Need help getting a business started.

[Shane4225]

I know this discussion shows up on here often and I have gathered some good advice. For the longest time I've always enjoyed detailing my own cars although I am still novice I do think i do a good job.
I have read the boards as far pricing goes and I think i have a pretty good understanding of it.
My question however is starting off. I don"t have a lot of capital to just buy everything on this site as fun as that would be. :dblthumb2:
I do have some good products I think that I use on my personal vehicle. I;m always getting compliments on how clean and shiny they are so I think I'm making some good choices.

tools i have include
Griots car wash
Griots microfiber wash mit
Chemical guys Mr. Pink
wheel well.wheels and tired brushes
Chemical guys diablo gel to clean fender wells
Chemical guys bare bones undercarriage spray
Chemical guys oil based tire shine
Duragloss wheel and tire cleaner
Duragloss insect cleaner
Griots garage paint cleaning clay
Griots best of show wax
Mothers Sealer glaze and carnuba wax
I do not have a orbital yet I am hoping to make the extra cash to buy one

Any help will be extremely appreciated Feed back please

 

[VP Mark]

What exactly are you needing help with? Be specific please.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online

 

[Kyle@PrecisionPolish]

Well from all the reading I have done I can tell you this. Look at the Meg's line for most of what you'll need product wise. It's cost effective and good quality products you can buy in 128oz to drop your price per oz.

 

[hernandez.art13]

I think your at the point where you need to be working for free for family. When you do work for free, take before and after pictures, especially of the specific Details you do. (nothing wrong with too many pictures as long as it doesn't get in the way of your work)

Then you could go and start charging customer's prices that you see fit because you have evidence of your work.

Then you can work by word of mouth and business cards.

This is just my opinion (don't quote me)

And remember...

Have fun Detailing!

 

[Shane4225]

What exactly are you needing help with? Be specific please.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online

Id like to find a way to compete with the other second rate companies here locally. It is going to be hard to get people to realize the real difference between having the car wash spend an extra 30 minutes spraying it with tire shine and spray wax lol to taking it to some one who is going to take the time and actually make their vehicle shine

 

[Evan.J]

Id like to find a way to compete with the other second rate companies here locally. It is going to be hard to get people to realize the real difference between having the car wash spend an extra 30 minutes spraying it with tire shine and spray wax lol to taking it to some one who is going to take the time and actually make their vehicle shine

Well you always want to match your services to your customers. Don't offer a show car finish packages when you going to be dealing with daily drivers. You never want to give away your services either like spend 8-10 hours polishing a car on for $100 or so. You want to find out from your customer what their needs are what things they have issues with. You may run into a Mom who has 3-4 kids and is running around all day and the inside of the SUV or van is a wreck. She may not care about a swirl free finish. Her main concerns may be the interior and all the kid grime that is inside (candy, food, drink spills, the unknown spot and the stench that is coming from it). Those are the things you will need to focus on.

We as car care nuts love a show car finish ail no swirls and no scratches nothing but perfection but, when it comes time to get paid you need to maximize your time and get the most money for that time.

Mike has said it many time most people don't know a swirl from a squirrel

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...etween-swirl-squirrel.html?highlight=squirrel

Shop your local market see what your competition is doing by way of prices just to get a feel for what you have to go against. This does not mean that you should follow exactly what they are doing nor go by the prices they have either. You need to sell your self and your services and believe in what you are doing.

You will want to start out by looking to your friends family and neighbors to spread the word about what you do what your looking to do and give them a deal on your services.

Once they accept your offers and the work is done you need honest feedback. Friends an families might say great job because they do not want to hurt your feeling but getting honest feed back will help you in the future and help you find and zero in on the customers side of things.

