starting small detail business--correct prices??

H

havabooz

New member
well..i love to detail my car and i always hate seeing beautiful cars in my area that look like the driver doesnt even have the decency to run it through a car wash let alone get it detailed



but i know the customers i am trying to target would be very interested in having their cars detailed



i go down to the shore for the summer and their is only 1 detailer that i know of that pretty much does the whole community...i watch what he does and i wanna cry for the people that actually pay money for it



i just want to know the correct prices to charge for the following jobs



1.wash,dry,interior clean-

2.same as #1 but add wax

3.the works( wash, clay, polish, wax, interior)



i will be using zaino products for the most part (may use other clay bars to be cost efficient)



but i have NO idea what a reasonable rate is--the people i am trying to target are ones that think that more expensive is better but i am just looking around to see what you guys charge



any help or advice would be nice..thanks
 
Do a search, it is the time of year that everyone is asking this question!



I wouldn't recomned using zaino either, it is costly, cant be purchased in large volume (cheaper that way) and well it doesn't give the look that some other products can (start the flaming!)





If you want to see my prices, check out the high speed side of my website (www.diamonddetailing.biz) There are packages and pricing tables
 
good advice...but you didnt really tell me whats less expensive and eye popping?



i planned to do it all by hand cause you dont need an orbital buffer for zaino



but im afraid that i will get some cars that will need some abrasive stuff to get the deep swirls out..please keep the advice coming
 
If you plan on detailing professionally, and based on what you said about the cars you see, my advice is o get familiar with a rotary and a orbital, they will save you time and alot of extra energy. some less expensive products are going to be Stoners Invisible Glass for the windows, avail in 5 gallon for $45, or in 19oz aerosol for $4, Polish, I prefer to use DACP as an all around polish, but i have the menzerna twins, and the poorboys ssr's for specialized (everycar is really specialized who am i kidding :P) umm as far as a sealant, i am really starting t like wolfgang, you can get the sealant in a 64oz jug for $50. Tires and engines i clean with Eimann Fabrik HI, I dress the interior with 303, and the tires with either UV2 or Armorall depending on the vehicle. Wheel Wells i use UV2 since it is cheap and leaves a semi-gloss finish (ww.hollander1.com) for the uv2. I like EF carpet cleaner, or 303 cleaner 30:1 for carpets. 303 30:1 on the dash and vinyl. etc... Shop around, you will find an array of products that will meet what you are going to need as a pro.



EDIT: as i have offered to others, if you have alot of questions, i can answer alot of them. I like talking to people, it is easier than typing over and over again. So.. if you would like alot of information, feel free to call me at (585) 414-3625. (I have free long distance if you dont, so call and give me your # and i will call back if need be :)

Mike
 
thanks for the advice on products ...im sorry im not in tune with the lingo yet but what is DACP?



and as far as applying/removing polishes and sealants do you use the orbital for everything or do you do stuff by hand?
 
You should also consider AIO/UPP combo. Both are available by the gallon. Easy to use, and eye popping results. And I second DACP (#83 - Meguiar's Dual Action Cleaner Polish).



AIO - Klasse All in One

UPP - 4 Star Ultimate Paint Protection
 
In addition, I'm certainly not suggesting charging less than everyone else. For that matter, you may wish to charge more. I'm very leery when someone throws me a low price - - I get scared.



Charge based upon the quality of job you can provide and make referrals an important part of a growing business.



Here's the local detailer's van I spotted when I was on vacation this week:
 

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Sounds like you most likely have come from a car forum where Zaino is all you know.



My suggestion to you is to READ and learn all you can from this site before you get too far ahead of yourself.



If the only terms you know are orbital buffer and Zaino, you're really not ready to detail for money.



Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions you might have, but read and search first. :up
 
zaneo you are correct in your assumptions...



let me clarify that i do not intend to start a huge business



im just an enthusiast and only planned to do to other peoples cars what i do on mine...but since i have been detailing my car since i got it i have never needed to use abrasives on it



i would never think of using the abrasive polishes without knowing what i was doing..



there is still plenty of time before the summer to understand how to go about using other products than zaino and i am prepared to learn



first question is this--

its true that i will see a lot of diff cars with diff levels of paint damage..from what i understand...after the normal wash, clay, wash, dry, the polishing process is next..which polish is low on the abrasive scale so that it will do wonders on decent paint but will also really help cars with a little more paint damage (meaning what can i use to be safe no matter how bad the paint)
 
I have had great success with both Menzerna Intensive Polish and Menzerna Final polish. Menzerna products do not contain fillers, so what you see is what is really there.



For most people, to be successful with abrasive products a Porter Cable buffer is a must and a very useful tool. They are extremely user friendly and nearly fool proof.



Keep 'em coming. :cool:
 
tpgsr has the products you should examine. I will add Poorboys EX w/ Carnuba by the gallon to the mix.



You say you wish to do this part time and just covering your losses is important. If so, what are you currently doing which allows this? Examine that as your possible market. More than likely, you are in school--this is an instant market for you and it immediately lets you stand apart from the competition as you are "one of them."



To transition smoothly into Polish and Paint Correction Land, get a good paint cleaner like AIO, WG, or Medallion. These all use chemicals whereas true "polishes" use abrasives to clean and sometimes correct the paint. Once you are comfortable with a two or three step process by hand, then either add polishes or a PC (I recommend the PC right away).



Above all, have fun with it.
 
as everything usually is im starting to realize this is just going to be a learning process...its kinda funny explaining things to newbies after you learn all about a particular thing cause you were once the newb



all the products are overwhelming me..i guess the best way to understand all this is to find out where the zaino products stand in the mix



all i know is that the zaino rep that sold me the stuff (and i did research before) kept emphasizing that there are NO abrasives or silicone in zaino...he also kept saying how carnubas and other waxes/polishes arnt good to use over and over (which i am not beginning to understand why) and that zaino is very healthy for the paint



am i correct in assuming that zaino products are to be used only when the paint is new or restored to new condition with abrasive polishes?



and lastly i am under the impression that polishes are rubbed on and continually rubbed until it gets to a certain state..meaning its not applied and left to sit....what about paint cleaners?..are those applied like polishes or like zaino?
 
You first need to learn how to properly prep your paint. Very thoroughly wash, claybar, abrasive polish (if needed), then apply your wax/sealant. Learn the proper maintenance techniques for washing, drying, and waxing (this includes wash mitts, towels, etc.).



Zaino is very durable and great on certain colors. Any product talked about on this forum is at least decent.



Abrasive polishes do exactly that; they abrade a tiny amount of clear coat in order to level out swirls and scratches (usually by use of a machine like an orbital buffer or rotary buffer).



Rotary buffers are not to be messed with by newbies. It is too easy to burn and marr the paint. Good orbital buffers, like the Cyclo or the Porter Cable, have more power than cheapies, but are very safe for most anyone to use.



Keep reading...
 
your responses are appreciated..however you have underestimated my newbie knowledge...i use the cali water blade in conjuction with the ultimate drying towels..for a wash mit i kinda concocted my own from the 100% usa cotton feildcrest towels that i use to wipe off the zaino...so in that dept i think i am already on track



My car will not likely need abrasives as long as i keep my detailing schedule constant... almost all of the customers i plan to target will need an abrasive...but almost all wont need anything more than a MILD one...any of my customers cars that WOULD need a more serious abrasive are the types of people that only want a wash and dry...i definately wont be messing with a rotary buffer and i would really rather use polishes that can be applied by hand rather than an orbital but it def doesnt hurt to learn how to use one



you might be answering this question in my other thread but ill ask it here just in case..its about the polishing process



after drying the car (post claybar and wash) i will be applying the polish as you stated..in reference to the menzerna products you mentioned above..why are 2 polishes needed?..MUST the 2 be used in conjunction? are they both abrasive...are they both applied the same way..or is the former "rubbed out" and the latter "applied"...the only hurdle i cant seem to get over is the multitude of products and what they are and how they are applied (im talking about polishes only,,,i understand the concept of waxes and sealants)
 
In addition to what LouisanaJeeper said, you should also download the e-book (about $10) which will really cover a lot of questions you may have.
 
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