starting a business

B

bubba2u

New member
I've been learning all I can on this site for about a year now in preparation of starting a part time detailing business (or full time if it was extremely successful). I wanted to ask those of you that do it professionally how you got started and how long it took until you started seeing a profit.

Another question is how did you decide(or learn) the best method and steps in detailing a car? I see many so called "detailers" that spend minimal amounts of time on a car, do a job I would consider substandard, and still be able to get people to pay top dollar for the job(I guess the customers don't know any better). I feel I spend alot of time on a car to make it "perfect", which makes me think I am either too picky and need to learn a quicker method so I will be able to do more jobs in a day to be profitable. Does anyone have any input on the most efficient steps in detailing a car while still doing a good job?

Last but not least I have been swayed to start using mainly Mequiars products from the positive feedbacks I read on posts here (especially Scottwax...you seem to have a successful business and prefer mostly Mequiars). Now I just need to find a Mequiars dealer in my area(Chesapeake, Va.). I was using products from a commercial supply house that supplies mainly new car dealers and drive through washes, but found that most of their supplies don't match Mequiars in quality or durability. I am also impressed that Mequiars supplies many of the high end car manufacturers as their dealer preferred products(Mercedes, Lexus to name a few).

Any input on how to get started, work more efficiently while still doing quality work(I found it very hard to find a tried and proven "step by step" method), and be successful would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all the good info so far.
 
Do a search for Meguiars dealers on their website. Practice your skills, obtain supplies, market your business. I learned by doing my own car and other peoples cars. How much experience do you have detailing cars? Just make sure you are prepared for all situations. Also, you will want to get insured and bonded and obviously register your business with the state.



IF you haven't already, download the ebook V3.0 and there is a great write up on Detailing for Profit.
 
I tried purchasing the Autopia ebook several months back but I have an eMac and it was only set up for PC's. I'm waiting to find out when I can get it in Mac format so I can download it and learn some more.

I've already got a business license, federal ID #, etc so I can maximize all deductions on my taxes. I will practice all I learn on my car/relatives cars/etc so I can get comfortable using any new techniques and products I get. As far as insurance and bonding I'll wait until I get the business started and can be sure of a steady income to support the need for it. Thanks for the info..all help is greatly appreciated:)
 
I got started after detailing my brother's car one day. He drove it to work and his coworkers thought he got a new paint job. He called me that day and told me he had 4-5 people at his office willing to pay me to detail their cars. When I first started out, I had to detail at their house or take the car to a local coin-op car wash to clean it. After about 6 months, I found out about QEW, which made it easier to work onsite. I never had any formal training but I'd kept up with detailing trends to keep my own vehicles looking good.



After about a year part time, I decided to go full time. I got my DBA which is the only requirement I had to meet to start my business in Texas. I got a business phone line and a small 3 line ad in the Yellow Pages and put out flyers every day that I didn't have any cars scheduled. Once I had detailed about 1000 cars (about 2 years), I had enough repeat business and referrals that I stopped putting out flyers (no time anyway) and dropped my Yellow Page presence to a listing only. I got lucky when I first started out and picked up a couple of high roller customers. When neighbors drive by and see you detailing a Rolls Royce more than once, they will trust you to detail their BMW.



Since I was mobile, I was turning a profit almost immediately since costs are so low...but making enough to live on took me about a year of part time to build up enough clientle to make a go of it full time. More aggressive marketing could have shortened that period though.
 
Scott,

I tried QEW and wasn't impressed. I guess I need to use it more and get used to the transition from hose wash to QEW. There is quite a difference using the QEW than the normal hose wash. I like the idea of being mobile and not having to rely on a huge water tank or customer supplied water with a product like QEW. I was thinking one could take it a step further since the amount of water used in minimal and buy distilled or deionized water from one of the water stores(where you would normally fill up 5 gallon bottles for drinking water) so the rinse would be spot free.

Do you have any tips on using the QEW to make the learning process easier. I'll try it on my MB again and see how I like it, especially since its getting colder now and it would be nice to use minimal water. Thanks for the advice.
 
Hey I need some help guys what is QEW? Im wanting to close this big ol building down and go mobile As Im tired of the high overhead costs

Thanks Mark
 
Quick and Easy Wash from Protectall .. check it out the protectall.com website or do a search. It's been talk about here quite a bit.
 
I've used QEW (protectall) and I carry a GritGaurd bucket with a sealable lid for deionised water, works for me.



You can get the components for the gritgaurd bucket from california duster co site (much cheaper than the brand name)



Hope this helps
 
dgorila1-it just takes a little bit of practice to get the hang of QEW. Took me a few times to get it right. If you do a search, you will find 3-4 different methods that you can try and decide on using.
 
I use QEW for my mobile business, and I love it! It does a wonderful job on every vehicle I do. Pretty inexpensive giving you only need 1/2oz. per gallon, and one gallon to do one vehicle (car). Profit comes pretty easy using QEW. Not to mention not having to worry about water waste laws, big water tanks, the hassle with water hoses, etc.:xyxthumbs
 
So can you explain in detail how this product works actually, I read some on its website, Now you say it takes a gallon of qew to do a car? or is that one gallon of water ?



What if the vehicle is dirty with mud or just plain real dirty.



Now before using QEW do you have to have the car buffed and waxed?



Thanks for the help, I think I might try and go buy some of this product I see their is a distributer not to far away from me.



Mark
 
Funny you asked you that. I just did a Mercedes CLK yesterday with unbelievable mud and dirt on the bottom of the car (owner of the car owns a piping comapny- which explains the mud), and I used QEW with ease to clean it right off. I use a chenille wash mit which aided me greatly for this job.



No, you don't need to have the vehicle waxed before use. QEW is just like all other car washes out there. It just doesn't produce suds which in turn will allow you to do away with rinsing with a hose, etc.



I wish I took pictures of that CLK I did. I washed with QEW, One coat of Klasse, and topped with P21S carnauba paste....WOW!



QEW only cost I think around $10 for a small bottle. Give a shot, and you'll see why guys like myself and Scottwax use it alot.:xyxthumbs
 
Just used it Quick and Easy Wash for the first time it got dark on me but looked like it was ok will post more on it tommorow, Used 2 capfulls for 1 gallon of water, Any tips and tricks when using this product?

Thanks

Mark
 
how do you get your deionized water? what can i do to deionized and demineralize the water on my own?
 
THE BUFF said:
Just used it Quick and Easy Wash for the first time it got dark on me but looked like it was ok will post more on it tommorow, Used 2 capfulls for 1 gallon of water, Any tips and tricks when using this product?

Thanks

Mark
Click to expand...



Just do a search in the detailing and product discussion forums. Tons of threads about QEW. Mostly though, it just takes getting the hang of using it.
 
noxen said:
how do you get your deionized water? what can i do to deionized and demineralize the water on my own?
Click to expand...



I am having water softener tanks built into my trailer. I also have a 225 gallon water tank. Of course I will be doing fleet trucks, so thats why I have the huge tank.



Cujo
 
I have started a detailing business recently and was in a quandry about going to places of business. I live in an area with high concentration of medical offices and they need mobile detailing!! I am reading this thread and with the knowledge of QEW it will help considerably in going to places of business and doing their cars. Of course I have a toyota camry so what do you suggest for carrying water? Also what do you all do for vacuuming?
 
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