How many buffer pads does a new business need?

[Profits]

First post... great forum. Lots of great knowledge being shared.

What's a good selection of buffer pads to have on hand when starting a new biz focused (initially) on production detailing? Aiming for about 3 cars per day taking about an hour per vehicle until I feel comfortable with everything, and then move up to more cars, more advanced jobs, and hopefully some highline vehicles thrown in for good measure. :hungry:

How many should I have? And how often should they be washed? And should I be using a freshly cleaned pad on each new car?

 

[Evan.J]

First off Welcome to AGO!

What machines are you going to be using?

 

[Profits]

Thanks! Glad to be here.

Makita 9227, the CX3 kit... with a 7" backing plate.

I suppose I need a selection of smaller backing plates, too.

 

[VP Mark]

I would not have any less than 6 to 10 of each color you will be using. 3 a day is a lot and you will not want to have to clean them every single day.

 

[Phathooddetail]

can you tell us more about your process for your production detailing then we can better help you on your purchasing.

 

[Profits]

Picked up an unused Flex 3401 from a user on this forum today in SF. I don't have a process yet as I haven't detailed my first car yet. I'm in the "acquiring gear" phase of the business plan at the moment.

@VP Mark
I'm basing my business plan on a $50 / hour rate. A $25 Wash & Wax should take approximately 30 minutes, etc. The goal is to fill up my day with enough projects to average $50 / hour for 8 hours... whether that be very simple, to relatively complex... I need to create price-points to suit the entire range of budgets and needs to facilitate the maximum potential of my personal labor and traffic.

 

[Calendyr]

Remember you will have a lot of downtime. I take 35 minutes to do my 5 steps wash, but it takes me about 15 minutes to set up and an other 15 minutes to put the equipement away (roughtly). Plus you have to move from one job to the next (unless clients come to you?). So that can take anywhere between 10-60 minutes depending how far you have to go, traffic, and time to meet the client.

For longer jobs like paint correction, 50$/hour seems steep to me. I am in the planning phase too and when I put my list together using 40$/hour as a target, I find my prices to be high compared to what I have seen locally. Make sure to research your market.

Good luck with your start up, let us know how it goes!

 

[tuscarora dave]

To do a car in one hour you'd likely be washing it, drying with a spray wax like Duragloss # 951 AquaWax that doesn't stain any trim, scrubbing the tires and applying a tire shine, vacuuming interior and cleaning glass.

I've been doing this kind of work for about 4 to 5 years on a professional level and have worked out some pretty efficient procedures and still can't even do all that in one hour.

You'll have no time for pads at 1 hour per car, that is unless you have a team of guys that will performing all the above outlined work before you get the car.

What I suggest is to get a couple of each color pads, some clay, some compounds, some polishes, some wax and actually complete ten or so details paying strict attention to the amount of soap, cleaners, compounds, polishes, waxes, dressings, towels, clay, water, electricity, taxes, insurances, licensing, rent etc. that you use and come up with a realistic cost per car, divide that per hour, add in the profit you need to make to warrant the effort.

I know you just started posting and I say welcome to AGO, but at least the way your first post is written it appears that the cart is in front of the horse so to speak. Stick around and learn some stuff, practice what you learn so you can get good at what it is you're thinking about doing as a business, before investing much money in something you don't really know anything about.

 

[VP Mark]

Why not just use ONR with wax? It is much quicker than a regular wash, don't need a fraction of the equipment, and you can up sell a premium wax or sealant. Even by itself onr with wax will give a couple weeks protection and a great look.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online

 

[Profits]

Ended up going with these Lake Country pads.

 

[cleanmycorolla]

Ended up going with these Lake Country pads.

If you're looking into production detailing, why not get the proper materials. You don't need Menz, get some D151 and have at it. And at 50/hr starting out good luck! There's legit pros who do good work who charge less than that on this very forum. You should look at others prices first then go from there.

 

[custmsprty]

Yeah I did my neighbors BMW 335i this weekend. Washed, paint correction with MZ 2500, Blacklight and wheels and tires. Used my Porter Cable and it took 5 hours, felt like 10 cuz it's so damn hot and humid down here in Florida. Charged $150.00 so that's $30.00 an hour.

 

[ihaveacamaro]

if you're asking how many buffer pads you need, you shouldn't be opening up a detail business.

Sorry to be blunt, but if you don't know what you're doing, you shouldn't be charging to work on others cars.

 

[Profits]

if you're asking how many buffer pads you need, you shouldn't be opening up a detail business.

Sorry to be blunt, but if you don't know what you're doing, you shouldn't be charging to work on others cars.

You guys are a tough crowd. rops:

 

[ihaveacamaro]

You guys are a tough crowd. rops:

I really don't mean to be rough and I try to keep a cool head.

But to me, it just doesn't make sense to me to charge someone for your detailing services when you're asking something like how many buffing pads to have.

It's like being a pilot but asking where the throttle is.

Build your experience and then make a detail business.

