Starting an Automobile Detailing Business
A lot of the
email we get, and a constant topic has to do with Auto Detailing as a
business.
There is a lot to be said for starting an Auto Detailing business. There
is the pride and satisfaction of being your own boss and owning your own
business. It's a feeling of being in control and succeeding under your
terms that is the source of pride of the small business owner.
Detailing cars as a profession is hard work. If that appeals to you, then
Auto Detailing can be very rewarding. There is a lot of elbow grease
involved and the work is demanding if you succeed. The rewards include the
chance to practice skill, pride and craftsmanship in your daily routine.
The hard work has a side benefit: it keeps you physically in shape.
If you start by detailing your own cars and your friends and then move
into it as a career, you will soon discover some fundamental differences
between amateur and professional auto detailing. When thought of as a
business, the circumstances will change and so will your techniques.
The equipment that sufficed for occasional detailing jobs might
not last long under the stress of full time professional use. You'll use
up supplies and materials at a much faster rate, so proper selection and
purchasing is important.
Also, since in business time is money, how you do things and what you
do becomes part of the mix. You do not have to sacrifice quality, but as a
professional you will want to practice techniques and procedures that
enable you to offer a good job at a competitive price.
Starting out is relatively easy and does not require large outlays of
cash.
Going Mobile
This is a common way to start a automobile detailing business. You can
start with just a truck and go to customers homes and work places and
detail at their location. The water supply can be local, but that limits
you. Some detailers carry their own water supply. A portable tarp is a
good idea as detailing in the hot sun is not the way to go.
Whether you are operating from a truck or a fixed address, one thing is
for sure: it is necessary to look good. Asking people to believe that you
can make their cars gorgeous is a hard sell if your own place of business
has problems. It doesn't have to be new; in fact an older classic is an
excellent way to go.
Sales Skills
Plan on spending a lot of time selling yourself and your services. When
you first see a customers car, walk around it with them, and point out any
problems in the condition of the paint and tell them what you can do for
them to correct it.
Like, if the paint can use some touch-up or a panel would benefit from
a fix-a-dent expert, offer to do that even if it means you farm the work
out. Also point out stains or other problem areas in the interior and
offer to take care of them. Your customers will respond with repeat
business and by referring their friends.
Consider offering maintenance contracts. With a maintenance program you
will wash their car once a week and wax it twice a month along with other
tasks for a set price, including a discount, up front.
Several things will happen:
You get a nice check up front.
You will have a steady customer who won't be visiting your
competition.
If you are a mobile detailer, you will be seen often in an area which
is good for business.
When it rains you still have work.
Car club members can be excellent customers. If you attend one of their
functions you'll notice that almost all of their cars look great. It's a
peer pressure thing; nobody wants to show up at a club gathering with a
less than a stellar automobile.
Good Reasons
This business is relatively easy to start-up because of the low initial
investment. The demand for auto detailing has greatly increased making it
an attractive business opportunity for the new entrepreneur.
The average price of a new automobile today is over $23,000 and reports
show that the "buy cycle" is now every eight years. People are keeping
their cars longer and "cosmetic maintenance" is now regarded as being just
as crucial as "mechanical maintenance."
So, due to more vehicles being produced, higher sticker prices, people
keeping their vehicles longer and the busy schedule of the consumer;
mobile auto detailing could provide for an attractive business opportunity
for an aggressive entrepreneur.
****
Authors and pro detailers Billy And Betty Bumppers can show you how
step-by-step,...
How-To Start A Highly
Profitable Auto Detailing Business Business.
