How to make a $200 detail look quality with only 2-3 hours?

Lets say that you can do this detail in 2-3 hours. You would need to obtain 3 unique customers each day. This works out to 15 customers each week. This is 780 customers per year. Even if all of your customers use your services twice a year, you need a solid 400 repeat customers to pull off this plan.

I would seriously consider reviewing your business plan in a realistic manner. Who is your competition? How are you going to obtain these customers?

I applaud your enthusiasm, but your business plan is severely lacking in details.

You don't even know my business plan. But I applaud your confidence. And I know how I am going to obtain these customers, because I know my target market so well and I have multiple proven methods of reaching them.
 
You don't even know my business plan. But I applaud your confidence. And I know how I am going to obtain these customers, because I know my target market so well and I have multiple proven methods of reaching them.

Ok, how many competitors do you have? What is your total market in terms of households? What is their average income? Average tax bracket?

I think you get the picture. You really need to brush up on some basic business planning skills prior to embarking on this endeavor. Otherwise, you could lose your shirt and then some.

As an experienced businessman with multiple degrees and and several successful businesses, I wish you the best. I can tell you from experience that details like these do matter.
 
Yeah, I know...
But on the other hand, I had planned to go to Rock Hill this weekend for a relative's vow renewal, but plans changed. Pm me so that I can send the Mothers product.
 
Have any before and after pics of one of the amazing 3hr 200 buck details? Since you've said you want to do both quality and quantity, let's see how it compares to what others would accomplish for that price or time. Right now I'm awefully skeptical that 2 or 3 details you do would even be considered mediocre, but I'd be happy to say I'm wrong if shown the proof.
 
Have any before and after pics of one of the amazing 3hr 200 buck details? Since you've said you want to do both quality and quantity, let's see how it compares to what others would accomplish for that price or time. Right now I'm awefully skeptical that 2 or 3 details you do would even be considered mediocre, but I'd be happy to say I'm wrong if shown the proof.

Good point.
 
Ok, how many competitors do you have? What is your total market in terms of households? What is their average income? Average tax bracket?

I think you get the picture. You really need to brush up on some basic business planning skills prior to embarking on this endeavor. Otherwise, you could lose your shirt and then some.

As an experienced businessman with multiple degrees and and several successful businesses, I wish you the best. I can tell you from experience that details like these do matter.

Hey, your not telling me anything I don't know. I completely understand that. And from life experience I know you can't rush these things. The details that you just described that I should know are just the beginning in terms of planning for me.
 
One comment on why you may want to go with quality over quantity is "word of mouth" advertising. It is the bet form of advertising known to man. The comments from your previous customers will either win or lose you future customers. Up to you how you treat them.
 
Have any before and after pics of one of the amazing 3hr 200 buck details? Since you've said you want to do both quality and quantity, let's see how it compares to what others would accomplish for that price or time. Right now I'm awefully skeptical that 2 or 3 details you do would even be considered mediocre, but I'd be happy to say I'm wrong if shown the proof.

If it can productively help, I would love to post pictures. But, I can tell right now, when I did a test to compare a car I worked on for 18 hours and these 2-3 hour details, the 18 hour job looked better than new, and the 2-3 hour one was more a quick once over with all the problem areas gone.
 
One comment on why you may want to go with quality over quantity is "word of mouth" advertising. It is the bet form of advertising known to man. The comments from your previous customers will either win or lose you future customers. Up to you how you treat them.

Perfect point, and there are many ways to make the customer have a positive outlook on a business they dealt with. And that is why I do whatever they want out the detail. Such as, "Can you get that bird bomb, carpet stain, or make my windshield clear."
 
same scenario applies for most businesses.

MOST will opt. for the cheapest route, then b*tch, moan and complain they paid too much for the quality of work completed; all in hopes of getting a greater discount or freebies the next round.

If the potential customer isnt willing to sit with me and speak for several minutes to understand the steps and time required; i'd prefer they not be a customer of mine. visit the local auto-swirls wash and 3 person team cleaning your windows and wheels with the same towel...

chris<pixelmonkey>:D
 
same scenario applies for most businesses.

MOST will opt. for the cheapest route, then b*tch, moan and complain they paid too much for the quality of work completed; all in hopes of getting a greater discount or freebies the next round.

If the potential customer isnt willing to sit with me and speak for several minutes to understand the steps and time required; i'd prefer they not be a customer of mine. visit the local auto-swirls wash and 3 person team cleaning your windows and wheels with the same towel...

chris<pixelmonkey>:D


Yeah, I'm aiming to get where they don't complain, and when they get their car detailed, I get all the problems they have, such as stains, marks on glass, smells, bird bomb, etc. So then they are happy. But, I agree that any customer who won't even sit down and talk for a few minutes, is probably not worth having. That goes for all businesses.
 
