Is your pricing competitive?

This might be the toughest decision an auto detailer makes. Price yourself low and you’ll be busy…but will you make money? Set your prices high, and you’ll make a healthy profit on each car, but just how many cars will you service?

We asked 47 detailers for quotes.

Review responses in this table.

Businesses we found on Google and Yelp in major cities across the USA were sent this email:

Subject:
“Full detail Saturn 4 door”

Body:
I’m selling my car and need a quote on getting my car detailed inside
and out but not the engine.

The interior is a little gross from my kids and the paint is scuffed
up a bit in some spots. What do you think this would cost and how
long would it take?

Erica

The email included these pictures:

Average quote: $215

Highest quote received: $399.
Lowest: $100.

Average time of service: 4.1 hours.

Longest estimate: 7 hours.
Shortest: 2 hours.

Average response time: 86 minutes

Longest time to respond: 10 hours.
Shortest: 10 minutes.

56% of shops didn’t respond at all.

This was alarming. We were expecting roughly a 25% non-response rate. Good news for the “good shops”: half your competitors are lazy.

What it means to you: 2 lessons.

Price matters: don’t be the high bid, and don’t be the low bid.
Imagine yourself as Erica. Your car might be worth $5000. A bid of $399 is not appropriate relative to the value of her car. But with an average quote of $215, $100 is suspiciously low. And she would be right to question that quote: it can’t possibly be a thorough service. She’s going to choose the bids near the middle, read online reviews, and probably call 2 shops before you finalizes an appointment. A few times a year, check in on your competitors’ pricing to be sure you’re where the customers are: the “middle” of the market.

Respond to every email within 3 hours: no exceptions.
Let’s face it…a lot of emails are tire kickers. When I ran Ace Car Reconditioning, only 20-30% of them became customers. But not responding is unacceptable. And responding late–anything past 3 hours–says to the customer “you’re not important to us.” Think of the last time you needed a plumber, electrician, or accountant. Did you hire the late responder? Be sure that all emails reach your cell phone. Check every 2 hours. Every email gets a response, every time.

Robert Keppel
Author
“How to Start a Modern Car Detailing Business”:

Search advertising gives small detailers the reach of BIG detailers.

Pay-per-click exposes small shops to big audiences.

Detailers hate advertising because they operate on such thin budgets, but you’ll notice one thing: the shops that stay in business–year after year–advertise the most. The “old way” favored the big shops: $4500 phone book ad kept you front and center, year after year.  Who ever looked at the “basic” entries?  But Google Adwords now sells the king’s seat–”front and center” on the first page of their search engine, for $1-$2 a click.

How Adwords works for a small Colorado detailer.

Allan Schlepp runs Pro Mobile Detail in Front Range, CO part-time. He bought my course in early 2010 and quickly set up a Google Adwords campaign. He pays around $1 a click to show his ad when people search for these terms:

detailing, auto detailing, car detailing, mobile detailing, mobile auto detailing, mobile car detailing

In these cities:

Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, LIttleton, Englewood, Lakewood, Denver, Wheatridge, Arvada Westminster

On average, Allan says he gets a job for every 40 clicks.

The math:  spend $40 to make $110.

40 clicks/job x $1/click = $40 advertising cost per job.
Average profit per job before advertising: $150 (it’s rural Colorado).

Therefore, his net profit is $150 – $40 = $110 per job. Not all jobs are full details: some interior-only, some exterior-only jobs that take 4 hours including driving. And importantly, let’s recognize the value of a new customer. About 25% will use him again ($150 profit the next time). About 15% will refer him ($150 profit there).

So, for Allan, a mobile detailer in a rural area, Google AdWords makes his business possible.

Your Adwords campaign…in 15 minutes

1. Open your account at http://adwords.google.com.
2. Set your maximum cost-per-click to $2.50.  You won’t necessarily pay $2.50 per click (depends on how popular the search term), but that should be enough that your ad isn’t buried on page 2 or 3.
3. Sponsor the terms detailing, auto detailing, car detailing, mobile detailing, mobile auto detailing, mobile car detailing in every city you service.  You may end up sponsoring 20 – 50 keywords, but this is critical because your competition overlooks a lot cities and keywords, so for these terms the page is all yours.
4. Set a daily budget of $15 and an overall budget of $200.  Any less, and you just don’t have enough data to make a decision about continuing.
5. Ask EVERY customer  how they found you.  If they say “the Internet” ask further until you can determine if they clicked an ad or found you “naturally.”

