Starting in Valeting..

[Luke]

A few people at work today were telling me that I should start valeting peoples cars for money - obviously family, friends etc and earn some extra cash.

I was just wondering if you think it's a good idea and what kind of prices I should be looking at? I'd be prepared to go to there house aslong as they had access to an outside tap.

Thanks.

[Predator_R32]

yeah its a good idea but be prepared for some hard work you will be knackered and probablies be working weekends all the time, there is a lot of money to be made and the price all depends on what they want ie clean interior and wash the car id say about 40 - 50, id say a full going over up to 100

[Luke]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking mate.

I was thinking of doing 'options' and obviously different pricing. I'd only start small, doing it on nights and weekends, but it's something I'd like to do full time but I wouldn't know what to do in Winter.

[barrett]

offering options is a good way tomake money and you make more from the options than the valet.

[Predator_R32]

maybe get some flyers printed out and post them about best way to get some attention and would be quite cheap to do as you can just do them on the PC find some people who are already in the business or even contact polished bliss they had to start somewere ask them how much they charge

[jaybiss]

Youve also got to look at your products and their price etc

if your paying halfords prices for your sutoglym stuff are you really going to make a decent profit? enough to make it worth while :)

[Luke]

Thanks for information guys.

I'm going to look into it over the weekend, maybe do a few price lists etc and see what I can do. I'm doing a lasses car from work tomorrow, so we will see how that goes.

[Luke]

Youve also got to look at your products and their price etc

if your paying halfords prices for your sutoglym stuff are you really going to make a decent profit? enough to make it worth while :)

That's why I need somewhere good to buy the products for. I think I'd use Autoglym for the customers and Meguiars for myself.

[Dan]

Start out small Luke and build up, get yourself known through friends and family and see how it goes.

[Luke]

Start out small Luke and build up, get yourself known through friends and family and see how it goes.

Think that's what I'll do, cheers Dan :y:

I reckon I can do it, I love cleaning my own cars and it's something I'd enjoy.

[jaybiss]

come do mine free of charge ;)

[James]

When starting up your own business I think it's vital you have a fair bit of cash to inject into it and a bit left over for un-expected things.. If you want to take it seriously Luke you would have to think about allot of things. I mean you don’t want to accept a little job and then realise you don’t have enough money to get there..

Products - Like jay said are you going to be paying customer prices or can you get good quality products cheap.
If your willing to travel 'Petrol/Food etc' for the time your there.

The first thing I’d do Luke is invest in some good quality cleaning gear and assemble a little portfolio so you can show some people what kind of results they would be expecting and what your capable of doing. From there you could look into having a web page designed for you.. The main key is to start of small and expand from there.

If you can make it grow from there then your best bet would be to talk to the suppliers of the products, poor boys etc and see if they will cut you a deal if your willing to continuously use and buy there products. They may even offer you a course for the products or ask you to attend a demonstration were they can show you how to use them properly. It’s all about gaining experience in detailing I think…

Also http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/, get yourself on there and research.. :)

[Ste]

Also see if you can get a sponsorship from a cleaning company, some may offer you a few products here and there if you give each customer a leaflet or advertise the company...

[Predator_R32]

its also a good idea to get pictures of your work like in a portfolio :y:

EDIT clous already said that sorry :)

[Luke]

Thanks for the information Cloud.

I do have a bit of cash saved up, but I'd like to focus on doing my mates/familites/work mates cars etc first, so I can get some money behind me and see if I am really going to enjoy it.

I would write a big paragraph, but I'm just in middle of something at the minute.

[Baz]

me and my mate used to wash cars inside and out for £5. wish bucket and sponge, nothing special. This was a good 5 years ago now. we did 20+ cars one day, we made some real good money from it (we thought) was good though

[Luke]

Cheers Baz.

Like I said, I'm still considering it so I'll see how it goes.

[hesslevtr]

like you say luke do family and friends first then they spread the word then your reputation gets bigger

what proucts are you thinking bout using as it could get costly if using certain produts and you not charging much

maybe do a website

get some stickers made up for your car and other cars what you clean so spreads the word

also need to make sure your car or whoevers car is clean when going to clean someone elses car as it wont look good you turning up in a dirty car

[Clouds_mate]

Will you really have time with your girlfriend and your little baby? It wouldnt be a 2 hour clean if they was paying 40-50 quid or whatever.

[stiffler69]

You will need liability insurance too also need to know about interiour cleaning products and so on because if you put the wrong stuff on and it ruins there interour you could be in for it

[barrett]

maybe get some flyers printed out and post them about best way to get some attention and would be quite cheap to do as you can just do them on the PC find some people who are already in the business or even contact polished bliss they had to start somewere ask them how much they charge

You only get a small return from flyerdrops.

Doing family and friends and their friends friends is the best way to start, will be slow but worth it.

like you say luke do family and friends first then they spread the word then your reputation gets bigger

what proucts are you thinking bout using as it could get costly if using certain produts and you not charging much

maybe do a website

get some stickers made up for your car and other cars what you clean so spreads the word

also need to make sure your car or whoevers car is clean when going to clean someone elses car as it wont look good you turning up in a dirty car

Putting stickers on your car is ok / worthwhile,but if you stick them on everyones car they may nolonger be clean when people see them, thus giving you a bad reputaion.

[barrett]

if you charge 40-50 quid then you will have people coming at the most once a month, you need a mini valetfor like £15 or 20 which they can get weekly where you clean the outside of the car.