The Definitive Guide to Starting and Operating a Car Detailing Business

4 Books, 21 Videos , and 2 Premade Websites!

If you are serious about starting a detailing business, you MUST watch this 4 minute video.  The 3 greatest myths about the detailing business...BUSTED.
 

Want to start a car detailing business?  Already own a car detailing business?  

I have some bad news for you:  most detail businesses close within 18 months.  You will not be one of these businesses if you read and implement what you find in my ebooks and videos on operating a modern detail shop.

My name is Bob Keppel and I have owned and operated successful detailing businesses.  In my time in the industry there was only one thing more predictable than the closure of my competitors’ shops:  the yearly growth of my shop and its profits.

You cannot afford to run a common operation because there are simply too many detail shops and too few customers!  You must be different to survive.  I did two things significantly different form the competition that gave me my edge:

1. I worked 25% faster.  I observed, filmed, and analyzed industry-standard detailing processes and removed repetitiveness and redundancy to reduce work times by twenty-five percent.

2. I got more than half of my new customers from the Internet.  Instead of waiting for my word-of-mouth reputation to spread (as most detailers do), I took control of that reputation and actively spread the word about my company on Google, Yahoo, craigslist, Angies List, and many other online communities.  We had so much business that we had to turn away some work during the summer.

New shops:

If you plan on starting a detailing business, you must start from the beginning with a detailing process—inspection, notation, vehicle prep, interior detailing, exterior polishing and waxing, windows, and delivery to customer—that is as efficient and effective as possible.  You do not have time to “work things out” as you go!  My easy to learn 62 step detailing process gives you an easy to follow, consistent system to produce top quality results in a minimal amount of time.    

Where will you get new customers?  Most new businesses waste countless hours and dollars on flyers, newspaper advertising, and radio advertising that doesn’t work.  I was one of those businesses, and I’ll tell you what works and what doesn’t work so you don’t have to pay the “stupid tax” I did.  My magic bullet was getting customers from the Internet.  I had success because my competition 1) didn’t understand Internet advertising and 2) had too much money locked up in old media (phone book, magazines, flyers) that gave them little to no results.  And even today, in 2010, detailers continue to ignore the flood of customers available to them on the Internet.  Step in and take those customers from them with a modern detailing business plan! 

This car detailing training system includes a professionally designed web site with contact info, photos (yes, you own the rights to the photos) description of processes, and prices.  It’s a proven design made just for detailers that a web designer would charge $200 for!  Also included is a full color craigslist ad with photos that we’ll show you how to post to the top of the list every day.  A $95 value!  It can take weeks to find a good web designer to make these web tools, but you get them immediately, for free, with the purchase of my ebook.

You don’t want start a detailing business and market it on “trial and error.”  Trial and error is hugely expensive.  Businesses go out of businesses from too much trial and error.  I’ve done the trials and made the errors for you!  In great detail, I describe how to maximize awareness of your detail business in your town for the minimum amount of money. 

Existing Shops:

Congratulations!  You took action and opened your shop.  When you set your prices, you made estimates about the time and money it takes to perform each detail.  It all looked great on paper but in the real world jobs are taking longer and costing more than you expected.  Have you absolutely maximized your profits?  Is there any product or time wasted in your detailing process?  This ebook and online videos will show you how to:

• Clean all wheels and wheel wells without touching them in 90 seconds.

• Clean door jambs and trunk jambs without touching them in 90 seconds.

• Remove bugs, wash car, and claybar all painted surfaces in 10 minutes.

• Detail the interior of a car and vacuum it once during the whole process.

• Go to your work vehicle once while washing, once while detailing, and once while waxing.  That’s it.  Everything you need will be in your pockets and in your apron as you work.  No constant trips back and forth to your supplies!

• Clean every button, switch, vent, crevice, and gap in an instrument panel and console in less than 2 minutes.

• Dress the exterior rubber and plastic in 60 seconds.

• Polish and wax an entire vehicle in 15 minutes.  That's right, combine these two time consuming steps into one!

Every detail shop I’ve worked in or observed was wasting time with unnecessary steps and excessive manual labor.  Even when you’re optimized, detailing is extremely hard work so why make it any harder than it has to be?  I’ll show you how to trim your detailing times 25%, or refund your money if my system fails on this promise.

