Car wash & Valeting business

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ManJ

Active Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
427
Location
LEICESTERSHIRE
Car
E270 CDI(54), CLK270 CDI(03), S320 CDI(03), Smart Passion CDI (2011)
Hi guys, looking for a new line of business and many times its crossed my mind to open up a car wash/valeting business. I live in Milton Keynes, and feel that now would be the best time as I could be set up for summer. Any ideas on what I need to consider and watch for... Any comments welcome...

Thanx in advance
 
Be aware that their is a lot of competition and see what offers they have on.

The east Europeans have entered this much saturated market now and try to beat everyone on cost BUT do NOToffer a good high quality finish with their valets.

Are you going to do a mobile service or setup premises?

You will need to buld a base of regular customers i.e. fleet as well as individuals and take on new customers by doing a promotion leaftlet etc.
 
Snap. Quality of service is the key over price IMO.
 
Keep your overheads low and work like a swine. You'll make a fortune

Most of the spivvers I know work only for trade customers as they're easier. If you have a lot of motor traders near you then there will be specialist spivvers you may not even know about. Speak to the traders & forecourt garages first and find out what the going rates are

Down here it is £30 for a mobile spiv that you could do better yourself in an hour and a half, or £80 for a proper spiv where the arches, doorshuts & slam panel are steamed off, cars is hoovered, washed, waxed, paintwork touched in, all the faded black parts (brackets on 4x4s, etc) painted, carpets cleaned, leather & upholstery cleaned, wheels cleaned & glass spotless

You'll need a steam cleaner - it makes life a lot easier - and an electric mop to bring tired paint back to life. You'll also need experience of using the mop... You'll need a location where parking is easy so you don't spend all your time moving cars. You can get specialised insurance through Tradex

If you find a local trader who's OK to deal with and can feed you all your work your biggest problems will be a stiff back and finding time you can take off

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk
 
Mobile can be a good solution. If you're mobile, your setup and running costs will be lower, and you can get in on the office carpark market.

Drop flyers at big offices, giving a day that you'll be there, and hopefully you'll get some punters.

If you go to them, it's far easier for them to say "Yes" every month than if they have to make the effort to come to you.

Two key points though: You have to do a good job, and you have to charge the right price. I occasionally get mine done in and out for £30 (if I'm at that particular location on the same day as the valeter). At that price, it's not the most perfect job in the world, but he takes car of my car, and it's less hassle than doing it myself. If it was £40, I probably wouldn't bother, and if it was £20 I'd consider that too cheap and wouldn't trust him with my pride & joy.

PJ

Oh, and always ask whether or not the punter wants tyre black on. I absolutely hate it!
 
Flash said:
The east Europeans have entered this much saturated market now and try to beat everyone on cost BUT do NOToffer a good high quality finish with their valets.
Totally agree. This is a specialist market where folks are prepared to pay for quality, but the quality is down to YOU! Do a search on detailing. You will need to buy some electrical equipment as time is your money, but it takes time to detail a car to the level that makes you stand apart from the competition.

How long are you prepared to spend on detailing a car and what will you charge? :)

Regards,
John
 
Hi guys, I am defo looking at having a unit, im not to keen at being mobile even though there is probably a decent lot of people wanting that. I was thinking of something a little upper class rather than the standard European drive up for a fiver style. And my staff will ALL speak FULL english... LOL
I know of a few people out here that are doing specialist valeting, and are booked weeks in advance, obviously they dont want more competition so are not willing to help out with info, so I thought its time to turn to MB CLUB!!!
I have seen what the locals are charging, and to be honest, the rates look good. Just about advertising and getting the work in, I believe these people are busy year around?
 
ManJ said:
And my staff will ALL speak FULL english... LOL

It does not matter if the staff/employees carrying out the actual valet speak full English as long as they do a “first class” job…!!! ;)

However, you would need someone with well spoken English meeting/greeting the customers tp explain what services you offer and the pricing. :)
 
ManJ said:
Hi guys, looking for a new line of business and many times its crossed my mind to open up a car wash/valeting business. I live in Milton Keynes, and feel that now would be the best time as I could be set up for summer. Any ideas on what I need to consider and watch for... Any comments welcome...

Thanx in advance

You'll have tough competion from those "firms" that launder money as well as cars!
 
Check out these guys - they have a licence to print money!!

They're not cheap, but they do a good job.

Very high proportion of regular customers, and very high proportion of prestiege cars at their Mailbox site, more about volume at their Bullring site though - so both ends of the spectrum with the same cost model.

