Thinking of starting a mobile business

K

kleraudio

New member
Hello everyone,

I have been seriously considering starting a small mobile detailing business. I have been doing alot of research on mobile trailers and they are a bit out of my price range.



I have a truck so I can probably get a toolbox in the back to store my chemicals, towels, etc....



My only problem is water and hoses. Is it possible to use QEW on all the cars I will do instead of the traditional trailer with water tanks, hoses, air compressors, generators??



If i can get past the carrying water part, I think I can start this business with a lot less investment. Of course in the future I would expand and get the trailer, but for now, would the QEW method work out?



What do your mobile detailing rigs entail?



I plan on doing this as a part time business on the weekends.



Thanks and I appreciate all your input.



Jim
 
Hi Jim, I work out of a chevy astro van and it has a pressure washer, generator, water tanks mounted in it I also have an easy up canopy in there. I dont know about using the qew on all cars especially the ones that are real dirty but I have never used it so I dont know. If you are doing detailing on the weekends then I would think you will be working at your cust. homes When they call I would just ask if they have water and electric available

. I do alot of work during business hours and at office buildings. When I first started out I used my cust. water and elect. and there was no problem in fact even now most customers are suprised that I dont use thier water. Good luck
 
thanks karwaxer. I appreciate the reply, I just didnt know if it would look "weird", "unprofessional", if i used my cust. water and electric. If its not goin to be a problem, then Ill start making the flyers today!



Eventually my plan is to make enough money to afford one of those detailing trailers so I can have a full time operation.



How did you go about getting your initial customers? Friends, family, etc..??



Thanks again for your help!



Jim
 
karwaxer said:
Hi Jim, I work out of a chevy astro van and it has a pressure washer, generator, water tanks mounted in it I also have an easy up canopy in there. I dont know about using the qew on all cars especially the ones that are real dirty but I have never used it so I dont know. If you are doing detailing on the weekends then I would think you will be working at your cust. homes When they call I would just ask if they have water and electric available

. I do alot of work during business hours and at office buildings. When I first started out I used my cust. water and elect. and there was no problem in fact even now most customers are suprised that I dont use thier water. Good luck
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Any pics of your van?
 
I do mobile out of my Pontiac, use my customer's water, electric, etc. I've never had a complaint/anyone turn me down because of it. I think most people are more concerned with the end result, rather than whether you use a few gallons/KWH of their stuff. People who are going to flip out about you using their hose are probably people you don't want to work for anyways :).
 
they were anywhere between 3k and 18k. the higher end of course having waaaayy more options. I would really rather use my cust. water and electric to start, and thanks timmah for the advice:xyxthumbs



Jim
 
I've been running my business for a couple of years using my customer's water and electric or using QEW. Very soon I will be getting a trailer with all the bells and whistles and included a containment mat, but my finances and budget right now is putting that on hold.



I too was concerned about image and perception, but I later on realized from experience and talking with folks (including autopians ;)) that as long as do quality work, have a neat appearance (clothing and yourself), and present your business in a professional manner, you'll do just fine.:xyxthumbs
 
First I'd say start off doing an awesome job with family and friends word of mouth from them will be very loud, because one they know you and most want to see you succed so they will be very quick to refer you to their friends and at the same time you can do the flyer thing. For me since mine is a weekend business I never needed to do flyers, family and friends and their referrals gives me more work then I can handle. I wouldn't worry about the water and electricity thing as mentioned most cust expect to provide that anyway. I would have my own hose though for obvious reasons even if they say they have one you can use. Oh if you can get one of those canopyies you would love youself especially on those hot direct sunlight days in your cust driveway, my cust are always impressed when they come out and see that set up, I always get 'wow your not playing' or 'you mean business'. sometimes its the little things.
 
WaXwOrKs said:
First I'd say start off doing an awesome job with family and friends...



I wouldn't worry about the water and electricity thing as mentioned most cust expect to provide that anyway.



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Sounds like some very good advice! You really do not need mobile trailers, water tanks, pressure washers, air compressors and generators to start a mobile detailing business.
 
I'm not a pro, but I do washings and details for a handful of cars a month for extra cash.



