Volume business - Money Makers

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bunkeroo26

New member
There are many different facets to the volume business.

I am not going to talk numbers, because that is what is focused on.


I want to share some ways that my volume business can be profitable.

These are other marketing techniques and attention drawers designed to make cash.


Now, just because I say volume, don't get hung up on low cost.

I am focused at gaining more high paying clients, because I have

enough low cost work to keep me busy for infinity.


One question is where are the higher paying customers. This question led

itself to what I feel is a great plan, a premium service that I can sell

at a premium price. I am starting an "Alibi Crew". This will

be marketed to the high class men's clubs in town.


The man comes home and is questioned "where were you".

"oh honey, I was getting the car detailed ". How much is that Alibi worth?

I would say 40 bucks a pop for quality exterior wash, wax and seal.


Also I have" Stripper Scent" from Chemical Guys. She asks "Why do

you smell like that", he responds "it is some new car fragrance", and she

can go sniff his car if she doesn't believe him. How much is this worth?

To the right person, in the right situation, it is worth alot. Easy money.

It is just about building business relationships.



In addition to these sales, I am also going to offer "premium crews" of washers

to lots for an additional fee. What are some examples? Imagine a crew of 4 hot

women (dressed nicely because we are in a family friendly lot), but having

them clean the front line of cars. Guys will stop. How valuable is this

to a dealer? Very.



I am also going to offer themes. Do you want to appeal to military?

We can have our guys in camo cleaning your lot. People will wonder

what is happening and stop. Do you want to accentuate your sale?

We can costume out to dealers preference for a price, as long as my

workers are comfortable with it, they will make much more money.


Not bragging, but I can see how plans like these could have a higher potential

for profit than a normal detailing company. Especially when I get hot women

that I can pay 20 an hour to work for me.


I thought that my washers can even have a tip jar. I thought one of the

coolest things would be to dress and move like robots. A robot wash

would make some good tips. Even dressing on scrubs, I would call us

the car doctors, and have fun with it.


This isn't going to be mindless work. I plan to keep it interesting and profitable.



What do you think?

Do you see any initial problems?

Are you jealous that I thought of it first? /wink



Oh and don't think that I am discounting the highest class restaurants

and ultra lounges in town. These are where the money is.

Imagine if I could get on the menu, so people could order the service

during their meal. Yes, this would only be Friday and Saturday nights

from 5 until 9 or so, but I like the idea.
 
no offense , but sounds like a joke.


words... bring facts to the table after you achieve all the above...
 
That is the same attitude that people take when I tell them

about the volume business in general.


I never joke about money.


The alibi play is one of the strongest, working with restaurants

probably won't happen, and having a "premium crew" is already

in the works.


Many detailers could never imagine schemes like this, because they

take too long on details. This is where quick exterior only work

allows it to be feasable.


Imagine the response if ten "furries" are visible from the road, cleaning cars?

This would bring in families to the sale at the lot. The money that

owners will pay to bring people in is immense.


I am not saying that you need to run with my ideas. I just suggest

some other ways of making money during busy tax season. The customer

is where the money is. How locally viral would it go if there was

a few Master Chiefs from Halo cleaning cars, and making them look

amazing.


That is the foundation to all of the business schemes. You must have

high quality, or if would all be a joke.
 
April 1st is still a few weeks away. I don't think these professionals are interested in any of these ideas. But good luck to you with them.
 
1. Thanks your your "jab" at April fools day.

2. Luckily, i didn't ask your opinion.

3. So you determine what everybody on the site cares for?


Some will view posts like this add just "words".

Others can view it as possible most makers.


Do i care what you think is possible?

Most melt it had no relevance to me, as most people here view

the volume business as not possible. You already have a closed mind.
 
Although I'm not a volume detailer, I've worked in and around those type of businesses for years.


 


They are 97% of the industry, at least. I find it horribly ironic how a lot of people on the detailing forums snub their noses at the volume detail model when they are making most of the money and many of them have incredible longevity.
 
