mobile valeting?? - Saxperience

jay-vtr · 25th May 2012, 20:56

I had my car done today by a mobile valeter, came out pretty good for a tenner, I was having a chat with him and he said he makes bugger all money... surely that cant be right tho, for a tenner he's done an amazing job and doubt it costs too much to run the business.

How many of you get your car done by a mobile valeter?

Anyone know any mobile valeters? I thought it would be booming business

jw1325 · 25th May 2012, 20:58

Kitney on here.

Carl-h · 25th May 2012, 21:01

A tender to drive there, sort all your kit out, wash and dry a car, pack up and drive somewhere else is nothing! Even if you managed one car an hour for 9 hours every day of the week you'd make nothing after fuel and products.

Only worth doing if your detailing and changing a few hundred a day for one car.

dondan · 25th May 2012, 21:03

It's hard work mate, if he's only charging a tenner I hope it took him under 1 hour or that's the primary reason he's making no money.

I spend 2-3 hours on a quick valet = £30 to £40
3-4 hours on a detail = £40 to 50
4-6 hours on a full detail/protect = £50 to £80
1-2 days on a restoration/detail/protect = £100+

All prices are dependant on products and processes, almost every customer is different.

The basics of my kit cost me about £1500, including PW/Hoover/wet vac/ DA / Rotary etc

My public liability insurance isn't cheap, and my van still isn't on the road!

It's a hard game to win at, but I'm trying

. I only need to get 1 good car done in a busy street and I always get return work from passing people who realise its not just your basic wash.

blackie_2k5 · 25th May 2012, 21:10

Every man and his dog comes to mind

Mr_X · 25th May 2012, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay-vtr

I had my car done today by a mobile valeter, came out pretty good for a tenner, I was having a chat with him and he said he makes bugger all money... surely that cant be right tho, for a tenner he's done an amazing job and doubt it costs too much to run the business.

How many of you get your car done by a mobile valeter?

Anyone know any mobile valeters? I thought it would be booming business

Not sure if serious..

£10, he obvious has to pay for materials, tools, van/car, fuel, other expenses.

blackie_2k5 · 25th May 2012, 21:51

Even if he done 10 per day @ £10 each

That's £100 you have to get time, fuel, products, tax, insurance and alot of other things

Before the government takes their snip

To make £80 a day profit your probs looking £150 a day after everything else comes out

That's not as easy as it seems in mobile valeting

dondan · 25th May 2012, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackie_2k5

Even if he done 10 per day @ £10 each

That's £100 you have to get time, fuel, products, tax, insurance and alot of other things

Before the government takes their snip

To make £80 a day profit your probs looking £150 a day after everything else comes out

That's not as easy as it seems in mobile valeting

After materials, even working from home I struggle to make a "good" profit... It's just something I enjoy doing and don't mind working hard at it be +£50 after a days graft.

Time will come when every car i do is a full detail, but for now I'll continue making people's shite Almeras and Corsas look a lot better.

Ryan^p · 25th May 2012, 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackie_2k5

Every man and his dog comes to mind

Its the male version of a cup cake business.

Mr_X · 25th May 2012, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackie_2k5

Even if he done 10 per day @ £10 each

That's £100 you have to get time, fuel, products, tax, insurance and alot of other things

Before the government takes their snip

To make £80 a day profit your probs looking £150 a day after everything else comes out

That's not as easy as it seems in mobile valeting

80 a day, 5 days a week say 48 weeks a year.

19k Fuck that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dondan

After materials, even working from home I struggle to make a "good" profit... It's just something I enjoy doing and don't mind working hard at it be +£50 after a days graft.

Time will come when every car i do is a full detail, but for now I'll continue making people's shite Almeras and Corsas look a lot better.

Where are you located? my car needs a detail.

Gareth_R · 25th May 2012, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

Its the male version of a cup cake business.

FLOL so much of that shit on my facebook. Usually stay at home mums. Loads of them round here obviously

K17NEY · 25th May 2012, 22:08

He's doing mobile valets for £10? He won't last long like that..

blackie_2k5 · 25th May 2012, 22:12

I'm not slating anyone doing it btw

Fair play for taking life in your own hands and working for your selves, something I can't wait to do tbh

Just trying to point out to ppl who think its easy money etc that it's not, any proper valeter/detailer will tell you that

My mate has a unit, he's good and works hard, but often wishes he's didn't do it, he makes a fair bit, but he works HARD

smiith · 25th May 2012, 22:20

My mate does it. 6 days a week, 8-5 every day all with regular customers, just paid 16 grand out for a C class merc second hand.. cash.. Cant be doing that bad tbh

DreamEater · 25th May 2012, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by K17NEY

He's doing mobile valets for £10? He won't last long like that..

Tempted to take him up on a detail...it's cheaper than the Polish charge for their rush job

blackie_2k5 · 25th May 2012, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by smiith

My mate does it. 6 days a week, 8-5 every day all with regular customers, just paid 16 grand out for a C class merc second hand.. cash.. Cant be doing that bad tbh

Reptutation, long hours, and cash in hand goes a long way

smiith · 25th May 2012, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackie_2k5

Reptutation, long hours, and cash in hand goes a long way

Gonna say, not like anyone will ever ask if he takes card! Has 3 cars aswell, his white C class merc, a GLEAMING caddy for work, and a freshly restored ibiza cupra from back in the day in some queer green.. So cant be that hard up! Always rocking expensive clothes aswell!

K17NEY · 25th May 2012, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackie_2k5

I'm not slating anyone doing it btw

Fair play for taking life in your own hands and working for your selves, something I can't wait to do tbh

Just trying to point out to ppl who think its easy money etc that it's not, any proper valeter/detailer will tell you that

My mate has a unit, he's good and works hard, but often wishes he's didn't do it, he makes a fair bit, but he works HARD

Too true, People think its piss easy work, Thats why every cunt is trying it.

Its hard work, Physically and mentally like any kind of self employment.

Take to day for example, I had quite a good day, 5 basic valets and stunning weather, Didn't even feel like work.
However, In the winter i was struggling to do more than 3 in a day due to little daylight hours and shite weather.

Its easy money for me because i enjoy it, But for anyone who thinks its easy money because its easy work, You're very wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamEater

Tempted to take him up on a detail...it's cheaper than the Polish charge for their rush job

To me, This guy sounds like a joke. I imagine alot of people see him as unprofessional at that price.

blackie_2k5 · 25th May 2012, 22:49

As always the case, you stick with it and do a good Job you win

All the ten minute wonders fizzle out soon enough, it's the ppl that enjoy it that end up sticking, (long as you know you'll hate it at some point)

Most only seem to do it now as its not a massive amount to set up and can promote lots of cash in hand work

Bad news for ppl paying tax as they undercut you.. But good news for ppl setting up, as most don't last long so the van and gear ends up for sale cheap once they realise there's work involved

dondan · 25th May 2012, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_X

80 a day, 5 days a week say 48 weeks a year.

19k Fuck that.

Where are you located? my car needs a detail.

I live in the North East mate, Teeside so a bit of a mission for you im afraid

.

I'm reckoning my winter 2013 I'll have a premises if I stick to it, currently only doing it 2-3 days a week as I've started studying again.

A standard detail is what most people go for, the longer process is fundamentally the same + backs of wheels/arches/engine bay etc and a wider range of products for the customer to choose from or me advise them on

.

I have a website etc, just don't advertise through car forums as they are more often than not full of dreamers with empty wallets who want something for nothing.

Word of mouth, friends of friends is where all my work comes from.