How long did it take - business

My Detailing Guys

My Detailing Guys

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How long did it take for your business to grow to the point where you could make a living at it? I understand word of mouth and quality of work is very important, and plays a major part in the growth of any business.

What other things did you find were helpful (other then word of mouth, and quality of work) in promoting and growing your business?

Are you a fixed location or mobile?

Greg
 
I'm fixed location (my home) and I do this part time, but I turn down plenty of work to where I could do it full time if I wanted to. I have no desire to do it full time mainly because my "real" job offers great benefits that would cost an arm and a leg if I had to get them on my own. Also by doing it part time I don't get burnt out.

all that said it took me a little over a year to get busy enough where I really thought about quitting my job and doing it full time. I have never paid to advertise. ost work comes by word of mouth from current customers. I had a booth at a couple car shows and that helped get me a few higher end clients.

hope that helps.
 
I just took my business full time about a month ago due to being laid off. So I'm sure that others will be able to give you better advice.

So far I've kept pretty busy, however with the holiday my schedule died out almost completely. Last week was very slow (only 3 details) and this week I have only 2 booked so far.

You have to get out and talk to people and network. I've been so busy that I haven't had much time to do it, but am putting together packages now to hit up some fleets this week. You may get paid less for them but it's a way to get some regular business. At least that's how I look at it.

I know my business isn't going to just grow on it's own and I need to push it. I'm connecting with the right people and trying to get help from my friends and family whenever possible. You'd really be surprised at who your friends might know. For example one of my buddies has already brought me 2 decent accounts. Both personal owners but one has 7 cars plus the rest of his family, and the other about 20 cars. Plus a business with a fleet that I may be able to get in with.

Word of mouth and always ensuring your customers leave you happy is definitely huge. But also just getting your name out there. Weather it be by yard signs, vehicle decals, being on websites (facebook, twitter, etc). The more your name is on the internet too the better results you'll get when someone in your area does a google search for detailing.

Just some advice that I've found helpful so far.
 
Flannigan said:
I'm fixed location (my home) and I do this part time, but I turn down plenty of work to where I could do it full time if I wanted to. I have no desire to do it full time mainly because my "real" job offers great benefits that would cost an arm and a leg if I had to get them on my own. Also by doing it part time I don't get burnt out.

all that said it took me a little over a year to get busy enough where I really thought about quitting my job and doing it full time. I have never paid to advertise. ost work comes by word of mouth from current customers. I had a booth at a couple car shows and that helped get me a few higher end clients.

hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks Flannigan for the info.

We are mobile now, and would like to have a fix location down the road. We thought about starting a fix location at our home, but were concerned how customers would preceive us doing business out of our home.

Have you ever had someone/ customer show concern?
 
No one has had a problem with it yet, but I do tell them up front that I work out of my home. Also if it's a new customer that wasn't refered by someone I know, then I ask to pick up their car. Last thing I want is some looney toon that I don't know coming back to my house if they are upset about something.
 
I too work out of my home and I've never had anyone question it. If you think about it your the one that probably needs to worry more than the customer. Since your the one having random strangers come to your home.

I never let anyone inside my house. But they do drop their rides off at my home. Never had an issue with it.
 
SeaJay's said:
I too work out of my home and I've never had anyone question it. If you think about it your the one that probably needs to worry more than the customer. Since your the one having random strangers come to your home.

I never let anyone inside my house. But they do drop their rides off at my home. Never had an issue with it.
Click to expand...
I haven't had an issue either, and honestly don't think I will. I did have one cusomter recently go nuts, and it made me think about them doing something crazy. I wouldn't worry if I was home, but there are plenty of times my wife is home by herself. The customer had buyers remorse and started throwing around all sorts of threats and such. This time I was very happy that I had picked up his car from his house.

That was the only time I have ever had a problem with a customer, but it only takes one nut job...thats just how I think about it.
 
SeaJay's said:
I just took my business full time about a month ago due to being laid off. So I'm sure that others will be able to give you better advice.

So far I've kept pretty busy, however with the holiday my schedule died out almost completely. Last week was very slow (only 3 details) and this week I have only 2 booked so far.

You have to get out and talk to people and network. I've been so busy that I haven't had much time to do it, but am putting together packages now to hit up some fleets this week. You may get paid less for them but it's a way to get some regular business. At least that's how I look at it.

I know my business isn't going to just grow on it's own and I need to push it. I'm connecting with the right people and trying to get help from my friends and family whenever possible. You'd really be surprised at who your friends might know. For example one of my buddies has already brought me 2 decent accounts. Both personal owners but one has 7 cars plus the rest of his family, and the other about 20 cars. Plus a business with a fleet that I may be able to get in with.