You may also what to look at getting a book by Renny Doyle:
How to Start a Home-based Car Detailing Business, car detailing book, best auto detailing books

Here is a list of article you will want to read through to get an understanding of what it will take to run a business. These are here to help you along with the members of the forum:

This one is done by VP Mark and a fantastic write up for those looking to start and not break the bank:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...le-detailing-startup-simple-walk-through.html

These are all done by Mike Phillips for the most part:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...se-one-step-cleaner-wax-maximize-profits.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...cars/28331-expose-yourself-more-business.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ps-starting-part-time-detailing-business.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-forum-nickname-brand-your-business-name.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-how-choose-name-your-detailing-business.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...6-power-after-shots-created-before-shots.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...2275-cruel-test-spot-reverse-bait-switch.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/31819-your-signature-don-t-leave-one.html

 

[Shane4225]

Well you always want to match your services to your customers. Don't offer a show car finish packages when you going to be dealing with daily drivers. You never want to give away your services either like spend 8-10 hours polishing a car on for $100 or so. You want to find out from your customer what their needs are what things they have issues with. You may run into a Mom who has 3-4 kids and is running around all day and the inside of the SUV or van is a wreck. She may not care about a swirl free finish. Her main concerns may be the interior and all the kid grime that is inside (candy, food, drink spills, the unknown spot and the stench that is coming from it). Those are the things you will need to focus on.

We as car care nuts love a show car finish ail no swirls and no scratches nothing but perfection but, when it comes time to get paid you need to maximize your time and get the most money for that time.

Mike has said it many time most people don't know a swirl from a squirrel

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...etween-swirl-squirrel.html?highlight=squirrel

Shop your local market see what your competition is doing by way of prices just to get a feel for what you have to go against. This does not mean that you should follow exactly what they are doing nor go by the prices they have either. You need to sell your self and your services and believe in what you are doing.

You will want to start out by looking to your friends family and neighbors to spread the word about what you do what your looking to do and give them a deal on your services.

Once they accept your offers and the work is done you need honest feedback. Friends an families might say great job because they do not want to hurt your feeling but getting honest feed back will help you in the future and help you find and zero in on the customers side of things.

You may also what to look at getting a book by Renny Doyle:
How to Start a Home-based Car Detailing Business, car detailing book, best auto detailing books

Here is a list of article you will want to read through to get an understanding of what it will take to run a business. These are here to help you along with the members of the forum:

This one is done by VP Mark and a fantastic write up for those looking to start and not break the bank:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...le-detailing-startup-simple-walk-through.html

These are all done by Mike Phillips for the most part:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...se-one-step-cleaner-wax-maximize-profits.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...cars/28331-expose-yourself-more-business.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ps-starting-part-time-detailing-business.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-forum-nickname-brand-your-business-name.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-how-choose-name-your-detailing-business.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...6-power-after-shots-created-before-shots.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...2275-cruel-test-spot-reverse-bait-switch.html
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/31819-your-signature-don-t-leave-one.html

WOW awesome help and advice thanks!!!!!!

 

[Shane4225]

WOW awesome help and advice thanks!!!!!!

Now I do have a another question obviously chemicals aren't cheap especially stuff that works how do I figure that in on my fee for doing the job to me the most important when doing someone else's vehicle just as advertisement I'm still wanting to be able to refill the stuff on used on THEIR vehicle

 

[Evan.J]

Now I do have a another question obviously chemicals aren't cheap especially stuff that works how do I figure that in on my fee for doing the job to me the most important when doing someone else's vehicle just as advertisement I'm still wanting to be able to refill the stuff on used on THEIR vehicle

Bulk is going to be the way to go. With bulk you can cut done on your price per ounce.

Lets just say you go to you local auto pars store and you pick up a bottle of Meg Ultimate quick detailer a 22oz bottle for $12. Now lets go look at M135 the bulk version on UQD. For 128oz its $30

Local bottle pick up $0.54/per ounce
Bulk pick up $0.23/per ounce

So in the long run your going to save money.

You could weigh out all your products before and after each use to get an idea of how much you are using per detail and calculate as such butI with think no more than $30 in product.

 

[Shane4225]

Bulk is going to be the way to go. With bulk you can cut done on your price per ounce.

Lets just say you go to you local auto pars store and you pick up a bottle of Meg Ultimate quick detailer a 22oz bottle for $12. Now lets go look at M135 the bulk version on UQD. For 128oz its $30

Local bottle pick up $0.54/per ounce
Bulk pick up $0.23/per ounce

So in the long run your going to save money.

You could weigh out all your products before and after each use to get an idea of how much you are using per detail and calculate as such butI with think no more than $30 in product.

Yea I am definitely going the bulk route. I bought new spray bottles today that will allow me to more accuretley an hopefully last longer lol