How to start my own Car Washing Business?

A

apoirier594

New member
Yep, the title.



I am only 17 years old but I always am washing/detailing my families cars and neighbors. I don't have a high speed polisher or anything tho.



I am tired of my job and make nothing sine I only work weekends. So I want to start my own little car washing

business.



My questions is how can I go about this. Like post flyers on local bulletin boards? I am not to sure how to advertise. I have my own truck so I can carry all supplies and drive to people's homes. But how would I keep water from getting all over the drive way? Do you think strangers will care about that? Please give me some insight.



I usually, wash, clean rims/tires, wheel wells, hand dry, dress tires. I guess that would be a basic wash?



If anything else I dress trim, use cleaner wax then a protectant wax, clean interior, fresh air, clean glass, etc.. What else could I do?



And how much should I charge?



Thank You guys
 
wascallyrabbit said:
start by reading this

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detail.../136439-essentials-starting-new-business.html
Click to expand...



+1 for this.



As far as washing cars, that's not going to get you very far IMO. That means your main competitor are machine washes, which will clean your car in a couple minutes for $7. How do you compete with that? Your main selling point should be detailing, and to the average person that just means a wash/clay/wax. By adding those two last steps, you improve your marketing ability a lot, create a niche, and can determine your own prices. Also, you can offer interior services. How much you charge is completely up to you, no one can tell you a good price for it as it varies in every area.



Start with parents/family/friends cars to get your name started.



Best of luck
 
Thanks guys. I have been reading a lot, and read that link you gave me. But I don't have money for insurance, license, and all of that. I haven't even started yet, do you think thats required?



Yea friends/family sounds good! I am about to do my neighbors van(hand wash/dry, vac, clay, wax, rims/tires, wheel wells.) For free this week and just said her fee is to spread the word. So I guess I need to make some business cards so people can get my numbers and stuff.



As of this moment I only have around $250 but have pretty much all the products.(Except products for leather)

Should I buy a PC7424 and some pads(which I want to use, b/c if my truck looks perfect people will probably have more confidence) Or just I get like a handheld vac so I don't have to use people electrical ports as well as get some leather conditioner and business cards, and other products like forever black? I'll post a link to the vac below.



Your help is much appreciated.



What do you think of this Vac?



Amazon.com: Black & Decker Pivot Vac 18V Cordless Pivoting Hand Vac, PHV1810: Home & Garden
 
TOGWT said:
O Brother (Buda) Where Art Thou? :happy1:
Click to expand...





"Birds of a feather flock together" me thinks before giving advice on certain subjects hereafter, you must have "Played the game" at one time as this is like a batting instructor telling Big leaguers how to hit when thet never were 'Big League players"..................



Until I see some pics Jon without a "H" of you one running a service, two doing anything to a car this "In theory" stuff has to stop, alot of the info you impart is very detailed articulate stuff(From various sources of course) but I liken you to guys I use to see at Martial art tournaments with 3rd degree Black Belts who NEVER did any fighting but had "Theory" application of "Kill/knockout techniques" one guy was especially known for this and would be imparting his considerable "Knowledge" to young guys eager to "Know stuff" and one time was going on and on until I walked in with one of my teachers and let's just say "The cat got his tongue"............. I know I always seem to be there to "Hate on you" Jon but "Child please" do I need to link the DB thread here?



I wish I could be "Positive" about stuff, but I have been given the "Job" of saying what others will not, when is the internet bluster and fluff going to stop...............enough already!!!!.
 
At 17 very few people are going to let you and a "buffer" near their car. You can make plenty of cash just going wash and waxes. As people are going to be very weary of you damaging their car versus a "professional" you need to do everything to assure them you are doing a BETTER job than a regular car wash. I'd create a nice brochure that outlines how you intend to take care of their cars, first noting previous conditions (pre-detail check sheet), using swirl free wash techniques and non abrasive products. People are going to think you aren't professional, so you need to overcompensate and make the "pros", ie the carwash down the street, look like hacks. Safety and assurance sells.
 
Dan said:
..I'd create a nice brochure that outlines how you intend to take care of their cars, first noting previous conditions (pre-detail check sheet), using swirl free wash techniques and non abrasive products. People are going to think you aren't professional, so you need to overcompensate and make the "pros", ie the carwash down the street, look like hacks..
Click to expand...



Yeah, exactly :xyxthumbs





apoirier594- Welcome to Autopia!