Word of mouth and always ensuring your customers leave you happy is definitely huge. But also just getting your name out there. Weather it be by yard signs, vehicle decals, being on websites (facebook, twitter, etc). The more your name is on the internet too the better results you'll get when someone in your area does a google search for detailing.

Just some advice that I've found helpful so far.
Click to expand...

Thanks SeaJay's for your advise. We started our mobile detailing business last August 2010, was very slow until spring rounded around. Trying to get to the point where we are full time. Our customer base is growing and they pass our business cards to their friends which we are getting business. We're out their connecting with people passing out business cards, have a website, facebook page, truck is lettered, haven't tried the yard sign. How large is your sign? We were hoping to be busier then we are at this point. One week we are booked solid, another we have 1 or 2, and another nothing. We keep pushing forward. I know it takes time to develop any business.
 
My yard signs aren't huge. They are about 18in by 20in? I'm guessing here but that's roughly their size. I just made mine at vistaprint. Pricing wasn't too bad and I have some friends that live on main roads. I've gotten a decent amount of business from them.
 
Precision Pros said:
Thanks Flannigan for the info.

We are mobile now, and would like to have a fix location down the road. We thought about starting a fix location at our home, but were concerned how customers would preceive us doing business out of our home.

Have you ever had someone/ customer show concern?
Click to expand...


Your neighbors may present a problem with a home detailing business.
People carry on a detailing business next door does not make for a good
resale value.
 
slimnib said:
Your neighbors may present a problem with a home detailing business.
People carry on a detailing business next door does not make for a good
resale value.
Click to expand...

I haven't had an issue yet. None of my neighbors care. And it's not like I have cars coming in and out all day. It's 2 or maybe 3 a day. When I work from my home. Lately I've been mobile a lot.
 
As I am fairly new to the Austin, TX area (28 years in the business though) it has taken less than 2 years to take my company from a few cars during the week to having 3 full time employees and one part timer. I personally oversee or am involved with all of the work being performed as well as working for my preferred customers and referrals.

Work is abundant with 4 corporate accounts as well as a single country club that employs our services 3 days per week. The majority of the accounts we have secured were due directly to past customers presenting our company name to those same corporate heads.

I am new to the mobile detailing end of the business here in Austin, however it seems the very best way to get your name out and make the most of what business there is to be had. It also causes there to be nearly no barriers preventing you from being able to conduct business just about anywhere.

At this time, regular residential/public detailing is averaging about 3k per month. The accounts added together are averaging $7.5k - $9k per month. Again, this is without any real advertising on our part outside of our website. We use our personal vehicles to tow the trailers and have no obvious signage. Word of mouth is ABSOLUTELY it.

The accounts are your bread & butter when things begin to slow down in the winter months so secure them if at all possible. Great employees/staff, equipment and overall work quality is what will cause your company to grow in a very short time. :dblthumb2:
 
Shade Tree said:
As I am fairly new to the Austin, TX area (28 years in the business though) it has taken less than 2 years to take my company from a few cars during the week to having 3 full time employees and one part timer. I personally oversee or am involved with all of the work being performed as well as working for my preferred customers and referrals.

Work is abundant with 4 corporate accounts as well as a single country club that employs our services 3 days per week. The majority of the accounts we have secured were due directly to past customers presenting our company name to those same corporate heads.

I am new to the mobile detailing end of the business here in Austin, however it seems the very best way to get your name out and make the most of what business there is to be had. It also causes there to be nearly no barriers preventing you from being able to conduct business just about anywhere.

At this time, regular residential/public detailing is averaging about 3k per month. The accounts added together are averaging $7.5k - $9k per month. Again, this is without any real advertising on our part outside of our website. We use our personal vehicles to tow the trailers and have no obvious signage. Word of mouth is ABSOLUTELY it.

The accounts are your bread & butter when things begin to slow down in the winter months so secure them if at all possible. Great employees/staff, equipment and overall work quality is what will cause your company to grow in a very short time. :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...

Very Inspiring! Thanks!! :dblthumb2:
 
I started out 38 years ago. When I started the majority of people did not even know what detailing was so it was a much harder sell. If you mentioned detailing they would think that you pinstriped cars. 99% of my work back then was all dealer work at $35.00 a car. Today we do no dealer work and we average 10 times more per vehicle. To answer your question The cost of living was alot less back then so our dealer work was more than enough to carry us. Today we never advertise we are booked 30-40 days out with a waiting list to get in sooner. So by the grace of God and hard work we are truly blessed.To someone starting out today you should probally figure a good two years of hard work and pounding the pavement before you can make a decent living.
 
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