You cannot be more right about being booked out far in advance. I have had 2 cancellations in 7 years of business. I am usually only booked out 2-4 days in advance and people love it when I say I can get to them in a day or two.
Very good points, Ivan. Perhaps in future you and your associate might comment on RUclips testing of coatings: many focus on the beading and little else (I've never seen a comparison where coated panels were sprayed with "road dirt", allowed to dry and then rinised off). Also, what of maintenance (some of these testers don't maintain their tested coatings!).
This is everything Yvan never undercut , no car is never to dirty , rinse it with water and hit it with rinseless!! Yvan coming hot haha thanks sir for the candor…..loss the ego get paid take care of your customer
I do think having strategically lower prices at the beginning, specifically for side income or weekend businesses, can be a useful tool to get some experience, collect 5 star reviews, and create a small bundle of cash to push you forward with ads and marketing when you do launch into full time.
Customers want professionalism and their want cars to sparkle. They knew this is what they got when I worked on their car. Truthfully, I had so much fun doing the work I already had my orgasm before they picked up their car.
Hey Yvan, love your content and watching your videos inspired me to work towards opening my own detailing business! Starting up this week, I did mobile detailing for a few years but didn't take it too seriously. Thanks in large part to your content on youtube, I am starting my paint correction & ceramic coating shop out of my garage to work part-time alongside my software engineering job. The goal is to be able to build processes/a business that I can scale in the future, and while I have the comfort of a secure full-time job so that I can make mistakes without disaster. And detailing is my way to become my own boss and get out of the 9-5, and with coatings n such I can make as much as an entry level software engineer without too much effort lol I wanted to see if you could clarify something for me a bit. You mention all the time about how a customer is typically okay with scratches as long as they are shiny scratches. When customers ask for getting their paint perfect, do you try and convince them that they likely don't want their paint perfect? Pretty much explaining how we are removing more paint than what they need to be satisfied? And what happens when you convince them of getting just a paint-enhancement or a more in-depth one step correction and they wished they had gotten a higher level service? Also I haven't seen a video of you talking about a paint depth gauge. I know that for one-steps and most 2-steps, the amount of paint removed shouldn't put you at much risk of burning through the clear coat with proper technique and diligence, but for the heavier 2-steps and 2+-steps do you incorporate that into your process? Maybe check each panel as you're going around the polish the vehicle, and opt for just a paint enhancement where the paint is running thin? I know they aren't too accurate, but I figured that if you're being paid for this service it would really suck to lose money on it having to repaint half a side for a small burn through. Thanks for everything, and once I get more funding and figure out costs & procedures, I hope you will still be available for coaching! I can't even imagine your gold nuggets I'd get that AREN'T included in the youtube library somewhere. I appreciate you spending your time reading this, and I hope you have a good day! :)
Thanks for your support and questions. Most customers equate « perfect » paint with what they get on a new car from a dealer. The reason they say perfect, is along the way some detailers told them they would make their paint perfect. The paint guage is a good sales tool to show customers how thin the paint is. When you explain it to a customer that you preserve and protect instead of perfection, you will have happy Customers.
Wheel coatings! Do you include them in your ceramic coating package? Do you/should you coat wheels at all? How do you properly prep wheels for coatings? Thanks Yvan
Answer your damn phone people and set up your voice mail and make it sound as professional as you can. Rinseless is the best. One thing I have never done is trade shows as there are none in Australia and going to the usa for the weekend for a show isn't viable for me now that I'm retired from doing it for money. MTE and conferences for those in the industry still are a must if you want to network, learn and grow bigger. Leave your ego at home so it's not in my industry. Being cheap, discounting and undercutting makes most of the industry a race to the bottom. And my #1 piece of advice - think and act bigger with your biz. Buy everything in bulk, especially pads. I have foam manufacturer contacts in Europe if anyone's interested in bulk buying ie hundreds of pads at a time or more. It doesn't cost that much really.