If your website is any good, it’s hard to imagine not making money on an Adwords campaign.  Businesses (most of them small) spend $28 billion each year on Adwords…and that figure grows 15% a year, so there’s abundant evidence that it works.

These new phones (Droid and iPhone) are EXTREMELY handy for detailers, PDR techs, and other reconditioners for GPS, scheduling, photos, videos and more. I wanted to find out how many reconditioners own these phones, and more importantly, if they used them for business.

The results

Method

Posted polls in the following forums:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-make-money-detailing-cars/45771-poll-use-your-smartphone-business.html
http://www.autopia.org/forum/professional-detailer-general-discussion/139432-use-your-smarthpone-business.html
http://www.doording.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/73739/post/new/#NEW

Conclusion.

Smartphones are surprisingly POPULAR among reconditioners. Roughly 90% of responders indicated that they do use their phones for business, compared to 49% of all business owners. Some quotes:

Don’t do everything on my phone…but, it definitely keeps me on the ball with customers. Getting my emails straight to my phone is SO handy. Customers really appreciate a quick response through email. in fact, I’ve gotten regular long time customers simply because they enjoy dealing with me, and I’m so easy to get a hold of. I hear all the time about people calling, or emailing shops and getting no response. I keep all my calls forwarded to my cell, and use it all day in the shop. I update my facebook page with it, and take most of my photos. Certainly makes life easier. Oh, and not to mention…now my schedule can be accessed right on my phone. Awesome!

I do everything except for invoicing and plastic transactions. Most of my customers are young and have the latest gadgets. They can schedule an appointment on my website with the service if it’s basic (Wash and Wax and Decon), they can schedule a consultation for paint corrections. I have rules on my availability (Lunch breaks) what combinations of services they can do(2 decons a day, 5 wash and wax etc..) and add-on’s if they wish (Head light restoration with any service, permanent wheel protection with a decon package etc). I can also set it to send them a e-mail automatically or text message ( but costs like 5-10 cents per notification), booking fees, cancellation fees, no-show fees. I also update my website, so clients can see what I am working on and where.

What it means for you.

If you aren’t using an iPhone or Droid…START. Detailers and reconditioners are more organized and efficient than ever thanks to these great devices, and you can’t afford to be “behind the curve” on mobile technology.

 Start By Answering Some Questions

This four-part thought exercise works no matter what kind of company or product you’re trying to promote. Answer these questions, in writing, in under a couple sentences each:

1. What are the problems your company is addressing?

2. What is your company doing differently than others addressing similar problems?

3. Why should someone care that you’re doing it in this different way?

4. (The bombshell) What do you do?

If you keep your answers short, under a couple sentences a piece, you can put them together in such a way that they become a short story that takes less than 60 seconds to relay.

One Possible Pitch

Here’s a useful example of someone trying to start a mobile car reconditioning service. See if you can find each point at which this pitch answers one of the above questions.

“I own ‘Green Clean for Every Color Car”, an environmentally conscious mobile detailing service that goes an extra mile for the earth on your behalf. Normal mobile detailers will leave a slick of oil and lead chemicals in their wake – leaving you with a clean car and a guilty conscience. By collecting the runoff from our operation and recycling it in our shop, you can feel better about the impact your regular detailing has on the world you live in. Also, we buy carbon offsets for not just our side of the operation, but for your vehicle’s next 30,000 miles. This means that, by hiring us, you get a clean car, clear conscience, and a tree is planted on a reserve in Costa Rica. That’s how we’re different and better than the others, while maintaining just as good a service quality and price.”

Right off the bat – your first words – should be in the form of a sentence that could be published as a headline. This means it should be under 140 letters in length, and it should tell all. It’s got to be short, it should sound catchy, and it needs to be memorable. Take the time you need to hash out your headline. Trust me, it’ll help.

Beyond the Successful Pitch

Telling the whole story in under a minute allows you to use your listener’s attention for other things – an illustrative anecdote (“I cleaned Al Gore’s car once and it was a greener process than he thought possible”) or something interesting about your background.

Avoid the most common mistake a small business owner makes by learning to pitch the story of your company. If you can snag their attention in less than 60 seconds, people will want to keep listening.