Most people would rather you use their water and electric than have a generator blaring for 4 - 5 hours to run your polisher, vacuum, extractor, pressure washer etc...



I bring my own 100ft hose and 100ft extension cord. They just provide the faucet and outlet.



If they can afford the price for detailing then the small cost of water and electric is meaningless.
 
mirrorfinishman said:
Sounds like some very good advice! You really do not need mobile trailers, water tanks, pressure washers, air compressors and generators to start a mobile detailing business.
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No not to start, but later down the road if and when your able I would recommed it though because it will afford you to widen your customer base i.e. going out on location where a water source is not avaliable, going to cust work sites etc. but for weekend work only, theres a good chance you may never need all that to be honest, at least not until you decide to go full throttle. Just get youself a really good 100ft hose and a nice wet dry vac along with the rest of your equipment and supplies and you'll be good to go. Just to give you some incentive I make anywhere between 3-400 bucks on a weekend without a trailer and tank and I got a hand full of cust on wash and vac programs where I go out once every other sat and do their car for a flat monthly fee. I say I make darn good for a weekend gig and of course from time to time I'll do a QD during the week. I say these things to let you know that if your work is quality you'll be just fine without a tank trailer in fact you may forget all about them.



Also like the guy said above if your doing cust cars in residential areas, which will more than likely be the case, then the noise factor is an issue, and another reason you may not need all of that equipment.
 
Thank you so much everyone. Your advice is helping me out alot. I am moving to florida in 2 weeks and hope to get started first week of July.



Any other advice for someone just starting out?



Does everyone use a PC when they do mobile details?



Besides chemicals, brushes, etc... is a long hose, extension cord and a wet/dry vac all i will need?



Thanks so much for all your help. I REALLY appreciate it!:xyxthumbs



Jim
 
A PC will be you best friend just starting out, then I would suggest adding a rotery to your tool box. This site will give you all the info you need to know on how and when to use these tools, be sure to read up on it here if you haven't already otherwise you may find youself memmicing artistic sheet metal designs on your cust paint.



As far as other tools hmm lets see an exstractor for getting out those tuff staines. thats all I can think of as far as equipment goes maybe some else can chime in.
 
kleraudio said:
Thank you so much everyone. Your advice is helping me out alot. I am moving to florida in 2 weeks and hope to get started first week of July.



Any other advice for someone just starting out?



Does everyone use a PC when they do mobile details?



Besides chemicals, brushes, etc... is a long hose, extension cord and a wet/dry vac all i will need?



Thanks so much for all your help. I REALLY appreciate it!:xyxthumbs



Jim
Click to expand...



Other advice? Just provide the right service for the right price and you'll be good to go.



PC? Used at the end of the exterior detail if anything to apply some products that is all. Rotary used for scratch/swirl removal, It cuts the corrective buffing time by more then half. This is your best friend as a mobile detailer less time in the sun/heat...quicker detail..better paycheck.





You really should also look into a warm water extractor. You can clean carpets by hand but those nice spills you will not be able to fully pull without one plus it saves a ton of time instead of scrubbing the entire carpet then sucking up with the vac. pre scrub any large stains then extract entire carpet and done.







Good luck with the buisness. Later down the road if you want to add a fully equiped trailer to save time I can build you one for about $3,000. These are the trailers we use with power/water/air/storage/reels/ etc. It does help save time and gives you a more pro look.
 
kleraudio said:
1- Any other advice for someone just starting out?



2- Does everyone use a PC when they do mobile details?



3- Besides chemicals, brushes, etc... is a long hose, extension cord and a wet/dry vac all i will need?
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Jim,



1- It is always better to focus on doing quality work. Not the price.



2- I do not use a PC or any other machines. I still do all of the polishing and waxing by hand. At this point, my customers would'nt want it any other way.



3- It's probably better to go with two 50 ft hoses and two 50 ft extention cords. That works out a lot better than one long hose and one long cord.
 
Jim - what part of Florida are you moving into in july? I'm moving down to Melbourne in August (start of school year), and itd be nice to meet up with some other Autopians down there.
 
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