extrem clean
New member
i plan on opening soon and i just want all the advice people have to give... u know all the stuff u say i wish i new this sooner... and i also want to know who makes the best buffer? thanks:work:
opening soon need some advice
- Thread starter extrem clean
- Start date
brwill2005
New member
extrem clean said:
What are you opening? Is it a shop or a mobile detail business. Is it part time or full time. Regardless, you should have a business plan. I wish I had done one before I started. The business plan should map out everything including how your business is structured, what services you are offering, your target market, how you will reach that market, and where your financing will come from. What buffer is best, and what supplies you use is very unimportant.
extrem clean
New member
i am opening a shop, and what exactly do u mean by structured
Labster
New member
extrem clean said:
If you don't have a solid business structure businesses tend to stretch themselves too thin and basically shut down before they really get going. You need to know what you're doing with your business, who you're reaching, what services you know how to offer and execute within a given time frame, etc.
I'm not trying to be a **** here but how much experience do you have in the auto detailing industry or are you one of the many who think it's a way to make a quick buck?
extrem clean
New member
i dont have that much experience but i am learning hands on from a pro. im in it for the long hall but we all have to start somewhere
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
extrem clean said:
Good luck with your Shop. Very exciting(and stressful) time I bet? Can you tell us a little more like:
Wholesale(dealers) or retail or both
Location (city/state)
Experience
# of employees
Competition
Amount of cash in reserves for start up costs
Where you are going to aquire products
Oh, and BTW, I like Makita rotaries and Porter Cable XP Dual Action polishers. All with Lake Country foam pads.
Darrenpriest
New member
without going into the 1,000 different topics and areas of running a business and detailing; the best advice I could apply to simplify the moment would be to find a mentor first.
Verify that this person knows what they are doing first, before you decide they are in a position to be offering advice. There are so many variables to not only knowing how to detail a car, but running a business. If the right person can be found, you can shortcut the learning curve dramatically.
I could fill volumes talking about all the variables of running a business without even touching on the subject of auto detailing.
As a starting point, when considering a mentor, what kind of results are they getting themselves, e.g. how successful are they themselves at what they are trying to teach.
Also know that generally speaking, we get what we pay for. So now days, I start with the most expensive and work down from there if needed. There is usually a reason someone is more expensive than the others. The same usually holds true in the world of detailing cars also.
Personally, I have found it is hard to find sincere and genuine people that don't have an underlying agenda they are less than forthcoming about. And often, we are so ignorant as to lack enough beginning experience to even ask the right questions. So we end up being a pawn in someone else's agenda that is different than our own.
I also know that had I listened to those around me over twenty years ago, I would never have made the leap to business ownership; they were all so skeptical.
In closing just know you will never be fully prepared for anything and you may over think things and never pull the trigger. I find most people get overly anxious and rush into things. I would do plenty of homework before pulling the trigger. Rome wasn't built in a day, and if you are truly serious about being it in for the long haul, you need to build your foundation. The better your foundation, the higher you will be able to go.
Verify that this person knows what they are doing first, before you decide they are in a position to be offering advice. There are so many variables to not only knowing how to detail a car, but running a business. If the right person can be found, you can shortcut the learning curve dramatically.
I could fill volumes talking about all the variables of running a business without even touching on the subject of auto detailing.
As a starting point, when considering a mentor, what kind of results are they getting themselves, e.g. how successful are they themselves at what they are trying to teach.
Also know that generally speaking, we get what we pay for. So now days, I start with the most expensive and work down from there if needed. There is usually a reason someone is more expensive than the others. The same usually holds true in the world of detailing cars also.
Personally, I have found it is hard to find sincere and genuine people that don't have an underlying agenda they are less than forthcoming about. And often, we are so ignorant as to lack enough beginning experience to even ask the right questions. So we end up being a pawn in someone else's agenda that is different than our own.
I also know that had I listened to those around me over twenty years ago, I would never have made the leap to business ownership; they were all so skeptical.
In closing just know you will never be fully prepared for anything and you may over think things and never pull the trigger. I find most people get overly anxious and rush into things. I would do plenty of homework before pulling the trigger. Rome wasn't built in a day, and if you are truly serious about being it in for the long haul, you need to build your foundation. The better your foundation, the higher you will be able to go.
JohnKleven
New member
ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE! Keep your shop clean and it will pay off with higher productivity, and your customers will notice. Every tool or chemical needs a place. Also the products you buy, make sure they're dilluted properly, use a dillution machine for things like degreaser, and car soap, which you will use a lot. Other chemicals, I recommend get a 5 gallon cube to fill your bottles with. A clean and organized shop is a productive and profitable shop. This is something I'm extremely anal about.
John
John
JohnKleven
New member
ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE! ORGANIZE! Keep your shop clean and it will pay off with higher productivity, and your customers will notice. Every tool or chemical needs a place. Also the products you buy, make sure they're dilluted properly, use a dillution machine for things like degreaser, and car soap, which you will use a lot. Other chemicals, I recommend get a 5 gallon cube to fill your bottles with. A clean and organized shop is a productive and profitable shop. This is something I'm extremely anal about. Also, if you're planning on working on higher end vehicles, I recommend to put everyone in a uniform. I have a uniform company that delivers my uniforms every week. This way my employees and myself have a clean uniform every day.
