jankoluvsky
New member
- Sep 2, 2016
- 6
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its great idea, LOL
Some of you guys who are charging so little, how do you guys do it?
- Thread starter Maestro Sam
- Start date
Eldorado2k
Well-known member
- Nov 9, 2015
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its great idea, LOL
Just show up 30min. early, greet the customer, take their money, then stand around in front of the car and watch the boys do the work. To them you look like the customer, to the owner of the vehicle you look like their boss. It's a win win.
lol. Follow them around all day to your different appointments and double up on profits. Lol.
sounds good but to many glitches for that to happen.Besides the glitches you will find that you will be going over the work yourself.Did that in 05 hired to guys.One of them was a cell phone user every 5 minutes,the other one was kinda overweight and could not take the heat.Detailing is not for everyone I think you have to love it or hate it.Now getting back to your post,that may happen in a dealer setting where cars are lined up for prep and you have control under one roof.In the public retail it just deosnt happen.weather or no shows or other things that get involved.I hear that suggested option from family members.If you the owner operator details Johnny the customers 100k porche then one month later Kevin pulls up chances are the owner will not just trust anyone to work on there car therefore it's a promblem.3 years ago tried it again,I had 7 cars lined up at ocoee auto auction in Orlando.we get there the guys phone kept ringing and he could not clean a set of Windows on a Honda without being winded.I got pissed and left and drove him home and finished the cars myself.
Eldorado2k
Well-known member
- Nov 9, 2015
- 14,545
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Have you seen those pics^ Those dudes are boss detailers. They produce that in 90min! The only problem is I don't live in their town. Lol.
I find in this business there is just enough profit for one man operation.The more you take on as far as business you're paying for more chemicals fuel products insurance employee wages which leaves you with crumbs.To me I would rather make 1400 a week and not have to part with it.
I just did a job for $200 - Interior, exterior, including light clay bar. I charged him a bit less than my normal rate, just cause. It's really my first customer. haha. He seemed happy though. So that's good. He didn't even complain at all about anything. 4 and half hours later..... I think that is key though. I did no polishing, just interior detail and exterior wash / decon. I'm going to wash and wax it tomorrow because he had to leave before I could wax it lol. Every crack and crevice of that interior was touched and cleaned. That took the most time as his interior was pretty bad.
He just said "Wow" when he looked at the car, it was 2014 Corolla that never been decon'ed before. So iron-x took off so much crud. I was blown away. Almost didn't even need to clay it after lol. I never used iron-x before, was my first go on it. I was planning to use it on my car, but I haven't had the time.
I say just charge what you think you are worth, and if people won't pay than consider lowering it in small bits until people are. This was sort of a test of the market for me. So it will vary depending on where you are.
He just said "Wow" when he looked at the car, it was 2014 Corolla that never been decon'ed before. So iron-x took off so much crud. I was blown away. Almost didn't even need to clay it after lol. I never used iron-x before, was my first go on it. I was planning to use it on my car, but I haven't had the time.
I say just charge what you think you are worth, and if people won't pay than consider lowering it in small bits until people are. This was sort of a test of the market for me. So it will vary depending on where you are.
Eldorado2k
Well-known member
- Nov 9, 2015
- 14,545
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I just did a job for $200 - Interior, exterior, including light clay bar. I charged him a bit less than my normal rate, just cause. It's really my first customer. haha. He seemed happy though. So that's good. He didn't even complain at all about anything. 4 and half hours later..... I think that is key though. I did no polishing, just interior detail and exterior wash / decon. I'm going to wash and wax it tomorrow because he had to leave before I could wax it lol. Every crack and crevice of that interior was touched and cleaned. That took the most time as his interior was pretty bad.
He just said "Wow" when he looked at the car, it was 2014 Corolla that never been decon'ed before. So iron-x took off so much crud. I was blown away. Almost didn't even need to clay it after lol. I never used iron-x before, was my first go on it. I was planning to use it on my car, but I haven't had the time.
I say just charge what you think you are worth, and if people won't pay than consider lowering it in small bits until people are. This was sort of a test of the market for me. So it will vary depending on where you are.
So you scrubbed all the carpets & seats?
Washed, decon, clay, and you were going to wash again then seal/wax?
Interior, shampoo on seats, (lots of leather also) and vacum carpets. The carpets were in good shape actually he had rubber matts. so I cleaned those also Cleaned all the panels, than applied protectant. interior windows, and door jams. I even cleaned the pedals with APC lol. Got into the little cracks with small bristle brush. in the all plastic seams. Maybe I'm going overkill, but there was so much dust in those area's it would have stood out like a sore thumb. (Over deliver I hope.
