pros...how did you get started???

[dnoraker]

Hey pro detailers -

How did you learn your trade - did you work at a detail shop as an employee, or did you just learn as you went and figured it out on your own with the help of MOL?

I've been reading the forums on what to charge, etc., but I don't remember how people learned how to do it and also how they built their client base.

did you advertise in the paper? Give referral discounts? (refer a customer and get $20 off your next detail) Call wealthy people and offer services? Leave business cards on dirty, swirled cars? do freebies for people that would not have done it for money so you have your work out there in the world?

Did you build up a client base quickly? How many vehicles can you do in a week? Is the pay decent? Consider I live in MN where an entry-level pay can be around $9-12/hr; a starting teacher (my profession) can make about $30-35,000/yr; engineers and computer science people often start around $45-50,000/yr.

I checked into working at a local detail shop and they pay their detailers $25 per car, $30 for SUV and if you get 12, they pay $50 bonus. Ya, not enough for me.

I already make an average living in what I do already and I'm self-employed so I decide my schedule, but I have time to detail a few cars a week if I choose. I love doing it, especially for the shock on a customers face (ie. removing tons of overspray, oxidation, swirl marks on an old black car)



I totally appreciate any comments you pros have. I admire your work that I've seen on MOL! Any pros in the Minneapolis area?

[VanityDetailing]

I've been a chef and bartender for 11 years... was bartending at a marina, where all the boaters would come in and get ripped on a nightly basis. Got fired from the bar for not using a "jigger" to measure out the drinks. THe boaters all loved me, and hated to see me out of work, so they said, "wanna come wash my boat?" Started out washing a 147' mega-yacht, and then just busted my tail to do the best job I could do on every boat... word of mouth got around, and here we are, 4 months later, and I've got 32 boats in my "stable" that I take care of. 4 months ago, I'd never SEEN a yacht. Now, I've been trained by Scott Clarke from Gulf Atlantic Marketing, who is a major retailer/distributor for Meguiar's... and I have more work than I can handle! Mother nature and time are the only obstacles right now.

--Evan

[mirrorfinishman]

I started Mirror Finish Detailing as a part-time mobile detailing business in 1986.

Prior to starting my own detailing business, I had worked as Quality Assurance Manager for a car wash manufacturing firm. (Sherman Industries, Palmyra, NJ) During that time two things happened that got me to thinking about starting my own detailing business. 1- I began to realize that there was a growing need for specialized automobile detailing services. 2- I also began to realize that I could earn extra income doing something that I really enjoy. Since I had always kept my own vehicles cleaned and polished, it was only natural to start to offer the same service for other people.

I am the only employee and my detailing business is strictly a mobile detailing operation. All of the cleaning, polishing and waxing is done at the customer’s location here in Southern New Jersey.

Automobile and Boat Detailing is the primary focus of my business. However, I also offer the following instructional information about detailing.
1- Start Your Own Detailing Business ‘Study Guides’. These comprehensive plans have been developed to help interested client’s start-up, own and operate their own detailing business.
2- Automobile & Boat Detailing Guides – These do-it-yourself guides are designed to offer everyone an opportunity to learn more about how to clean, polish and wax their own car or boat, just like a professional.
3- Online Detailing Courses – These courses allow students to complete their studies anytime, anywhere. The online classes are designed for busy people, including college students and working professionals who have limited access to traditional classroom activities. The Online Detailing Courses offer everyone an opportunity to learn the do-it-yourself approach to automobile and boat detailing.


I attended entrepreneur small business courses at Rutgers Univ. in Camden, NJ along with a few advertising and marketing seminars at Drexel Univ. in Philadelphia, PA. One of the very first things I did after attending a few of these business courses was to write a business plan. I still write down everything. Every idea, every thought still gets documented. Actually the original mission of my business is still the same as I had written it back in 1986. That is ‘to do all of the polishing and waxing at the customer’s location and do everything by hand’. With regard to education and training, I would say that 80% of the effort should be focused on learning more about what it takes to own and operate a successful and profitable business. The other 20% of the time should be learning more about the actual process of detailing. Too often, many detailing businesses fail because the owners are too busy taking care of the technical side of the business. Sure they may be good detailers, however, that does not necessarily make them good business owners. My ability to do detailing was the result of my Dad taking the time to teach me everything he knew about how to properly clean, polish and wax a vehicle. He always had a clean car and he always did all of the work himself. It was only natural for me to follow in his footsteps.

Since my business is made up of 100% retail customers, where the vehicles are constantly being detailed, I have very little need for much of the professional equipment being offered to most detailers. However, I do use Meguiar's professional detailing products exclusively.

Professionalism is the key to operating a successful and profitable detailing business. Of course, customers expect to see good results, however they are equally concerned with all of the things that you do that adds up to creating an overall good experience. For example, since I operate a mobile detailing business it is very important that I arrive on the job at the agreed time of the appointment. I also dress in clean, professional looking color coordinated work cloths. Matching work hat with embroidered company name, etc.

I learned early on that in order to become successful you must constantly be focused on meeting the needs of your customers. My customers are now like family and friends. Our mutual respect for one and other goes well beyond the scope of detailing.

I do not offer additional services. I have simply remained focused on filling the need that my customers have for my detailing services.

I feel that I have been successful because I constantly try to look at everything from the customer’s prospective. I treat my customers the same way I like to be treated. I use only the finest professional products because that’s what I would use on my own cars. However, the single most important reason why I have remained so successful is because I understand that my customers are not interested in a low price. They are much more interested in knowing they are receiving a high quality service for their money. Too often, detailing businesses fail because they are constantly trying to compete with other detailers and constantly lowering their prices. In the detailing business, that is simply a mistake. A low price may matter when you’re doing wholesale restoration work for a dealership, however most retail customers care more about getting a high quality job and they are not afraid to pay a much higher price for that kind of service.

My detailing business is unique because all of the polishing and waxing is done only by hand and all of the work is done at the customer’s location.

When it comes to marketing, my customers just love telling their family and friends about my detailing service. They are constantly sending me new customer referrals. I have also found that just talking with people who own an expensive car often yields good results too. That’s why I always carry a couple of business cards with me. You never know when someone is going to ask about my detailing services.

In order to become more successful, the best advice I could give to other detailing business owners is to create a strategic plan that will help to identify the customer and why that customer needs the service being offered. Remember, when it comes to detailing, it’s not about price. It’s more about offering a high quality service. Always remain focused on meeting the needs of your customer. That’s the key.

If I had to name three things that all detailing business owners must do in order to become more successful, here's what I would tell them.
1- Focus on your customer.
2- Focus on your customer.
3- Focus on your customer.
Too many detailers spend way too much time worrying about the their competition and how everything relates to the their own personal needs. Doing that is a sure recipe for failure. For a detailer to be successful they must remain focused on constantly giving the customer much more than they expect. They must remain focused on meeting and exceeding the needs of their customer. To be successful the customer must truly come first.

I think the major growth of my detailing business during the next couple of years will continue to come from specializing in the care and appearance maintenance of more and more high-end vehicles, such as exotic sports cars. However, I have also found that there are plenty of people who have a basic need to learn more about how they can clean, polish and wax their own car, just like a professional. Since I am currently offering instructional information about detailing, I am now beginning to offer a unique hands-on training course for people here in South Jersey.

[dnoraker]

Frank.....wow!!! Thanks for the info!!!

I totally agree about focusing on 80% business 20% detailing. We all know we can cook a better hamburger than McDonalds...but who's the Billionaire???

Please e-mail me your website so I can take a look at your study information. I might be interested in that.