Guide for mobile detailing?

if you guys can keep business using ONR great, i have gotten alot of business because the last detailer didn't have a water supply and used ONR. How do you guys do RV's, boats etc?
 
quamen said:
don't buy a trailer with everything mounted, to expensive. if u dont go the trailer route, don't build a skid for your truck. Get a little carry grate that will attach to a hitch, sort of like to carry coolers or some people use them when they kill dear around here, mount ur stuff to that.
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Okay, I was looking into the trailer models, not the big trailers models, the small tote around trailers that have the essentials mounted on board.



EcoAutoCT said:
+1, if you're on a budget this is a good route to consider. In fact I've been sending PMs back and forth to another member who saw my old setup using a hitch mounted carrier. Rather than retyping it, I'm just going to copy/paste what I've written already:
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Did you factor in the weight for the pw and generators?



AeroCleanse said:
Exactly, no water run off equals no need for a water reclamation system. I take my dirty ONR water and put it down a sanitary sewer.
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What is the best size bottle to buy of ONR? The bigger the better?



quamen said:
most people will not take kind to the fact of not using a pw or water supply, trust me i have been through it. Might work in certain areas, but most of the time water runoff is not an issue depending on where u live. You should always carry your chemical data sheets to show these products are safe for the environment in case any questions are asked, you should be fine. research it out before spending money.
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What do you keep your MDMS sheets in simple three ring binder, and have you been stop and asked whats in your chemicals? What do you have to look for when deciding chemicals to use, chemicals are biodegradable?
 
DetailnByDustn said:
Did you factor in the weight for the pw and generators?
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Re:

EcoAutoCT said:
Each gallon of water weights 8.75lbs, so a 66g tank filled would weigh about 575lbs- way over capacity of the rack. These are all things you have to consider, plus the weight of anything else on that hitch and how a fully loaded tongue affects vehicle handling.
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DetailnByDustn said:
What is the best size bottle to buy of ONR? The bigger the better?
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Oz per bottle vs Cost vs Frequency of use. This is remedial stuff right here- a 55 gallon drum would be the cheapest, but could you use it before it went bad?



DetailnByDustn said:
What do you keep your MDMS sheets in simple three ring binder, and have you been stop and asked whats in your chemicals? What do you have to look for when deciding chemicals to use, chemicals are biodegradable?
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MSDS? Yes, DEP/WPCA/Property Managers may want to check and a binder is fine. But more importantly, the hospital or paramedics will need it if there's ever a medical problem.
 
I did not read this complete thread and you might already have started but just in case you didn't or for someone else to read, here is my opinion. I see from the first page, most of you are suggesting what products to buy and everything. That's all good and definately need to know what to expect when buying the equipment but has there been ANY talk of a business plan or even business classes or how you plan to manage clients and your taxes, etc?

These days it's very hard to just buy a truck, trailor, equipment and make some cards and start detailing. You need some kind of knowledge on how to run a business and keep it going, marketing, business plan, etc.



Just a suggestion, take it or leave it.
 
Shawn F. said:
I did not read this complete thread and you might already have started but just in case you didn't or for someone else to read, here is my opinion. I see from the first page, most of you are suggesting what products to buy and everything. That's all good and definately need to know what to expect when buying the equipment but has there been ANY talk of a business plan or even business classes or how you plan to manage clients and your taxes, etc?

These days it's very hard to just buy a truck, trailor, equipment and make some cards and start detailing. You need some kind of knowledge on how to run a business and keep it going, marketing, business plan, etc.



Just a suggestion, take it or leave it.
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Good advice. At the end of the day, all the products and equipment in the world does not matter, if you have no customers. Concentrating on what services you will offer and how you will market them is very often overlooked.
 
Shawn F. said:
I did not read this complete thread and you might already have started but just in case you didn't or for someone else to read, here is my opinion. I see from the first page, most of you are suggesting what products to buy and everything. That's all good and definately need to know what to expect when buying the equipment but has there been ANY talk of a business plan or even business classes or how you plan to manage clients and your taxes, etc?

These days it's very hard to just buy a truck, trailor, equipment and make some cards and start detailing. You need some kind of knowledge on how to run a business and keep it going, marketing, business plan, etc.



Just a suggestion, take it or leave it.
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Great suggestion, that's what I'm struggling with know, I have plenty of business for me, but I need more business for my employees.



brwill2005 said:
Good advice. At the end of the day, all the products and equipment in the world does not matter, if you have no customers. Concentrating on what services you will offer and how you will market them is very often overlooked.
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Right now, I offer paint correcting, headlight restoration, detailing, along with small stuff on cars such as, changing the oil, spray undercarriage spray, etc..
 
DetailnByDustn said:
Great suggestion, that's what I'm struggling with know, I have plenty of business for me, but I need more business for my employees.







Right now, I offer paint correcting, headlight restoration, detailing, along with small stuff on cars such as, changing the oil, spray undercarriage spray, etc..
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It must be nice to have so much business that you need employees to help you; all at 19. All this business is detailing customers? Do you mind sharing your recipe for success? I have been doing this full time for 4 years, and am just getting to the point where I need some help. I was doing this part-time many years before that.
 
brwill2005 said:
It must be nice to have so much business that you need employees to help you; all at 19. All this business is detailing customers? Do you mind sharing your recipe for success? I have been doing this full time for 4 years, and am just getting to the point where I need some help. I was doing this part-time many years before that.
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My prices are very low, haha and we have a very small town, about everyone knows me in my town, plus there's no other detailers around for about 20 miles.
 
