[97Cobra]

well Ive allways wanted to run my own business and started to think... ok well I figure since I have all the equipment and products to fully clean a car inside n out and since I clean all my friends n families cars all the time I figured why not start my own Detail shop? I do a amazing job detailing cars, inside as well as out side even in the engine bay and I enjoy doing it. So I was thinking and since I work nights I could stay working at the hotel and just make appts. and run it out of my garage. I could advertise and pass out business cards with my Name, company name, phone #, Location and a pic of my car out of the hotel and leave cards with employees to pass out. Im trying to think of all that I would need. Would I need to get like a business license? Business phone? Phone book add? I figure I could make a list with different levels of details like interior only, exterior only, interior & exterior...maybe something like...


Interior Detail
Clean, vacuum, Shampoo carpets/seats, Stain Remover, interior shine, air freshener scent of your choosing.
2dr Coupe- $30
4dr Sedan- $35
Truck/SUV- $45

Exterior Detail
Wash, Wax w/turtle wax Ice, Polish, wheel clean, Tire shine, Trim shine, chrome polish & Engine compartment detail!
2dr Coupe- $40
4dr Sedan- $45
Truck/SUV- $55
Meguiar's NXT Gen wax & wash add $10
Zaino Wax & wash add $20


Package Deals
Interior & Exterior 2dr coupe $60
Interior & Exterior 4dr sedan $70
Interior & Exterior truck/SUV $90




I was thinking along those lines because shops around here charge ppl $125-$145 for a 2dr coupe with cheap wax! what do you guys think?

I was also thinking I could do something like Chris's Auto Detailing and Accessory Installation????

[Drick]

Ill work for ya make a body shop portion and ill run it

[Third Honk]

Create a business plan. What are your goals and how will you reach them. What are your expenses and what will your profit margin be. How much business will you have time for? What will you do during slow seasons to generate income.

Buy lots of books and read them (the small business bible is a great place to start.) A vast majority of business's shut down in their first three years, you need to have a plan how you will stay afloat.

Good luck man and get a license and tax ID so you can start writing off your business expenses.

[06RedfireGT]

Originally Posted by Third Honk What will you do during slow seasons to generate income.

He works nights in a hotel, so he figures he could do this during the day to generate some extra cash.

[7-up man]

go for it!!!

owning your own business is the American dream. the best advice I can give is GET INSURED.

Im opening a dyno shop this month and I recently read a story about a guy who took his GTO to a shop and during a dyno run the drive shaft broke. It twisted around the side of the car and broke the bell housing, engine block, and did damage to the body.

bottom line is, shit happens. shit that you would never think of and that is out of your controll.

being insured means everything.

[06RedfireGT]

Originally Posted by 7-up man go for it!!! owning your own business is the American dream. the best advice I can give is GET INSURED. Im opening a dyno shop this month and I recently read a story about a guy who took his GTO to a shop and during a dyno run the drive shaft broke. It twisted around the side of the car and broke the bell housing, engine block, and did damage to the body. bottom line is, shit happens. shit that you would never think of and that is out of your controll. being insured means everything.

+1

Cover your ass.

And DS safety loop FTW

[homebrewed]

lol @ Red & the D/S loop

Dedication. Lots and lots of dedication. Capital. Donald Trump has several excellent books out about running a successful company. Pretty sure he knows what he's talking about.
Your pricing is CHEAP!!!!! Tote that to potential customers!
Find a supplier. Instead of having to pay retail pricing for your chemicals/supplies, find a wholesaler. Buy in bulk.
Don't be afraid. Bust your own balls! MAKE it work for you instead of you work for it.

Set up a shop @ a local auto parts store on a sunny Saturday. Offer like $10 off to the employees or something. Do the managers whip for 1/2 price. Make yourself known!
Get ALL your buddies to pitch in and help it go as smoothly as possible.

