Need advice for starting up my own mobile valeting company.

[Ryansworld]

Hi there, My name is Ryan and im looking to start uo my own mobile valeting company. I don't know where to start so il start with my past experience. I worked almost 5 years as a valeter for a car dealership working from a large garage with water and electrical supplies. I dealt with everything including customers, keeping stock of chemicals aswell as being manager. I would consider myself as a competent valeter and machine polisher. I was made redundant 6 month ago and have toyed with the idea of self employment. I live in the north-east UK and valeting tends to do quiet well there is not much competition where Im planning to work no cheap foreigners undercutting everyone etc. Because this is mobile valeting im unsure as about how I would wash the cars. Should I go waterless or not. I prefer to use a pressure washer for a better clean plus we don't have water restrictions in this area. Whats the best way to transport and use water. Also electrical power. Is it work investing in a generator or relaying on customers electrical supply? Any advice appreciated, Thanks.

 

[CAEDAN]

That was one of my first businesses!

Pick up a van (such as a dispatch), throw a tank in (£150) Gennie (£250) Pressure washer (£150) and Chemicals (£150) and then £250 for a box a leaflets, £100 to sign-write the van. Done!

Now all you do is post through letter boxes, talk to car dealers, used, dealer, main dealers and so on - when you have done that, get onto boat yards, caravan dealers, and everyone else you can think of - get out there!

On your own, without breaking your neck you should comfortably bring in around £1500 a week. Try to get some forecourt washes in, and do them early in the morning.

 

[fisicx]

Bloke does our cars. We found him because he had his van parked outside a house and was doing their cars.

Mobile number on the van is OK but people driving past don't have time to note it down. What he has is: Search Google for 'bob bloke valeting'. Easy to remember and easy to find. He had a one page site with a list of his services, prices and contact details.

So for him the best form of marketing was his van parked where everyone can see him.

Water is ok but offer waterless as well. Some people might not want you to use water on their drives.

 

[Mitch3473]

That was one of my first businesses!

Pick up a van (such as a dispatch), throw a tank in (£150) Gennie (£250) Pressure washer (£150) and Chemicals (£150) and then £250 for a box a leaflets, £100 to sign-write the van. Done!

Now all you do is post through letter boxes, talk to car dealers, used, dealer, main dealers and so on - when you have done that, get onto boat yards, caravan dealers, and everyone else you can think of - get out there!

On your own, without breaking your neck you should comfortably bring in around £1500 a week. Try to get some forecourt washes in, and do them early in the morning.

Sounds about right.Any airport carparks near by..??
Get the tank baffled and make sure it's big enough 500 litres of water slopping around makes for interesting driving. Get a good generator, Honda, make sure it's big enough for the job, I presume you'll be running 2 kw Numatic or similar. Buy a petrol pressure washer, Honda with interpump pump unit, and don't use people electricity, it's an inconvenience and looks poor. Get some corporate/logo'd work ware, you are professional, look the part. Crucially upsell your services....try and turn a one off full valet into a weekly/fortnightly wash and vac contract for eg.
Price yourself above everyone else, you sound confidant and good enough. A tough call I know but it will work in the long term.

 

[Ryansworld]

Thanks for all the advice its really helpful. What about insurance wise. what would I need and roughly ow much?

 

[SuffolkDesigns]

Thanks for all the advice its really helpful. What about insurance wise. what would I need and roughly ow much?

I have a client that is a car valet.
They use http://www.valeters-insurance.co.uk/
He suggested you give them a call, they have various levels of insurance from £10-20 per month

 

[Deleted member 138423]

Great advice for the OP! Good to read.

 

[LMDServicesUK]

Good luck with your business.

How are you going to get paid ?
Suggest you get consider getting yourself a card payment facility for credit and debit cards, especially if you are doing commercial sites, your customers probably won't have a lot of cash on them, or be near a convenient cash point..

We can offer Mobile Pay (www.judopay.com/A1140) which uses the customers mobile phone so is nice and secure from the customers perspective or you can look at a card reader based solution which need you to have an Android or IOS capable smartphone such as WorldPay Zinc for example.

They are both Pay As You Go so no monthly fees if you are not using them. Also lot safer than having to carry cash around all day, and then getting to the Bank to pay it in..

Hope this helps and if you want some more information then please PM me.

 

[Kilo-Foxtrot]

It might be worth having a look at http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/.

There's tons of info for this sort of work on there

 

[CIulian]

£1500 a week?? is that really possible to achieve washing cars? you know I actually did gamble with the idea a couple of years ago, but I dropped it quickly after a little research. many people washing your car here for a fiver, I guess if you take on large clients such as car dealers, you can earn quite well, still £6000 a month sounds a little unrealistic, at least in the starting stage. My girlfriend's employer has a Ferrari. he employs someone to wash his car once every 2 weeks at home. I guess if you know what you're doing, and you do it well, it's a good idea to target a niche market (such as sports/luxury car owners). earn more by doing less hours. I pay £10 for a mini valet at the car wash, every 2 weeks. to earn £1500 a week you will need a hell of a lot of customers.

 

[platnumcn]

About electrical supplies, you should have an additional source always accessible to you. It works as a backup, in case you do not have any access to your customer's electrical supplies for any reason whatsoever.

 

[Mitch3473]

£1500 a week?? is that really possible to achieve washing cars? you know I actually did gamble with the idea a couple of years ago, but I dropped it quickly after a little research. many people washing your car here for a fiver, I guess if you take on large clients such as car dealers, you can earn quite well, still £6000 a month sounds a little unrealistic, at least in the starting stage. My girlfriend's employer has a Ferrari. he employs someone to wash his car once every 2 weeks at home. I guess if you know what you're doing, and you do it well, it's a good idea to target a niche market (such as sports/luxury car owners). earn more by doing less hours. I pay £10 for a mini valet at the car wash, every 2 weeks. to earn £1500 a week you will need a hell of a lot of customers.

It can be done,in time and working 7 days a week but that will be turnover,not profit.Like I say you will have to price yourself above the competition and therefore have the right clients.You are not competing with car washes as such as you are offering a personal service. When I started in the mid 80's I was charging £52 for a full valet and £11.00 for a wash & vac.Half a dozen plus full valets and a couple of decent corporate contacts a week and a steady private client base at the weekend at todays prices should do that.

 

[MACKIEEE]

hii,
I don’t believe you have to explain anything, they have to prove it. sorry i dont know. please ask someone else.