(he had a few stains on the seats which I removed. ) Wash then deconed, then clayed. I will be using collinite wax tomorrow, so I will wash again tomorrow and wax. I noticed a couple scratchs from wear and tear. (daily driver) I asked him if he wanted me to remove them, but he said not now. So wax it will be. The paint is in good shape aside from those scratches, one of them is clearly someones door mark from a parking lot. I should mention it took a bit to get the bug splatter on his front off too. I had to soaked it multiple times. it was baked on there for like 2 weeks lol. So maybe I will be picking up some Tar-X or something if business keeps up.
Eldorado2k
Well-known member
- Nov 9, 2015
- 14,545
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Getting into all the seams with a brush is mandatory detail procedure, cleaning the pedals with APC is good, not overkill.. Heck, I would've coated the pedals! Lol.
View attachment 52027
AutowerxDetailing
New member
- Apr 10, 2012
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Full interior + wash, decon, AIO in 3 hours? It definitely can be done. Is it to the standards of most of the car care enthusiasts on this forum? No way. Is it acceptable to 99% of the general public? You betcha.
Most people just want a clean and shiny car. They aren't looking for perfection. They'll likely be driving it through the $7 car wash two weeks later anyway. For those types of clients there is absolutely NO REASON to chase perfection on a vehicle that is driven daily, gets neglected, and will be subject to substandard appearance maintenance.
I think this guy has found his niche and is hopefully doing well for himself. One of the coolest things about the detailing market in general is there are so many tiers of service that can be offered to fit the budget and needs of basically anyone. The vast majority are not looking for an uber high-end detailing job, nor are they willing to pay for (nor will they appreciate) such a service. If you want to participate in the budget detailing market, that's great! You'll get to make positive connections with tons of people in your community and be able to offer a cheap service that lots of people appreciate. If you'd rather focus on more mid to high-end type detailing, that's great too. It's all about what makes you happy and what type of lifestyle you want to pursue as an entrepreneur.
Most people just want a clean and shiny car. They aren't looking for perfection. They'll likely be driving it through the $7 car wash two weeks later anyway. For those types of clients there is absolutely NO REASON to chase perfection on a vehicle that is driven daily, gets neglected, and will be subject to substandard appearance maintenance.
I think this guy has found his niche and is hopefully doing well for himself. One of the coolest things about the detailing market in general is there are so many tiers of service that can be offered to fit the budget and needs of basically anyone. The vast majority are not looking for an uber high-end detailing job, nor are they willing to pay for (nor will they appreciate) such a service. If you want to participate in the budget detailing market, that's great! You'll get to make positive connections with tons of people in your community and be able to offer a cheap service that lots of people appreciate. If you'd rather focus on more mid to high-end type detailing, that's great too. It's all about what makes you happy and what type of lifestyle you want to pursue as an entrepreneur.
Nice, I didn't want to put anything on them for safety reasons, but that looks nice!
Nice, I didn't want to put anything on them for safety reasons, but that looks nice!
Didn;t get any interior pictures. Car looks new now. It has metal flake so really the pictures don't do it justice.
Ernie Mccracken
New member
- Feb 23, 2011
- 93
- 0
How to make money washing cars-
1) Get an army of $10-$11/hr labor
2) Buy commercial grade wash equipment and cheapest possible chems in 55 gallon drums
3) Train/motivate your employees for maximum SPEED
4) Invest heavily in local marketing
5) Profit
1) Get an army of $10-$11/hr labor
2) Buy commercial grade wash equipment and cheapest possible chems in 55 gallon drums
3) Train/motivate your employees for maximum SPEED
4) Invest heavily in local marketing
5) Profit
WillSports3
New member
- Jun 13, 2016
- 1,453
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Plus the other thing is if he has the bigger machines, it's pretty fast to do one section. You figure, on the interior alone, a good powerful vacuum, a carpet brush on a porter cable or a drill, a tornador, a few stiff brushes and a bag of MF towels, you can do an interior in under an hour assuming it doesn't have biohazards in it because your tools are doing the scrubbing, not your own muscles.
When I worked at a merc dealer we would double team a e430 or s50O we would do 6to9 cars a day.I would do the outside and my co worker would do the interior.We did 15 cars from 8 to 6 nonstop.2 people on one car defenetly faster.
Cruzscarwash
New member
- Oct 16, 2015
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It really comes down to the client, as Mike says they don't know a swirl from a squirrel. My most basic detail is a wash, clay with clay pad, dry, AIO with megs 151 and only do one pass PERIOD. Dress wheels (if they want them dressed, many don't since we live in the desert) basic vacuuming, wipe down and protect dash and trims and DONE. 2-3hrs max and my clients always say the "looks better then when we bought it" phrase and are always happy with.
Now my car show, car meet guys those details are much longer and more intense but also cost alot more as well. So you have to find that fine line of giving what the client is expecting without giving up to much of yourself. Once you find that sweet spot, you will be Golden
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Now my car show, car meet guys those details are much longer and more intense but also cost alot more as well. So you have to find that fine line of giving what the client is expecting without giving up to much of yourself. Once you find that sweet spot, you will be Golden
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TMQ
Active member
- Mar 4, 2015
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