I would suggest working at slowly building your clientele. Let the word of mouth build your business and don’t chase the people who just want to run it through a car wash shredder and get a quick vacuum.

If you do all that in 3 hours, you are cutting too many corners IMO.

If you want to make $67 an hour ($200 in 3 hours of work), you may need to consider a different profession, or work on getting higher end cars(which you would get after a while by word of mouth).

Also, if you have time and $$$ now, invest in some help. At least this is what I am about to be doing. Hire someone trustworthy and work with them side by side till they are as picky if not pickier than you. Then after some time, you both can knock out 2 vehicles at a time. Once business demands more help, hire 1 or two more and one or both of you can train the new person. This is how you will make the money you want. You cant do it by yourself or you will run yourself into the ground or will compromise quality work because you are into big a rush.

Just my 2 cents.

I was thinking, and maybe I should aim for the same detail with a one step that would normally take one person 5-7 hours. But hire 3-4 people that could cut the time down and make more money than what I was looking to get. And in the end a high quality. The question is, how do I keep consistent business for years?
 
Look hand, I'm not trying to be the Debbie Downer, but it seems to me that you're working on the same vehicles that you've previously detailed.
I could be wrong...just playing the devil's advocate.


If your playing the devil's advocate, what do you think I don't know, that I should know? More so, as a person, so that I can succeed. And that question goes for anyone else.
 
I gotta agree with some of the replies I've seen. 2-3 hours for a $200 detail seems unreasonable. Don't forget, your clients are not stupid. They will figure that $70-$100 an hour is a bit steep. Good detailers deserve good money, but I don't know about all that! lol
Personally, I have figured that I need to make at least $25 an hour to pay all overhead and make a decent profit. I have my pricing set up to make about $30 an hour though. IMO that is reasonable for a good, experienced detailer. Some make more. A lot more, but this is what works for me.
Good Luck!!:dblthumb2:
 
I like the way you think. I am a professor of strategic management at the undergraduate and graduate level, and I can't tell you how much I have to tell my students that it's not about the profits (profits are important, but it's not the only driving force. In fact, the companies that focused too much on the bottom line often failed - think GM and Chrysler), it's about the attention to details. If you focus on all aspects of the value chain and be the best at each level, the profits will follow. But it takes a well thought out strategic plan.

That said, to the OP, I've noticed that you're too focused on not hiring help. To get the jobs done quickly (2 hours with all of that service is likely impossible at a certain level of quality that people will want to return for future service at that dollar amount), you'll need to hire help. You need to learn to trust. If you train them to your level of satisfaction, it will be well worth having some assistance. Trust is extremely important when hiring help, and that takes time to build. Don't be scared, and try not to micromanage their work. If you hire the right person/people, provide proper incentives, training, and autonomy, you'll be surprised by the level of quality you can get out of them.

You know thinking about it, I think your right. I think my problem is looking at people as opportunities instead of what they are, people.
 
Personally, I think that you're putting too much emphasis on what you would like to do.

Not enough emphasis on getting it done.

Cosmin said it and so did B&B.

Hypothesis and day dreamer.

First of all , I think that you know your market.
I also think that you are spot on in pricing your market.

Now get out there and Get 'Er Done!

Then come back and revisit this thread 6 months later.

I think that you will be an entirely different person.

Gotta go, only planned to check email for delivery confirmation, and wound up here.
 
Personally, I think that you're putting too much emphasis on what you would like to do.

Not enough emphasis on getting it done.

Cosmin said it and so did B&B.

Hypothesis and day dreamer.

First of all , I think that you know your market.
I also think that you are spot on in pricing your market.

Now get out there and Get 'Er Done!

Then come back and revisit this thread 6 months later.

I think that you will be an entirely different person.

Gotta go, only planned to check email for delivery confirmation, and wound up here.

I seemed to forget how life worked for a moment. Thanks for the refresher, I guess it takes pain to learn, and in the end be happy! :xyxthumbs:

I will take action soon after a little more saving up.. Anyway, I'll be sure to post my progress here. This AGO is a great online community! And I'm happy to be a part of it. Lastly, if you ordered from AG, enjoy your new stuff! :dblthumb2:

Thanks!
 
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I gotta agree with some of the replies I've seen. 2-3 hours for a $200 detail seems unreasonable. Don't forget, your clients are not stupid. They will figure that $70-$100 an hour is a bit steep. Good detailers deserve good money, but I don't know about all that! lol
Personally, I have figured that I need to make at least $25 an hour to pay all overhead and make a decent profit. I have my pricing set up to make about $30 an hour though. IMO that is reasonable for a good, experienced detailer. Some make more. A lot more, but this is what works for me.
Good Luck!!:dblthumb2:

Yeah, I figure I have to hire a few people to get it done faster. But as for price, I just want to make what works for me too. Anyway, thanks for the best wishes! And I wish you the best too!
 
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