[69fastback]

Originally Posted by Third Honk Create a business plan. What are your goals and how will you reach them. What are your expenses and what will your profit margin be. How much business will you have time for? What will you do during slow seasons to generate income. Buy lots of books and read them (the small business bible is a great place to start.) A vast majority of business's shut down in their first three years, you need to have a plan how you will stay afloat. Good luck man and get a license and tax ID so you can start writing off your business expenses.

What's up Jeremy? I see they finally talked you into coming over.

[JASonic]

Small goals. Take your time and dont get caught in the trap of thinking you'll be Donald Trump by tomorrow. Keep the business very small and diciplined. No huge inventory and dont depend on labor. Do everything you can for yourself. And most importantly, dont quit your regular job until the business is healthy enough to be sold to someone else.

[ChrisJ]

Move to VA and start it here...

I will have ya do a full detail once a month...

And then around October move to Kentucky...

[Onemanzu]

oh oh!! you need a small fortune to start a business anymore

[JASonic]

You could do this from your house. Build your client list with little overhead. Run marketing campains using direct mail. There are mailing lists you can lease/buy that get get right into the demographic you want.

Age 16-24 years old
Within 2 miles of your house/facility
Owns/leases a car 2002 or newer

Well, you ge tthe idea. Create your marketing piece. 20% off a detail or free air freshener with appointment. Whatever. Hell, you can cross market with a local repair shop. Talk to the owner. Ask them to give out 1/2 off details with any muffler repair. It will bring business to him and you.

Whatever marketing you do, TRACK IT! Keep a log of the response rate.

Know this...

1. which marketing piece brought in the most business
2. which piece brought in the most prifitable business (one job may have higher margins than another( you want to sell more of those!
3To which area is the marketing piece most effective? Hit that neighborhood with more mail!
4 To which age group do you get better response? Hit that age group more often

5 what time of the month do you ge tthe best response? Send more direct mail pieces on that day.

A post card works best. Its cheap. It is opened automatically! Unlike an envelope, it is opened when you pull it out of the mailbox. The recipient is GUARANTEED to see it. Even if they throw it in the trash, they will see it. Also, its cheaper to send. If you mail 500 or more pieces, you qualify for a standard discount in postage if you do a little work for the USPS... but thats a whole different topic.

Keep every post card someone brings in. This is your life blood. I could write all day about this. I have alot of experience doing it. In my past, Ive set up plans that have helped some great companies get rolling.

Its exciting to watch it grow and evolve into a profit making machine. It starts by getting people in to spend money any way you can.

[vfast]

Originally Posted by ChrisJ Move to VA and start it here... I will have ya do a full detail once a month... And then around October move to Kentucky...

I'm sure he's not looking to wax your johnson

[MSO]

dont forget incentives.. nothing gets ppl to your shop faster than free stuff (studies prove it, search the interweb)

so u kno.. offer a free teddy bear or something

[ChrisJ]

Originally Posted by vfast I'm sure he's not looking to wax your johnson

You sure?

I could use a group discount...

[Regency 2007]

Go to a dealersip and ask them if they need a detailer. Tell them you can detail some of their higher end trucks and cars to make them look really good. Charge maybe $125 or so a car for interior and exterior clean and shine

[97Cobra]

great advise guys! thanks a lot!

[ChrisJ]

In all seriousness a dealership or a speed shop would be your best bet...

MPH has "Sweating The Details" as a detail shop and they make a bang up business...

Who would not want a freshly detailed car when they are getting it back with some more pawr...

its something to think about...

[GreenFaleen]

call up a carwash that does detailing, tell them that you are from a company just starting that is going to produce car detailing product and equipment and ask what products they use the most and what tools and what tolls they would like to have

that will get you a good list and also make your prices 3-5 bucks cheaper than theirs if u can

[JBIGBOOTSY]

Any small business should operate on a 33% cost, 33%payroll, and 33%profit. the taxes are easiest. base your pricing off that, and you'll have a successful business.