Doing Both Fixed and Mobile - Feel Like I need to Pick

[davisautodetail]

I'm trying to figure out if I should invest in a static fixed location in town, or invest in a better mobile setup. Interested in hearing how those that have been there done that feel.

Details below (sorry it's long):

I've been up and running for a few months, and if it weren't for poor weather in the last couple of weeks, I'd be super happy about how it's progressing. I've been averaging 3-4 bigger jobs a week, either all interior with ozone, etc. or interior/exterior, revenue averaging about $200/job.

I currently have a mobile trailer, and I can pull it around to go do mobile jobs, but it's an open trailer, so not secure, and an issue with freezing this time of year. I also have a shop here at my house, which I've posted before about it being a bit outside of town.

I'm averaging about 40 miles per round trip to do mobile details, which is to the car and back to my place. So far, I haven't been busy enough to do back to back mobile jobs.

It seems that I'm about 50/50 with mobile and fixed location jobs. People don't seem to mind dropping off the car, but I'm currently not setup for a waiting area (who waits 4 hours anyway for a big job?) I can do pick up and drop off, but at an hour of driving per job, it doesn't make sense for a 2 hour job, mobile is better.

The thing that's killing me is the pack/unpack for mobile vs. in shop jobs, plus the drive time. I love being at my house, but I can imagine if I were busier, it becomes more of an issue.

I feel like I have 3 choices:

1. Go full time fixed location here, save money, but possibly lose customers
2. Find a commercial place in town and go fixed only (and don't do pickup and drop off unless it's a bigger job
3. Buy a better trailer, and just go mobile all of the time.

I'm not sure if I'd get more customers in town or not, and then I'm stuck at the shop all day instead of in my home office (I also run a couple of other companies). With a better trailer setup, I could do jobs here out of my trailer, I suppose, and I can heat it if I need to keep stuff from freezing.

My ideal would be to stay here and just have people drop off, but I think for some, it's just too far to drive. But, does it really make sense to spent $1500/month for another fixed location? Weather can be a factor, so maybe.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm a bit lost. Thanks!

KD

 

[VroomVroom]

Not to muddy the waters, but how about option 4? Fixed location for large jobs and value-add services, mobile for the shorter jobs. I know a number of folks who've been successful with this model, for all of the reasons you mention above. Sometimes location matters, sometimes not, but usually you can draw a relationship between that and what type of services you're offering and performing. Good luck...

 

[davisautodetail]

Not to muddy the waters, but how about option 4? Fixed location for large jobs and value-add services, mobile for the shorter jobs. I know a number of folks who've been successful with this model, for all of the reasons you mention above. Sometimes location matters, sometimes not, but usually you can draw a relationship between that and what type of services you're offering and performing. Good luck...

Thanks Jerry!

That's sort of what I've been doing so far. The $64000 question is the one about whether location matters. If I'm doing a full detail, which is 4-6 hours, so far, they've had no issue at all with dropping off.

My guy today said the mobile side was pretty important to him, but that's the first one that has made that clear.

I also suppose I could simply use my mobile trailer (an upgraded version) here at my shop too, so there would be less back and forth of tools and supplies.

The biggest issue for mobile is weather. It was 18 degrees or something here this morning, so no warm shop to work in, and that means no exterior wash. Of course, when the weather sucks, I don't get calls anyway.

 

[6supersport7]

When people drop off now, is this at your personal house? If so, I would probably try to go fully mobile. People who want the show car detailing that takes multiple days, give them the option to drop off. This is what I do and it seems to work. I would love to have a shop but I really don't want to deal with the overhead of one at this time.

 

[davisautodetail]

When people drop off now, is this at your personal house? If so, I would probably try to go fully mobile. People who want the show car detailing that takes multiple days, give them the option to drop off. This is what I do and it seems to work. I would love to have a shop but I really don't want to deal with the overhead of one at this time.

Yes, but not in a neighborhood. We're in a rural area, on 6 acres, and I actually have a really cool shop, 1200sqft.

My only concern, which has been all along is just that I'm a bit far out. That being said, a competitor of mine is also far out, just in a different direction.

 

[rmagnus]

Mobile units should be set up so you don't need to unpack everything every time. Maybe pul out an ez-up and a cart with supplies on it. Everything else should operate from the vehicle/trailor in an ideal world.

I think your chice is easy offer both and price accordingly. Either way you need to make a profit.

I saw a pretty trick set up in a van with a slide out shelf from the back that had everything mounted to it. Saves a lot of time.

 

[davisautodetail]

Mobile units should be set up so you don't need to unpack everything every time. Maybe pul out an ez-up and a cart with supplies on it. Everything else should operate from the vehicle/trailor in an ideal world.

I think your chice is easy offer both and price accordingly. Either way you need to make a profit.

I saw a pretty trick set up in a van with a slide out shelf from the back that had everything mounted to it. Saves a lot of time.

