Planning Guide for a Mobile Auto Detail Business

Start-Up Costs/Expenses for Mobile Detail Company?

Your start up costs for a mobile auto detailing business include licenses, business cards, transportation, advertising, contract, website, insurance and your equipment with the supplies needed. The yearly expenses will include business license renewal, insurance, income taxes, and replacement equipment if needed. Your monthly expenses will include advertising, phone service, website hosting and equipment storage. The weekly expenses consist of gas, supplies and extra help if need be.

What is Your Target Market?

A good target for marketing your mobile car detailing business could be country clubs, medical buildings and auto clubs. One question to ask yourself is how far you are willing to travel in your detailing business. If you start smaller you may travel a longer distance to offer your services. As your business grows the time spent for travel will limit how much you can be able to get done in a day. See the Marketing a mobile auto detailing business page for information on marketing your business.

Who is Your Competition?

Search the phone book Super Pages and internet and find your potential competition in the mobile detailing business. Find out what services and products they offer. Where is their service area and see if the charge for service outside this area? How much do they charge for exterior, interior, complete auto detail and any additional services they offer? This knowledge will help in developing an overall plan. Also, think of how to make you stand out and above your competitors. Maybe have a product line and always be sure to have customer service a priority.

Setting Your Rates?

Setting your rates parallel to your competitors will a benefit to you. It can be better to add incentives or to have discount offers rather than undercut your competitors. The more undercutting that occurs is the more the average rate in your area will lower. Offer discounts, loyalty programs and/or coupons. Everybody likes discounts. As your returning clientele increases and your company grows you will want to have those higher rates. It will harder to raise your rates than it will be to lower them so it is best start comparable to the competition.

Break Even Point?

You should factor in how many weeks are available for outdoor auto detailing in your area. This can be a seasonal business with weather affecting the number of weeks. More than likely you will have a slow down during the rainy winter. You should factor in these months as you do your break even calculations. You might ask yourself, 'How many details do I need in a month to cover your monthly expenses?'. 'How many additional details do I need a month to pay down the start-up costs?'. When your income reaches the total equal to your start-up costs, and have also covered all your expenses up to this point, you have then reached the break even point.

Fine Tuning Your Company Plan...!

Be sure to have flexibility in your plan so you can make adjustments. As your mobile auto detailing company grows parts your plan will need to be adjusted.