I encourage your humbleness poo poo happens along the way.The mall is either gonna bang you 3k a month or 20 percent.you will need high limit liability insurance which will cost 6 to 10k with half down or payment up front,employees are gonna be the biggest promblem workers comp,payroll taxes not showing up,they would rather work in the mall for 10 dollars and hour in ac.The mall looks good from a traffic volume point of view,but a guy or woman who doesn't know you or your crew from Adam will not be dropping off there 80000 dollar jag unattended.you will get some business but it will not happen overnight.In south fla I see mall washers there and maybe there gone in 3 months.so what I'm narrowing down is you can be very profitable working small and less headaches,big is not always the better solution.If you want to make those numbers try to buy a full service tunnel wash and those numbers will be realistic.good luck on your adventure.Great info guys! The direction for my business is focused on volume while hiring 2-6 employees who will be performing waterless washes. I plan to station myself all day at locations which cuts down on down time due to travelling. My focus is to give people what they could find at a car wash with a few simple add ons such as clay bar, wax, carpet extraction and window chip repairs. I love detailing cars, but I believe my business is one that appeals to the masses and not the few that care meticulously about their vehicles. My goal as a business is to establish 20 accounts (businesses with 100-500 employees) whom I could recycle once a month and be able to wash 30-50 cars per day @$30-45 a piece. With a target monthly revenue goal set at $40,000 by month 12.
I believe the insurance will be a necessary playing card from the get go. If I cannot pay $200-400 a month for insurance in the first few months, I probably wouldn't be in the best position to start a business
My goal is to launch Feb. 1st, while spending my January mostly canvassing local business, and sharing with them a solution to the huge water crisis we have here in Cali. While also saving them an hour trip down to the local car wash.
I like the mall idea and will need to look into the local malls to see if they would be willing to add any value to their shopper's experience. I have a few contacts at the local PD and will be visiting local country clubs for Saturday morning gigs that could easily generate 10-20 washes.
Thank you guys for the great info, I've definitely picked up several nuggets that I will take and implement as things get started! Any more chime ins would be awesome! Love the input!
Any one here do work in business parking lots?
- Thread starter Willy Wang
- Start date
What was your pervious business adventure?
JamMaster Jay
New member
- Nov 3, 2015
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I had a party rental supply company. Tents tables, chairs, linens, etc.
That's a good rewarding business to have,my friend has the same business it's called event makers.He started years and years ago with one truck,now he has 9 trucks and 11 employees.
Mantilgh
New member
- Dec 6, 2014
- 2,724
- 1
I not sure about mall lots yet. I tried it in a outlet mall lot late this fall and I did not do well. I don't know if it was to cold, not enough signage, not professional looking, or if most people just don't give a crap about their cars.
It was $100/day there and had to have $1-2 million in insurance. No water/no power, I could refill with their water though. Had to have approved printed signage. I could not get them to let me have the area that I wanted.
The other mall in town wanted at least twice as much and would have had been forced to buy more days or weeks.
I might try it again in the spring if I get desperate, but I have another place that I think would be better if they let me set up a couple days a week if I can get in with them.
The place I want to set up is at a local country club golf course. Set up in the front lot across from their driving range. They have the club house bar and restaurant, the golf course, and also they have a large pool, so I would see a decent amount of traffic during the summer.
Do quick wash and waxes or interior spruce ups for those practicing on the range or in for a bite, or more thorough details for those that have more time.
I think it is the customer base that I am looking for, and could hopefully schedule more thorough details at customers homes.
It was $100/day there and had to have $1-2 million in insurance. No water/no power, I could refill with their water though. Had to have approved printed signage. I could not get them to let me have the area that I wanted.
The other mall in town wanted at least twice as much and would have had been forced to buy more days or weeks.
I might try it again in the spring if I get desperate, but I have another place that I think would be better if they let me set up a couple days a week if I can get in with them.
The place I want to set up is at a local country club golf course. Set up in the front lot across from their driving range. They have the club house bar and restaurant, the golf course, and also they have a large pool, so I would see a decent amount of traffic during the summer.
Do quick wash and waxes or interior spruce ups for those practicing on the range or in for a bite, or more thorough details for those that have more time.
I think it is the customer base that I am looking for, and could hopefully schedule more thorough details at customers homes.
I would not chase that idea,instead focus on getting loyal clients year round.The promblem with malls and ranges there is a capacity promblem.what will happen if you have to wash 20 cars in three hours.even with helper that's a huge challenge.malls and ranges don't work there has to be some kind of trust that's the promblem.
chriskraft3
New member
- Jul 25, 2015
- 52
- 0
Great info guys! The direction for my business is focused on volume while hiring 2-6 employees who will be performing waterless washes. I plan to station myself all day at locations which cuts down on down time due to travelling. My focus is to give people what they could find at a car wash with a few simple add ons such as clay bar, wax, carpet extraction and window chip repairs. I love detailing cars, but I believe my business is one that appeals to the masses and not the few that care meticulously about their vehicles. My goal as a business is to establish 20 accounts (businesses with 100-500 employees) whom I could recycle once a month and be able to wash 30-50 cars per day @$30-45 a piece. With a target monthly revenue goal set at $40,000 by month 12.
