Anyone Run Their Own Business?

Well I used to, started in the early 1970's :tumbleweed: but aren't involved in the everyday running of it now -but I am involved in forward planning

To answer part of your question-never sell yourself cheap, also never go into a business that Joe Public can do himself.
 
I have a my own company and do detailing to chill out some weekends...

all my work comes from word of mouth, for both parts...

detailing is very much about proving yourself and knowing what you are doing... I guess that's why I take business from so called professionals near me.

it is not all about fancy clothes and 'looking the part' in fact, in detailing that usually the worst mistake you can make...

'new' detailers go out and buy all the fancy gear, but have very little history and knowledge of how to work with different paints/cars/issues that come up...

people ask me to do their car because I know what I'm doing, and have proved that time and time again... it's that simple...

no bullshit, no flyers, no fancy tops, all just I'm my opinion as a detailer...

:thumbsup:
 
the cueball said:
I have a my own company and do detailing to chill out some weekends...

all my work comes from word of mouth, for both parts...

detailing is very much about proving yourself and knowing what you are doing... I guess that's why I take business from so called professionals near me.

it is not all about fancy clothes and 'looking the part' in fact, in detailing that usually the worst mistake you can make...

'new' detailers go out and buy all the fancy gear, but have very little history and knowledge of how to work with different paints/cars/issues that come up...

people ask me to do their car because I know what I'm doing, and have proved that time and time again... it's that simple...

no bullshit, no flyers, no fancy tops, all just I'm my opinion as a detailer...

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Yeah i know what you are saying, the thing is i'm already at that stage, ive been working for 5-6 years doing this in my own time building up skills and knowledge, amongst friends family and co workers i am the go-to guy for car detailing. i have the equipment and the skills to complete excellent work. i know just want to take it a step further.
 
I know you've been doing it for a while, my post wasn't describing you, sorry if I came across that way... just happens to be a lot of new start 'professionals' near me over the last few years...

As I say, my work comes in by word of mouth only, but if I was going to start, I would go with a website with clean, non tampered, face on pics of the cars, not sneaky 3/4 views were most cars look great...( I see sooo many of that rubbish)

try to show off the quailty of the paint after work as much as possible..

highlight you're insured (means a lot to people when working on their car IMO)

and I would probably do some pics on facebook and that twitter thing...

obviously the trick with the website is to get to the first page on google.. so there are different ways to achieve that...

:thumbsup:
 
GBG said:
To answer part of your question-never sell yourself cheap, also never go into a business that Joe Public can do himself.
Click to expand...

Spot on advice. If all new businesses followed this a few more might make it...
 
One avenue you may not have considered is to contact used car dealerships offering to setup a contract system with them where you give new arivials on their lots a detail then maintain the car with weekly washes as long as the car stays on their lot.
 
some of the advice so far has been amazing! i think we should all set up some sort of Z forum business with the amount of great advice lol!
 
I've been self employed for 8 years now and the first 5-6 years was very hard (despite the recession) and most of what I did was on the word and mouth recommendation, I advertised in different local papers at great cost but only really got a few jobs a year from it, now I've got in with a local lettings agent and a fitter for topps tiles doing there flooring etc (I'm in property maintenance) and now there are never enough hours in the day to fit it all in, if you keep plugging away it will come right one day, as they say nothing comes easy these days :thumbsup:
 
My 10c, some reinforcing comments already made.

Word of mouth is the best possible way of getting business. Someone has likely seen your work elsewhere and so has confidence in you before you start. Don't be afraid to ask for a reference from a customer who is happy. Put that on your website. Offer a small referral fee to people that recommend you but keep the amount sensible. Maybe 10% off their next detail so not only do they refer, but come back for more.

Your website is the world's view of your business, make it good, easy to navigate and have lots of reference pics and references.

Price your work carefully, make sure if you make this your full time job you can afford to live. It's going to be seasonal, more so if you have no premises. Have a menu of prices and don't deviate too far from it.

Believe in yourself and sell your value. If you're good, charge what you're worth.

Have a look at the local businesses with big car parks, and contact them to offer at work car washing, valet, detail services. Someone's done this at our place and is in once a week and busy all day.

Talk to he local chips away type franchises and build some business relationships. Send work their way and they'll do the same for you.

Good luck and don't sell yourself short!
 
Most top end car dealers/specialist will have their own in house or retained detailing professionals, but work does get on top of them, so the advice from above about taking on overflow work is a good plan as the clients that see and experience your work are also likely to want more of it at £500 a go next time....they also have mates with top end cars, so helps the word of mouth.

A left field one, if you are going to do if free work, make sure it is going to be the best ever detailing and to the biggest audience. Write to Pistonheads, EVO, car etc, try top gear and fith gear for TV as well, see if they want to do a feature where you correct a car under photo/TV etc....probably the best free advertising you will ever get. Also if they say no, take the shawshank redemption approach and write again....effort goes a long way as a rejection should not be seen as a never, just a not today :thumbsup:
 
wow! again guys some absolutely awesome advice on this page. im busy this weekend working on a customers car but ill be having a few hours reading through this when i'm done! stay tuned for the pictures and write up!
 
You are servicing a local market, I'd focus on the back-to-basics and recommendation tactics mentioned by others.

I use an excellent local guy who was recommended to me by a local car dealer as he does the work on his stock when it comes in. He isn't cheap and has a waiting list but no way I'd let anyone loose on my motor based on a website, or even a Face Tweet (I don't use Facebook or Twatter).
 
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