Questions about starting detailing

[Chris Nemlich]

Hello everyone, I'm a new member to this board but I have been reading many posts and I have some questions. I am considering detailing some cars in my area. I live in Vermont so there arent many car crazy people around me. Basically, cars get so dirty up here then any amount of time put into detailing gives a much improved look. I'm am planning on washing, claying, polishing, and waxing basically. My questions are these:

What routine do professional detailers use?

How much do you charge and based on what?

Is the process basically the same for every car?

Which products do yu suggest using (I do not currently own a PC but will get one in the months to come)?

Thanks in advance and I apologize for the noob questions.

[Mike Phillips]

Hi williams22,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

There are many talented detailers that hang out and post to Meguiar's Online, you can expect to receive some good advice from their years of experience.

Mike

[mirrorfinishman]

Re: Questions about starting detailing

Here's the routine that I use for my mobile detailing business and it's basically the same process with every vehicle.
1- Wash vehicle, tires and wheels.
2- Polish and Wax by Hand.
3- Clean & Polish Chrome
4- Remove Road Tar
5- Apply Exterior Protectants
6- Clean & Wax Door Jambs
7- Clean & Protect Upholstery
8- Clean and Vacuum Carpets & Trunk
9- Apply Interior Protectants
10- Clean Windows and Mirrors

For an average size car I charge $225. That price is based on my ability to make at least $50 per hour in order to meet expenses, make a profit and stay in business.

I use many of the Meguiar's Professional Detailing Products. You can get more information about the various professional cleaners, polishes and waxes by clicking on 'Professional Products' on the Meguiar's Sitemap page at: http://www.meguiars.com/sitemap/

[Chris Nemlich]

Thank you very much for the info! I'm assuming it takes you about 4.5 hours if your going at 50 per hour?

Anyone else? I'm wondering if there are different routines and different levels of detailing. also, please post what you charge.

P.S. - Could you list the products you use if you have the time? Also, if you could give me a guess of how much of each product is needed per car that would be awesome. Sorry to bother you with these noob questions. TIA

[scrub]

Welcome!!

I feel I shouldn't answer this since it is in the Pro detailers forum but here goes.

First off I detail as a weekend gig. I only support my "habit" with the money. I'm mobile or fixed location. For mobile customers i use their utilities. For fixed location I use shade tree and garage. Therefore I have very little overhead. The products I use for clients is simply what I use on my own cars.

I follow mirrorfinishman approach to detailling. Two services I don't offer:
1. Carpet cleaning-->I don't have the right equipment for efficiency.
2. Engine cleaning-->More of a liability thing. I just can't see spraying water on an engine of a car I don't own and have to pay thier repair bills to fix..

As for time I don't usually have more than one car scheduled per day so I'm not pushed for time to hustle from car to car. I detail to relax!! I nromally takes 5-7 hours depending on size of car. 7 hours if I use the PC and #83 or #82 to do some fixing.

Products:
NXT Wash, and Wax
Quick detail Clay and spray
Extra cleaner (for wheel wells)
#83, #82, #81, #9, #26
MPPC
PC Wally wolrd MF
#40 for interior
Quick wax for door jambs

That gives the basic idea.

As for price I'm too embarrassed to mention my prices. I gain customers by word of mouth and pictures of my work. Most people just ask me to detail their cars. So far, I've found the toughest thing for me is to quote a fair price. By fair I mean fair to me. Its hard to quote detail shop prices with my very limited experiece. Guess I'm done rambling. I'm glad to get this off my chest about the prices..

Good luck!!

[scrub]

Originally posted by williams22
P.S. - Could you list the products you use if you have the time? Also, if you could give me a guess of how much of each product is needed per car that would be awesome. Sorry to bother you with these noob questions. TIA

As for how much product per car I think I waxed almost 15-18 vehicles (cars, trucks and suvs) with one bottle of NXT. With that one bottle I made almost $1000 detailing (Hello IRS!!). That's charging bottom basement prices.

[mirrorfinishman]

Originally posted by williams22
Could you list the products you use if you have the time? Also, if you could give me a guess of how much of each product is needed per car that would be awesome.

