Starting detailing for a hobby/cash. Ideas needed

[Scotty_b]

Well ive finally had to do it, it was either get a pub job in the evenings (mortgage is killing me) or try and find something I like and im good at! Well I couldnt so im doing car detailing instead!! HaHa just kidding.
Now those of you who know mo know I never drive in a dirty car (my dirty is most peoples clean) and what with all the shows etc coming up I had a brain storm, why not do a bit of detailing on the side. Nothing to make a huge profit, just something to stop me going out at the weekends and spending money I don’t have, something to fund my wax habit and maybe have a few spare notes for some beer tokens!
So ive spoken to a few mates and so far I have 10 cars lined up but im just wondering if the pros could give me any advice/tips etc (im a member of DW so have most of the techniques under the belt, just business techniques) Now I only really want to do family/mates/people I knows cars for the time being but im open to offers!

Any way I have come up with a name (I was bored at work!) Drum roll please! “Devils In the Detail” and heres an outline of my prices etc, do they look fair/reasonable?

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Devils In the Detail – Car detailing – 077**********

Please note this is NOT car valeting, this is Detailing! The difference being im not here to make a living im an enthusiast that needs to fund his wax habits some how!.

Prep wash - £20
Foam gun wash:
Not just a wash but a full on foam bath to get the tough dirt off without damaging paint
Two bucket wash:
The best way to avoid creating swirl marks
Dry:
Using only the best micro fibre waffle towels to avoid scratching
Hovered:

Glass cleaned:

Dusted cockpit:

All of the below are charged at £25 an hour inc. the wash for FREE!*

Glass polished: - 15min
Dash and plastics matted: - 30 min
Note not polished but put back to the day she was new
Wheels removed, cleaned and waxed: - 1 hour
Arches cleaned: - 30min
(When combined with wheels removed and cleaned/waxed)
Leather cleaned and treated: - 45min
Clay bar: - 1 hour
Removes tar spots and other dried on gunk such as tree sap
Hand wax: - 1 hour
Choice of concours wax’s or show and shine style waxes
3 stage polish wax: - 3 hours
Machine polish: - 1.20 hour
Machine glaze: - 1.20 hour
Swirl/imperfections/water mark reduction: - 1.30 hour
(By machine, needs to be polished minimum after)
Plastics restored: - 30 min
(Depending on plastic area)
Engine bay clean: - 45min
Engine bay detail: - 30min
Seats/carpet/door seams steam jetted: - 45min
Doors re greased after

Combination discounts available when specific detail requirements are needed
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Just need to get some leaflets done (nothing fancy) and a good logo!
What do you think?

 

[m0rk]

too complicated to work out cost on a hrs x time (at a glance) - so list your prices for each 'product' and also state the hrly rate if you want

 

[olaf]

Seconded what Mork said.

Easier pricing structure or just go all work carried out including blah blah blah - POA.

Much less complicated.

 

[m0rk]

and as suggested when someone else recently asked the same - make sure you're insured - because if you mullered the job, i'd be after a respray

 

[Scotty_b]

Yeah i was thinking that but couldn’t really put a price on it when i first did it, mind you if i just times it out then round it up or down.
POA gets on my tits tho, ive asked a few people before on prices and they say it varys, just want it there to give a guide. What do you think of the scale/prices?

Yeah thats what my old man said when i asked to borrow his van! Thats why i was keeping it to friends/enthusiasts etc (that plus i can rope them into help!). I think the insurance would put it of feasibility

 

[olaf]

If i wanted a full detail then how much time/money would it be?

Hypothetically of course.

 

[Scotty_b]

Got my word doc open, its all great stuff guys keep it coming.

Olaf "depends what you have done mate" sorry just wantde to say it myself once but about £100-£150

 

[Reg]

If you can't do it properly - i.e. insured, you shouldn't be doing it. Simple as. At the very least you should have public liability insurance. If you're doing it for payment, you've got to declare it and pay tax. Talk to an accountant about the best way to go about things. Car insurance will need to cover you for business use if you are using it to get to and from a detail.

That list you've got there will give an asprin a headache. Tidy it up - Interior, including clean & dress trim, vacuum, clean glass...£x. Exterior - wash only £x, wash & wax £x, wash/paint correction/wax £x. People don't want too many options, its not supposed to be a chinese takeaway menu.

Have you actually done paint correction before? What are you using to do it? What products are you using?

 

[Scotty_b]

Insurance may kill this idea then!

So far ive de swirled my leon, mondeo, transit van, land rover 110. Scratch removal (wet sanding, but i wont do this on anyone elses car) on my skoda, mondeo and land rover. Polished, glazed sealed and waxed, my leon, mondeo, land rover, transit, alhambra, yaris, rover, civic, 2 fiestas, TVR Tuscan speed 6, golf mk3 gti and a few others.

Products have ranged from megs #80 and 83, pinicles sealent, megs show glaze, p21s wax, menzerna final polish, wolfgang glazes and sealant, klasse AIO and sealant and a few others.

Think i really need to go away and look at the leaflet info (p.s. i love chinese!) it sounded like a good idea at the time but it seems to be a bit of a pain!

 

[si-mate]

How about doing menu pricing so the basics cost X, then add Y (eg de-swirl) or Z (engine bay detail) or both (if that makes any sense!).

 

[Scotty_b]

Yeah thats the intention i had with the above but i think i fooked up at some point, will need to look at it again. May just end up doing it as favours if the insurnace comes back silly

 

[FinerDetails]

one thing I would say is do not reove any wheels! Where do you stand if they come off and cause an accident? especially with no insurance.

good luck.

 

[Empi5]

Public Liability for this trade will exclude any property been worked upon. Ie You damage the paint, you pay out of your pocket.

 

[Reg]

So thats why you pony up the cash for another policy to cover that eventuality. Like I have. God forbid it should ever be called upon, but its peace of mind for the customer (and me), and presents a lot more professional image.