Post your Detailing Business Goals for 2007

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imported_mirrorfinishman

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When it comes to operating a detailing business, sometimes we would just like to continue to do things the way we have always done them. It is easy to understand, almost always fun and the way we know best. Hey, doing things the way we have always done them got us this far. As our detailing businesses continue to grow we need to take time to set realistic goals and find ways of measuring whether or not we are meeting those goals.



Since we are all at different levels in this industry, we will all have different goals. Think about it; some are new to detailing, some weekend driveway detailers, some own detail shops, some do mobile detailing, some do only wholesale dealership work, some do only re-conditioning type detailing, some do car dealer washing and prep, some do recreational vehicles, some do boats, some do power washing of tractor and trailers, some do express detailing, some do extreme detailing, some offer equipment, some offer products, some offer services and information about detailing. Yes, we are all at different levels in this industry and we all come from different backgrounds. So of course, our goals will be different.



What are your detailing business goals for 2007?
 
First of all take pics of everything!!!



If the car needs more work than the owners willing to pay for, move along to a polishing job.



many more to come but those two are at the forefront of my mind.
 
VaSuperShine said:
If the car needs more work than the owners willing to pay for, move along to a polishing job.
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That's a really good one, it'll help your business immensely, imo.



Mine are to work on my follow-up contact with clients. Not right after the detail, but down the road for maintenance work. I am thinking of starting a mailer for previous clients (not mass mailing, but send out notes reminding them they need a re-seal, etc).



I may also considering hiring someone to help me out, but we'll see how that goes!
 
I want to get a little more professional. Not that I am not right now, but professional, as in grow bigger.

I started off small, on a shoestring if you will. Bought a 4x8 utility trailer, and put my own floor and sides on it. Was nice for a while, until I started geting more and more jobs, and more and more stuff.

I am hoping to upsize to a 5 or 6x10 enclosed trailer by mid January.

As well as upgrade some of my equipment.

Have everything central in my trailer....vac, hoses, etc....just open the doors and unreel..

I also will be in the market for a Mytee HP100 hot water extractor.

Along with making small changes to the logo, website, paperwork and such.



Follow up with the customer more, as said above. Call a day or 2 afterwards, and make sure everything is still satisfactory.

Also, what was said above, if the customer is not willing to pay for a certain thing....move on.



All in all, I am looking to expand in 2007. Be more organized as well.....lol
 
1. Find some competent help. My kids have helped me the last 4-5 years in the summer but now that one is about to go into the air force and my younger boy is in his last year of high school and planning on college in Kentucky, I probably won't be able to rely on them to help out much past this July. I'm looking for someone with a good work ethic and preferably, no detailing experience. It is easier to train than to retrain.



2. Tighten up my pricing a bit more. Still overworking/under bidding on some jobs but it is getting better.



3. Bring my website out of the 90s and into 2007.



4. Look into the viability of adding windshield repair and maybe minor interior repair.
 
my goal for 07 is s little smaller then alot mentioned but its big for me. I want to be able to do details a weekend so i can quit my other job. I would LOVE more then 3 a weekend but that should allow myself and my partner to focus more on detailing and school.. and school first ofcourse
 
Scottwax said:
2. Tighten up my pricing a bit more. Still overworking/under bidding on some jobs but it is getting better.
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Real quick then we can get back to goals. how many of you have people wanting a car wash or detail and want a discount before they know your price or see your work? i have a price list but people ask how much for this and i forget cause people want discounts so i change the price for them and not others so i get confused sometimes. i have a lady that says i'll get the whole office together if you give us a discount. the whole office? fine that works, and ill give you a discount, but other people just one person will want a price break. i dont know it irritates me cause it seems like everyone wants a deal. some will get one but not all. had to vent sorry
 
I am officially launching Smooth Reflections in 2007. I started this year to kinda see what is involved, but my 'official' launch is going to be spring (business licence and such). Of couse i'll take any work that comes before then as well.



I will hopefully be solidifing my rotary use (i'm asking for a metabo for x-mas... and thats all) and see if I can start learning paintless dent removal next year. I will be graduating sometime next year as well. ( CIS )
 
For 2007 I want to continue to build my niche of detailing for car lovers.Over the years I have always detailed just any car now I want to work smarter and not harder.Its costing me money but I am seeking to build a reputation among people who will not have to ask me the price first.