Here's a few more suggestions for volume businesses, things that have worked for me.



When washing cars, we are very hands on. We care about our work and the cars.

For this reason, we have an add on service where we provide inventory service to the lot.

My only do we photograph and document the cars on lot digitally, but we also notate

any defects that we find with the car.


This information is very useful to the dealers, and they don't have to have their own

employees do it. We notice everything from scratches to windshield gaskets.

Dealers pay well to have a full spreadsheet of vehicles with pictures and list of defects.


My charge for this service varies greatly, but response is huge.
 
Can you please discuss with some facts, numbers, and hours the type of money that can get you? I am sure it would interest many here.
 
Facts and numbers are up to the individual.

This is just so that some can see potential.

One business owner can see making things happen,

while another sees only obstacles and problems.


I am not trying to get anyone doing exactly what I do.

What I do want people to see, is that there are different

niches that they can step into, other than the professional detailer niche.


It takes years of practice and patience to be a professional. There must be some jobs that others can do in the time that they are building their name.



As for inventory, I forgot to add that we rate the damage from 1 to 5, with 5 being worst and 1 being superficial. We also catalog the damage in picture so that the detail manager can decide what needs fixed in what priority.


My guys notice more defects than their employees because we are hands on for 100 percent of the paint.


As for the fee that I charge for inventory, it is going up because I realize what it would cost them to produce it themselves, very expensive.
 
IHA Mark said:
Although I'm not a volume detailer, I've worked in and around those type of businesses for years.


 


They are 97% of the industry, at least. I find it horribly ironic how a lot of people on the detailing forums snub their noses at the volume detail model when they are making most of the money and many of them have incredible longevity.
Click to expand...


I wish I knew how to compete with the $125-150 (including the $75 fly by nite's) shops.


 


My 'Daily Driver' process for a Toyota 4Runner, medium staining on cloth seats, etc., starts at $250. And we clean and condition everything. One differencec between our DD and our 'Grande' is that on the DD I've developed my own recipe that is a one step wipe down of the interior Vinyl/leather. That's after the Tornador/ VX5000 steamer to remove the crud in all the nooks and crannies/vents, etc.


 


OK, I'll fess-up. My recipe is a 4/1 Megs HyperDressing, 4/1 Total (I used to use Megs APC+ and I might go back to it 'cause I think Total's scent ruins the recipe) and a touch of 303. It's my clean and condition one step and the HyperDressing smells great. I mix it up in a 5 gallon bucket with one of those spin on lids that seals tight. Similar to the Gary Dean Method, I have soaking a bunch of Sams Club MF in the bucket and when it's time to wipe down the interior I spin off the lid, wring the towel so it's not dripping wet and proceed to wipe down the interior. Throw the towel in the hamper if it's picking up to much soil and grab another from the bucket. Buff dry if needed.


 


If we can sell our 'Grande', we use either LVP or Leather Masters to clean (again after crud/dog hair, etc cleaning.) Steam the entire interior with a white terry towel, then use either Liquid Leather or Leather Masters to condition. Hand polish wheels, engine compartment ...on and on..


 


But the consumer is so price concious that the additional $100 we charge for our DD costs us business. I guess I could use water blades to dry the car, clay, after the shampoo is rinsed, with the remaining shampoo in the wash bucket and use a wax as you dry product; but how can you blow thru the interior and leave crud in the seat rails or soil in the seams of seats and trim? I just don't know how to do a $125 detail. I get a modicum of business from two dealerships that I charge $120 for. But that's only to keep my help busy during the winter. I'm breaking even on dealer work if I'm lucky.


 


I'd dress up in a TuTu if I could figure out how to detail a car in an hour; give or take.
 
William, share some real examples and figures please. Its difficult to see potential without knowing what kind of money is there.
 