I believe the insurance will be a necessary playing card from the get go. If I cannot pay $200-400 a month for insurance in the first few months, I probably wouldn't be in the best position to start a business
My goal is to launch Feb. 1st, while spending my January mostly canvassing local business, and sharing with them a solution to the huge water crisis we have here in Cali. While also saving them an hour trip down to the local car wash.
I like the mall idea and will need to look into the local malls to see if they would be willing to add any value to their shopper's experience. I have a few contacts at the local PD and will be visiting local country clubs for Saturday morning gigs that could easily generate 10-20 washes.
Thank you guys for the great info, I've definitely picked up several nuggets that I will take and implement as things get started! Any more chime ins would be awesome! Love the input!
Sounds like a good layout.
Willy Wang
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- May 2, 2013
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- Thread starter
- #28
You and I are alike! I am definitely a numbers guy myself. All your calculations are correct, but there is one thing a bit off and that is the duration per employee per car. I have been running trials with 2 workers and I am able to get 1 car fully wiped down, interior vacuumed and wiped down, tires dressed in 16 minutes. Granted this was for my car and my friend's car which were both not filthy, but were somewhat dirty. With more practice, my employees will be able to complete a car in under 15 minutes. My projections are based on 2 workers completing 1 car every 20 minutes which means 2 workers can complete 24 cars in a day. 4 workers = 48. This of course is at max capacity.
I have read Renny Doyle's book several years ago when I was just a weekend warrior. I definitely picked up some good information from his book. One thing that really appalled me was when he said in the beginning of his book that detailers must understand that detailing is not a lucrative career. This was both shocking and heart breaking to me when I read this. Doesn't matter now. I truly believe that is not the case. One just has to think outside of the box and think different then the rest of the industry.
I've done the high end paint corrections and coatings. It was back breaking work and hard to duplicate. There's really no fun in working on nice cars when it is in the end, not yours. My business focuses on a simple system that can be ran employees. My goal is not to be self employed. What difference is that from having a job? I would still be a slave to my income. The direction I am headed is to build a system which will run with or without me.
Thanks for the luck! I will take as much as I can get
Hopefully my explanation clarifies your comment!
jarred767
New member
- Jun 30, 2014
- 871
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Wow, pretty ambitious endeavor, but I love the spirit. I can't fathom how you can get all that done in the 30 minutes of labor, but if you're able to and get the results you are after, then more power to you. Just remember that many cars will take much longer than it takes to clean yours. Minivans with kids, trucks that go offloading or don't get washed, large SUVs etc... even if they're not filthy, they're bigger, and even if you can get one done in record time like that, keeping that pace up for an entire day would be exhausting and you're employees may be burnt out after a week. I would expect turnover to be really high in this kind of environment.
If you can make it work, then it's an awesome plan, especially the ecofriendly side of the business, but it will stretch you as a business owner a long long ways. I'll be following along your quest.
(oh and now after reading this thread, your question on a powerful generator is much more clear to me, so feel free to disregard my question in that thread)
If you can make it work, then it's an awesome plan, especially the ecofriendly side of the business, but it will stretch you as a business owner a long long ways. I'll be following along your quest.
(oh and now after reading this thread, your question on a powerful generator is much more clear to me, so feel free to disregard my question in that thread)
Willy Wang
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- May 2, 2013
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- Thread starter
- #30
Hey guys just wanted to reflect back to this thread since it was super helpful. Just did a demo on thursday and got my first lot with about 200-250 employees. And the property management request for insurance was pretty on point to the numbers given here. Good thing I had my quote ready from my broker. I will be starting next week and will either visit them biweekly if not once a month. I will decide what is the best frequency after the first day.
I'm estimating 20 cars per visit and would be pretty cool if I hit that number because that would be 40 cars per month for 1 location which would generate about $1400 of residual gross income without upselling. This is pretty exciting!
I also made contact with environmental services with our city here, to which they referred me to the water conservation division. I have a demo with them on tuesday. Which I'm extremely excited for because this would literally open up the doors to the entire city! I'm talking city employees, schools, municipal properties, you get the point! It's crazy how all this happend in a weeks time frame. But this is not due to luck guys. I still have 25+ emails/calls to make!
I want to share with you guys what I did to gain this traction. This past week of 5 days, I dedicated myself to prospecting 3 days. Each day I placed myself in front of at least 15 people. There's simply no magic behind it guys. The more exposure your business has, the higher your chances of landing business.
Yesterday I had to deal with my credit union for something they messed up on. But before I did, I hit up 4 golf courses/country clubs on the way there. Why golf courses? Someone mentioned it in a new post. I was surprised that these places did not ever have these services already.
Why am I rambling all this? I believe each and every one of you guys are capable of doing the same if not more, you just need some one to tell you its possible. You CAN go out there and dream big. Just because we clean and detail cars does not mean we can't make a lucrative living. I want to challenge you guys to push your boundaries, share your ideas and experiences so that we may all grow together!