I wish I could say " if you have to ask the price you can't afford me "
 
My goal is to grow the relationship with the exotic car restoration shop I am doing business with now. I want this to be my only client, I don’t want to detail daily drivers for retail customers at all.

I get about 4 wet-sand and detail jobs from them per month (These are all I will take. Typically they are charged $1000 to $1500 per car). I'd like to get this up to 8 per month with the help of a full time assistant. I know there is more high-end work there through their massive client base. If I can get 8 jobs per month out of them, I’ll spend more time there to evaluate the potential. Currently, I just don’t have time with my day business to capture those potential clients.
 
Some things I am working towards:



-20% increase in both hand washing and detailing volume.

-$15 increase in my per car detail number

-$10,000 of outside service sales (things like windshield chip repair, PDR, etc.)

-have my first $1,000 day and repeating it as many times as possible.



I have a number of non-monetary goals as well but they all essentially aid in helping me get to these.
 
MichaelM said:
Some things I am working towards:



-20% increase in both hand washing and detailing volume.

-$15 increase in my per car detail number

-$10,000 of outside service sales (things like windshield chip repair, PDR, etc.)

-have my first $1,000 day and repeating it as many times as possible.



I have a number of non-monetary goals as well but they all essentially aid in helping me get to these.
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Now these are solid, quantifiable business goals.

Just make sure to document the "how you will achieve" and add firm dates to each task.



I will increase my washing volume by 20% by May 1, 2007 by doing ABC and XZY. ABC and XYZ will cost $123.45 resulting in a $456.78 ROI.





Good job in planning for 2007.
 
-Reach a high end crowd, allowing me to get top dollar for details.



-Do better paper work



-Take more before pictures



-Compile a small photo album of before and afters



-Schedule more regular weekly wash clients after full details.



Greg
 
Since i am barely getting into this business i will open on the 1st of 2007 and my goals include.....



-Forming a steady clientele

-charging 150-350 per car

-not giving up and being one of the few starters that make it more then just a couple of weeks....

-and most of all HAVE FUN, AND FORM CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS (not just a one time detail)...





i have more because i am barely starting but thiese are most important to me...
 
To work smarter not harder



To stress less about the business and just enjoy it more



Dave:dance :dance
 
MobileJay said:
Real quick then we can get back to goals. how many of you have people wanting a car wash or detail and want a discount before they know your price or see your work? i have a price list but people ask how much for this and i forget cause people want discounts so i change the price for them and not others so i get confused sometimes. i have a lady that says i'll get the whole office together if you give us a discount. the whole office? fine that works, and ill give you a discount, but other people just one person will want a price break. i dont know it irritates me cause it seems like everyone wants a deal. some will get one but not all. had to vent sorry
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It's more like looking over a car and maybe not noticing defects that end up taking me longer to take care of than giving discounts for multiple vehicles.



In the case you described, a customer early on gave me some good advice. "Never be afraid to charge what you feel your work is worth". If you give them a price break, especially on regular repeat business, after a few time you will dread going out there to do the work. Trust me, I've been there. Just tell them you feel you charge a fair price and it isn't fair to your other customers to give one person or group a discount and not them.
 
One of the goals I have is to begin to get up to date with all of this advancing new technology and apply it to some of my basic business functions.



For example, I was talking with one of my customers yesterday and he show me how he now stores all of his photos on memory sticks. By using the USB port on the computer and this tiny inexpensive device he is able to store hundreds and hundreds of pictures.



The first thing that came into my mind was that is the solution I have been looking for when it comes to storing all of those pictures of clients vehicles I have been taking for the past few years.



What I like most about the memory sticks is the fact that they are mobile. You can just unplug the the stick and plug it into another computer. That gives me the ability to take pictures of clients cars after they are detailed and them supply them with their own memory stick containing pictures of their freshly detailed car.



Just thinking out loud here. But you get the idea. For me, it is time to get learning about some of the new high tech stuff that is out there.
 
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