Could you use more business?  Have you tried advertising in flyers, newspapers, and the phone book?  They don’t work.  You waste money, feel foolish, and are afraid to ever spend another dollar on advertising.  But there is a largely untapped resource for customers and it’s mostly free—the Internet.  People are not picking up the phone book looking for a detailer.  They aren’t even asking their friends or family for a recommendation.  They’re going to the Internet where they can see photos, see prices, read processes, read testimonials, and learn more about a detail shop than any traditional referral source ever could. 

Do you have a website?  Does it rank on the first page of Google?  Is it on the first page of Yahoo?  Is it on the top page of craigslist every day?  Does it have positive reviews on Google, Yahoo, Citysearch, Yelp, and Merchant Circle?  If not, you are missing out on a massive group of customers ready to spend money with you today.  This ebook takes your web site and maximizes its potential by instruction you on how to:

• Get listed on the front page of Google, Yahoo, and Bing by choosing the keywords that your customers are searching for (ie, Miami auto detailing, Miami car detailing, detailing service, mobile detailing Miami, etc.).

• Get free clicks from the Google Local Business Listings directory.

• Post a full color ad with photos to the top of craigslist every morning.  Not an average “hack detailer” ad, but a professionally designed flyer that will make you stand out and get phone calls.  And yes, we even include the flyer itself (see below).  Just add your name to the template and you’re on craigslist today.

• Get your customers to post positive reviews in directories like Google and Yahoo to help push your listing to the top.

• Get listed on Angies List, the #1 directory for customers with incomes of $100,000+, and gain a steady stream of customers from this desirable resource.

• Obtain the emails of your customers and keep in contact with them monthly to encourage repeat service.

Don’t have a website?  Don’t like your website?  We include a fully designed website with photos, description of processes, and pricing information with the purchase of my ebook.  Just change your name on the template and you’re online. 

If you have a shop and are struggling to get new customers, you have to get the very most out of your web site.  The Internet is separating profitable detail shops from failed ones in the modern economy.  I spent years trying to get to the top of the search engines, trying to get calls from my craigslist ad, trying to get clicks to my website, and trying to get my customers to spread the word about us with positive online reviews.  Once I figured it out, my detail shops took off and never looked back.  I’m sharing all my secrets in this ebook.  Buy it, read it, and take action. If it doesn’t bring you more business, I’ll gladly refund your money.

What Comes With The Book?
 

	1.  Ebook:  "Starting a Modern Detail Business.  Working Faster and Marketing on the Internet to Crush the Competition."  The 57 page essential guide on how to start a detailing business or taking an existing shop to the next level.  Topics: Obtaining the proper licenses. What equipment and supplies to buy and where to buy them. The 62 step detailing process that's 25% quicker than your competition. Offline marketing:  car dealers, automotive businesses, car clubs, body shops, and walk-up customers. Getting placed on the first page of Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Getting listed on Google Local--the map with business listings at the top of your local searches. Getting positive online reviews from your customers that drive your website to the top of search engines and business directories. Dominating craigslist with a full color ad posted to the top every day. Developing and cultivating a following on angieslist.com...the premiere resource for wealthy car owners online. How to answer the phone and convert callers into customers. Offering superior customer service to maximize referrals and repeat business.
	2.  Ebook and Website:  "Get Your Detail Shop Online Today." Includes a professionally designed website!  Follow the step by step directions to customize and upload this for-detailers-only website within 24 hours.  Have a look at the website below.
	3.  Ebook and Craigslist Flyer:  "The Auto Detailers’ Guide to Mastering Craigslist."  Includes a professionally designed, full color craigslist ad with photos!  Take a look at the craigslist ad below.  Just edit your name and follow our directions to ensure that you’re always on the first page of craigslist’s Automotive Services category.
	4.  Videos:  "Bob Keppel’s Video Series:  The Thinking Man's Auto Detailing Process - Work 25% Faster and Make 25% More."  Simplify and consolidate your detailing process to make more in less time.  21 auto detailing training videos in all: Engine Detailing What to Wear Wash, Jambs, Wheels, and Wheel Wells Claybar Treatment Floormat Shampooing Air Purging Headliners and Trunks Plastic Interior Panels Carpet Shampooing Interior Door Panels Leather Seat Cleaning Steering Wheel, Vents and Gauges Road Tar Removal Dressing Rubber and Plastic Polishing and Waxing in One Step Wax Removal and Surface Inspection Chrome Trim Cleaning and Polishing Window Cleaning:  The Two Towel Method
	5.  Ebook Bonus!  "Advanced Detailing Problems and Their Simple Fixes."   Discusses resolutions to advanced detailing issues including: Heavy Water Spots Embedded Pet Hair Concrete and Asphalt Removal Chewing Gum Removal from Carpets Odors Food and Dairy Spills Ink Stains Pet Urine Vomit "Baked On" Sticker Removal Bonded Brake Dust on Wheels Mold

Here's the Craigslist Ad That Comes with this Guide:

You will post this to the top of Craigslist Automotive Services each morning.  Detailers have notoriously unprofessional Craigslist ads.  You will STAND OUT and dominate the competition.