Yeah, the main stuff is the extractor, steamer, and shopvac. I usually keep my towels in the back of my Yukon, and then I have a detailer bag with my supplies. I keep water and my generator on my trailer, but I'm finding most customers (if I'm at their house) are fine with me grabbing water and power.

 

[davisautodetail]

Good advice as always Ralph.

I think maybe I just need to go back and look at my operation and see how I can improve it's efficiency, either through my cheap trailer I have now, or with a new trailer.

My Yukon gets crappy gas mileage at 16mpg, which can cost some bucks, about $10 per trip to town. I considered a van, but I don't want a payment, and the older/cheaper ones probably get the same mileage. Maybe I should look for a small pickup instead.

 

[rmagnus]

Good advice as always Ralph.

I think maybe I just need to go back and look at my operation and see how I can improve it's efficiency, either through my cheap trailer I have now, or with a new trailer.

My Yukon gets crappy gas mileage at 16mpg, which can cost some bucks, about $10 per trip to town. I considered a van, but I don't want a payment, and the older/cheaper ones probably get the same mileage. Maybe I should look for a small pickup instead.

My SUV gets 14mpg no matter how you drive it. I've been condisering a new vehicle as well. Ford Transit van has a small engine but gets good milage. Small medium trucks do the same. Put a camper shell on a pickup for security and more room for advertizing. The green thing is in vogue these days.

 

[VP Mark]

I was in the EXACT same boat you were, and decided on option #4. Any large paint correction jobs, or jobs during poor weather, I do pick up and delivery. Everything else is mobile. I would lose 50% of my clients if I went ONLY fixed or ONLY mobile. I consider myself a completely mobile service however, as I only do pick up and delivery or mobile.

I have a Ram 1500 with the big V8, my mileage is nothing to write home about. If a client does not want mobile service, but lives a certain amount of miles away (generally anything over about 30 minutes) I charge them a fuel surcharge (generally about 10 dollars, I'm not making money off of it, just covering the added expense).

Give yourself the options of doing both locations, your clients will appreciate it. After all, they do not care what you choose, they just want convenient quality service, and if you do not offer the choice that suits them best, they will go elsewhere.

 

[davisautodetail]

My SUV gets 14mpg no matter how you drive it. I've been condisering a new vehicle as well. Ford Transit van has a small engine but gets good milage. Small medium trucks do the same. Put a camper shell on a pickup for security and more room for advertizing. The green thing is in vogue these days.

I have advertising plastered all over my Yukon XL, and it's a sweet rig.

One thing to consider is ROI on a van. Let's say you're doing 2000 miles a month. The difference between 16mpg and 30mpg (which I'm not sure any vans will do) is about $185 a month (at today's prices.) Even if you buy used and drop $5000 only in a new rig, that's a 27 month ROI, NOT including maintenance costs. If you're talking $14-15k, then it'll take way longer than that.

My Yukon is paid for, so no cost there. That's how I have to look at it.

I am considering getting a nicer trailer that's enclosed.

 

[davisautodetail]

I was in the EXACT same boat you were, and decided on option #4. Any large paint correction jobs, or jobs during poor weather, I do pick up and delivery. Everything else is mobile. I would lose 50% of my clients if I went ONLY fixed or ONLY mobile. I consider myself a completely mobile service however, as I only do pick up and delivery or mobile.

I have a Ram 1500 with the big V8, my mileage is nothing to write home about. If a client does not want mobile service, but lives a certain amount of miles away (generally anything over about 30 minutes) I charge them a fuel surcharge (generally about 10 dollars, I'm not making money off of it, just covering the added expense).

Give yourself the options of doing both locations, your clients will appreciate it. After all, they do not care what you choose, they just want convenient quality service, and if you do not offer the choice that suits them best, they will go elsewhere.

Good call Mark!

Follow up question, do you think it's important to really play up the mobile side of the marketing? I think I'll look at improving my efficiency on my mobile rig and keep shopping for a trailer.

Are you running a 6x12' trailer?

 

[VP Mark]

Not to muddy the waters, but how about option 4? Fixed location for large jobs and value-add services, mobile for the shorter jobs. I know a number of folks who've been successful with this model, for all of the reasons you mention above. Sometimes location matters, sometimes not, but usually you can draw a relationship between that and what type of services you're offering and performing. Good luck...

Good call Mark!

Follow up question, do you think it's important to really play up the mobile side of the marketing? I think I'll look at improving my efficiency on my mobile rig and keep shopping for a trailer.

Are you running a 6x12' trailer?

Yeah I have a 6x12, but for smaller jobs I have an inverter in my truck and will go without the trailer. It is handy for when I know there will not be sufficient room to navigate the trailer.

The great thing about a large trailer is that it is truly a moving detail shop, so even when I don't use it it is amazing and roomy to hold ALL of my detailing related equipment.

Marketing the mobile side is extremely important, but just as important is making people comfortable with you as a mobile detailer. You need to explain how it makes their lives easier, and you can offer better work because of it. Many people have never heard of the idea of mobile detailing, so it is your job to educate them.