I would avoid any "alibi" service like the plague. Outsiders who assist in covering up secrets in marriages can literally become punching bags or worse. I've seen this personally. None the less be a part of a business. I respect your thinking outside the box but only hope that was a light example not serious for your own business sake. You did ask for thoughts so I did not want to take it too seriously.
 
When you do a detail, do you ask where the dirty came from? I view the same for an alibi service. Of course a large premium will be paid by the customer. This is less of a real alibi, and more of going to businesses where the money goes on town.


It's not that everyone needs an alibi, that is just "in club" marketing. While you jump to infidelity, many people just don't want to answer questions. Also think of it as alibi towards their job or boss, not just a wife.


People on this forum get too hung up on the word "detail". First off there are many many many different levels of detail. Even when someone says "full" detail, what are they talking about? Do they want a wash and wipe, or do they want concours level?


The industry has a hangup on that one word, and I believe that it hurts our industry. We need more descriptive words. So, when someone talks about volume business there is a disconnect in thinking. How can I ever do a detail for X amount of money. It's because you are only thinking of the job as Y for X dollars, when there is a whole alphabet to choose from.




Dfox, I am not interested in sharing numbers. If the conversation is interesting, you are encouraged to do some investigation into your own situation.


Every town has different weather which affects possibilities. Every owner does things differently. Every person is either open or closed to ideas.


For volume work, the money is there. It just depends if you want to do the work, and if you have the drive to make your vision succeed. Just think of the detailers here as fine landscapers who do the awesome sculpting of shrubs. Someone still needs to more the grass.


The question is:

Can you do a quality job

Can you enjoy it

Can it make enough money

Can it support a workforce


To me, the volume play allows you to answer yes to all of the questions. The majority of work in your town is volume work. This is especially true if you are in a market saturated with pro detailers.


If the pros are scrambling for jobs, why not pick up the easy profits of volume work? If you don't need to, it might not be for you. I am not here to change people's business plan. However, I would wager that at least 75 percent of detailers registered here need MORE work. If this is the case, why do so many people talk down to volume work.


Quality volume work preserves finishes and is just as important as quality professional detailing.


Some people view themselves as "ABOVE" this type of work, or this mindset. The change comes when you decide to succeed.


You must evaluate your marketplace and find out what they are willing to pay. Can you charge ten bucks for a quick ONR and seal? Can you charge 25 for the same service? Can you take professional methods and make them efficient enough to provide a quality price point? If yes, there can be money in it.



John, as an answer to your question, the alibi service, aka marketing to high dollar business clients is not a main priority of mine. This is something to do on nights and weekends as a time fill. Plus it is fun to be in the ritzy areas of town. I am trying to go where the nicest cars are at, to win them as clients.


Should I have a moral compass for business? Yes and no. If something came to my attention, like the guy was beating his wife in the parking lot ; I would refuse to service his vehicle. That being said, I am not going to be questioning the customers at all, just giving service.


I debated this same thing with an employee. He didn't want to go to a business because of illicit drug trade in that area. There was nothing concrete, just speculation. Can we as business owners speculate about all of our customers? I believe we can't.


We can't assume that the guy with the Lambo got it from drugs. We can't assume the Porsche came from child sex rings. Of course I realize that some of our (Autopia as a whole) customers are not 100 percent honest businessmen. But, who are we to judge? What if we judge wrong? Only our business suffers.


As a detailer, do you question where the pay comes from, or do you may ask what level of service they want, and on how many cars do they want it?


Yes, I understand the term alibi has negative connotation. But, the guy who just doesn't want to go home yet deserves an alibi too.
 
Basically, providing detail service at a business, to where your client can explain away their lost time. Whether it be a boss, boyfriend, wife, or preacher their reason for an alibi is not of my worry.


I go to upscale clubs and lounges to target clients with upscale vehicles. The fact is that regardless if they need an alibi or not, this are the businesses that have the nicest vehicles (at least in my town).


I don't market this as an alibi service to the clients, is just the easiest way to describe it.
 
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