Car detailing

[sidekickdmr]

daemon said:

Out of curiosity, what did you do for each of the three levels?

Did you operate out of a van? Tank of water? Compressor? I take it it would need to be a transit sized van?

Lets see if I can remember,

Bronze was £15, Thats outside only but still vary thorough and better than the hand wash places, windows cleaned and tyres shined etc

Silver was £25 and that was the same as above but a full inside clean, not just a hoover but all plastics cleaned (NOT shined) windows boot etc

Gold was £60 and that was a hand wax and interior shampoo and leather clean and condition.

I did have bolt on extras like convertible roof cleaning and wheel sealant.

I had a Renault traffic van with a 1000L IBC tank, on a really busy day I could have unto 25 cars so needed the larger tank, however in hindsight 500L would have probably been enough.

Don't actually seem to have any pics of the setup/van but found this which was done for the sign writing at the time.

[Chateauneufdupape]

Thanks all for the replies.

After some more research there seems to still be conflicting ideas about detailing on a mobile basis. Basically it seems for the proper high end stuff, you do need premises, but you can still do some of the usual stuff, polishing/removing swirl marks, paint protection etc outside, as I have with my own cars.

The mobile corporate service does indeed sound a brilliant brilliant idea. There seems to be nothing of the sort locally; one factory where my wife works would probably be at least 2 days work, as there are hundreds of cars there and surely at least 10-20 of those would want a basic wash at least. There are so many local businesses that would love this. Some that may not be keen on that going on in their car park though.

Did you find you had enough space to work? Did anyone ever try and unfairly blame you for some bit of damage to their car that was already there? And was it quieter in winter or did it pick up as people wanted the salt etc washed off? What did you do if more people than you had time for wanted their car doing?

Sounds like the mobile stuff could definitely be a way to kick things off anyway with a view to perhaps gauging the market for a little unit for high end detailing.

Edited by Chateauneufdupape on Sunday 1st May 20:29

[Chateauneufdupape]

All things ive been working out for several different options/directions. If/when at some pointI make the jump I will be starting off slowly one day per week alongside my current work, this way I can get a proper idea of the costs and how best to go about it all. Often costs in theory are different to reality.

Investment wouldn't be massive to start off with so I think this could be a good way to kick things off. I don't work Mondays so if I had everything I needed to start out, and could manage to fill every Monday with work, I would give up my job and focus on making it full time.

Getting work would be a mixture of some cheap marketing, and doing some selling myself. I think a good work Uniform and professional appearance/advertising materials would be key to this.

[Truckosaurus]

swerni said:

While I think doing something in your spare time is a great way to test the water, don't you feel you're somewhat limited by only working Monday's ?
Isn't this sort of industry driven by what is convenient for the customer?

Indeed. Not sure what other days/hours the OP's main job is, but you could also do evening and weekend jobs in addition to all day Mondays (especially this time of the year with long daylight hours).

[sidekickdmr]

Chateauneufdupape said:

Thanks all for the replies.

After some more research there seems to still be conflicting ideas about detailing on a mobile basis. Basically it seems for the proper high end stuff, you do need premises, but you can still do some of the usual stuff, polishing/removing swirl marks, paint protection etc outside, as I have with my own cars.

The mobile corporate service does indeed sound a brilliant brilliant idea. There seems to be nothing of the sort locally; one factory where my wife works would probably be at least 2 days work, as there are hundreds of cars there and surely at least 10-20 of those would want a basic wash at least. There are so many local businesses that would love this. Some that may not be keen on that going on in their car park though.

Did you find you had enough space to work? Did anyone ever try and unfairly blame you for some bit of damage to their car that was already there? And was it quieter in winter or did it pick up as people wanted the salt etc washed off? What did you do if more people than you had time for wanted their car doing?

Sounds like the mobile stuff could definitely be a way to kick things off anyway with a view to perhaps gauging the market for a little unit for high end detailing.

Edited by Chateauneufdupape on Sunday 1st May 20:29

Space to work, plenty, sometimes I would have to set up outside/in a corner but it was honestly never an issue, sometimes I would arrive early and cone an area off in the back corner.

Never got blamed for any damage, I had proper insurance, public liability, and damage to cars, including driving any car upto £500,000, this is essential as you personally drive/move each car to and from the washbay (reserving their space with a sign/cone so you can replace it in the same place afterwards).

I was busy all year around, the only time things were really bad/tough is when it was about -10 and the water would freeze on the paintwork, had to give money and keys back that day as it was impossible.

Re having to many cars, I would call at 4.50 the day before I was due and ask my contact how many cars has booked in, I could do about 12 a day on my own, if it was more than that I had a bank of people/mates I could call to help, sometimes we would have a washbay either side of the van so we could do 2 at a time. I think the busiest day I ever had was me and 3 staff, and about 37 cars. Sometimes I would have to turn work away if it was just me and a few people wanted to add to the list last min.

[eatcustard]

Pop over to detailing world, they are the blokes to ask