How to get mobile car detailing contracts?

[atldeville]

I am completely new to mobile detailing, but i do know that i would prefer to get contracts instead of having to find repeat business from new customers. I was thinking about the following sources:

limo companies.
car rental.
car dealerships???
office building employees.

anybody got any suggestions???

[Beemerboy]

Welcome to the site from Sonoma County CA


Limo companies are difficult, if those cars are not hauling around passengers they are not making money, and in most cases the drivers clean them

Car lots / dealerships and rental places are CHEAP! and a waste of time, unless you are just a wash wax guy

office buildings can be lucrative but you have to really plan those and some have water regulations for run off.

To build a good customer base takes time, its not something that will happen over night for you, and there are no quick ways to get there IMO

[Beemerboy]

You might also want to read this thread

http://www.detailcity.org/forums/get...an-i-make.html

[mrclean81]

If you decide to hit up some dealerships offer to do one for free to show them what you can do. Its always worked for me. Not all dealerships are bad and they can provide you with steady work. Some won't pay over 100 bucks per vehical and don't expect full corrections or things of that sort. If a guy can knock out 3 cars a day at 100 bucks a whack, there's 300 a day and you didn't have to touch a buffer or polisher. You have to decide if you want to do high end work or production type work, or target both fields. There is money in it either way.

[Beemerboy]

Originally Posted by mrclean81

If you decide to hit up some dealerships offer to do one for free to show them what you can do. Its always worked for me. Not all dealerships are bad and they can provide you with steady work. Some won't pay over 100 bucks per vehical and don't expect full corrections or things of that sort. If a guy can knock out 3 cars a day at 100 bucks a whack, there's 300 a day and you didn't have to touch a buffer or polisher. You have to decide if you want to do high end work or production type work, or target both fields. There is money in it either way.

I agree but it seems to me that the dealership work is a lot of work for the money, than doing the higher end work. I know the later is harder to get when starting out, its the level of detailing I'm doing.

They both have there plus and minuses IMO

[atldeville]

Originally Posted by mrclean81

If you decide to hit up some dealerships offer to do one for free to show them what you can do. Its always worked for me. Not all dealerships are bad and they can provide you with steady work. Some won't pay over 100 bucks per vehical and don't expect full corrections or things of that sort. If a guy can knock out 3 cars a day at 100 bucks a whack, there's 300 a day and you didn't have to touch a buffer or polisher. You have to decide if you want to do high end work or production type work, or target both fields. There is money in it either way.

i worked for a dealership before as a employee detailing cars. it was BEYOND hard work, for LITTLE pay, so i know how they are, but the knowledge level i have, i prefer production type work at this time.

[mrclean81]

Originally Posted by atldeville

i worked for a dealership before as a employee detailing cars. it was BEYOND hard work, for LITTLE pay, so i know how they are, but the knowledge level i have, i prefer production type work at this time.

I too have paid my dues working in dealerships. The Chevy and RV dealership that i started off at wasnt too bad. They didnt care how long it look to get one ready for the lot and never cracked the whip on anyone. They just wanted it done right. I went from there to a commercial truck dealership and it was HARD HARD work. I still do a ton of work for the commercial place and its no easier than it was then. Both places paid their detail people near minimum wage. IMO dealerships should pay their detailers what they are really worth. If its a kid washing cars for a summer job, pay them minimum wage. If its a skilled tech with years of experiance and the ability to do whatever needs to be done, pay them enough to make a decent living. It never works out that way.