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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » I want your opinion on a Mobile Detailing Service

July 25, 2011 6:11 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid HalfDork

I have been in the thought of starting a mobile detailing service for a while now. Basically I come to you and wash, wax, and clean your interior of your car.

I am not asking for advice on fine details. I've gotten enough from various people I've asked including my wife .

What I am asking is, if you are too busy or just don't like cleaning your car, would you call a company that could come to your house or business and do it for you?

Basically I would have a Dually Utility truck with a 100 gal water tank, generator, power washer, etc., so I don't have to use anything of the customers. I would have all cleaning supplies, shop vac, and other necessities on board.
July 25, 2011 6:24 p.m. triumph5 SuperDork

It'll work if you live where there are enough people to support spending that disposable income on a regular basis.

I know of one guy who used the customer's water and electrtic, and they had no problem with that. Doing that would greatly decrease your initial investment, and decrease your operating costs.

Interestingly, the better the interior was detailed, the happier the customer, and more repeat and loyal customers. Spotless windows and dustless vents were mentioned a lot!

100 gallons of water is 700 lbs, less the tank. And at any car wash HAND washing always commands a higher price. I would not want a power washer used on my Ferrari or Escort.

Before proceeding, talk to a commercial insurer, there may be some aspects to such business you'll need specific coverage.
July 25, 2011 6:57 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid HalfDork

Well power washer was a thought. We had a low pressure unit at a body shop I worked at and never had an issue. That was a detail I just threw in there. I've think I found a water pump that would provide the same pressure as a house would. Hand washing is the master plan.

The purpose of having a water tank and generator is because it enables me to do what I need to do where water and power may not be available.

Like I said, the fine details have to be worked out. Everything that will be mentioned by others probably has been brought to my attention already.
July 25, 2011 7:06 p.m. Hal Dork

Since I am the only one in my neighborhood who cuts their own grass you could probably do well here.

For info on a setup you should check out the UK Transit Connect forum

A good portion of the people on there use their Transit Connects for mobile detailing service. There are several threads with pictures and info on their setups.
July 25, 2011 7:12 p.m. rustyvw HalfDork

One of the guys I work with used to do it. He used the customers water, and I think he ran his vacuum from an inverter and just left his truck running. I think that would be a lot quieter than a generator. He still does it, but just in the evenings now. I think it takes a while to build up a clientele, that might be something to keep in mind.
July 25, 2011 8:17 p.m. PseudoSport Reader

What about starting the business at home first before spending the money on a truck, tank, generator, etc? That way you can gauge market interest in your area and gain a client base before making a bigger investment.
July 25, 2011 8:29 p.m. fasted58 Dork

Personally, I shy away from any mobile automotive service after a mobile windshield replacement, a hurried job cause he wanted to get two more jobs done that evening. I'd rather put a vehicle in a shop for any duration for work or detail than on a mobile schedule... but shop detail ain't always the right answer either.
July 25, 2011 11:50 p.m. gamby SuperDork

I've done it on the side. Good money and no stress.

A lot of people prefer mobile because they don't feel like dropping their car off at a shop.

I've found that a LOT of people say they're interested, but getting them to commit is a bitch.

It's also tricky to find the crowd that wants to pay for quality work. There's only so much a $100 job can entail--my minimum is $150. There's a niche market that is willing to pay $400+, but you REALLY need skills and networking to tap into it. I've yet to find it in RI/MA, but elsewhere in the country it exists.

I'm in New England, so that's why I never pursued it full-time. 6 months of nothing.
July 25, 2011 11:58 p.m. Strizzo SuperDork

theres a guy that was on another forum i used to frequent that was in the dallas/ft worth area doing the high-end detailing stuff. he has the skills, equipment and knowledge to make everything look amazing. more importantly, he has regular, high-dollar customers. been in the business since 94.

http://www.scottwax.com/ to get an idea what he charges/offers
July 26, 2011 8:41 a.m. Duke SuperDork

One thing to consider is finding a property manager for local office parks. One I used to work in had a mobile guy come one day a week and hang out in one of the parking lots. For $15 (or so, this was a few years ago) he would wash the car outside and shine the tires. I think at $25 he would also vacuum and dust inside. Workers arriving in the morning would park their cars in that lot, talk to / pay the guy, and pick them up clean at the end of the day. It wasn't a full detail, but the price was right, and he had as many cars to do as he could get done in a day. That would be bread-and-butter work that could fill the spaces between full detail jobs and keep some regular cash coming in.

Never underestimate the value of a cash business at tax time, either.
July 26, 2011 8:43 a.m. Datsun1500 SuperDork

I would rather drop it off at a place that does it indoors. My thinking is that way the car is cooled off instead of being in the sun while it gets done. Might not make a difference but in my head it does....

I also agree that most mobile services seem to be in a rush to get to the next guy, again might not be true, but the perception is there
July 26, 2011 11:30 a.m. Duke SuperDork

I don't see why rushing would be a symptom of a mobile service. A shop would be in just as big a rush to get the next car through the bay. You just wouldn't see it because you wouldn't be looking out the window at your car while it was getting done.
July 26, 2011 12:42 p.m. T.J. SuperDork

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: What I am asking is, if you are too busy or just don't like cleaning your car, would you call a company that could come to your house or business and do it for you?

For me personally the answer is no. I would think that there is a market out there for it. lots of people pay someone to cut their grass, or do their laundry/iron their shirts, change their oil, etc.
July 26, 2011 1:14 p.m. pete240z SuperDork

Hal wrote:

Since I am the only one in my neighborhood who cuts their own grass you could probably do well here.

