VP Mark
New member
- Jul 12, 2012
- 2,451
- 0
Ok, so you’ve read the article… http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...le-detailing-startup-simple-walk-through.html
… and you’ve got things started. Following every idea down to the T is not important. Getting an idea and direction is the first step to getting off the ground with your business.
Now you’re wondering… where do I go next?
Here we go folks!
Get some clientele:
Let’s face it, when starting out you just need the phone to ring so that you can book some appointments. Here are some things that might help.
1. Online visibility is key. People have to know you exist in order to purchase your services. Make sure that you are listed in every single free online directory possible. If people are looking for detailing services in your area, your name should be there competing with rival businesses. Google places, Yelp, Thumbtack, and local search directories should be a priority. Once you get established on these directories you can slowly begin getting client reviews that will quickly build your business.
2. Local signage… one of the most successful and cheap marketing techniques that I did when starting my business was buying a large flashing arrow sign and placing it at a relative’s house in my city that lives off a main row. It cost me nothing beyond the initial investment and I have literally got hundreds of calls from it the past three years. Signage works, but it has to be visible and there has to be plenty of traffic where you place it. Be creative; put the word out there that you exist.
3. Facebook page are essential. Social media is here to stay, and for the most part they are free advertisement. Take pictures of every single detail you do when starting out. You have to have CONTENT in order to share something. Facebook ads work wonders for visibility as well if you can afford it.
4. Free demonstrations. What have you got to lose? Show people your processes, your products, and how you make their cars more beautiful than they were on the show room floor. Offer a free wash, show them how a coating works (DP Paint Coating is an affordable start out coating), get out there and do something to make yourself visible.
Expand your current client base:
Ok, you’ve got a few customers.. what are you doing about them? Providing a service to them then hoping they call a few weeks or months later? Not enough effort there.
1. Follow up on your clients! You should be sending a hand written thank you note to your client within 7 days of providing a service for them. It’s not a love letter; it’s a thank you note. Most of mine are short and sweet: “Dear Mike Phillips, Thank you again for having me detail your truck. I look forward to serving you in the future. – Mark”. Make sure to write this by hand and include a business card.
2. Develop a referral program and stick to it. Despite what is always said most people will not refer you. If you have twenty clients two might actually tell their friends and family about you, which can still lead to a lot of business! But don’t let those other 18 slip through the cracks. Having a referral program that incentivizes even 10% of your clients to refer you will pay off big time as the years go by.
3. If you mess up, make it right quickly and professionally. Although no one on a detailing forum will probably readily admit to it, even the most seasoned pro’s miss something or do something that makes a client upset once in a while. Don’t make excuses if you mess up, be professional and apologize and make things right. Even if the client never hires you again, making things right will make it much less likely he or she will speak negatively of you in the future. Not to mention that the right thing to do is always the right thing to do.
Upgrade Your Stuff
This is actually the least important of the things I’m talking about in this article. Many detailers focus way too much on what they are using rather than how they are using it. Never the less, upgrading is important:
1. Time to get a steam cleaner. The versatility of a steamer is something that no detailer should be without. Even if you prefer to extract carpets, a steamer is a priceless tool to making interiors amazing. It can save you a huge amount of time by being able to do a thorough job quickly, not to mention saving you money by not using as much product to clean with. Even a $100 McCulloch steamer is much better than spray and wipe techniques.
2. Time to get some more focused chemicals. In the $500 start-up article we were focusing on getting the bare essentials to get you going. Now it’s time to get some dedicated trim dressings, highly effective carpet cleaners such as Folex or 303, tar and iron removers, improved LSP’s. Don’t go crazy here folks, we are still trying to run a business. You are looking for products that are going to make you better, faster, and more profitable. You aren’t trying to impress people on the forums with your collection!
3. High quality microfibers, microfiber pads, high end DA polisher, and a dozen different types of brushes and applicators should also be on your radar. Upgrade things such as these as you can afford it however, since you are trying to make yourself more profitable, efficient, and better before you make yourself the proud owner of a half dozen Autogeek banners.
Keep your eyes on the business aspect
Not trying to be cruel or mean here, but this is where so many of us (including myself at times) drop the ball big time. You should always keep your eyes on the ultimate prize, and that is to run a successful and profitable business first, and to enjoy your chosen field (detailing) second.
1. Keep an eye on your numbers. Know what you are making per job, per hour, and what your goals are. Accounting, book keeping, profit and loss statements, and balance sheets are boring, but without them you don’t really know where your business stands.
2. Keep learning about business, and about your business. As you can tell by my post count, I spend an overly healthy amount of time on the detailing forums. Detailing forums are fun and educational, but don’t neglect business education in and of itself. You should be reading books about small business, business specific forums and articles, and taking free local classes and seminars at every opportunity.
If you’ve made it this far…. Congratulations! I didn’t bore you to point of scrolling back and looking at pictures of people’s latest orders.
Hopefully this has been of some use to people starting out. I’m a true believer in paying it forward. I’m extremely grateful of all of the help and advice that I’ve received on the detailing forums and if I can help even one person with his or her business, writing this was all worth it.
One last thing….
I’m considering starting a series of videos on my YouTube channel showcasing simple detailing processes and discussing detailing business ideas. If enough people would watch I will get the creative fires started.