Some folks are gonna say how you *must* have the license/insurance/etc. just like anybody else who's in business (including, it seems, any children with lemonade stands ;) ). SOME of those people will give you grief and say that you're gonna give detailing a bad name or at the very least cause damage that "real detailers" will have to fix. I hope you don't let people like that discourage you, but I also think that there's perhaps some point in at least thinking about such stuff. Eh, I'll leave all such discussions to people who seem to live for that kind of :nono:



Some sorta-random thoughts follow, maybe something will be helpful:



-Some well-respected pros here started "very small", doing basically mobile wash/wax jobs. They grew their business along with their experience and did very well. There is a LOT to know; this stuff isn't rocket science but it's not as simple as one might think either.



-As noted, competing with a $7 carwash can be tricky; you simply *gotta* have a way to convince people that your service is worth more. And it does really have to *be* worth more.



-You're smart to wonder about using people's electricity. Add in using their hose/water. Sorry, I don't have an answer for you.



-Water/etc. containment might be a big issue, or it might be a non-issue. Are there any regulations about runoff in your area?



-There are "rinseless" and "waterless" washes. Some people do well with them, others don't.



-Are you planning to work in the sun? That can pose a whole lot of challenges.



-Is washing in the driveway OK in your area or is it considered way too tacky?



-Washing without instilling marring (i.e., swirls, spiderweb scratches, etc.) is *VERY* difficult. NO way to exaggerate this. It's a huge challenge. Causing less marring than your competition (e.g., a local carwash) should be a big part of what you're selling, but you gotta be able to pull it off. "Rubbing a sponge against the paint" the way most people wash cars isn't gonna cut it.



-What to charge? Gee, beats me :nixweiss What's your time worth to you? What about the opportunity costs (namely, whatever you have to give up in order to do this stuff)? Do you simply love washing cars or do you need to make a certain amount of money? Will this cut into truly serious endeavors like your education (which isn't just school ;) )?



Sorry that I don't have any good answers for you. I'm just trying to look back 30-some years and put myself in your shoes, but with my current perspective. The idea here is to be able to look back to 2011 after a few decades and say "gee, I'm glad I did all those car washes!", or conversely "gee, I'm glad I didn't mess around washing cars back then!". Can't say which way you oughta jump, but I hope you pick the right one.
 
I appreciate the replies.



Tell me if what I am doing is wrong..

I use two buckets, after I'm done with one panel I rinse the mitt off in one. I spray and rinse the viechle first then wash one panel and then rinse that panel off. I usually wash our cars/trucks in the sun since I have no garage but I constantly keep spray water around the cars so they don't get dry by the sun. I hand dry with a synthetic shammy. My truck already has swirls so I can't tell if I added more but I don't think that I did.



I guess I'll get the hand vac for electric issues. Once I get $300 I could get a 60 gallon tank and place it in my truck but I have no idea how to get water pumping through a hose.



And what I normally do is hand wash/dry, clay, wax, dress, and then vac interior, use a matt low shine UV protectant as well as shine windows..(let me know how to improve) Thanks



Basically tell me the right way to wash...and I have no idea how to avoid the sun. I think I know what I'm doing as far as washing, but your advise is always welcome!
 
apoirier594 said:
..Tell me if what I am doing is wrong..

I use two buckets, after I'm done with one panel I rinse the mitt off in one. I spray and rinse the viechle first then wash one panel and then rinse that panel off. I usually wash our cars/trucks in the sun since I have no garage but I constantly keep spray water around the cars so they don't get dry by the sun. I hand dry with a synthetic shammy. My truck already has swirls so I can't tell if I added more but I don't think that I did. ...Basically tell me the right way to wash...
Click to expand...



Hope this doesn't sound like a cop-out, but "how to wash" is something that's so involved I simply can't rehash it here/now. Yeah, it's *that* complicated.



See if you can find the post/article entitled "Accumulator's Non-marring Wash Technique" for more info.



VERY short explanation: dirt is abrasive. It's usually stuck to the paint. IF you rub the dirt against the paint it'll cause marring. If any of the marring is "big", like a few inches long or deep or otherwise obvious, then something is very, very wrong.



You say your truck has swirls. I think you oughta get that sorted out first, for a few reasons:



-if it's not really, *REALLY* nice then it says "I don't know how to do this stuff"

-if you can't keep it swirl-free than you still need to sort out what you're doing before you proceed; don't want to mess up somebody else's vehicle. This is the sort of thing that the nay-sayers are talking about when they slam somebody for wanting to start out in this business; they often make *their* money by fixing what other people do wrong, like instilling marring during a wash

-no, most people don't care about such stuff, but you really do need to get things well sorted-out before you take this very far



And OK, I'll just come out and say it- *I* couldn't wash right as a mobile detailer without a pretty elaborate rig. I know some people here do OK with rinseless/waterless washes, but I can't do it; I simply kill paintjobs when I try it and I'm not anybody's idea of a klutz.



Sorry, I realize that this reply is of virtually zero help :o It's just that this is a bit complicated to do right and you should try to do it right lest you become "part of the problem".