Once my neighbor came out and gave me that look; "wow, people still wash their own cars?"
July 26, 2011 1:31 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

My wife would call you. She's been complaining for a month she wants to get her car detailed but works from home and doesnt want to make a special trip out just to have it done.

On the office park idea, my sisters BF used to do this. Took a bit to pick up but once word got around that "wednedsay is the detail guy day" he was always busy for a full day at each site. He offered different levels, from just a quick wash and vac up to a full on detail so he could attract the customers who would never pony up for a full detail but still have plenty of buisiness at each location.
July 26, 2011 1:33 p.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

Personally speaking, I would not call you to detail any car I valued enough to have someone else detail it in the first place unless you had some way for me to see that other people have trusted you. A brick-n-mortar place has other customer cars around. I can stand there and watch before I give over my keys and see some results. I can see for myself what sort of work you do.

If you show up at my house or work parking lot - I have to trust my car to a complete mystery. How you tackle the trust issue makes or breaks the business IMO.
July 26, 2011 3:31 p.m. ultraclyde HalfDork

+1 on the trust thing, but most people don't value their motive appliances like we do. Plus, with onsite I don't have to give them my keys if they're only doing the outside. Business parks and factories are great places to hit as long as you don't offend the powers that be. Maybe work your way in with a couple free washes.

Look into getting licensed or bonded - it can be a pain but also helps with the trust issues (for good reason)

I knew a guy that stopped by our shop once a week several years ago. $20 for a quick wash & vacuum. I ended up making him some signs for his truck and we talked some. He'd been doing it for the last 20 years and regularly pulled upper 5 figures every year.

even allowing for his bragging, it seems like there's money to be made. Or there was before the Great Recession.
July 26, 2011 3:32 p.m. poopshovel SuperDork
Even though I REALLY seriously thought about doing this for years, I'll keep my mouth shut and try not to go into "fine details"

GPS has a good point, but I like to detail my crap cars once a year or so. Problem is, it's really hard to find the time to do it.

If I worked at an office w/lots of cars on the lot, and could nitpick co-workers completed, talk to the guys and ask them what to expect, watch them work, etc., I'd totally consider it. I would not, however, let anyone touch my NEW car. That said, I would be your minority in an office environment.

I would not call someone to come to my house, and I think you'd find that a lot.

Here I go with the details You can stop listening if you'd like.
1. It's incredibly brutal work. My back is PERMANENTLY berkeleyed from working at a carwash for a couple years in college...and I mean berkeleyed with a capital "F" ... or "B" or whatever.
2. I'm sure you've considered the fact that you will have zero work in the winter. That was the majority of the deal-breaker for me.
3. There was a group of dudes who came to an office parked I worked in a million years ago. They did good work. One nice touch was that they shot the wheel wells with a little flat black. That was pretty impressive to me.
4. If I'm paying someone to DETAIL my car, that mother berkeleyer had better be DETAILED. There is no detail job that's completed in less than an hour. I don't care how many monkeys are tearing into it. I've been really, really disappointed with the last two places who detailed my integra, even after SPECIFICALLY telling them what I expected and that I'd be happy to pay more if necessary to have it done right. Dust on the vents (that's what q-tips are for,) marks on plastic parts where they got lazy and used the buffer on the a-pillar (that's what your hand is for,) etc., these things are unacceptable from a DETAILER, IMO.
July 26, 2011 4:05 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid HalfDork

In reply to poopshovel:

Trust me that's all been taken into account.

I also used to be a lot porter for a car dealer and a bus dealer, so I know what goes into the work of washing and detailing interiors.

I've thought of people having a trust issue and such, but at the same time, I don't want them coming to my house lol.

Also, I'm not looking into doing buffing. Unless there is a person who can take the time to show me how to properly do it, it's not going to be an option.
July 26, 2011 4:07 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid HalfDork

Also, this is just to get peoples opinions like I said. Currently I do not even have the funds to start this endeavor, but in about a 6 months to a year I should.

Also, I live in a HOA condo subdivision, so people coming to my house is not feasible. That's one of the reasons I want it to be mobile. Also, in my area, it is hard to find shops for rent.
July 26, 2011 4:42 p.m. poopshovel SuperDork

Word. Simple answer: If there was a mobile place that did a block of cars and offered to do mine, I would consider it.

ONE more thing: Learn how to buff. People are going to ask you to do it. Even if you refuse to do 'touch up' stuff (ala "My friend told me this could be buffed out....") learn how to do it. Hit the big stuff with the buffer, do the other stuff by hand, and keep in mind, the lower half of the car is really hard to see. Sorry for more opinions. Crazy how everybody's entreprenuerial juices get flowing and everybody's an expert on a business they've never been in, right? People do it to me all the time, and it's really annoying, so, sorry.
July 26, 2011 5:03 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid HalfDork

Yeah like I said, I need to find someone who can show me how to do it properly.
July 26, 2011 7:07 p.m. Datsun1500 SuperDork

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:

Also, I live in a HOA condo subdivision, so people coming to my house is not feasible. That's one of the reasons I want it to be mobile. Also, in my area, it is hard to find shops for rent.

Want to bet you won't be able to park the truck in the condo lot? One more thing to consider.
July 26, 2011 8:07 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid HalfDork

Datsun1500 wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:

Also, I live in a HOA condo subdivision, so people coming to my house is not feasible. That's one of the reasons I want it to be mobile. Also, in my area, it is hard to find shops for rent.

Want to bet you won't be able to park the truck in the condo lot? One more thing to consider.

Well, I'm allowed to park my Cable Van in the street or driveway. And if it came down to that issue, I could just go park my truck at my grandma's farm 5 minutes away.

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