Here's a sampling of some of the products that I use:

Wesleys Bleach White
Meguiar's Soft Gel Wash
#39 Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner
#40 Vinyl Cleaner Conditioner
NXT Protectant for Interiors
#2 Fine Cut Cleaner
#6 Cleaner Wax
#83 Cleaner Polish
#7 Show Car Glaze
#81 Hand Polish
#16 Pro Paste Wax
#20 Polymer Sealant
#26 Yellow Wax
NXT High Tech Wax
Hot Shine Tire Spray
Stoner Tarminator
Stoner Trim Shine
Stoner Invisible Glass

Actual product cost per vehicle is minimal, compared to the labor involved. When you add up all of the products you're using during the detailing process, it would probably cost you less than ten dollars per car.

Until you get going with setting up a plan for your business, you could simply provide new customers with pretty much the same process that you already use when you detail you own vehicle. That's about all I really did when I started my mobile detailing business. It's interesting. Even today I still offer the exact same basic service that I offered when I started my mobile detailing business in 1986.

In summary, it's always better to keep things as simple as you can. And always stay focused on meeting the needs of your customers.

Find A Need And Fill It.

[Chris Nemlich]

Do any of you only do extterior detailing? Because right now I have very minimal interior products, nor do I enjoy doing the interior like I do the exterior.

Also, scrub, if you don't mind could you tell me what you charge? You can PM it to me if you want.

[Antonio Wright]

Originally posted by williams22
Do any of you only do extterior detailing? Because right now I have very minimal interior products, nor do I enjoy doing the interior like I do the exterior.

Also, scrub, if you don't mind could you tell me what you charge? You can PM it to me if you want.

I can only do light interior cleaning. I do not have a extractor or steam cleaner to get at the real tough stains. I let my customers no before hand that I can not perform miracles for the interior.

$225 for a car?! That is high. Around here the PRO shops charge $125-$150 for a full detail. How can I compete against that? So, I charge $100 for a full detail.

[Jimmy Buffit]

Frank's advice is quite valuable.
Stay focused on your technique. Budget time to run the business, also. That's my biggest problem right now...

This might be interesting. I'm in Indianapolis. Got a call from a young lady in South Florida, who wanted to get a Gift Certificate for her Father, who lives in my area. She expected a price for a complete detail in the $90-120 range. My quote was $225 for his minivan... Oh well...

Jim

[Mike Phillips]

Just to chime in,

You need to decide if you want to do production work, or high end work, or in the middle of the road work.

If you go with production work, you'll always be competing on price. At anytime time some new guy will under price you out of a job in order to get his start.

If you go for the middle of the road, you can build up a pretty good list of clientele by putting everyone on a maintenance schedule and billing them monthly. This way you always have a steady stream of income. Perhaps Superior Shine or Brian can chime in, (I can never spell his forum name!).

The extreme is to focus on nothing but high end cars. This is hard to do because you have to be good to start with. Also, you have to spend a lot of time up front educating your clientele so they understand the value of letting you detail your car versus the other guy.

Most important, it's easier to start out with your prices too high and come down, than it is to start your prices out too low and bring them up.

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Jimmy Buffit
Frank's advice is quite valuable.
Stay focused on your technique. Budget time to run the business, also.

Jim

Very good advice.

You know Jim, everytime I see your name, I think to myself,

"I need to find my Jimmy Buffet Cd"


Now where did I put that thing....


Mike

[Superior Shine]

Re: Re: Questions about starting detailing

Originally posted by mirrorfinishman
Here's the routine that I use for my mobile detailing business and it's basically the same process with every vehicle.
1- Wash vehicle, tires and wheels.
2- Polish and Wax by Hand.
3- Clean & Polish Chrome
4- Remove Road Tar
5- Apply Exterior Protectants
6- Clean & Wax Door Jambs
7- Clean & Protect Upholstery
8- Clean and Vacuum Carpets & Trunk
9- Apply Interior Protectants
10- Clean Windows and Mirrors

Frank, You clean road tar AFTER you polish and wax?


williams22

Here is what we do-

1.treat wheels and wheel wells with approperate cleaner
2.treat areas prone to bugs and road tar
3.scrub these areas
4 rinse vehicle
5.soap and wash
6.rinse
7.diagnois the finish (we will assume it just needs claying)
8.clay vehicle
9.rinse again
10.dry
11. apply wax with porter cable DA
12.wax areas by hand that can't be with the DA
13.dress trim and tires
14. vac, interior - dress int.
15. remove wax by hand (polish chrome if app.)
16.clean windows
17.do a walk around and check all areas
18. COLLECT THE MONEY!!

[wlefevre]

Where are you at in Vermont?

[Chris Nemlich]

Manchester Center