 

[Profits]

If you're looking into production detailing, why not get the proper materials. You don't need Menz, get some D151 and have at it. And at 50/hr starting out good luck! There's legit pros who do good work who charge less than that on this very forum. You should look at others prices first then go from there.

These products are not for production detailing. The only product I've ordered so far for that was Eco Touch Waterless 1gal, and the Griot's Garage Vinyl & Rubber Dressing. I'll likely pick up some sort of detailer spray for paint protection. The Griot's Garage Interior Cleaner will be dilluted and used in the Tornador, and I'll use some sort of cheap carpet cleaner in the hot water extractor.

Right now the Menzerna is for learning the paint correction processes with the machine on my own cars, and then doing my friend's and family's vehicles.

if you're asking how many buffer pads you need, you shouldn't be opening up a detail business.

Sorry to be blunt, but if you don't know what you're doing, you shouldn't be charging to work on others cars.

Fair enough. I'll have about a dozen vehicles under my belt before I start charging a "grand opening" rate which should get me the experience I need while being able to deliver a product that aligns more closely to expectations.

After 4 months I'll raise the rates to the standard rate that I think I'll be able to command in this area.

 

[Calendyr]

if you're asking how many buffer pads you need, you shouldn't be opening up a detail business.

Sorry to be blunt, but if you don't know what you're doing, you shouldn't be charging to work on others cars.

Wow... I have to control myself not to be as nasty as you were with that comment.

Just because the guy wants to know how many pads are needed doesn't mean he doesn't know how to use them.

I will stop because I can only get really mean if I keep typing.

 

[ihaveacamaro]

Wow... I have to control myself not to be as nasty as you were with that comment.

Just because the guy wants to know how many pads are needed doesn't mean he doesn't know how to use them.

I will stop because I can only get really mean if I keep typing.

OP, if I was nasty, I wasn't trying to be and I do apologize.

However, look at the last post. The OP is still learning how to do paint correction. Nothing wrong with that certainly, but to be opening up a detailing business when you are still learning, that's where I see problems.

There are enough people in the detailing business that do terrible quality work, I think we should all work to ensure that no one on AG opens up a detailing business when they aren't ready.

 

[Profits]

OP, if I was nasty, I wasn't trying to be and I do apologize.

However, look at the last post. The OP is still learning how to do paint correction. Nothing wrong with that certainly, but to be opening up a detailing business when you are still learning, that's where I see problems.

There are enough people in the detailing business that do terrible quality work, I think we should all work to ensure that no one on AG opens up a detailing business when they aren't ready.

I'm with you 100% on that sentiment. That applies to just about every industry you can name. Restaurants, home builders, vending machine operators, photographers, etc... most of those people have no business being in business. But... I'm not that guy. I'm kind of a maniacal crazy when it comes to quality. I don't cut corners. I'm not frugal, and I'm not a cost cutter... I believe in doing the job right and without compromise. I believe in pleasing customers and jumping through hoops to do it. I run with the top 2% in terms of my pursuit of perfection.

Perhaps I should clarify... I'm not going out tomorrow and hanging my shingle. I'm researching products, gathering the products, learning how to use them, and doing about a dozen mid-level luxury vehicles to build my before & after portfolio. Then after I have the process nailed, and I'm comfortable and I've gotten a lot of feedback on the work, I'll buy the $15,000 bond and insurance policy, and get my business license. Then I'll start billing.

 

[beamerstrumpet]

Picked up an unused Flex 3401 from a user on this forum today in SF. I don't have a process yet as I haven't detailed my first car yet. I'm in the "acquiring gear" phase of the business plan at the moment.

@VP Mark
I'm basing my business plan on a $50 / hour rate. A $25 Wash & Wax should take approximately 30 minutes, etc. The goal is to fill up my day with enough projects to average $50 / hour for 8 hours... whether that be very simple, to relatively complex... I need to create price-points to suit the entire range of budgets and needs to facilitate the maximum potential of my personal labor and traffic.

First WELCOME. This is the place to learn.
Second:
Have you checked out the competition around you? You may be in for a big wake up call. I have been on this forum about a month or so. Learning everyday. I am no where near calling my self a detailer. I say I am learning Detailing. Just for fun I checked out the other local shops where I live. one does not have a web site, the other one is a 5 bay shop, with at least 5 guys min. I look at their price list and there is no way I can hope to compete on a pro level. 20 dollar quick wash, here check this out .. Shop Services - Locally-owned and operated in Mineral Wells tx , performance details wash of Texas is a car wash and auto detailing center. We proudly use state-of-the-art technology in car care systems.#quality Full-Service and Exterior car washing, even looking at this compared to what most the guys here on this forum charge,, its way cheaper than most. Of course they are catering to the towns economics.

I was excited ,and still really love learning this stuff, but owning the equipment does not a detailer make.

As has been said, stick around, learn, do some business homework learn what questions you need to ask. I am still trying to get the questions correct.