Did I hit a jackpot?

Exactly what st. pete dale said. Keep what you do separate from what they do. Their comment of you leaving them a little money is hilarious. Trust me, they'll make their money or they're buying the vehicles wrong. And that's their problem.

Their spread has NOTHING to do with what you charge for your services. NOTHING. If they make $4000 on a jeep, would you charge them $500 for a wash/wax/vac? Conversely, if they lost money on a car, you wouldn't do a detail for free.

Just be EXTREMELY specific with your wording. I've had people try the,..."can we just try to buff that area a little?" I ask them, "what's a little?" That's considered 'spot buffing' and is not included in your detail package.

How many detailers are close to that location? How many in that area?

I'm interested to see how this plays out. Keep us posted.

Good luck.
 
Just spoke with Both of the auction owners. They were thinking to bring me in as a Recon Manager. Basically detailing, (hire another employee maybe?) selling some details (as well as the secretary selling details) watching over some of the employees.
No compensation was discussed just yet.
I feel this could be a good thing or a bad thing. Being I've never RAN a detail shop, or owned one, it could give me some insight. But being employed by them, like previously stated, what would stop them from letting me go?
I am the only "detailer" where I am at now. This place though doesn't want me to spend the time to make the cars nice. So basically hack detailing for $12/hr, while also running cars around, and fixing the lot arrangements. I work at a small used dealership, that deals with bad credit customers.
 
Tlefe091985 said:
Just spoke with Both of the auction owners. They were thinking to bring me in as a Recon Manager. Basically detailing, (hire another employee maybe?) selling some details (as well as the secretary selling details) watching over some of the employees.
No compensation was discussed just yet.
I feel this could be a good thing or a bad thing. Being I've never RAN a detail shop, or owned one, it could give me some insight. But being employed by them, like previously stated, what would stop them from letting me go?
I am the only "detailer" where I am at now. This place though doesn't want me to spend the time to make the cars nice. So basically hack detailing for $12/hr, while also running cars around, and fixing the lot arrangements. I work at a small used dealership, that deals with bad credit customers.
Click to expand...

Thats a tough one.

I would pass.

They will more than likely work you to the ground, and you will make only a percentage of what you would make on your own. You won't have the chance to do ANY retail work as their employee, so what they set you at with wages will be where you are stuck.

If you want a stressful, physically hard, unrewarding job, but steady job in the detail business, work for the auctioneers.

If you want unlimited growth potential, the opportunity to be your own boss, the option to do really high end work, and the risk involved in running your own business, tell the auctioneers you are not interested.

Just my opinion, so take it for what its worth, but these guys see the potential in you as an opportunity to use you and milk you for all you are worth, all the while raking in piles of money for themselves.
 
I think it's a very easy decision now. These guys are trying to keep their fingers in your pocket. If you are currently making $12 an hour and go out on your own you don't have much to lose. You will never make any real money working for dealers. My ex business partner runs a small production shop here. Our definition of detailing were completely opposite. I walked away from our shop averaging 125k year. People are still paying to have their cars hacked up. I'm currently a one man show and could easily gross over 100k per year in my area. You seem to have the skills and drive to be successful in being a owner/operator. I would recommend that you reevaluate your business plan and see if you can make it work being mobile. I've had three shops and it's so much more profitable to be mobile. If you do decide to go forward with them best of luck. Hindsight is alway 20/20
 
I've thought about mobile, but the added expense of vehicle and or trailer, to start up is not available for me. Also weather would be a factor, and cause more down time opposed to having a fixed location.
In my area, I don't know if I would be able to generate many higher end details.
I have also debated taking my car into the $99 special detail place, and pick it apart when it is finished.
 
Tlefe091985 said:
I've thought about mobile, but the added expense of vehicle and or trailer, to start up is not available for me. Also weather would be a factor, and cause more down time opposed to having a fixed location.
In my area, I don't know if I would be able to generate many higher end details.
I have also debated taking my car into the $99 special detail place, and pick it apart when it is finished.
Click to expand...

I would highly reconsider that stance. I have an article on here about a $500 mobile detail startup. Just your first months rent at the bay will cost that.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
Tlefe091985 said:
I've thought about mobile, but the added expense of vehicle and or trailer, to start up is not available for me. Also weather would be a factor, and cause more down time opposed to having a fixed location.
In my area, I don't know if I would be able to generate many higher end details.
I have also debated taking my car into the $99 special detail place, and pick it apart when it is finished.
Click to expand...

Added expense of a vehicle/trailer? You have a vehicle now, right? Can you detail out of it, just to start out? (You don't need a trailer). I detailed out of a Mitsubishi Galant when I first started.

Don't worry about higher end details. Just do a great job at a price that generates revenue for YOUR AREA. IF you're good enough, which it sounds like you have some experience, people will call you.

The thought of leasing a space, paying everything that comes along w/ that, would keep me up at night. Being mobile is better for me, and better for my customers. I'm almost in positive cash flow w/ one detail a month, minus supplies, gas, etc. Plus, no set hours. Think about how much time you'd waste sitting around your shop w/ no clients, but you can't do anything else. You HAVE to be there.

