Getting new customers

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manateemark

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So I am hoping to begin a mobile detailing business within a year and my biggest problem will be the business side of it. Not the actual detailing part. I know that in order to be the best person out there you need to have a plan. I need help though with strategies to get new customers. With it being mobile there won't be a storefront for people to drive by. I plan on buying some large custom magnets with my business info to put on the side of my car and having a website. I know that that won't be enough. What's the best way to attract new customers?
 
I have car magnets buisness flyers my buisness profile to show to people and custom buisness cards 500 count..iv been doing this ever since I graduated high school I'm 28 now so I still love it..to bring in new customers you gotta put your buisness out there put up flyers make buisness cards etc..I got all my custom supplies from vistaprints
 
Yeah I'm in high school right now and have a passion for caring for cars. It's a great thing to do in the summer and quite honestly it pays pretty well. As well as the fact that a lot of the detailing equipment is stuff that anyone should have.
 
Word of mouth and, if you are in a medium-large area (100k+ population), a website. I'm in a small area so my website has never had a big impact on my business, maybe 1 customer a month. For the last 2 years I've been mobile, most of that time I was also working a full time job. It always died off in the winter and I was always fighting cancelations when the weather wasn't perfect. Don't expect to just up and quit your job and make a full time living. I do have to say having the storefront for the past month has changed everything 100 fold. Just do quality work and provide amazing customer service. Make a Facebook page and ask your customers for reviews and don't be afraid to ask for referrals.
 
I usually provide mobile detailing service to clients within a 100 mile radius..I'll also go to popular cities to post my flyers and buisness cards on grocery store bullitian boards to attract customers..at a buisness standpoint I offer what the customers wants and needs I'll also throw in other services as a add on bonus..my biggest buisness add on is offering weekly\daily maintenance program.
 
manateemark said:
Yeah I'm in high school right now and have a passion for caring for cars. It's a great thing to do in the summer and quite honestly it pays pretty well. As well as the fact that a lot of the detailing equipment is stuff that anyone should have.
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This is partly true. Go to craigslist and search for detailing. You'll find guys who will do a "full detail" for $75. You can't be in this business to make a quick buck. Yes, it's okay to start out with the cheaper equipment and supplies but don't be pocketing that money. If you really want to be successful, you'll put that money right back into the business. I started with a Harbor Freight orbital, a bissel spot cleaner, costco microfiber towels, and a bunch of other otc supplies. Now I have a Rupes 21, Flex rotary, mytee extractor, lots of high end towels and supplies from AG, And a relationship with the local pro detail supply distributor. If you want to make it, you've got to be business focused.
 
That's true..I get high end supplies from AG along with other major brands..I listen to customers wants and or request providing customer service at a higher level..my price options or package options are priced very well most regular car washes offer services by vehicle type car,truck,SUV etc iv took that concept and just refined it to where customers can afford these type of services..overall I enjoy detailing vehicles of all kinds iv always had passion for car care along with kept in mind that one day I'll be successful and that day came in my late 20s
 
What are good ways other than magnets/wraps on your car and a website?
 
Time! Do great work and customers will come. All I've ever done is website,Facebook and word of mouth. I wouldn't do flyers a lot of cities don't allow them on car and most people hate them on their cars.
 
Network, network, network! give deals to first time customers, and or ones who refer new people to you. it's all about word of mouth. Use the internet, you dont necessarily need a website, a facebook one will do just fine. use social media, facebook as stated, instagram, twitter, linkedin.
 
Manateemark - where are you? Sometimes certain types of advertising works better in certain areas.
 
Within like 25 miles of Wilmington NC. There is one neighborhood in particular that has literally everything from BMW's to 918 to csx to F40 to Bugatti Veyron SS. That is literally only one neighborhood though. I want to become a big enough detailer that I'll get business from them. There's not even a big detailer in this area though. I don't know who is detailing these million dollar super cars.
 
I have made a good living in sales for 30 years. OP, you are correct to worry about acquiring new customers.

I know nothing about marketing a detailing business. However, if I had to start one tomorrow, I think I would hit parking lots and ramps.

Develop a flyer, the main message is "give me your keys on your way in to work, when you return to your car after work, your car will be transformed." Put the flyer on 500 cars per day. The harder you work, the luckier you'll get.

Lots/ramps are attractive because you can hit a lot of cars in a short period of time, you can choose lots/ramps of successful companies, and you can choose vehicles (put the flyer on the dirty BMW, skip the rusted out Astro van.

Anyway, just a thought, but my instincts usually aren't too bad.
 
chet31 said:
I have made a good living in sales for 30 years. OP, you are correct to worry about acquiring new customers.

I know nothing about marketing a detailing business. However, if I had to start one tomorrow, I think I would hit parking lots and ramps.

Develop a flyer, the main message is "give me your keys on your way in to work, when you return to your car after work, your car will be transformed." Put the flyer on 500 cars per day. The harder you work, the luckier you'll get.

Lots/ramps are attractive because you can hit a lot of cars in a short period of time, you can choose lots/ramps of successful companies, and you can choose vehicles (put the flyer on the dirty BMW, skip the rusted out Astro van.

Anyway, just a thought, but my instincts usually aren't too bad.
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manateemark said:
Within like 25 miles of Wilmington NC. There is one neighborhood in particular that has literally everything from BMW's to 918 to csx to F40 to Bugatti Veyron SS. That is literally only one neighborhood though. I want to become a big enough detailer that I'll get business from them. There's not even a big detailer in this area though. I don't know who is detailing these million dollar super cars.
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Just have to be careful what lots you hit. Many are private property and depending on the owner you can end up facing trespassing charges. Our lot at work has a lot of average priced cars ($50-80k Cars). A local auto repair place decided to have an employee put advertising postcards under the windshield wipers in our lot. During the time the employee was putting cards on cars the office called and had him arrested for trespassing. He ended up being charged with felony trespassing and the company was charged with something related. This situation sparked an investigation/inspection of the auto repair place by several state agencies (proper licensing, remittance of sales tax, doc stamps, unlicensed financing on car deals, etc..) and needless to say the auto repair shop is no longer in business.
 
OP mentioned he is still in high school. Could this be a concern to potential new customers?

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I am in college right now and just started doing detailing recently. What I did was if you can find a few buy sell trade groups on facebook, post up your flyers, and then bump the post once every 2 hours to keep it on top, you will get a lot of attention. I posted in about 6 buy sell trade groups with a flyer saying interior details starting at 100 and wash and wax starting at 85 and that brought me my first 5 appointments. 4 of which are scheduled and finished the first one today. Its free and easy marketing. I would check it out.
 
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