Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches New England Detailing

So how much? PM me when you get to it. I will probabally forget to check the thread. How far would you be willing to go to do it out of people's houses??

- Mike

Hugo,

You should set up shop at the DMD meet (whenever we do it). I'd be willing to pay. What do you think it'll cost?

- Zack

damn. that would be great as long as elky doesn't mind me using his water.

prices are to still come guys. I need to make sure they're accurate and i'm figuring out discount prices for you guys.

I will get back to you - with details in which EACH option costs.

Cool? I'm working with a few guys right now trying to figure out cheaper prices compared to others.

Thanks guys!!! I would LOVE to take care of your cars!!!!!!!!!!!

hey Mike,

Right now i'm looking at a 30 to 35 mile radius.

I would be willing to go further - long as it's a FULL COMPLETE detailing - and not just a hand wash/vac type of deal.

Thanks for your interest!

Good luck with the business.

A few thoughts coming from a guy who has run a business detailing yachts, and has a good friend who runs an auto detailing business:

1) Good luck getting people to work around your schedule...!

2) The quality of the detail is only as good as the conditions...this means water hardness, sun, temperature, etc. If you are travelling on fixed days, and working outside, you have no control over this. Working in your garage will help. How good is the water quality at your garage/driveway?

3) You bought the buffer, but how about the rest of the stuff...you'll need a rotory polisher, several different types of polishes/waxes/compounds/sealers, a variety of touch up paints, a carpet cleaner (not just a vacumn), a million other products too. You can build your stock as you do more jobs which helps.

4) How are your skills? Are you good with the buffer? How about using a variable rotory on a black car to get rid of scratches/heavy swirl marks...? Ever burn paint before and know how to avoid doing it? Knowledge on wet sanding comes in handy too, particulary to clean up after bad/sloppy bodywork/finishing.

5) How fast can you work? I ran a car audio business for a couple of years while I was in college, and I learned quickly that it is one thing to love to do something on YOUR car, and it is another thing to love to do it on EVERYONE ELSE'S car. And, it is yet another thing to do it fast enough that you are actually MAKING MONEY. I used to do jobs that literally in the end I was making 8.00 an hour because of unseen snafus, trips to the parts store, etc.

6) Get in good with some body shops and some used car dealers. They always have a lot of cars to turn over for detailing, they have facilities, they may provide the products, and they will pay well. Also , if you can find some persons who will be regular customers, you may be able to work a nice deal out...it is actually cheaper and more effective to detail a car 3x a year then to do it once!

7) You may want to hook up with a distributor to get professional-grade products. You are going to find the freak here and there that wants Zaino, etc. but chances are if they are that picky they'd clean their own car. You can save a lot buying in bulk. My friend uses 3M, and a few other brands. You learn over time what works and what doesn't. Maybe you can get an account and terms at a auto body supply shop and get some product samples.

8) Get a system down - learn what pads work with the right products, on which color cars, in what shape. You can literally save hours if you know for example a white car with clearcoat can get away with a 1 step versus the black car which needs the 3 step. Helps you price out jobs better.

9) Make sure you take pride in your work. I hate to say it but my friend who details hsa lost his pride in his work. He still does awesome work, but he cuts corners and it shows when you are picky enough. I use him because he cuts me a good deal and he is a wiz with the buffer on my black SVT.

Good luck!

Oh man, I should hope not!!

I meant the price of the machine itself (listed as $500); hoping it's money well spent and that your business ideas will turn into a profitable reality!

Damn Andrew!! Let me try to answer some of your questions.

First off - I am NOT starting a business just yet. Perhaps in the future, but honestly, this is more of a 'do a few cars, here and there' type of view I have right now.

1)Thanks the Good Luck wish. I'll need it.

2)I've already stated that three things need to be present in order for me to properly detail a car. 1-Water 2-Electrical Power 3-Shade
I have a garage here at my house.
Water quality is soft.

3)No. I bought an Orbital Polisher. I am not currently interested in buffers although I have used them in the past. i think an Orbital Polisher gives the customer a better "sense" of feeling knowing that I won't be burning their paint! I have Polishes, SMR's, Waxes, Body Scrub's, etc....Companies from Mothers, to Meguiars to 3M (my personal favorite)

4)Nothing Rotary. Orbital is a lot safer and personaly, i feel it does the job just great in removing swirl marks. I will obviously, continue to better my skills in terms of using the O.P. and will work out whatever I see works best in terms of what polishes/SMR's,etc...to use - in what order.

5)If i go slow, I get bored. If I go too fast, I'm pissed with the results. It also depends on the type of service. A FULL Detail will take a long time. However, a regular Hand Wash and Vacuum probably won't take as long. :p

6)Slowly but surely. You nailed it right on the head! There are many used car dealerships that are VERY close to my neighborhood. But again, Slowly, but Surely! Good call though!!

7)If or When this becomes a real Business (which I don't see right now), I will obviously take care of these things. However, in the meantime, i would love to begin with the combo that I have had success with so far which is Meguiars, Mothers and 3M. Leaning towards 3M. I will be trying other products - as they come out and everyone raves about them, I will obviously try them out first, then use them.

8)Again, right on the nose!! I have a few cars in my driveway - 1 Champagne Contour, 1 Black Contour, 1 White Kia, 1 Black Mercedes. Friends have Silver vehicles, etc....I will get a pattern down first. I totally agree on the time savings as well! Definatley worth the practice and mental notes.

9)Have you ever met Mike (Elky?) I hate to say it, but I would like to compare myself to him. When doing my mesh grill at JSmith's House, Elky had an Unbelievable sense of pride in his work. He was so meticulous in what he was doing. I am like that as well. Perhaps not in Mesh grills, but in Cars.

Listen, This is NOT going to be a business right off the bat where I am going to leave my company and dump all kinds of money into it - for me to never get it back. It's not like that. Andrew, and everyone else, I hope this answers your questions (except for pricing. that's done. I will post tomorrow). For those who want a FULL Detailing, i will most likely have a friend of mine join in on the fun - therefore cutting time in half. Any other questions, please post away. I will attempt to answer them to the best of my ability.

Thanks!!

whoa! how many Orbital Polisher's did you have in your basket!!!!!?? More like 5 of them buddy!! I only need one. hehehehee

It sounds like you've applied a lot of thought to what you want to do, and it sounds like a low-risk proposition. From what you are saying, worst case scenario is you are doing something you enjoy, best-case is that you make a few $$ doing it.

Good luck!

Also - I will ask my buddy the name of the product line he uses...it is very good. Also there is this stuff he gets me which is completely !@#$ing awesome at stripping wax off black plastic, etc. I will get the name of that as well. Pricey, but makes all the difference!

MUAHAHAHA
Thats right Elky's mesh has you all Own3d with a capital 3!!!!
Look at my mesh and fear me!