Starting out.....

Ted S.

Ted S.

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If anyone has read some of my comments on threads, you may be aware that I am planning to start up a mobile service this summer. No correction work, but full exteriors and interiors. Just did a business survey of the neighborhood, and a few people may seek my services (I remain doubtful).

My biggest thing is I am aware that due to the lack of time saving machines (DA, steamer, pressure washer) I have to make do with what I got, and spend more time compensating for my lack of those machines.

So here are a few questions I hope ya'll will help me with:

1. Some of my potential clients are worried about their yards, so I have to be careful about my wash products. I will be using dawn mixed with either WG or DP to soften the water, as a stripping soap. This stuff will not harm anyone’s lawns will it? Dawn and the boutique washes are biodegradable, so I'm pretty sure the runoff will be safe and not kill their grass, is this correct?

2. Mud. I live in TN. Some of these vehicles get pretty muddy. Is there a way without a pressure washer to safely remove the mud? I have some Terminator, but don't want to get any in their yards. Any safe ideas?

I have a pretty good idea of my process (I've done a lot of testing) other than these two questions.

Just in case you are wondering, this is my pricing (I’m trying to market to daily drivers):

Exterior Services
Full: Wash, clay, AIO, tires, and windows: $70 sedans/small trucks, $80 big trucks (ex. new F150-250), $90 Vans/SUV
Exterior trim dressing +$5/$7/$9 respectively to size.
Layer of Meg’s Gold Class Carnauba +$10/$13/$16 respectively to size.
Basic Wash: Wash, Glass and Tires $20 sedans/small tricks, $25 big trucks, $30 Vans/SUV.
Same prices to dress trim/wax.
Interior Services
Basic: Clean and dress trim, vacuum seats and carpet, clean windows: $15-$25 on trucks depending on cab size, $30 sedans, $40 Vans/SUV Scent.
Carpets/Seats scrubbed: add $10-20 depending on size of vehicle.
*Prices will estimate higher in severe cases.

My products:
Wash: Dawn, WG/DP, Tarminator
Clay/Clay Lube: DP Universal Clay, ONR for Lube.
AIO: Klasse AIO
Optional Carnauba: Meg’s Gold Class
Trim dressing (interior and exterior): 303 AP(gloss)/WG V&RP(matte)
Interior trim cleaner: Simple Green.
Tire Cleaners: Simple Green Max degreaser.
Rims: Not 100% sure yet. Probably just the Klasse AIO, unless I can get some Collinite 845.
Carpets: 303 Fabric/Vinyl Cleaner
Windows: Stoners Invisible Glass/ Stoners invisible Glass w/ Rain Repellant.

Thanks for looking!Im the MANIm the MANIm the MANIm the MANIm the MANIm the MAN
 
:bump2:hmm, I bet people are getting upset at all these bumping threads.
Does anyone have any answers or comments?!? Feed back please
 
Ted S. said:
So here are a few questions I hope ya'll will help me with:


1. Some of my potential clients are worried about their yards, so I have to be careful about my wash products. I will be using dawn mixed with either WG or DP to soften the water, as a stripping soap. This stuff will not harm anyone’s lawns will it? Dawn and the boutique washes are biodegradable, so I'm pretty sure the runoff will be safe and not kill their grass, is this correct?
Click to expand...

From all the years I've washed cars in driveways I don't remember killing grass as problem that stood out. Just don't overuse any product.

If the vehicles are not too dirty then use a Rinseless wash or a Waterless wash and bank on your cleaner/wax removing anything off the paint that washing didn't remove.

Ted S. said:
2. Mud. I live in TN. Some of these vehicles get pretty muddy. Is there a way without a pressure washer to safely remove the mud? I have some Terminator, but don't want to get any in their yards. Any safe ideas?
Click to expand...


Wet the car really well, get the mud soft, like it's been sitting in Oregon rain for a week, then blast it off using a strong blast of water from a good spray head. Not anywhere near as strong as a pressure washer but if you can soften the dried on mud first with continual spraying to wet and soften it then you should be able to spray a majority of it off.

If you customer's vehicles are really muddy, then they're going to be obviously aware of the ongoing issue and thus won't be expecting a show car detail for the paint and you're not promising a show car detail for the paint so after washing off the mud as best and as safe as you can, use a good cleaner/wax and the paint will look great when your done.

Then put them on a maintenance program because any future detail work you do will be a lot easier since you've just waxed the paint...


As for pricing, call around to other local detail shops, both mobile and fixed location and see what they're charging and align yourself with those prices.

It's easier to lower your prices if you start out to high than it is to raise them.

:)
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
From all the years I've washed cars in driveways I don't remember killing grass as problem that stood out. Just don't overuse any product.

If the vehicles are not too dirty then use a Rinseless wash or a Waterless wash and bank on your cleaner/wax removing anything off the paint that washing didn't remove.




Wet the car really well, get the mud soft, like it's been sitting in Oregon rain for a week, then blast it off using a strong blast of water from a good spray head. Not anywhere near as strong as a pressure washer but if you can soften the dried on mud first with continual spraying to wet and soften it then you should be able to spray a majority of it off.

If you customer's vehicles are really muddy, then they're going to be obviously aware of the ongoing issue and thus won't be expecting a show car detail for the paint and you're not promising a show car detail for the paint so after washing off the mud as best and as safe as you can, use a good cleaner/wax and the paint will look great when your done.

Then put them on a maintenance program because any future detail work you do will be a lot easier since you've just waxed the paint...


As for pricing, call around to other local detail shops, both mobile and fixed location and see what they're charging and align yourself with those prices.

It's easier to lower your prices if you start out to high than it is to raise them.

:)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info Mike. From talking to some of the potential customers, I think the price is right. One person offered the idea of a card that after so many times you get something discounted. I think if I can get people on a maintenance program and offer after every four washes you get a free one, which would be awesome. I'm going to try to work with everything awhile and see what happens.
:dblthumb2:
 
What do ya'll think about a bi-weekly maintenance plan, is that too often of not often enough?Feed back please
 
I would think it's right, but to the average Joe I bet that might be too much! Maybe weekly? Of course, you can change it according to each individual's needs!
 
maximus20895 said:
I would think it's right, but to the average Joe I bet that might be too much! Maybe weekly? Of course, you can change it according to each individual's needs!
Click to expand...

That's an awesome idea. :props:I may have to brush up on my haggling skills.
So far, I have one couple who had given me some good ideas. They may be seeking my services because I offered a good package deal for their two vehicles. Both get a full exterior and a basic interior. I was originally thinking about discounts on package deals, and further discounts for grouped vehicles. I will hopefully negotiate a good maintenance plan for them as well, discounted as a grouped package.
 
As far as maintenance some will want it once a week and some once a month, if they are doing it once a week have a price for that and if once a month then a price for that seeing it will be dirtier, set a max time span of the allowable time between washes, if not they will call you once every few months and expect the maintenance pricing, also come up with pricing for a wash and vac, that's gonna be the majority of what atleast my customers want for maintenance
 
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