Questions about starting detailing

[Mike Phillips]

Hopefully this will help out too...

How to locate Meguiar’s Professional & Detailer products in your hometown



Mike

[Rick]

Ok so this thread kind of got me thinking, I really should do this considering how much I enjoy it. I could really make some extra money in the mean time (and help pay for the shelves of Meguiars products I've bought this year). The one thing I was woundering is how do you start out advertising? I was thinking maybe just a few cars a week would be perfect as I already have a weekend night job. I was trying to get some friends of ours to let me at their brand new black cadillac, but they were obviously brain washed by the dealerships "clear coat" they apply twice a year.

So is word of mouth the best way or do you put an ad in somewhere?

[scrub]

Sorry for delay in response. Been moonlighting as a car detailer. One thing people who work full time day jobs during the week shouldn't detail cars on school nights!! Wore me out!! Back to topic...

mirrorfinishman... You offer about the same services as I try too. When you say clean and vacuum carpets is that also shampoo??

williams22... As for my prices... Well the "Pro" detail shops offer the same services as I do with the exception of steam clean of engine bay and shampoo of carpets for about $125. For engines I don't want to accept the liability of water damage and repair expense. I make clients aware of that up front. As for carpets I feel I'm to new to invest the kind of greens in a good machine that will make carpet service efficient enough to offer as a service. With that info I don’t feel I should charge more than a “Pro” shop.. So I usually under bid and I don’t hold steady prices. It kind of just comes to me. I did make a price list but I think it’s kind of high, so I don’t feel comfortable asking the prices. They are as follows
Mid size (civic - Taurus) $60-80 for wash and wax detail. Add about $40-60 for PC work
Full size (caddy-buick, some suvs) $85-100. Add about $40-60 for PC
Truck van suv $110-130 add ?? for PC.

Superior Shine... That's also a pretty good list of services. You say "we" so you must have a partner. What's a good time frame for a car to run through your service??

Rick...I advertise by word of mouth and pics of my work. I use the pics to show what I can do with the PC and the paint. That seems to work pretty well as most people come to me and ask what my schedule is. I schedule for weekends mostly.

I’m in this as a hobby so I don’t try to turn over cars as fast as I can. One car per day and family time the rest! Good balance. That also answers why I take so long for a car. I detailed a nasty 01 or 02 Accord and took about 6 hrs. That’s using the pc and full detail inside and out. I’m having pricing issues as far as what services for what price. For $100 I would think I could get away with wash and wax detail with no paint restoration. I’ve been charging that for full detail plus paint which takes me 6-7 hrs. That’s a lot of work for that little price. I just can’t keep my poker face when quoting prices, especially to friends!! People tell me to raise my prices but the way I see it is I can charge $200 for a car and be over priced for my market area and detail 0 cars per day or cut my price and have a busy weekend.’

Sorry about lengthy reply. I’ve been off the air for a few days and needed to vent!

[Rick]

Scrub, thanks for the suggestions. I think what I'm going to do is print up some business cards and some pictures of my work that I have to get going.

Now out of curiosity, some of you say you don't do engine details because of the liability, which I can understand. But, I've pressure washed many engines and have never ever had any problems. Has anyone managed to cause any damage this way?

[scrub]

Good luck! I guess just do what you do and do it well. That's all we can do. With each detail I learn more and apply what I've learned better each time.

[HotRodGuy]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
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

haha, I actually just did the same thing Mike. Should be something nice to listen to on the way home on the 405

[mirrorfinishman]

Re: Re: Re: Questions about starting detailing

Originally posted by Superior Shine
Frank, You clean road tar AFTER you polish and wax?

Actually, the road tar gets cleaned off at the very end of the polish and wax process. I use a combo of Stoners Tarminator and when necessary, Meguiars #2 Fine Cut Cleaner(by hand) to clean off road tar. Usually the Tarminator is all that is necessary.

Since I do everything by hand, I simply use the same cloth that has the wax residue on it from doing the rest of the vehicle for the road tar removal process. Then a top coat of wax is applied to the areas where the road tar was removed using a clean cloth.

ps - sorry for the delayed reply, since I don't get emails from MOL

[mirrorfinishman]

Originally posted by scrub
mirrorfinishman... You offer about the same services as I try too. When you say clean and vacuum carpets is that also shampoo??

YES

[scrub]

Got it. Thanks