John
John
sacdetailing
New member
JohnKleven said:
wow thats interesting, i like detailing and i realy like when everything is clean!, when ill open am going to do that!
extrem clean
New member
That for all the advice but it seems im running into two big problems the first one is getting produts im having trouble finding somewher i can order in bulk from ( and do anyone knows where i cam find the scrub brush that goes on the end of a buffer?) and the other is finding help is a problem im working part time at pepsi and going to school so need some one to be there when i cant.....
extrem clean
New member
Thanks for all the advice but it seems im running into two big problems the first one is getting produts im having trouble finding somewhere i can order in bulk ( and do anyone know where i cam find the scrub brush that goes on the end of a buffer to clean carpet and stuff?) and the other isfinding im working part time at pepsi and going to school so need some one to be there when i cant.....
lot of people have said that these 70-90 dollar details arent any good but im workin out of my gerage so just opening up i figured i would start out around this price to get people coming but once im estblished, around what shold my prices be?
and does 3m make good products because i bought the super compound and it dose not seem to work for me when im done i still have alot of tiny scratchs.:wall:ignore:nixweiss
lot of people have said that these 70-90 dollar details arent any good but im workin out of my gerage so just opening up i figured i would start out around this price to get people coming but once im estblished, around what shold my prices be?
and does 3m make good products because i bought the super compound and it dose not seem to work for me when im done i still have alot of tiny scratchs.:wall:ignore:nixweiss
Are you following up with a polish after using the compound? Are you using a rotary or DA? Which pads are you using? Some of your question lead me to believe you need to gain more experience before you venture out on your own. Maybe you should keep things pretty basic before trying to sell more advanced services and make a grave mistake and ruin a customer's car. Offer services within your range of comfort. Do not over extend yourself. Practice, practice, practice.
By the way, yes 3M makes great products. As others have mentioned there are a fair number of product lines that work great. You need to find out whick works best for you. Try buying a gallon at a time. And keep things basic. I know it's easy to get caught up in the hype and buy every new "super" wax that comes out. That is a sure fire way to run yourself broke.
Just my opinion.
By the way, yes 3M makes great products. As others have mentioned there are a fair number of product lines that work great. You need to find out whick works best for you. Try buying a gallon at a time. And keep things basic. I know it's easy to get caught up in the hype and buy every new "super" wax that comes out. That is a sure fire way to run yourself broke.
Just my opinion.
sacdetailing
New member
extrem clean said:
bro i do not recommend opening business for you.. Dont get mad but you got A LONG WAY to go! You have to start YOURSELF! i JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU WILL FAIL 100% if your going to open business the way you explained.
Donavin629
New member
sacdetailing said:
i have to agree with you here man.. not to shoot your dreams down.. but judging by your post about buffing scratches out and what to do next…you have some work to do.. my best advice.. take some time off and dig into these forums .. this one and others.. read on other peoples steps.. look at their pics.. ask them questions.. if you jump into it and start working on customers vehicles without being confident about your work or how to handle certain situations that may arise .. then your setting yourself up for disaster… don’t just attend a detailing school too.. I wasted my money on one.. just practice on your friends cars.. your car.. family..etc.. go to local body shops and ask them for any black hoods they don’t want.. practice on black paint!!!!!!!!
But really dig into these forums and talk to people on here.. it will save you in the long run.
donavin629 said:
This is going to be one of the last time I respond to one of these threads because this has seriously been covered dozens of times in the past. I normally choose not to reply to the threads where the OP obviously has no place starting a detail business and taking peoples hard earned money for a sub-par "detail" then wants people to just tell him how to run his business.
Many of us that have been in business detailing for years use these [pro] forums for discussing actual issues and topics involved in operating the business and better serving our customers. There is really a great community of professionals on here that love to share knowledge and appreciate a good discussion on technique, pricing, and individual business models.
When the pro forum gets filled with "I'm opening a detail shop! Tell me everything I need to know!" then it turns away a lot of the great pros that were actually willing to help out in the first place. We take our businesses seriously and when a teenager with no experience detailing cars or any knowledge of operating a business comes on here looking for someone to take them by the hand and tell them everything there is to know and teach them how to operate a business it is not only in very poor taste but also offensive.
My advice, if you're looking to start a detail business and want help from a pro on here, read up in the archives and send a PM to one of the veterans and ask specific questions. I always respond to PMs and even phone calls. You are ready to start your business when you have no more questions because they have all been answered in your business plan. Threads like this are asking to be ignored.
Welcome to Autiopa. Try starting with this forum.
:welcome
sacdetailing
New member
bro maybe he wants to open a car wash and vacuum shop :laugh: ... because detailing is not just that.
they have to find their own success formula. Its same thing as asking in "Bill Gate forums" (lol my own joke),please show me how to make 10000 grand. thanks! :nono
they have to find their own success formula. Its same thing as asking in "Bill Gate forums" (lol my own joke),please show me how to make 10000 grand. thanks! :nono