I think you oughta get your truck sorted out (like it's some showcar) and keep it that way, and give this some good thought while you're doig that. [shoot], just coming up with a business plan would probably take me at least a weekend of solid work. What's the goal? What's your planned profit margin? What's the timeframe/lifespan of the endeavor? What's the client-base? Not as fun as waxing cars, but a lot more important in many ways.
 
Accumulator said:
-if it's not really, *REALLY* nice then it says "I don't know how to do this stuff"

-if you can't keep it swirl-free than you still need to sort out what you're doing before you proceed........



I think you oughta get your truck sorted out (like it's some showcar) and keep it that way, and give this some good thought while you're doig that
Click to expand...



This is how I fell into some part time-detailing jobs when I was in high school and college. I never actively sought out to detail for pay. I was approached because of the condition of my car. My best client, who frequenly bought a new Mercedes SL, was very impressed and I wound up detailing for him for a few years simply because my car was an inadvertent billboard. My car announced that I'm passionate about detailing and that I could probably make someone else's car look like it. Rounding up positive emotions about you in a client is a powerful thing. Now imagine if you detailed your car to a level to intentionally round up those emotions. :D
 
apoirier594 said:
I appreciate the replies.



Tell me if what I am doing is wrong..

I use two buckets, after I'm done with one panel I rinse the mitt off in one. I spray and rinse the viechle first then wash one panel and then rinse that panel off. I usually wash our cars/trucks in the sun since I have no garage but I constantly keep spray water around the cars so they don't get dry by the sun. I hand dry with a synthetic shammy. My truck already has swirls so I can't tell if I added more but I don't think that I did.



I guess I'll get the hand vac for electric issues. Once I get $300 I could get a 60 gallon tank and place it in my truck but I have no idea how to get water pumping through a hose.



And what I normally do is hand wash/dry, clay, wax, dress, and then vac interior, use a matt low shine UV protectant as well as shine windows..(let me know how to improve) Thanks



Basically tell me the right way to wash...and I have no idea how to avoid the sun. I think I know what I'm doing as far as washing, but your advise is always welcome!
Click to expand...



You don't need to spend $300 on a tank. I still use a couple of 45 gallon drums that I got for free. If there are any refineries or mills in your area call them and ask to talk to someone about aquiring discarded plastic drums or chemical tote tanks . They give them away because they otherwise pay to have them removed. Drill it and with the aid of an industrial fitting supply shop attach a garden hose valve to the bottom of the drum. The pressure washer will cost you though. Now find a pressure washer that will work with a gravity feed. This is not a complicated setup. If you ever been to the pits at a motocross race you'll see dozens of guys washing their bikes after the race with this same setup mounted on pickup trucks. I use this setup in my mobile van. One 45 gallon is enough to do 2-3 vehicles but that's likely all you'll be doing in one day. I use rinseless wash if I think I might run out of water.
 
Thanks for the replies. I truly do appreciate constructive criticism cause everyone learns something new all the time with peoples different perspectives.

(I also ready your thread)



I have washed neighbors cars that are swirl free and are still swirl free. The only reason my truck has swirls is because of the owner before me. I'm only 17 guys, so unlike you I don't have a few grand to just drop to perfect my car right now. I use cleaner wax as well as a protectant every month to fill in the swirls(why? Cause I don't have a PC yet). Yea, a lot of people come up to me saying how good my trucks use and my neighbors always do that "you gotta do mine" now joke.



Now I only have about $250 right now which I could use to get the PC, and pads I want...or some leather conditioner/cleaner, hand vac, and business cards for possible customers. I only work weekends because my job takes to much out of me during school, so it takes me two weeks to get $120..So if I get the polisher it will take me over a month to get the other stuff since I also pay for gas.



I was thinking about charging $45 for hand wash/dry, clean wheels, dress tires, vacuum interior, clean windows, and use matt light gloss UV protectant to clean up inside, with available fragrances. I was going to also clay bar but what do you think? Cause when I first did my truck it took a whole bar, guess it was her first treatment.



Looking forward to your feedback
 
OnTheSpotMobile- Hey, that's some good thinking there!



apoirier594- Glad I'm not coming across like a [jerk].



OK, sounds like youre doing well on the washes so I'll quit lecturing about that ;)



FWIW, I was about 17 when I started getting extreme about this stuff (my first black lacquer car was a real learning experience!), so I actually do know where you're coming from. And BTW, when I was 18 and 19 I had summer jobs doing such stuf at a dealership, which was great for them *and* me.



If it's an either/or choice, I think you'd be better off skipping the polisher and getting everything else you need. (Pros, please feel free to :argue this!) You can go a long way without a polisher but you simply *need* to be able to do "the whoe car" and that means interior stuff.