DetailnByDustn said:
My prices are very low, haha and we have a very small town, about everyone knows me in my town, plus there's no other detailers around for about 20 miles.
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You have 2 things to your advantage. 1 you live in a small town word of mouth travels fast when you do know everyone



2. Limited competition being that there is no detailers in your area, It makes for the advantage of I don't wanna drive 20 mins to this guy when I can go around the block.





I don't agree with the VERY LOW PRICES. Don't be the "whore" everyone goes to because your inexpensive. This usually bites you in the rear in the long run.



Why? If Detailer A says I do a Full detail for 100 dollars. And you offer the same service at 80 dollars. Whats the 20 dollar difference about? I wanna know why your less costly, Whats the difference in your work over the the competion?



My suggestion is set a firm but competitve price. If the average price of lets say a FULL detail ranges from 100 to 130 dollars in your area. ANd you set your price at 110.. It sounds reasonable. And when your overhead increases as you said you plan to go mobile. The extra cash you were making long before the extra overhead is absorbing some of the extra cost and your ahead of the game.



Vs. Your overhead increased. Put you at slim profit margins, or In the red. Now your forced to raise prices and customers get upset. Some will still be faithful but some might just shop elsewhere. Or worse your forced to cut corners and raise prices. Lower quality higher price equals fail. Or forced to raise prices to break even and try to catch up from behind. Another big fail.



As far as advertising, Word of mouth is the best. But not the most reliable. Flyers, Business cards, Bulletin Boards on church bulletins. Local Advertisement. The internet is one of the best advertisements you can get.



On your website explain the reasons why a car wash/detail is to the advantage of the life/finish of your car. Explain why you do things the way you do. The advantages of you coming to them vs. them coming to you. Its all there free for advertisement. You just gotta sell yourself You are your best bulletin.



Being 19 and successful is great I wish you all the luck man.
 
unleashedfury said:
You have 2 things to your advantage. 1 you live in a small town word of mouth travels fast when you do know everyone



2. Limited competition being that there is no detailers in your area, It makes for the advantage of I don't wanna drive 20 mins to this guy when I can go around the block.





I don't agree with the VERY LOW PRICES. Don't be the "whore" everyone goes to because your inexpensive. This usually bites you in the rear in the long run.



Why? If Detailer A says I do a Full detail for 100 dollars. And you offer the same service at 80 dollars. Whats the 20 dollar difference about? I wanna know why your less costly, Whats the difference in your work over the the competion?



My suggestion is set a firm but competitve price. If the average price of lets say a FULL detail ranges from 100 to 130 dollars in your area. ANd you set your price at 110.. It sounds reasonable. And when your overhead increases as you said you plan to go mobile. The extra cash you were making long before the extra overhead is absorbing some of the extra cost and your ahead of the game.



Vs. Your overhead increased. Put you at slim profit margins, or In the red. Now your forced to raise prices and customers get upset. Some will still be faithful but some might just shop elsewhere. Or worse your forced to cut corners and raise prices. Lower quality higher price equals fail. Or forced to raise prices to break even and try to catch up from behind. Another big fail.



As far as advertising, Word of mouth is the best. But not the most reliable. Flyers, Business cards, Bulletin Boards on church bulletins. Local Advertisement. The internet is one of the best advertisements you can get.



On your website explain the reasons why a car wash/detail is to the advantage of the life/finish of your car. Explain why you do things the way you do. The advantages of you coming to them vs. them coming to you. Its all there free for advertisement. You just gotta sell yourself You are your best bulletin.



Being 19 and successful is great I wish you all the luck man.
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Thank you! Some of the best information Ive ever read on Autopia, I in the process of changing some of my prices a little more, based on what the customers wants, Im also going to try incorporating clay bar into everything because about 90% of my county has no clue what clay bar is. Like you said being in a small town has its advantages, I was kidding around to a guy about getting his car detail and next thing he said was when can we schedule haha nice suv 2 SRX Cadillac. Now I would like to spread further than madison county into buncome county, any ideas in getting your name into further places? The idea for the website, im working on it now, in process of researching different articles about the products I use, and other detailers websites, for info to persuade my clients to get their car detailed.



Thanks again :2thumbs:
 
Looking to break out of the area a little...



Try going to Car shows.. Have a stand there and show off some of your work. Explain what you do. Educate the consumer. Explain why your service is viable to them. You maintain the engine because you want it to last. Why not maintain the exterior/exterior. To make it last.



You are your best billboard. If I am going to something like that Dress Casual, Get something like a golf shirt with your company logo on it. and nice khakis.. Comfortable but you don't look like a stiff in a suit. Do a small section on a perspective customers car to show them the difference.



Yellow Pages and small advertisements in local flyers like church bulletins are great for business to.
 
unleashedfury said:
Looking to break out of the area a little...



Try going to Car shows.. Have a stand there and show off some of your work. Explain what you do. Educate the consumer. Explain why your service is viable to them. You maintain the engine because you want it to last. Why not maintain the exterior/exterior. To make it last.



You are your best billboard. If I am going to something like that Dress Casual, Get something like a golf shirt with your company logo on it. and nice khakis.. Comfortable but you don't look like a stiff in a suit. Do a small section on a perspective customers car to show them the difference.



Yellow Pages and small advertisements in local flyers like church bulletins are great for business to.
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Great Advise! Unfortunately I will have to wait until next year on the car shows, there will be maybe two good weeks of car shows than its over for the year.



Im shopping around for some fleece polos and get them embroidered with my business name, that way I look a little more professional.



For the price of an ad in the local newspaper I could make 70 flyers, 10 tshirts, I was thinking instead of an ad in a newspaper, I would find some cute college girls and give them a detailing by dustin tshirt proabably pink with white lettering something simple that spreads my name around
 
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