MUCH less overhead and more control of when I want to work. If I don't have a detail scheduled, I can watch my son's Little League game, or get stuff the wife wants done around the house. Freedom.

You can't do office complexes if you're at a fixed location, right?

Ultimately you have to decide what is best for you.

Good luck.
 
Tlefe091985 said:
I've thought about mobile, but the added expense of vehicle and or trailer, to start up is not available for me. Also weather would be a factor, and cause more down time opposed to having a fixed location.
In my area, I don't know if I would be able to generate many higher end details.
I have also debated taking my car into the $99 special detail place, and pick it apart when it is finished.
Click to expand...

I live in Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) as weather is an issue here - I know of several shops that when inclemate weather arrives (Detail/Car Wash) business slows if not halts.
Here I see a good fixed shop as one that has unorthodox hours meaning opened later hours, as location, need to be accessible to home, business and other activities as most do not like waiting for detailing services and fair priced most fixed loctions here are not idea as far as setup, location or lease rates ($1000+ easy) so either you have to work from home or go mobile here, and if mobile everyone wants the quick clean $10.00 deal that I see killing the business
 
I looked up mobile detailing on google, and in my area...nothing close. I searched craigslist, and there were 3. 1 from Baltimore. 1.5 hrs away. 1 from an hour away, and 1 other one that is close by. He only has a Facebook page, and no website. He looks young, so it would seem that experience is on my side.
When it rains, snows, extremely cold out (we just had a week stetch of single digits with below 0 wind chills) how do you successful mobile detailers manage?
I will try to post my rough draft price list later today.
 
Here is my "rough copy" price sheet. Once I get the logo and all that other fun stuff situated, ill have a professional one made. My prices are lower than I usually see on here, but that's the market in the area.
Any and all critiques are welcome, and taken into consideration.

Eye Appeal Auto Detail
(Eye Appeal, is Buy Appeal!)
Detail packages range in price according to level of detail, size of vehicle, and some cases, interior and exterior condition.
⦁ Quickie Detail- Wash, Dry, Vacuum, Interior and Exterior Windows, Liquid Spray Wax. Staring @ $45 for Cars and Small Trucks
⦁ Simple Detail- Wash, Dry, Vacuum, Interior and Exterior Windows, Steam Clean Door Jambs, Machine Wax, Clean and Dress Wheels Tires and Wheel Wells. Starting @ $65 for Cars and Small Trucks
⦁ Interior Only- Vacuum, Steam Clean Door Jambs, Steam Cleaning all door panels, dashboard, center console, seats (Leather, or Fabric), Shampooing carpets and Floor Mats, Interior Windows. Starting @ $90 for Cars and Small Trucks
⦁ Exterior Only- Wash, Dry, Degrease Engine, Clay Bar paint surfaces, Light Compounding to remove Light scratches and Oxidation, Polish to remove swirls, Machine Wax, Exterior Windows, Wipe down Chrome, Tires Wheels and Wheel Wells cleaned and Dressed. Starting @ $90 for Cars and Small Trucks
⦁ Express Detail- All steps for Interior Only, Wash, Dry, Degrease Engine, Clay Bar Paint Surfaces, Machine Wax, Interior and Exterior Windows Cleaned, Tires, Wheels, and Wheel Wells Cleaned and Dressed. Starting @ $125 for Cars and Small Trucks

⦁ Advanced Detail- All steps for both of the Exterior Only, and Interior Only. Combined into 1 package and SAVE! Starting @ $165 for Cars and Small Trucks
⦁ Show Car Detail- All steps in the Advanced Detail Package with some added steps to really make your car stand out. Leather Conditioner is standard for this detail, Minor Road Paint, and excess Tar removal, Paint Wheel Wells (if needed), Clay Bar Exterior Windows, Machine Polish Exterior Windows, Paint Sealant before Machine Wax to maximize protection. Hand Polish Chrome. Price given after visual inspection
EXTRAS:
Headlight Restoration-$50 ($40 with ANY Detail)
Wheel Well Painting- $20+
Leather Conditioner- $20
Paint Sealant- $25+
Road Paint and/or Tar Removal from Paint- Per Hour
Minor Wet Sanding- Per Hour
Hourly Rate- $45
 
Not bad.

I'd put 'starting at' in front of your prices. Folks can back you into a corner with just a flat price advertised.

I like your disclaimer re: size of vehicle, etc. Here's what I put at bottom of my flyer/rack card: "Final price determined by actual size/condition of vehicle". That will save you from clients who say it's not that bad, then when you arrive it looks like a haz mat accident.

You might want to add pet hair removal under your EXTRAS. This is time consuming and one of my pre-qual questions I ask when clients first call. (In addition, ask them why their vehicle needs detailing, i.e. just went off-roading, kids threw up, etc. Maybe you already do this).

Another idea,....please do not skimp when it comes to biz cards. Get the thick ones. I use vistaprint.c0m and design my own. Easy,quick,cheap. I also have rack cards made up so when people come up and ask you about prices in the middle of a detail, you can hand them that. It lists all my packages w/ prices,etc.

Hope this helps.
 
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