You could replace the cleaner-wax with a better product that does more filling and/or a little correction. Check out Autoglym Super Resin Polish, 1Z Paint Polish and 1Z Metallic Polish with Wax (or whatever they call it these days, they keep changing the name), Zaino All-In-One ("ZAIO"), Klasse All-In-One ("KAIO"). If nothing else, those might give you some food for thought and which one(s) are worth trying is something people here can offer good advice about.



Claying is a good idea *IF* you can do it without instilling some marring (heh heh, there I go again with that "marring" business!). Look for ways to save money (see what clay pros here use, and what they use for lube) if you go that route.



I don't have any links handy, but check out companies like Top Of The Line, where good products can be cheap in quantity. See what your local autobody/paint supply store has to offer.



The idea is to *NOT* waste money by spending it on something that won't offer max return on that investment. So be careful about what you spend your start-up $ on even when it's little stuff like which wax and so on.
 
Accumulator said:
-Some well-respected pros here started "very small", doing basically mobile wash/wax jobs. They grew their business along with their experience and did very well. There is a LOT to know; this stuff isn't rocket science but it's not as simple as one might think either.
Click to expand...



Good advice. I've seen quite a few people climb up the ranks via the internet.

Besides learing through trial and error, Autopia can be a great source for information.



To the OP: Say focused on your dreams. Strive to be the best you can be within your field. Keep an open mind for what is missing that you can offer and capitalize on these opportunities. Never stop learning how to improve yourself.
 
Accumulator said:
The idea is to *NOT* waste money by spending it on something that won't offer max return on that investment. So be careful about what you spend your start-up $ on even when it's little stuff like which wax and so on.
Click to expand...



That is the key. Its very tempting to try new products but its a total waste of money. There is so much hype thrown around various detailing product that it can make you crazy. Search out tried and true products that have excellent results and range (ie work in a variety of conditions). Sticking with one line/brand can also reduce your shipping costs (you won't have to order from multiple places) and you might get volume discounts.
 
Not trying to thread jack but someone spoke of a (BUSINESS PLAN) are there an examples posted of Business plans that work posted here in the forum, that actually were accept by the finance company or Business owner / organization where your Business was operated from? some BUSINESS PLAN SAMPLE may be helpful to others here as well as forms and sheets that are used for Detailing, So posting of Business Plans , forms and (Spread) sheets could prove hepful
 
My perspective: The title of your thread said, "Car Washing" not "Car Detailing"; to me there's a difference. If you want to wash cars, do a better job than the "drive thru" washes & bay washes can...which isn't that difficult. If you wash cars, you don't need a PC w/pads. Using a PC enters into the "detailing" arena; unless you're using the PC the apply wax and possibly buff off. If you want to wash cars and possbily work your way into detailing, give yourself some flexibility: the two bucket system is great, but also ONR or a similar product, and a "waterless" product. You can put your $$$ into a variety of sponges (upper panels, lower panels) and quite a few microfibre towels (guzzlers, waffle weaves); some clay bars, clay lubricants and more microfibre towels, your favorite paste or liquid wax...and more microfibre towels. Are you going to wash tires & wheels or wash & dress them? Perhaps another bucket, designated sponge, and drying towels with your favorite tire dressing and wheel paste. Will the plastic trim & rubber parts be cleaned or treated? More microfibre towels & possbily specific brushes. And how will the windows be cleaned? These things sell themselves. Good luck man.
 
Thank you for al the replies I have taken all into account.



SATracker I will be doing detailing without a PC(not paint correcting customers cars...yet.)



So I designed some business cards, but I need a name. I want the name to match a domain so people could easily email/find my website. I like Details Matter but someone in Florida has that, so far I was think DetailsMatterSC(I'm located in South Carolina), SCDetailer, DetailzMatter...what do you think? Any other suggestions?
 
apoirier594 said:
... I like Details Matter but someone in Florida has that, so far I was think DetailsMatterSC(I'm located in South Carolina)..
Click to expand...



I'd avoid any name that might seem similar to somebody else's...for a host of reasons. And I myself wouldn't want to use any, uhm....[stuff] like putting a "z" in there in place of an "s".



You might think along the lines of:

-wordplay related to your name

-words that imply quality, cost-efficiency, or convenience

-something more local/regional than "SC"

-something that sounds professional...reliable, responsible and somewhat buttoned-down

-don't get cute :grinno: ;)



Heh heh, if I were coming up with a name for it, it'd probably take me *many* hours of concentrated thought before I got my winner. I'd sure bounce my ideas off different people too (ask me about that detailz" and then ask some urban teen and see how the opinions compare!). Think about how your target clientele are gonna relate to the name, not so much how *you* would.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top