My desire is to get into mobile detailing...PLEASE HELP!!!

Dan Tran

Dan Tran

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Objective: Launch a successfully mobile detailing business come early 2016 on the side then into full time.

Resources:
Griot's Garage G21 stock 6" BP and 5" BP matched with BOSS PADS including MF pads
Back up GG6
Gold Plush Jr. MF towels
Cobra waffle weave drying towel
carpro glass polishing pad
Meguiar's Ultimate trio
HD SPEED
HD POXY
Griot's Garage interior detailed
Pinnacle ultra clay and clay lubricant
D114
D120
Tire dressing
Sticky residue remover by turtle wax
Bucket with grit guard

I know I'll need more pads and towels

But for now is it unrealistic to start on the side?

What packages and pricing am I looking at?

Also. I need more insight to interior detailing. I plan on getting brushes.

What other things should I invest in (eventually)?
 
Have you looked at the "How to make money detailing cars" forum here?

How many pads do you have in total?

As far as packages/pricing, google your local competition. Hit up all your friends, family and co-workers. Offer a large discount to build your portfolio of work.

Unless you will focus on exteriors only, you should get some interior equipment and supplies. I looked at MANY Show 'n Shine posts and product reviews to narrow down what I got.

I decent consumer grade steamer is something I would stress to get early on. I am very glad I got one initially. Also, the cyclo brushes for interiors...though I'm not sure if they fit your polisher? They are an excellent bang for the buck to be able to power scrub the carpets and upholstery.

But you can certainly start small and work with what you've got. Focus on exteriors only until you can get the interior stuff.
 
Are you planning on getting a 3" backing plate and pads, or 3 1/2 inch plate with 4" pads for the smaller areas?
 
Right now I have two of each pads from the Griot's BOSS system including two MF PADS I also have two five inch MF PADS and two FINISHING pads 5" all from the BOSS system as well. I know I will need more. But i figured if I start slow then I'll be doing one car per appointment.

How many show I look into?
 
Do you have the innerflex pads? If you use these only use them when working on the curved areas. If you just leave them on they will retain a lot of heat.
On the pads I think I would start with four of each of the foam pads. Maybe 2 of the microfiber. I can't really tell you on the microfiber, for heavier correction I use a rotary and wool.

Some Ceriglass would be good to have for glass polishing also.
 
I'd personally want 6 White and 6 Orange in your system. That BOSS system looks really well thought out. How do you like it?

Edit: The reason I suggest 6 pads is for Trucks/SUV's that's the least I'd use on larger vehicles.

Thing with the pads...you probably can't run out to a store if you find you need more pads. Just saw you have a GG6 as a backup...I guess you have some pads for that?

The reality is you can probably make what you have work.

I'd get a Nanoskin mitt or similar as it's far faster than claying and you can do many cars with one mitt.

If you're on a tight budget, do some cars for a very nominal fee for people you know. Point out what competitors in the area charge so they know they are getting a great deal.

If you can do YOUR car with what you have it follows you can do others. :xyxthumbs:
 
DaveT435 said:
Do you have the innerflex pads? If you use these only use them when working on the curved areas. If you just leave them on they will retain a lot of heat.
On the pads I think I would start with four of each of the foam pads. Maybe 2 of the microfiber. I can't really tell you on the microfiber, for heavier correction I use a rotary and wool.

Some Ceriglass would be good to have for glass polishing also.
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Ceriglass, check! I have the 6" inner flex as well

2 MF per 5" and 6" set.

My biggest thing is i of course will need more pads, but should I worry about having extra care products like iron x I hear so much about? Is claying after wash sufficient enough before paint corrections?
 
I currently use d114 as a rinse less. Is that too amateur?
 
Gretchen731 said:
Objective: Launch a successfully mobile detailing business come early 2016 on the side then into full time.


But for now is it unrealistic to start on the side?


What packages and pricing am I looking at?


Also. I need more insight to interior detailing. I plan on getting brushes.

What other things should I invest in (eventually)?
Click to expand...

Its very possible for you to start on the side. Work around you current life schedule.

Check local competition, determine who you're selling too. That makes a difference of pricing and what packages you would wanna offer.

You need some scrub brushes, APC and/or degreaser, window cleaner, extractor, steamer. If an extractor and steamer are too much to pay right now then a shop vac and some good ol elbow grease will do the job.
 
Maybe a van with some lettering,image is everything and also the quality of work.I know you stated part time,I wouldn't invest heavily in products you are limited when working outside.for the most part you will be doing production detailing .Pinnacle compound and polish work best out doors,and poor boys and a lot of the blackfire products,when you get more experience later on then I would get paint correction pads etc.Stay foam pads,micros gum up real quick outside,eventually you will know what works and what deosnt good luck.
 
Gretchen731 said:
I currently use d114 as a rinse less. Is that too amateur?
Click to expand...


Nope, not amateur at all, quite professional in fact, but do be prepared to do traditional washes as well. RW is an awesome time saver and can be perfectly acceptable, but you may run into some trashed exteriors where RW won't cut it.

Someone else mentioned cyclo brushes, they will fit on your gg6.

Get the second bucket for 2bm washes when necessary.

I didn't see a vacuum listed, but may have missed it.

Nano skin mitt, towel or pad will save time. Start with a mitt or towel and get a DA pad eventually. The towel can be used anywhere, the pad is tricky on bumpers and truck lids, but can be used by hand in those areas.

Get some serious practice with the gg6 and gg21 before starting client cars and make sure you've got you technique and time where you feel it needs to be. At least you will know your benchmark time and how much you need to charge to get the hourly rate you need.

Probably won't need ceriglass right away, glass polishing is time consuming and messy, may want to avoid it right away.

Got a kit for headlight restoration?

Try to find VPMark's thread on starting a business for a few hundred dollars, very comprehensive list of stuff.
 
Gretchen731 said:
Do some customers look for exterior work done only?
Click to expand...


I work on mostly the local euro club vehicles and they often don't want me to do the interior. Even though I could find 3 hours worth of work in them, they are happy with it, so I may use UWW+ or ONR to wipe it down quickly, in your case, a 1:128 dilution of d114 would work well.
 
Stock up!!!!!! look for deals wherever you can to save money. Wal-mart, dollar store, craigslist, here, etc. Do your homework, being on here helps so much! i've learned from here, youtube from Mike Phillips, the people at Chemical Guys, Larry at AMMO NYC, and others. Things you can never have too many of in my opinion:

Microfibers! make sure you get ones for outside, inside, and really dirty areas,

Spray bottles and nozzles

brushes, i found that cheap makeup brushes from the dollar store work great for interiors.

I cannot emphasize the importance of spending time on here or other places learning.

Good luck!
 
Stupid thought, but a vacuums a vacuum right? I have a decent one but one with a flexible tube would be nicer I'm fuessing
 
Call me at some point this week, this amount if info is really too much to go over on a forum.
 
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