Thanks for reading!
-Mark Barger
… and you’ve got things started. Following every idea down to the T is not important. Getting an idea and direction is the first step to getting off the ground with your business.
Now you’re wondering… where do I go next?
Here we go folks!
Get some clientele:
Let’s face it, when starting out you just need the phone to ring so that you can book some appointments. Here are some things that might help.
1. Online visibility is key. People have to know you exist in order to purchase your services. Make sure that you are listed in every single free online directory possible. If people are looking for detailing services in your area, your name should be there competing with rival businesses. Google places, Yelp, Thumbtack, and local search directories should be a priority. Once you get established on these directories you can slowly begin getting client reviews that will quickly build your business.
2. Local signage… one of the most successful and cheap marketing techniques that I did when starting my business was buying a large flashing arrow sign and placing it at a relative’s house in my city that lives off a main row. It cost me nothing beyond the initial investment and I have literally got hundreds of calls from it the past three years. Signage works, but it has to be visible and there has to be plenty of traffic where you place it. Be creative; put the word out there that you exist.
3. Facebook page are essential. Social media is here to stay, and for the most part they are free advertisement. Take pictures of every single detail you do when starting out. You have to have CONTENT in order to share something. Facebook ads work wonders for visibility as well if you can afford it.
4. Free demonstrations. What have you got to lose? Show people your processes, your products, and how you make their cars more beautiful than they were on the show room floor. Offer a free wash, show them how a coating works (DP Paint Coating is an affordable start out coating), get out there and do something to make yourself visible.
Expand your current client base:
Ok, you’ve got a few customers.. what are you doing about them? Providing a service to them then hoping they call a few weeks or months later? Not enough effort there.
1. Follow up on your clients! You should be sending a hand written thank you note to your client within 7 days of providing a service for them. It’s not a love letter; it’s a thank you note. Most of mine are short and sweet: “Dear Mike Phillips, Thank you again for having me detail your truck. I look forward to serving you in the future. – Mark”. Make sure to write this by hand and include a business card.
2. Develop a referral program and stick to it. Despite what is always said most people will not refer you. If you have twenty clients two might actually tell their friends and family about you, which can still lead to a lot of business! But don’t let those other 18 slip through the cracks. Having a referral program that incentivizes even 10% of your clients to refer you will pay off big time as the years go by.
3. If you mess up, make it right quickly and professionally. Although no one on a detailing forum will probably readily admit to it, even the most seasoned pro’s miss something or do something that makes a client upset once in a while. Don’t make excuses if you mess up, be professional and apologize and make things right. Even if the client never hires you again, making things right will make it much less likely he or she will speak negatively of you in the future. Not to mention that the right thing to do is always the right thing to do.
Upgrade Your Stuff
This is actually the least important of the things I’m talking about in this article. Many detailers focus way too much on what they are using rather than how they are using it. Never the less, upgrading is important:
1. Time to get a steam cleaner. The versatility of a steamer is something that no detailer should be without. Even if you prefer to extract carpets, a steamer is a priceless tool to making interiors amazing. It can save you a huge amount of time by being able to do a thorough job quickly, not to mention saving you money by not using as much product to clean with. Even a $100 McCulloch steamer is much better than spray and wipe techniques.
2. Time to get some more focused chemicals. In the $500 start-up article we were focusing on getting the bare essentials to get you going. Now it’s time to get some dedicated trim dressings, highly effective carpet cleaners such as Folex or 303, tar and iron removers, improved LSP’s. Don’t go crazy here folks, we are still trying to run a business. You are looking for products that are going to make you better, faster, and more profitable. You aren’t trying to impress people on the forums with your collection!
3. High quality microfibers, microfiber pads, high end DA polisher, and a dozen different types of brushes and applicators should also be on your radar. Upgrade things such as these as you can afford it however, since you are trying to make yourself more profitable, efficient, and better before you make yourself the proud owner of a half dozen Autogeek banners.
Keep your eyes on the business aspect
Not trying to be cruel or mean here, but this is where so many of us (including myself at times) drop the ball big time. You should always keep your eyes on the ultimate prize, and that is to run a successful and profitable business first, and to enjoy your chosen field (detailing) second.
1. Keep an eye on your numbers. Know what you are making per job, per hour, and what your goals are. Accounting, book keeping, profit and loss statements, and balance sheets are boring, but without them you don’t really know where your business stands.
2. Keep learning about business, and about your business. As you can tell by my post count, I spend an overly healthy amount of time on the detailing forums. Detailing forums are fun and educational, but don’t neglect business education in and of itself. You should be reading books about small business, business specific forums and articles, and taking free local classes and seminars at every opportunity.
If you’ve made it this far…. Congratulations! I didn’t bore you to point of scrolling back and looking at pictures of people’s latest orders.
Hopefully this has been of some use to people starting out. I’m a true believer in paying it forward. I’m extremely grateful of all of the help and advice that I’ve received on the detailing forums and if I can help even one person with his or her business, writing this was all worth it.
One last thing….
I’m considering starting a series of videos on my YouTube channel showcasing simple detailing processes and discussing detailing business ideas. If enough people would watch I will get the creative fires started.
Thanks for reading!
-Mark Barger