 

Here's the Website That Comes with this Guide:

You will post this professionally designed website to the front pages of Google, Yahoo, and Bing.  When customers in your city search for auto detailing services, they will immediately find your website.  With our guide, you will dominate the most plentiful source for detailing customers in 2010 and beyond:  The Internet.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve never started a business.  What are the necessary licenses, permits, and insurance?  The book walks you through starting a business, from getting your federal identification, your state licenses, your insurance, to opening your checking account.

What does it cost to get started?  To run a mobile operation will cost you about $1500 in supplies and equipment to get started.  If you buy used equipment (craigslist is a great resource), you can reduce equipment and supply costs to about $1000.  We tell you exactly what equipment to buy (right down to the brushes, chamois, buckets) and where to buy it for the best prices.

How much do detailers make?  This depends on so many factors:  full time vs. part time, city, weather, solo or working with a crew, fixed location, or mobile.  Your average detail pays $175.  If you can do 2 of these a day as a solo operation, your sales are $350 daily.  Cost per detail is about $25 (including gasoline, maintenance, overhead, etc.), making daily costs $50.  With average daily profits of $300 over a 300 day work year, you could expect to make over $75,000.  Hire help and you can make close to $100,000.  Many operators work full time during summers and work weekends during the rest of the year.  They can make $40,000 part time. 

Why would an existing shop owner buy this book?  You’ll get a fresh and new look at the detailing business.  I ran my shop a lot different from the shops I worked in.  We worked extremely fast and had some radical marketing concepts that caused us to become one of the top shops in my city in a short time.  You probably won’t implement everything in my books and videos, but there’s plenty of tricks and methods you haven’t thought of before that make the system worth it.

Why would a new shop owner buy this book?  This is the most freshly written book on the subject.  Other books discuss antiquated detailing techniques and most notably, don’t discuss the game changing subject of Internet marketing.

There are auto detailing training companies that do a very good job with technical training, but one of their primary objectives is to hook you on their chemicals and supplies.  Also, they are very brief about marketing, and don’t give you a website or specific instructions on how to rank in search engines and acquire online reviews.  This guide is a more rounded approach to starting a detail business.

Frankly, you could spend over 4 times the cost of this book just having a simple website and craigslist flyer designed.  We include both for free!

When do I get my materials?  Immediately after purchase.  The ebooks are in Adobe PDF format, and the videos are hosted on the Internet. 

Do you have a return policy? Absolutely!  Read the book.  Watch the videos.  Put them to work.  If you don’t feel the system was worthwhile for any reason, email me to let me know.  You’ll get an instant and full refund.

Letters from customers:

Consider the value:
 

	$29.95	“How To Start a Modern Detailing Business”
	$200	“Get Your Detail Shop Online Today—A Custom Website Just for Detailers”
	$95	“The Auto Detailers’ Guide Mastering Craigslist—Includes a Custom Craigslist Flyers Just for Detailers”
	$49.95	“Bob Keppel’s Video Series:  Streamlined Auto Detailing”
	$19.95	“Advanced Detailing Problems and Their Simple Fixes”

In total, $395 of videos, books, and websites to help you launch your new detailing business or take your existing business to the next level.  My price to you…just $39!  That’s less than 30% of the profit from one detail job!

And don’t forget, if you put my ideas to work and don’t feel they’re worth all thirty nine dollars and MORE, send an email to bob@startacardetailingbusiness.com and I’ll refund the whole amount.  No hassle.  That’s my promise.

 
Happy detailing, 

Bob Keppel

bob@startacardetailingbusiness.com

If these books, videos, and websites fall short of the promises made here, for any reason, simply request your money back in an email and I'll personally refund your purchase 100%.        Terms | Contact Us | Affiliates Copyright © 2010 StartACarDetailingBusiness.com Auto Body Repair Beaverton