I'm going full-time this summer, have a bunch of questions. (long)

GlossyTundra

GlossyTundra

Tractor Detailer
I am going to start my detailing buisness full time 5days a week this summer. I was going to pusue a job related to my college degree, but there just isnt a demand for a part time tractor salesman. There is a major demand, however, for car detailing in my area. I am having to turn down detail after detail. People see what I do, and tell all their friends and family to call me. It would be stupid to let all that money just walk away. So, I am going to start detailing full time through college. The flexable schedule (exams, etc) and money have me very interested. But I do have a bunch of questions.



First off, I will be getting a buisness license and a "proper name". I will post up the list of names I have picked out later. What kind of legal problems did you guys run into when you first started up? I figure I am going to have to go to my county office and pick up a small buisness license. I figure I am also going to have to open a "buisness" bank account and get some sort of insurace. Does this sound right? Any tips to go on with this step?



Second, I am looking for ways to keep my "boutiqe" product selection for my customers cars, but also cut costs. Would buying in bulk help with the cost of our expensive chemicals? I was thinking finding someplace in raleigh that would sell megs professional line of stuff and gettting them in 5gal containers. The other stuff like polishes/waxes/etc would have to stay the same, I am not going to buy 5gal of wax.



Also, I will be working out of my "garage/barn" at home and out of my truck on mobile jobs. What about the tools for detailing. I already have a 5hp shop vac, PC, rotary, brushes, pads, microfibers, etc. What would I be looking to buy to help me run my buisness more efficiantly? I know I would want a pressure washer for my moble jobs. I have alot of stuff at my shop, but I figure I would need some specialized tools for mobile jobs. I wont get a trailer to start off with, but I will eventually get one.



Finally, I was wondering what sort of advertising I could go for? I already have a word of mouth thing going, and my skills and results back that up. I was thinking offering to my regular customers something for every customer they refer to me or hand a flyer out to. What about 10% off, or a free wash/vac or something like that? That would get me some customers I hope. I was also thinking of a web site and putting it in vinyl on the back window of my truck? I know that if I was looking to purchase something, I go to a website first, then call. So would a website be worth the cost? Also, I was thinking about advertising in the local newspapers and radio, that would be fairly inexpensive.



I want to do this for my next couple of years, and hopefully be successful at doing it. I, like every one else, have alot of questions.



Thanks for looking over this

Brandon
 
Brandon,



What's wrong with Spanish? I hope you don't put that on your business stationary!



You should read some books on marketing, advertising, and small business management. If you are that busy, you should be training one or two guys/gals and spending more of your time selling. Don't get caught being a detailer and not a businessperson if you want to make money. Do you know how much it costs you to operate per hour? Do you know what you want to pay yourself per hour? Take some time and try to figure out what these figures are do that you know if you are charging enough. Many times, new guys start out thinking they are making money....they are very busy, but at the end of a few months can't figure out why they do not have a profit.



Book: E-Myth Revisited



Rob
 
Nah, I just hate trying to learn spanish for NC state.



I would like to end up making about $550 per week. I am not looking for a future job for the rest of my life, just one to get me through some costs of college and teenage life.
 
It would be easier if they taught 2nd languages beginning in kind. or 1st grade, but that's another story..I struggled through 3 yrs. in high school, but my students appreciate it when I try to speak the little I know...same with sign language.



$550 per week is probably doable, but if you want to profit that much, it's going to be more difficult. Especially if your area cracks down on detailers that do not reclaim water and you don't. That could cost you a lot of money.



I would do some research on Ebay for some equipment. Try not to get caught up in the detail chemical hype- you don't need 3 different all purpose cleaners. Also, make sure you have an MSDS sheet on every product you use and just keep them in a binder.



A referral system could work quite well. Just make sure what you give as a reward is not taking your profit. You might add value instead of offer the customer to pay less money. For example, for every referral, the customer gets an upgrade from a premium wax to a premium sealant, or a leather protection package for free- how much does the actual product cost you to apply? Maybe around $2.00- this is much better than taking 10% off a $100 detail. Also, it adds value- customer gets a $40 upgrade for free, but they still pay you the $100.



Hope that helps a little, Rob
 
Thanks man, preciate it.



My area wont really crack me too much on the water thing. Most places I detail are on owners properties, so I dont have to worry much about that. And for most places that have water restrictions, I can get away with that with the ONR DP-4n1 stuff. That will be a big help in my area where water restrictions are a every summer event.
 
Provided your prices aren't so high that you are cutting off a lot of people on price alone, the number one advertisers is you and your work. Repeat business and word of mouth is an absolute must in my book to survive. I've always tried to keep my costs down. I've passed out flyers and cards years ago. My wife also helped in a big way by going into local business and passing out information. Repeat business, word of mouth and people seeing me working have been the vast majority of my business.

Bulk chemicals can help you save money. I've bought tons of product in 5 gallon containers over the years. I prefer 1 gallon size though and will pay a little more and buy cases. I just hate 5 gallon pumps, spouts or pouring from them. I also can store 6 1 gallon container behind my truck seat so keeping refills in my truck is easy. I save money on some chemicals but the cost percentage of chemicals is not something I worry much about. Some things that save money are using a less expensive dressing for fenderwells and use the better stuff on tires. I use Stoners trim shine diluted 1:1 on wells. It's the only thing I buy in 5 gallon containers. $55 shipped for 10 gallons of dressing is about as cheap as I can get it. I've used it on tires and it works pretty good but since I dress tires first then wash car with ONR I need a dressing that holds up better to water so I use Meguairs all season dressing. There are some 1 gallon sized waxed but for the most part I've felt they were crap. I carry several waxes (Souveran, P21S, Nattys, Meguiar 27) plus Poli Seal and Opti Seal. The number of cars per container that any of those yeild makes them cost effective. I don't use a lot of all purpose cleaner since I use ONR to clean wheels, tires and wells on most cars and most of my customers are weekly & biweekly washes. I have a bunch of the Meguairs though for when I do use it. One way to help cut cost on chemicals is to take advantage of sales and buy what you can when it's cheap.

For equipment I keep it pretty simple. I have a pressure washer, 50 gallon tank, 12 volt pump powered reel with 60 foot of air hose on it, shop vac, PC, small steamer, 2 1000 watt water heaters (used mainly in winter) plus a generater. Never felt the need or had the desire for a trailer. Currently using a small S10 but have used several cars and trucks of the years. The 50 gallon tank is overkill for me now. Since I switched to ONR for almost all washes I refill it every few days. I hardly use my pressure washer, when I have something heavier then I want to use ONR for I usually just use the pump driven hose. In general I do not ever buy equipment unless I can justify the need for it. There has to be something I can't currently do that I need to do or something that I'm sure new equipment will greatly speed up or improve.
 
Find a going rate per hour that you are comfortable working at and go from there. Remember to deduct average cost of insurance, gas for your truck, chemicals, depreciation on equipment etc and add them to this figure. This is what you should be charging. DONTY underprice yourself. People pay for "perceived value" and if they think you are cheap then some will expect what you do is cheap. Most people will pay a little more for a percieved "high end" job. Use marquee names for some step ups on the products, ie: wax and then add $XX for "insert name wax here".



Are you comfortable making $550 detailing 2 or 3 cars for 5 to 7 hours apiece or do you think you want to do 15 to 20 cars for 2 to 3 hours apiece? The amount of time you want to invest will dictate what you charge to a degree.



Good luck and this is just my opinion, for what it is worth
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top