Business idea

Jakeymd

The Torque Meister
Points
102
Location
Ashbourne
Car
Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi
I've had an idea for a little while now of setting up a mobile valeting service.

I know there's plenty of people already out there but i'm hoping i could work.

I'm thinking maybe starting out small and part-time then going as big as it can really. (prestige perhaps)

Does anyone have any advise. Do's. Don'ts. Or DON'T.
Or maybe someone could tell me what would be involved it setting up a small business like this? Just a small idea at the moment. This is part of my research stage.
 
how far into it are you looking ?
if your looking into polishing etc then look at having insurance - if you end up prestige then you dont want to be looking at a £7k bill if you burn through someones paintwork.

start buy looking how much stuff is going to cost.
1000 ltr IBC (transtank) - 1mtr x 1.2mtr x 1mtr (width x length x hight )
pump
pressure washer
generator

so with all that your already looking at a decent sized van thats unless you want to use the persons own supplies.

paint guage - must have if your wanting to do it professionally]


have a look on detailing world as sometimes guys sell up their buisnesses on there
 
The biggest factor with any business you consider is whether you really want to do it. Day in, day out.

Small businesses - sole traders can be launched overnight almost.

My advice is to carefully consider what it is that you actually want to spend your working time doing.


I've had an idea for a little while now of setting up a mobile valeting service.

I know there's plenty of people already out there but i'm hoping i could work.

I'm thinking maybe starting out small and part-time then going as big as it can really. (prestige perhaps)

Does anyone have any advise. Do's. Don'ts. Or DON'T.
Or maybe someone could tell me what would be involved it setting up a small business like this? Just a small idea at the moment. This is part of my research stage.
 
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Don't aim to start out on cheap cars and work up it just never happens. Target the high end stuff from the start, and give discounts to people who have "ordinary" cars for a basic clean.

As long as you use a wool wash mit and know about scratching the paint with the dirt on the car you'll go far, a lot further than a lot of "professionals" I know round here.

You also must get liabilty cover and if you are driving customer cars you'll need expensive motortrade insurance as well.
 
Don't use a sponge!

In theory the idea is quite good. You can charge the customer for various services from a standard wash to a professional detail. But what are you going to do come winter?
 
Don't use a sponge!

In theory the idea is quite good. You can charge the customer for various services from a standard wash to a professional detail. But what are you going to do come winter?

With any luck nothing, having earned enough throughout the fine weather months you can hibernate for a while.

What about waterless detailing?
 
I'm liking all the input people, keep it coming.
I've always wanted to do something within the motor industry. Just couldn't think what. I love cleaning my car and polishing and waxing. The lot. It might not work or i might not enjoy it as much i thought, but i won't know until i try. I can't see myself losing that satisfaction of seeing a spotless car that i've done :) but i'll think about it some more as to whether this is the future for me.
 
You need a place indoors to be able to correct someones car. It's ok doing it outside with your own car but if you're working for a customer you can't just do an hour then bugger off when it rains.

Valeting or detailing?
 
all the people i know that do it have worked for someone for years and learnt the tricks of the trade and best stuff to use ect

is so much stuff out there you could be paying over the top for rubbish gear

but if you want to do it do it (or least once you have the money)
i want to get my own mot bay but till i can come up with some money its a no go at the min as soon as its there matts mots is up and running
 
I think that's my shortfall. Lack of experience. I was thinking maybe detailing and valeting.
 
I would start of with valeting (as there is a bigger customer base of people that just want their cars washed as opposed to detailed) and then move up to detailing as you develop your skills on your own cars/scrap panels.

Just to let you know I used to do mobile car valeting with a fella I knew back in my youth. We had contracts in Lichfield, Solihull and various other localish places. They were mainly contracts with office blocks so we would go to an office block and they would already have a list of cars that needed doing and what needed doing to them (usually 6-10). Most were just washes or wash and vacs. Maybe an idea for you though? We got all our water supply from the office blocks too. Used a diesel of petrol (can't remember which) power washer.

If you can get contracts like that it will work out a lot more profitible than going from house to house doing individual cars.
 
That's a good plan. We used to have a local guy in Thame who turned up at our offices once or twice a month.

It's good steady work. As MA says though, you will need covered premises for detailing and minor body repairs.

Actually, that's something you really could look to in the future - full on body repair. People will always have collisions, no matter how eco friendly our vehicles become.
 
I was on ebay last night and there seemed to be lots of mobile valet businesses for sale. What do you think this means?
 
I was on ebay last night and there seemed to be lots of mobile valet businesses for sale. What do you think this means?

Well I don't think the answer to that question requires much effort! ;)

You should start to pre canvas some local business's with the idea of mobile valeting first to gauge the response, if the response is not 90% positive at least then I would think again! Also is the funding for this venture via a loan or savings? If work is low you still have to make the monthly payments, the less frequent the work the harder the payments will become! :sad2:

If your heart is still set on this line off work; have you thought about maybe incorporating the valeting with a course on car scratch repairs, internal trim damage, alloy wheel repairs? In my view there seems to be more of a market for this kind of service than mobile valeting!
I for one, have never ever called out a mobile valeter! but trim and scuff repair specialist's, I call these people out quite frequently! ;)
It's just my own thoughts you understand, whatever you decide to do,
I do hope it works out for you! :)
 
I was on ebay last night and there seemed to be lots of mobile valet businesses for sale. What do you think this means?
if a lot for sale then suspect that many people thought its easy to set up and so easy money - they have then started and found out that this is not the case, so epeating whats already mentioned above, you have to be really committed to it to make something happen.

i would really love to buy my own scrap yard but money is a factor, firstly for buying it, secondly actually making money from running one.
 
it the buying all the kit then realising that people arent going to pay you much for a wash and wax.

go to some of the pro detailers and they charge £1k plus they do have the car for around a week but you get it back looking better than when it left the factory.
 

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