Need some help starting up a mobile detailing business

J

JBs

New member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
266
Reaction score
0
so i need some help starting up a detailing business.

me and a friend are going to try to get this thing up and running and we only have about $500 to spend on everything (including PC).

i need to know what i should get (from AG of course ;) ), but i can't spend much money.

i won't be getting a water tank or generator or foam gun, i just need the basics so i can get started. So for the vetran detailers, what can i expect as far as what products i will use the most, what is the best bang for the buck (like for washes), and how long do you think it will take for this thing to get off the ground and start running?

i am planning on making a site and i have a couple things priced out, but can someone help with what services we should offer and how much they should be?

i have read a bunch of articles on autotopia and other various sources, but i'm looking for advice from the professionals on here that have already made it :D

i know how to detail a car, i just don't have anything so i will need to buy all of the supplies and start this on a shoe-string budget. what are some things that i don't nessisarily have to have?

right now the list of things to buy is this:

Paint Correction, Polish, and Wax
Porter Cable 7424 Variable Speed Polisher
Dual Action 5 Inch Flexible Backing Plate
16 oz. Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish
16 oz. Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover
16 oz. Pinnacle Liquid Souveran
16 oz. Pinnacle Crystal Mist Carnauba Detail Spray
1 - 6.5 Inch CCS Orange Light Cutting Pad
1 - 6.5 Inch CCS White Polishing Pad
1 - 6.5 Inch CCS Blue Finessing Pad
2 Cobra Indigo Edgeless Microfiber Polishing Cloths
$269.99
Claybar
2 – 4 oz. Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay Bars
2 Cobra Microfiber Detailing Towels
16 oz. Pinnacle Clay Lubricant
$44.99
Wash
Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo
The Ultimate Guzzler Waffle Weave By Cobra 28 x 44
$27.99
2-in-1 Wash Mitt
$16.99
Interior
Cobra Microfiber Detailing Cloth
$7.99
DP Total Interior Cleaner
$12.99
DP Interior Surface Protectant
$14.99
Stoner Invisible Glass Pump Spray
$5.99
2 - Cobra Waffle Weave Microfiber Glass Towel
$14.99
Pinnacle Leather & Vinyl Cleaner
$16.99
Pinnacle Leather Conditioner
$24.99

TOTAL - $459

anything that i'm missing? anything i could do without?

sorry for the scattered thoughts, i appreciate any help :)
 
How much experience do you and your friend have detailing cars? Sounds like you need to start reading all the posts you can on this site to start learning the in's and out's of detailing. Also detail family and friends vehicles to gain experience and learn what detailing products work best for you. Good luck, Mike...
 
Strokin04 said:
How much experience do you and your friend have detailing cars? Sounds like you need to start reading all the posts you can on this site to start learning the in's and out's of detailing. Also detail family and friends vehicles to gain experience and learn what detailing products work best for you. Good luck, Mike...
Click to expand...

thanks, i have been lurking on this site for a while now, and been reading a lot. i definatly plan to do my family's cars so i can get a gallery up and showcase our work.

in order to use the $500 though, i need a business plan (my dad thinks it should be down to how much product is used for each car, how many suv's vs coupes, etc...)

Feed back please

thanks again
 
How much product you use on each car will vary.
What products you use on each car will also vary. Get some stuff and give it a try on the family vehicles.

GL man! :D
 
Its look like you have the things you need on your list. But I think the pinnacle 360 would be a good product to buy ;)
 
You are going to need a lot more clay, a lot more towels, a lot more pads, a lot more polishes, etc. From the list, you'll be able to do 5-10 cars... thats if you had more MFs and more pads... A 16 oz. bottle of polish can last 5-15 cars or so. A sealant longer but you'll need to buy more...
 
Are you guys planning on putting money made into buying more products to expand. Or are you looing to only invest the original 500?
 
whatever money we make past the original 500 (so the profit) can go into more products.

is there anything cheaper i should be looking at (eg, not pinnacle $$$)?

and i'm kind of stuck b/c i can't buy some stuff and try it on family vehicles, because i don't have any money i can put into this right now, and i can really only spend about $500, so i need some recomendations of what products to get and how much i should get to last for a couple cars.

thanks a lot for all the replies :)
 
I would look into cheaper polishes, sure they may not be the top of the line but I would def. get some less expensive polishes like maybe some XMT or PB. Im with orangez on this one you will need many many more MF's. I think during a full out polish/detail on my truck I go through about 10-15 towels from start to finish. Also for an LSP I would look into some NB paste. Sure the LS is a great spray wax, but I think you could get many more uses out of the NB. And as far as APC goes, I would just get something local and dilute it how you please.
 
start small. Dont jump face first.. it hurts.

I would start with wash and waxes. Try a few waxes, find what you like

Then offer a clay service.

Perhaps then interiors.

I think if you start with everything it may be over whelming and expensive. You can start for as little as the wash and wax supplies.

