. Only in a smaller form. Sort of like a 'mini-billboard'.

2- A flyer is a good place to tell the story of exactly what it is you are offering. Also, you are really on the right track about having two flyers. That's a great idea.



You could have one flyer that tells about your service; the detailing process, the products you use and the benefits of someone having their car detailed. This will be the flyer that as you say 'someone will choose on a hunch'. No prices on this first flyer. The reason for no prices is simply that you don't want someone to be turned off as soon as they see your flyer because the price is either; too low/cheap or too high/expensive. You wouldn't want someone to base their decision to buy or not to buy solely on price alone.



Your second flyer will briefly outline the material on the first. However this is where you'll want to post your price list.



Basicly, you'll post only your first flyer in various locations where you think you'll get the most exposure. And the second flyer, with the price list only gets handed or mailed to your prospective customer after they've already contacted you.



3- Nothing wrong with starting in a new state. That's a good opportunity to wipe the slate clean and begin anew. New forms of advertising and marketing. And new customers too. It all sounds very exciting.



4- Now is a good time to plan to take pictures. You'll probably want to get a digital camera.



5- As for what to expect for salary. You'll need to start looking at it from the view of; 'how much do I need to make per hour'. In other words if you work 3 hours on detailing a car and you want to make $30 per hour; you'll need to charge $150. It's that simple. Until you start to build a good customer base it's probably a good idea to figure your salary on a 'per car basis'.



6- You may be planning to work at this full-time, however until you build-up your customer base, you may want to consider an alternative plan. We all know it's a lot easier to start-up on a part-time basis. Believe me, you'll know when the time is right to go at it full-time.



7- Making 10k the very first year may not be as easy as you think. Yes it's possible. It's not realistic. The only thing that is realistic is the money that's already in your pocket. That's real. You worked for it and you've got it. It's very difficult to say what's realistic. Maybe it would be better to say that 10k is 'the goal' you have set for the first year. That's what you would like to earn the first year. To me; 10k is definitely a realistic goal.



8- 25 to 35 miles would be a good limit. It can also depend on travel time too.



9- 'You Can If You Think You Can'

A quote from Norman Vincent Peale. Author of the book; The Power of Positive Thinking



10- You're right. Yours was a long post.



I hope this helps...
 
I just want to thank you alot for your post. It has helped me alot, and you answered all my questions. Also, i thank you for your positive influence that you gave me. Im already planning out things to get this thing going. I know it cant be one of those things were you say im going to start a detailing business.



I can see it takes alot of time for planning etc. I believe if anyone of you, including myself ever want to have something or do something bad enough, it will come through one way or another. Im very excited and ill let you guys know what happens.



After i have my whole business plan laid out, ill let you guys review it.



Thanks

Rich
 
mirrorfinishman said:




You could have one flyer that tells about your service; the detailing process, the products you use and the benefits of someone having their car detailed. This will be the flyer that as you say 'someone will choose on a hunch'. No prices on this first flyer. The reason for no prices is simply that you don't want someone to be turned off as soon as they see your flyer because the price is either; too low/cheap or too high/expensive. You wouldn't want someone to base their decision to buy or not to buy solely on price alone.

Click to expand...



In order to make your first flyer effective you must have some type of "call to action" (i.e. 15% off, free interior detail with premium exterior, etc.). Simply stating what you do and what you use will not motivate the average person to make a call.





mirrorfinishman said:


5- As for what to expect for salary. You'll need to start looking at it from the view of; 'how much do I need to make per hour'. In other words if you work 3 hours on detailing a car and you want to make $30 per hour; you'll need to charge $150. It's that simple. Until you start to build a good customer base it's probably a good idea to figure your salary on a 'per car basis'.
Click to expand...



Is this math suggesting that there is for lack of a better description a $20/hr product and overhead cost?
 
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