1.  Let friends and acquaintances do the work for you.

I guarantee you know someone who knows someone who needs a job when you have an opening. Let their judgment be your guide. Getting a good reference from a friend is perhaps the best way to hire in this industry.

2.  Find employees you can train.

Not everybody is trainable. Experienced detailers can be a mixed blessing. They don’t always just wind up and go on their own. Odds are, you’ll have to re-learn them how to do it your way. I’d take a hard-working, quick-learning employee with no experience and a good reference over a hot-shot veteran detailer who thinks they know it all any day. If they say they’ve got tons of experience and the ability to prove it, you’ve got to wonder why they haven’t already opened their own business.

3.  A good “help wanted” ad does a lot of the hiring work for you.

Let the application process be a trial on its own. Good employees know how to follow instructions – so provide some from day one of the hiring process and see how people do. Particular requests contained in your want ads thin the stack of resumes before you read even one. Have them reply to a specific email different than the one attached to the Craigslist ad, for example. Request that they not call you. Using this want-ad-as-test tactic allows applicants who think they’re too good for the rules to show you from the outset.

4.  Require resumes and references.

If they can’t come up with someone who will vouch for their workplace performance, be wary. Your ideal employee will almost always have someone who will take the time to speak highly of them. Your ideal employee will be someone who you’d be happy to vouch for in the future. A resume allows the applicant more freedom than a standard application. Resumes are easier and more pleasant to read than a stack of papers with filled in blanks.

5.  Make some kind of written contract.

It doesn’t have to be in legalese, but it should be something you can easily reference in order to settle a dispute. Once you’ve interviewed them, formally or otherwise, and you decide they are probably going to be a good fit, send them an employee manual and a document containing your business’ policies – performance expectations and consequences. Don’t be afraid to state the obvious in writing. If in doubt, write it out. I.e., there should be a section that says “be on time”. The employee should sign the documents, bring them to you, and you should keep them on file. This keeps most people honest. Ambiguity has great potential to make both employee and employer uncomfortable.

6.  Probation.

No matter how much of a god-send they seem to be, the first month and a half should be a trial period for a new employee. During this time you should pay special attention to their performance and trainability. Most flight accidents happen on take off. Same with a new employee’s career in your workplace. Make sure you’re performing the necessary checks and diagnostics for the duration of these ninety days and, of course, onward in time. The over-confident, cumbersome ones will show it quickly. Listen to their co-workers’ reports and observe the dynamic between them. If they’re working to a standard you’re unhappy with and don’t seem to “get it” when you help them learn new things, you’ll probably want to let them go.

7.  Don’t get caught in a pinch.

Think ahead of the game. The least ideal situation is the one in which you needed an employee yesterday, second only to the situation in which you need one tomorrow. Unpredictable holes in your roster should be filled with a list of resumes that just missed the cut in your most recent draft. Start the hiring process a month before you need someone. Try to predict the busiest times of the year and hire accordingly. If you get caught in a pinch, call someone who took the time to make you a great-looking resume, with a good reference, sometime in the recent past.

Take home message: Recruiting is like marrying.

Since you very well may find yourself spending more time around your crew than your spouse, take your time going through some ritual motions with prospective employees to see who’s going to be your new hire. There are some great people out there without work. It’s up to you to track them down.

These are stereotypes of reconditioners, and things customers ASSUME ABOUT YOU until you gain their trust.  But you can build REAL trust and credibility with prospects if you pay attention to a few details. Read on…

Building trust and credibility as a reconditioner.  3 Tips:

Uniforms convey professionalism and build trust in strangers.

1. Add RECOGNIZABLE images to your website and business card.

These include:

1.  International Detailing Association Logo
2.  NAPDRT Logo
3.  Local Chamber of Commerce Logo
4.  Autopia Logo
5.   Brands you use:  (think Meguiars)

Remember, that the goal is to appear TRUSTWORTHY at a GLANCE; nothing achieves this in an INSTANT like associating yourself with a trusted image.  something that is trusted.

2. Add your photo to your business card and website.

Every study confirms it:  photos build trust.  You’re asking a STRANGER to trust you with an appliance that sometimes exceeds $50,000 in value…wouldn’t YOU want to see YOUR face?  Women in particular are responsive to photos.  Nothing makes a personal connection quicker than a photo where you’re first discovered (website, business card, or brochure).  Get over your vanity and add a headshot to all of your marketing material.