People love wash and waxes. throw in the interior and people are more then happy.

i often have to upsell things such as clay. People love wash and waxes so give them what they want.

When you are more experienced you can add more and more.

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.
Saint Augustine
 
Well, I can offer you some advice since a buddy and I detail on the side.

The Pinnacle stuff is good, but not cheap. I would look into Optimum polishs. They cost 15-20, but you get 32oz and it will last you more cars. The XMT series also has given a lot of good results.

Since price is a concern of yours, buy in bulk on things like MF's. Ya, there is a little higher cost coming into it, but you do get more, and you will need a lot.

For chemicals and products, look at lines like DP, Duragloss & Poorboys. They are cheap, you can get bigger sizes of them, and they can give the same results. Duragloss car soap is $24 a gallon, great buy. Poorboys Nattyblue wax $14 and looks great. DP is already a bargin, and the whole line is on sale this month.

I would also look into the Edge Porter Cable kit. It may be a little more than some of the other PC kits, but you do get twice the pads since they are double sided.

As far as buisness goes, well it will be slow at first. If you are serious, you have to get the word out. Make your own buisness cards to keep price down, give them to friends parents, have your parents hand em out at work, put them up on community bullitan boards, go to performance car shops (they always have people who are willing to pay for a good looking detail) etc.

Good luck.
 
Last edited:
ya...dont expect to get like 100 cars a week lol...you gonna be slow off the start...when i first started i was doin like 2 cars a week..but that was fine for me..being in college and all...now that im getting more referrals i am gettin alot more cars. You just have to give it time. Word of mouth is the best way to get your business out. Do alot of friends and familys cars first..they will spead the word if they like what you do..
 
wow thanks a lot guys!

i was assuming pinnacle was the one to go with because it is all over the site, but i guess i'll be going with something else now lol :)

and yea, we expect to start off slowly, but i want to have all the supllies because i think we have some people that might be interested in a full on detail.

thanks for the advice, and anymore is appreciated :)
 
ok, is there anything i can cut out of this list, i tried to get stuff in bulk so i could get a deal, but it's just more expensive lol

Towels
Cobra Microfiber Towel Combo Free Bonus! - $59.99
The Guzzler Combo Kit - $27.99

Paint Correction
Pinnacle XMT Porter Cable 7424 Heavy Duty Swirl Remover Kit with CCS pads! FREE BONUS (Porter Cable 7424
5 inch Dual Action Flex Backing Plate
12 oz. XMT Heavy Duty Swirl Remover #4
12 oz. XMT Ultra Fine Swirl Remover #1
12 oz. Carnauba Finishing Glaze
6.5 inch CCS Orange Light Cutting Pad
6.5 inch CCS White Polishing Pad
2- 6.5 inch CCS Gray Finishing Pads
2- 16 x 16 inch Cobra Microfiber Towels
2 Cobra 70/30 Microfiber Bonnets
Polish ‘N Wax Applicator) - $249.99
Pinnacle XMT Intermediate Swirl Remover #3 - $14.99
Pinnacle XMT Fine Swirl Remover #2 - $14.99

Wash/Wax/Clay
DP Auto Bath Shampoo 128 oz. - $34.99
6 Pack Stoner Invisible Glass Pump Spray - $24.99
DP Universal Clay Lubricant 128 oz. - $24.99
(2)2-in-1 Wash Mitt - $16.99
(2)California Water Blade - $35.00
Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay (1 lb) - $59.99
Poorboy's Natty’s Paste Wax – BLUE - $15.99

Interior
DP Total Interior Cleaner 128 oz. - $29.99
DP Interior Surface Protectant 128 oz. - $34.99
303 Fabric Cleaner - $12.99

TOTAL - $659


thanks
 
you could cut the water blade. also you can add some soap to a bottle with water and use it as clay lube.


also you have the interior cleaner, i would go with an apc such as the megs stuff, it cuts well and can be used on interiors and exteriors. should shave a few bucks

all just my 2 cents


that was a quick glacnce im sure somone else can help more
 
Last edited:
thanks, i'll look into it, and yea i'll probably cut the water blades :)
 
ohh and one more.. stoners is awsome but there is cheaper products, since you are working on a budget i would look around ag


look into optimum polishes

you wont need the mf bonnets, unless they come in the kit

also what do you plan on dressing the tires and trim with? nothing looks worse then awsome paint and dirty undress tires

sorry to tearit up but i do this part time along with school and a job.i was once like you then came to a sad relization, i just hope to pass on what i have learned
 
Last edited:
i have some black magic or whatever it's called (smells like cherry :D )

i also have some connoly's around here somewhere too.

the stoners isn't that expensive though is it?
i think i could get rid of the XMT #2, get a little less clay, get rid of the microfiber combo set (some are included in the kit and then there is also the guzzler ones)

that would bring it down to about $544
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top