Wayne set them up and spends most of his time at the Bullring. He's the man to speak to if you can.

http://h20carvaleting.com/shop/index.php

HTH
 
GazCaff said:
You'll have tough competion from those "firms" that launder money as well as cars!
Exactly this is classic money laundering type operation which is why it is attractive to certain people.
 
Bobby Dazzler said:
Check out these guys - they have a licence to print money!!

They're not cheap, but they do a good job. http://h20carvaleting.com/shop/index.php

HTH
Hi Bobby,
I have just had a quick browse of your link and I saw they actually use a PRESSURE WASHER to wash the cars! By crikey if I caught someone using a pressure washer on our pride and joy, I would go daft. (perhaps I already have)

It might make an advertising point? 'We do NOT use a pressure washer on your car.'

On this forum we have seen numerous pictures of the plastic type chrome lifting from the bumpers and in my opinion this can very easily be caused by pressure washing. Any dirt that is on the car will simply be blasted against the bodywork by the effects of the pressure washer. (sand blasting via the back door :eek: )

Yes... I have a particular dislike of the use of pressure washers and cars. Folks always say, "I don't use the pressure washer at full power!" Phoo-ee. Why use it, why not just use a hose-pipe.

Regards,
John
 
Looks good, theres a guy in Milton Keynes called Extreme, he is doing well for himself, and is booking a week in advance. MUST BE WELL!!! heres his site, what do you guys think?
www.xtremeautomotivevalets.co.uk
 
If you really want some advice from guys that do it for a living check out this site .+ are you looking at valeting or detialing there is a massive difference in qaulity and cost


www.detailingworld.com

Hope it helps
 
Mobile is where the easy money is - as a few people have already said - bag yourself a few large offiices and you'll soon be worrying about taking on more staff. There's a huge gap in the market here.

If you're dead set on the converted petrol station/unit route then you'll have to be more careful. You really need to set yourself apart from the poles because they're be able to easily beat you in price. You've got to scream quality, which means a classy name (avoid anything cheesy like "Wash-o-rama"), forking out a lot on decent promotional material and signage (if you've no skills in there area, then be prepared to pay an expert to do it as the "made at home flyers" look will put people off).

I'm sure the quality of you work and customer service will be outstanding but you need to get customers in in the first place which I think you may find hard. These cheapo hand washes make a fortune because most people than use them don't want to pay a lot, want the speed and convenience and don't expect any sort of service - they appeal to the mass market whilst you're aiming for a particular niche.

Best of luck though!
 
Oh and a final very important point - find out about insurance. I'll bet you're average car value will be well over £30,000 and your average customer will be incredibly picky about what happens to their motor. You scratch it in the slightest and you could be in serious trouble. :)
 
glojo said:
Hi Bobby,
I have just had a quick browse of your link and I saw they actually use a PRESSURE WASHER to wash the cars! By crikey if I caught someone using a pressure washer on our pride and joy, I would go daft. (perhaps I already have)

It might make an advertising point? 'We do NOT use a pressure washer on your car.'

Absolutely agree with you that pressure washers are not good on the body/paint work. However, our “friends” at MB always use pressure washers when preparing new cars and washing existing customers' cars when going in/out of w.shop for servicing/warranty work. Chances are your S211 has probably had pressure washer used on it by MB…:mad:
 
Speak to shopping centre car parks too. Many these days have a hand car wash in them, although I wouldn't use most of them. Think about the 'nicest' shopping centre if you're gunning for the upper end of the market, or the 'busiest' if you're aiming for volume.
 
Pressure washers aren't great for the longevity of paintwork. However I watched the valet (discreteley) the first few times, and to be fair to them pressure wasn't high and they stay at a safe distance. I don't check every time now though, so who knows? :eek:
 
Flash said:
Absolutely agree with you that pressure washers are not good on the body/paint work. However, our “friends” at MB always use pressure washers when preparing new cars and washing existing customers' cars when going in/out of w.shop for servicing/warranty work. Chances are your S211 has probably had pressure washer used on it by MB…:mad:
:) :) If I catch them, they will not do it again :D

1998-03-03.gif


I don't like the idea of a mobile valetting service simply because you will be a slave to the weather.

Detailing a car properly will take a number of hours. A rushed job will always be a bodged job. I dread to think what your investment into this will be.

A top class detailling will surely take three or four hours?? Will forty or even fifty pounds cover that or will you do a quicker job?

Regards,
John the curious
 

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