Help with getting clients needed

Bill1234

Bill1234

New member
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
2,647
Reaction score
0
Right now, its not really great weather to detail, but as the weeks go buy, I thought I could start again. My biggest issue however is getting people to pay. I have had clients who were going to use my work but feel that it is too expensive to pay for all the work I do such as a full exterior for 100 dollars -Excluding corrections. I understand that a client might say ,o well, I will just go to the car wash down the street for 6 bucks, but how does everybody get people to use your service over the cheap wash or high volume place ?
 
For starters don't say full exterior. The word full is a no no. What does your $100 dollar exterior include? You have to sell your service no ones just going to look up detailer call you and say ya do my car at any price. Explain the difference between you and the 6 dollar swirl o magic. From lack of info in this post I recommend you do research on how to be a salesman that should be a good start.
 
wompasaurus said:
For starters don't say full exterior. The word full is a no no. What does your $100 dollar exterior include? You have to sell your service no ones just going to look up detailer call you and say ya do my car at any price. Explain the difference between you and the 6 dollar swirl o magic. From lack of info in this post I recommend you do research on how to be a salesman that should be a good start.
Click to expand...

I am not going to say o just a full exterior, I would actually list out the parts of the full exterior to be through and detailed. My biggest problem is people saying I want you to do the work, then asking what you would do and they agree to that, but price, while fair, is a shocker to them
 
Word of mouth works wonders. I take it on the chin for close friends, and I put everything into their cars. If ten people see that car or truck and come to me because of it, then I feel I've made back what I lost. I find what helps get people over the price, is seeing what they pay for. Everyone I help out gets told what I normally charge for it, so everyone knows the price when they see the work.
 
Put together a list of services and what each one includes and price. Have a "mission" statement of sorts saying why you're better than the swirl o matic. You may also be targeting the wrong people, Joe Schmoe from algebra with his brand new car that mom and dad bought him isn't going to shell out 100 bucks for a wash clay and wax.
 
goldendodo19 said:
Put together a list of services and what each one includes and price. Have a "mission" statement of sorts saying why you're better than the swirl o matic. You may also be targeting the wrong people, Joe Schmoe from algebra with his brand new car that mom and dad bought him isn't going to shell out 100 bucks for a wash clay and wax.
Click to expand...

Lets use the name "john smith" =) John decided to agree to a 100 dollar work then, declined and wanted a bit less work for a lot less money
 
He declined after you did the detail?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Never use pric e for services..wvery car is different..separate youraelf from others...but adjust to your area...

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
 
some times I ask them what would you like to spend.they give me a price and then I tell them what I can do for that.

But then I tell them for a little more you can get this but its up to you. The best way for me to real them in is to get them to tell me more about the car or boat and what they love about it.

The key is to not look like you need it that bad and for them to call you when they would like to try a real detail.

The last thing I say to them when they are about to leave is when you fill the gas tank how much is it?This works best with cars with big tanks or boats.

I say mine is 100.00 every time and if you cant spend the money for a tank or two to make your car stay nice .then thats up to you.

Call me and then I go 1 2 3 to my self lol and they say when can I get it done.
 
It took me a couple years to get where I'm at now. I'm booked a month or more at a time. Its all been from word of mouth and good reviews. I never ask my customer what they want to spend. I always ask what are you looking to get done and then go from there.
 
I don't own my own business but have been in sales for well over 10 years and asking what they want to spend is always a big no-no. Just like selling on your budget is. How I would sell a detail would start with something like pureshine's approach what would you like the end result to be? Then you go into every bit of work you would do to achieve that end result. Sales is always about creating value to your product or service not what is done at what price. If people believe there is value to what you are selling they WILL buy it!! Then of course you have the major add on of protecting that end result with an LSP which would easily be presented with longevity in mind coating, sealant, wax. Just the way I would approach a potential client. And like previously stated take care of some friends and family and their word of mouth will travel.
 
Pureshine said:
It took me a couple years to get where I'm at now. I'm booked a month or more at a time. Its all been from word of mouth and good reviews. I never ask my customer what they want to spend. I always ask what are you looking to get done and then go from there.
Click to expand...

makes sense.... thats how this "John Smith" found out about what I do
 
Bill,

  1. Do you have a business name?
  2. A website?
  3. Are you mobile? Home based business? Shop?
  4. Do you have business cards?
  5. Do you have a sign?
  6. Do you have a business plan?
  7. Do you have a list of your services and their prices?
  8. Do you have insurance?
  9. Have you looked through this forum section specifically for detailing for money? How to make money detailing cars - Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum
 
Pureshine said:
It took me a couple years to get where I'm at now. I'm booked a month or more at a time. Its all been from word of mouth and good reviews. I never ask my customer what they want to spend. I always ask what are you looking to get done and then go from there.
Click to expand...

You and I are fishing in the same pond.:dblthumb2:

I too ask what do they need or want.
Then and only then I tell them of my packages, that way they can always change their mind but I go with whatever they want, or need.

I'm booked too but with surgery pending all of my work is on hold but they all said they will wait on me:)
I have one guy I did some work on his Vette, he's wanting me better, fast:)
Feels great when people will wait on me, I mean they can take their car to someone else if they chose to.
 
Scott@IncrediblyDetailed said:
Bill,

  1. Do you have a business name?
  2. A website?
  3. Are you mobile? Home based business? Shop?
  4. Do you have business cards?
  5. Do you have a sign?
  6. Do you have a business plan?
  7. Do you have a list of your services and their prices?
  8. Do you have insurance?
  9. Have you looked through this forum section specifically for detailing for money? How to make money detailing cars - Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum
Click to expand...

Not really looking to go to full time, I don't have the money, time or experience really-been detailing for about 4 years. Its more friends, family, and close people here.
 
You really need almost everything he stated whether you are full time or not.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
Bill1234 said:
Not really looking to go to full time, I don't have the money, time or experience really-been detailing for about 4 years. Its more friends, family, and close people here.
Click to expand...

So your potential clients are extremely limited. There are a certain percentage of people who will pay for a high quality detail, I would say it's less than 5% of the people who drive cars. So take 5% of the people you know and that's how many MIGHT want you to detailer their vehicle.

You really can't just stick your toe in the water and expect things to happen. If you want to do this part-time you still need to do the basics of creating a business, paying taxes, zoning your home correctly, website, creating a google+ page, Facebook page, etc.

If you don't take yourself seriously, how do you expect potential customers to? If I was in the market for a quality detail, why would I pick you over another quality detailing business in your area?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top