detailing business out of control,dont know how to proceed?

Q

quamen

New member
Im a 24 year old colllege student with about 1 more year left till graduation. I live in the north, so i do work a winter job part time because my detailing is much slower. I still work this job as a technician that pays VERY VERY WELL usually about 250-300 per day,but takes alot of toll on the car and fatigue. I started my detailing business as a side thing,but it blew out of control. I have 2 mobile units,but only myself for now running one with a helper. I dont have anyone good enough to go out their on their own. The problem is i cant get the cars done quick enough. Each day more and more peoplle call, and they want to get an appoitmnet but soon it will be near 60 complete details that need to be performed.



I know I do excellent work,but i have not handed out a single flyer since last year and more people keep calling. I know im going to lose alot of business,because people dont want to wait that long. I dont know what to do to get this stuff done quick enough? they like the mobile idea so it kinda hurts the idea of getting all the cars together maybe like 12 on a sat and sunday and doing them with like 6 helpers for the day. It went far beyong my expectations and im not ready for it.
 
quamen,



This would be a nice time to consider increasing your prices. I worked with a veterinarian with the same problem and he increased his prices which dropped the demand. The benefit was he made the same money with a moderate work load that he was making when running around like crazy. With that much demand and your inability to increase the supply of your good quality work I think a price increase is warranted.



Good luck,



Sludge



PS. You will never make everyone happy. :heelclick
 
A option is to sub out the work to other detailers but you will probably lose the customer. You will lose the customer anyway so why not make a $. Your seconded option is to raise your price because it sounds like your in a position to do so. What are you charging? What did you do to expand so rapidley?
 
I am *sort of* in the same position. I detail on the weekends only and I just took appointments for July. I also took a day off from my "regular" job Friday to detail a car for a special customer.



I just raised my prices and I am going to see how that effects things. I am already the most expensive game in town, but also the only swirl-free.



It is a PITA to tell a customer to wait, but so far everyone has been really understanding.



Are you doing full details only? That's what I do, no washes, no "mini-details", etc. Seems to cut out the bottom feeders. If you're doing washes, etc perhaps you could cut that out and focus on the full details?
 
It's hard to do... but sometimes you just have to say no.



You need time for school, work and for yourself.
 
How far are you currently backed up? Normally I book 7 days in advance, maybe 3-4 when my kids are here and helping me. Most people understand that a good detailer is not going to be able to come right out to detail their car.
 
Scottwax said:
How far are you currently backed up? Normally I book 7 days in advance, maybe 3-4 when my kids are here and helping me. Most people understand that a good detailer is not going to be able to come right out to detail their car.
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Maybe if you have them as a client for a while they will wait but the majority of the population wont. We live in a fast world and people are demanding!!! I would imagine more then a few other good detailers are looking for work. Never underestimate or should I say, never underestimate someone like me!!!
 
ebpcivicsi said:
I am *sort of* in the same position. I detail on the weekends only and I just took appointments for July. I also took a day off from my "regular" job Friday to detail a car for a special customer.



I just raised my prices and I am going to see how that effects things. I am already the most expensive game in town, but also the only swirl-free.



It is a PITA to tell a customer to wait, but so far everyone has been really understanding.



Are you doing full details only? That's what I do, no washes, no "mini-details", etc. Seems to cut out the bottom feeders. If you're doing washes, etc perhaps you could cut that out and focus on the full details?
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I am in prety much the same position as you. I am only working weekends and am currently booked through June. It sucks telling potential customers you are booked a month + in advance, but most people have not had a problem with it. I did lose one customer though that had scheduled a detail a month in advance with me and then he went to someone else. Fortunately, I was able to just call up someone else and book him the day before for the detail. You dont need to turn people down, just set your prices high and say you are booked out a month in advance. Most people will actually wait.
 
quamen said:
booked about 1 month and half out, somewhere around 60 plus full details
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:eek: That's insane!



I'd start putting up notices at the local high school that you are looking for help, should be able to get a good kid or two to help out on weekends now and full time when school is out in a few weeks. My boys and I, working together can do 4, maybe 5 details a day if no heavy polishing is needed.



What you might want to start doing with your regulars is scheduling their next detail when you finish their current one, that way your regulars won't have to wait.



I know how you feel, sometimes I am booked nearly 3 weeks out when the weather is bad. Luckily, I know another detailer I can recommend if I get backed up and they don't want to wait.
 
I'm glad to see you're busy, but I know what you're talking about as far as getting over booked. You're probably going to have to hire for more help. The last thing you want to do is to start doing crappy assembly line work to be more efficient, because then you'll definitely be in a world of you know what. I've noticed ever since you started, your business has been pretty booming, maybe you should start analyzing this a little more...as far as owning your detailing business, having a part time job, and college. I never complain about hard work, and I do some crazy things due to my dedication to my business, like staying up to 4am in the morning :nervous: , but I always try to keep a healthy balance between my business, home, personal, and family. You don't want to over work yourself, but at the same time you want to be successful in life. From what it seems, you may have to drop something completely or cut it down somewhat.
 
I'm not a detailer, I'm a lawyer (I just love detailing my car); there our difference end. Like you, I can't take on staff; like you, I'm working at full capacity; like you, I'm fully booked as far ahead as I can see. I can only work 10 hours a day. 10 hours a day is not enough time to do all my work.



All we can do is put our prices up. I've increased my hourly rate threefold in five years. I'm still busy 10 hours a day, but the backlog isn't as bad, I'm making three times as much money as I used to, and the customers are happier because they don't have to wait as long.
 
That is exactly what i have done,but it seems like it doesnt help much. the prices went from 125 for a car, to 150 now were at 190. Suvs and truck about 240.
 
quamen said:
That is exactly what i have done,but it seems like it doesnt help much. the prices went from 125 for a car, to 150 now were at 190. Suvs and truck about 240.
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quamen: Please, how did you advertise and expand so quickly???
 
ajbarnes said:
Ditto.



I'm still amazed on how quickly you grew. :eek:
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Rich does excellent work and I think in his area he is the only quality detailer around. :)



Word gets around pretty quickly!
 
Having too much customers can be a headache sometimes, although it's a problem that you never want to lose hehe.



Both our branches can fit 4-5 cars at a time (indoors), more often than not, we get 2-3 additional cars a day and they just carry over to the next day until the "influx" starts to slow down... We're not complaining, though, it's nice to see the shop filled with cars daily Monday to Sunday :P



Just hire more help for now quamen... Maybe sorting out the jobs would help, meaning, if you can schedule similar cars/colors on the same week, it'll be an easier job for you and your crew since it'll be quite repetitive...



Good luck!
 
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