I'm estimating 20 cars per visit and would be pretty cool if I hit that number because that would be 40 cars per month for 1 location which would generate about $1400 of residual gross income without upselling. This is pretty exciting!
I also made contact with environmental services with our city here, to which they referred me to the water conservation division. I have a demo with them on tuesday. Which I'm extremely excited for because this would literally open up the doors to the entire city! I'm talking city employees, schools, municipal properties, you get the point! It's crazy how all this happend in a weeks time frame. But this is not due to luck guys. I still have 25+ emails/calls to make!
I want to share with you guys what I did to gain this traction. This past week of 5 days, I dedicated myself to prospecting 3 days. Each day I placed myself in front of at least 15 people. There's simply no magic behind it guys. The more exposure your business has, the higher your chances of landing business.
Yesterday I had to deal with my credit union for something they messed up on. But before I did, I hit up 4 golf courses/country clubs on the way there. Why golf courses? Someone mentioned it in a new post. I was surprised that these places did not ever have these services already.
Why am I rambling all this? I believe each and every one of you guys are capable of doing the same if not more, you just need some one to tell you its possible. You CAN go out there and dream big. Just because we clean and detail cars does not mean we can't make a lucrative living. I want to challenge you guys to push your boundaries, share your ideas and experiences so that we may all grow together!
Willy Wang
New member
- May 2, 2013
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- Thread starter
- #32
Thanks GSKR. Hey I was curious, you mentioned that you detail planes quite a bit. Do you do this solo or with a crew? What's the going rate on washing and waxing planes? Yesterday I was on the freeway and passed by an air field and thought about you.
Boss Detailer
New member
- Jan 28, 2016
- 23
- 0
Parking garages present excellent opportunities for Detailers. Some are commercial properties or residential or a combination of both. I've worked in parking garages more than 20 years and it has proven to be very lucrative for me and my staff.
You'll have a unique opportunity to be a positive representation for our Industry in a close community of customers. So always rep well!!
First thing you want to do is contact the Property Management office. They control the entire building... Be sure that you are licensed and insured or they won't give you much consideration.
Beyond that, they will tell what they require to allow you to conduct business on the property. Always present yourself as a professional minded person and the relationships you develope with your customers will be very rewarding for both it you.
Also note that some parking garages are managed by private Garage Management Companies. If that's the case , you'll have to reach out to them as well.
Every building's requirement is different.
Some require lease agreements in which you pay a very reasonable monthly fee for the area in the garage. Some just require different levels of insurance, workers comp and sometimes listing them as additional Insured.
If you work hard at your craft, take care of your customers and strive to foster great relationships with them, you'll be very successful in those garages.
All the best and be blessed!!
You'll have a unique opportunity to be a positive representation for our Industry in a close community of customers. So always rep well!!
First thing you want to do is contact the Property Management office. They control the entire building... Be sure that you are licensed and insured or they won't give you much consideration.
Beyond that, they will tell what they require to allow you to conduct business on the property. Always present yourself as a professional minded person and the relationships you develope with your customers will be very rewarding for both it you.
Also note that some parking garages are managed by private Garage Management Companies. If that's the case , you'll have to reach out to them as well.
Every building's requirement is different.
Some require lease agreements in which you pay a very reasonable monthly fee for the area in the garage. Some just require different levels of insurance, workers comp and sometimes listing them as additional Insured.
If you work hard at your craft, take care of your customers and strive to foster great relationships with them, you'll be very successful in those garages.
All the best and be blessed!!
Im currently working on a 737 for a high profile attorney,I got 3 weeks to get it done for 9k went to ag and bought a lot of hd speed.I don't get involved with washing them but the going rate to wash on a 6 seater corporate plane is around 75.00 to 100.00.
Willy Wang
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- May 2, 2013
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- Thread starter
- #35
That's pretty cool stuff man. You got a website? What state are you in?
I don't do websites or any kind of social media I live in south fla and work at Galaxy private airport in Stuart fla.
PandaSauce
New member
- Jan 16, 2016
- 164
- 0
You're located near me.
We have a lot of tech companies around here. The ones that don't have any hazardous materials on site should be easier to do business with than the ones that do.
The companies with hazmat are heavily regulated, to the point of being required to report a sheen of oil going into the storm drain. It will be impossible to get permission to wash at companies like that.
I know of a company that had an independent driver come on site with some acid and the acid spilled in his car when he arrived. Most of his carpet was cut out on site and his interior was hosed out and neutralized because once the hazardous materials were released on site, they needed to be contained before the container (car) could be taken off site. Fire Dept. had to be dispatched to the site... It was a pretty big deal.
Real Riders
New member
- Jul 18, 2013
- 749
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I just got the ok from the Post Master and they have never had a problem with me doing Rinseless Washes
Willy Wang
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- May 2, 2013
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- Thread starter
- #39
Well I guess I'm going on a Post Office round on Monday then! Are you washing their postman carts or their employees or both?
That's definitely good to know! One of the companies I spoke with did mention some stuff about runoff and having storm drains. What part of the bay are you from?
PandaSauce
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- Jan 16, 2016
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