3. Uniforms and signage.

Always, always wear a uniform the first time you meet a customer.  Could be a shirt.  Could be a hat.  Must be clean.  Must be tucked in.  When you walk toward their home, their office, or their driveway, you have to look like a PROFESSIONAL.

Most calls to a detail shop start with this question. Converting these “feeler” calls into appointments–we’ll call it “batting average”–might be the most important skill a detailer owns. Here’s three simple tips that greatly improved my “batting average” over the years.

1. Speak slowly, clearly, and confidently.
Believe in yourself and the product/service you are selling. Customers can sense whether or not you are coming across as having their interest at heart. Showing your confidence in your product will reflect in your conversation. Knowing your product or service inside out and being able to communicate what differentiates it from your competition is key. Practice in the mirror selling a potential customer on the key aspects of your company vs. the competition. Have a basic script ready for when you answer the phone and stick to it. For example: “Thank you for calling ABC Detailing, Scott speaking – How can I help you?” Speak slow and clearly. Call your competitors and listen to how they answer their phone with how you as a customer would think of the person you are speaking with. Use the best of what you hear and avoid the mistakes you encounter.

2. Control the conversation.
Customers can ramble. You don’t have the time for this, so ask questions that give you control. Here’s two that get the conversation on track:

1. “What size car”? This reveals how much “real estate” you’re working with: an Expedition is 2.5 times the size of an S2000.
2. Why are you needing a detail? CRITICAL. No one details a clean car. You want to get to the bottom line as to why they’re paying $200+: pet hair, paint swirls, overspray, waterspots, odor, carpet stains, car for sale, etc. Knowing this information will allow you to more accurately sell your customer what they actually need as opposed to letting them steer the conversation to just acquiring prices about different packages that may or may not address their specific needs. ASK QUESTIONS!

3. Offer appointment times.
After the customer gets the information they need, let them know what’s available this week: “we have this afternoon, all of Tuesday, all of Thursday, and Friday morning available.” You’ll often name the exact time/day they were hoping for and they’ll book the appointment…without calling the next competitor on their “call list.” Spending some time in advance will easily increase the amount of sales you will make on the phone.

Original article

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. Here’s my bio. 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.

Attention new shops:

Do you have a proven detailing process?

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 2011, 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.

Attention 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:

• A fresh look at organizing your car detailing equipment.
• 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 Course?

1. Ebook: “Starting a Modern Detail Business. Working Faster and Marketing on the Internet to Crush the Competition.”

"Starting a Modern Car Detailing Business"

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, packages, supplies, and products 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 Template: “Get Your Detail Shop Online Today.”

Click to Preview

Includes a professionally designed website! Follow the step by step directions to customize and upload this for-detailers-only website within 24 hours. Website features:

• SEO optimized to appear on Google, Yahoo, and Bing for searches in your city:  (ie, “Salem Car Detailing”).
• Clearly-marked contact information (email and phone number) in header.
• Detailed description of your cleaning process.
• Neatly formatted price list.
• Clear Before/after images of professional detailing.  Add your own as you collect them.
• Free website hosting…for life!
• Includes video on how to edit your website easily through your site editor…just like a Word document.
• Click here to view example site.

3. Ebook and Craigslist Flyer: “The Auto Detailers’ Guide to Mastering Craigslist.”

Click to Preview

Includes a professionally designed, full color craigslist ad with photos! Take a look at the craigslist ad further down the page. Just edit your name and follow our directions to ensure that you’re always on the first page of craigslist’s Automotive Services category.

Craigslist is the busiest auto sales site in the world.  Buyers, sellers, and dealers are looking for automotive services there…including car detailing.  Advertising on Craigslist is a great “foot in the door” for a new detailing business, and our advertising template and posting process gives you a prominent and professional looking presentation in your local city’s “List.”

4. 21 Videos: Bob Keppel’s Video Series: The Thinking Man’s Auto Detailing Process – Work 25% Faster and Make 25% More.

21 How-To Detail Videos

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.”

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

Free Report:

How to Start A Detailing Business in 2 Weeks. Click to Download.

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…everything necessary for starting your own detailing business.

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 with their auto detailing business.  There is good honest money to be made in auto reconditioning.

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 in their classes, 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…more than you would absorb in an auto detailing seminar at an equipment supplier.

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.

Customer Feedback:

Order Now for $39!

Consider the value:

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

Copyright Startacardetailingbusiness.com 2012