New businness idea??

[Dandig]

Hi

I'm after some marketing advice on putting a new idea of a business into practice, It involves mobile pressure washing commercial vehicles mainly companys that have many vehicles. I have rung similar businesses so far to get prices of what they charge. Im unsure how to get company off ground any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I think you may have a good idea here Im not aware of traveling moblie pressure washers cirtainly not in the Devon area .

The mop and bucket idea as gone too far and every street has a hand wash!!

I would think you would be looking at companies that have small to medium fleets as a large fleet company would very often have its own vehicle cleaning facilities .

A good brouchure campain ,cold calling and a good website would be good for a start

[telemax]

Do you have any experience in this field,also do you have the necessary equipment to do the work?

[G. Lasagne]

Who would be your target market ?, i mean a lot of companies get the employees who use the vans to clean them, also it would be very unlikely that all the vans would be at the depot/showroom/office at the same time.

How much would you chrage per vehicle?

Are people gonna fork out for this in the middle of a recession?

But think its a good idea in esscence:)

[justinmarch]

It sounds expensive to start and run to me, was a shareholder / marketing manager of a company that has parallels with your business idea in terms of hiring lots of staff and managing lots of vans.

You will need a very good and realistic business plan.

[toastking]

I think a good place to look is on industrial estates. Many of the companies there will have fleets of vans and as with a courier firm I once worked for the drivers had to clean their own vans which they did not like doing. In the end they would usually end up paying for the breakfast of the warehouse boys for them to clean it.

An alternative would be to say to someone you would pay them a certain % to find you customers. Say you get £100 from one customer offer them a £10 and then if the customer stays offer them say £5 a time so that they keep earning and it acts as an incentive for them to find good contacts and for you to provide a good service to keep your customers on board to keep everyone happy.

[skyhi2]

Would you be completely self contained ?

By that i mean having your own power and water would make a helluva difference.

I would also look in to Eco washing,regarding the chemicals you use.

Personally,i think its a brilliant idea for a business.

Skyhi2.

[Mystro]

I Have a friend who does this,

When i used to work for a large company we got him to come and do our vans, he initially did really well he charged £6 per vehicle but went down to £4 per vehicle, which ment he had to have a large fleet to make it worth his while. (Transit sized vans BTW)

He also did this as a mobile valet and obviously charged a lot more then his fleet prices just for a wash

But it was the local councils that shut him down due to the polution of the chemicals flowing down the drains, he had to either catch and recycle all the waste or not do it at all

There are many things i would do if i had a mobile pressure washer which would include not just Vehicle cleaning but approach the council for Grafiti, road side signs, Large haulage companys, maybe some local coach providers, taxi ranks, Motoring schools

Maybe even get into a busy supermarket or petrol station which dont have a wash facility 1 day per week and get a wash while you shop

Lots of possibilitys

Good Luck

[skyhi2]

Very good info Mystro,especially about the chemical side of it.

That`s why i suggested the Eco route to the OP,as i had a feeling some authorities would not be best pleased about chemicals going down the local drains.

He will not have much chance in supermarkets tho.You do not have time to switch the engine off in any supermarket near me,before you are jumped upon by some car washing crew :-(

Skyhi2.

[Mystro]

Very good info Mystro,especially about the chemical side of it.

That`s why i suggested the Eco route to the OP,as i had a feeling some authorities would not be best pleased about chemicals going down the local drains.

He will not have much chance in supermarkets tho.You do not have time to switch the engine off in any supermarket near me,before you are jumped upon by some car washing crew :-(

Skyhi2.

Probably right about the supermarkets

But could try the larger DIY stores or similar seen loads down my neck of the woods

[Dandig]

I have not bought any equipment yet but I think this could be a profitable buisness if I had enough customers to warrant doing so.
Are there any agencys or somebody who works on a commision basis to find work for you out there??

Any info would be great!!

[patientlady]

The supermarket pitches are sown up One or two companies I understand!
Pub car parks arn't though! Pubs are desperate to get people through there doors so if you negotiate a pitch on the basis that you would be bringing in custom to the pub while you cleaned the car I think it would work well! Only leased or tenanted houses could allow this not managed! Busy high roads etc etc

[jennymoore]

Where I work there is an industrial estate with vans etc and also a huge car park full of the drivers cars too.

Why not double up and offer to do the vans first and then the cars in the car park. You could then up sell valets etc

Get in cheap and then sell them deep!

As soon as one person sees a good job they will all want one!

Use credit card type loyalty cards for % discount and also ask them to hand out to their friends too

Hope that Helps

Jenny

[MorrisSelfStorage]

a family member and his dad cleans lorry on a sunday. i think he charges £8 per tractor unit then £5/£6 for the trailer. the trailer is just a flat bed, it not a box or curtain sider unless your 15ft tall :)
Go round hgv companies, there worth a shout. or at truck stops. because every hgv has to stop for set amount of time. they might want a clean lorry to carry on there journey.

ben