Prodat-Auto

Often, new folks starting out in the auto detailing or mobile car washing business will think they have struck it rich and hit the gravy train as soon as they sign up a large Corporation which allows them to come onsite to clean cars. They will look at the parking lot, realize the company will give them an exclusive to the washing and detailing, and they think they’re in fat city, and they’re going to get rich. It doesn’t exactly work that way, and let me explain why.

First, you must realize that only a small percentage of the employees are going to want to have services each and every week, and many of the employees who own those cars will only want service every other week. Depending on your price points people may forgo the cleaning of their car, and only get their car cleaned once a month, by then it is much dirtier, and it takes you more time anyway, therefore you are not making quite the profit you thought you might.

Next, I would submit to you that you can get more business out of a multi-tenant buildings than you can just parking your detailing rig at one large corporation. Not long ago, I was challenged by an auto detailer on this point and rightfully so he asked me; “Why?”

Well, it’s hard to say exactly, but I have many theories on this having worked with Standard and Central parking services in a number of downtown metro-areas, park-n-flies, and also at all the large corporate offices. My thinking is that if you can send someone into an office with a clip-board and sign-up sheet, then if one person signs up, generally you get two, then two more.

Then when you take the keys back others want it too. Then it becomes a regular deal, “people talking about it at the water cooler” motif. Now then, in Las Vegas, Tunica, Laughlin, and at the Scottsdale and Coachella Valley Indian Casinos we did well giving a tip to the valets for making the sale and parking the cars in car wash row.