@@gleamcardetails whatever you want virtually, there is at least one manufacturer who will make them in whatever edge profile you like and from 20mm up to 450 mm in size but 100-160mm is common for pads. these companies supply the brand names most know
Are you familiar with Paul Akers and his 2 second lean (he has free ebooks online to help businesses) and his business Fastcap in Washington state? He motivates his employees by letting them fix what bugs them. The Japanese measure their productivity by hundreds of a second. I like your practical business tips. Don't waste your time or the customers time
Ivan, I always listen to your videos, and when you do videos for companies. You are a good educator for car detailing. But, there is always a but..... Many customers just want a clean car and the bragging rights that the car was detailed. Many have no idea about protection types such as wax, a sealant, or a coating. They just want the car cleaned and many just want the interior to look better. And they want it done cheaply. That is why many do the drive-through car wash. It is fast and cheap, and no appointment is needed. The car looks clean and they are happy to have spent only $20 or so. Yes, there are customers that know products and detailing and would do it themselves, but they have no time. Those types of customers are very few.
Hiring staff is the biggest challenge we face today to grow our business and not be booked out a few weeks. This, despite a 40% pay bump over minimum wage for our entry level position. Tips?
Have you or anyone commenting use the RV water filters attached to the hose to try to reduce minerals and spotting? Something that is portable and not something that is expensive and bulky like the ionized water systems?
thank you! i really appreciate the info ive felt bad about not being booked out for months, but that point of view really changed my perspective. much appreciated!!
The one that bother me the most is when you call a business (any type of business) and they answer de phone like: “hello?” It is so confusing! You don’t know If you’ve called the right place… When you answer the phone as a business owner, you should say; “ABC detail, hello!” Or something like that
Short and to the point! Yvan one of my biggest pet peeves is the phone issue. Good customer service starts with a hello or a professional voicemail. You've been saying for a long time that we're selling time and we need to know what our time is worth. Then actively listening to the customer and giving them a nice clean car on time vs a pristine vehicle they run through the car wash the next day. I hope to attend one of your seminars someday!
So true!! What I love about Yvan is he brings us to reality. Sure, there's the multi millionaire perfectionist who wants his Mclaren flawless and doesn't give a damn about the cost; but most customers are not looking at a car with the eye of a detailer or show car judge. They just want their car to be presentable, relatively clean, shiny and best of all.... easy to maintain.. And they don't want to spend thousands of dollars to do it. You can be a master at a trade, but be a horrible businessman! Take it from me! I love plumbing, but I always struggle with the business end of things.. be honest guys, I know I'm not alone.
Such a great point, and unfortunately, this happens with business every day! they follow this "backward" principal day in and day out! They do this to undercut their competitors, and sooner or later, it backfires on them, and they go belly up! This happened in every industry and business that does this crap!! I personally hate it! Yes, please do check your egos at the door!! Well said, Yvan!👍
You are absolutely right I made that mistake, I went from 300 to 400 for a full detail and had to start over l. I did have some follow me with the price hike though.
Good as always Yvan !! Here at our office, there is no way we will enter a phone system with « do 1 for service, do 2 for … » just because we want the customer talk to someone who says « compagnie name Hello !! »…you know, the human voice !! 😂.
Pricing as stated is a real problem all new to industry must face. My local competitors are either stupid cheap or have learned your lesson. A business cannot survive or grow being the lowest cost provider.
Fantastic Yvan! Following your content for years has been a tremendous payoff! I am forever grateful for the "true" no-nonsense smart and efficient ways of detailing (and running a business) that you present...thank you
You cannot be more right about being booked out far in advance. I have had 2 cancellations in 7 years of business. I am usually only booked out 2-4 days in advance and people love it when I say I can get to them in a day or two.
Perfect
Very good points, Ivan. Perhaps in future you and your associate might comment on RUclips testing of coatings: many focus on the beading and little else (I've never seen a comparison where coated panels were sprayed with "road dirt", allowed to dry and then rinised off). Also, what of maintenance (some of these testers don't maintain their tested coatings!).
Agreed, there are many many flaws in those tests
This is everything Yvan never undercut , no car is never to dirty , rinse it with water and hit it with rinseless!! Yvan coming hot haha thanks sir for the candor…..loss the ego get paid take care of your customer
Thanks for sharing
I'd love more of these videos! One on Carpro and Koch Chemie specifically 😊
This channel is not product oriented.
You’re the man!
Thank you
I do think having strategically lower prices at the beginning, specifically for side income or weekend businesses, can be a useful tool to get some experience, collect 5 star reviews, and create a small bundle of cash to push you forward with ads and marketing when you do launch into full time.
It can, but you will not be actually profitable, nor build a sustainable customer base.
Great content as usual!!
Thank you
I do mostly Rinseless and I find it more effective and enjoyable than foaming 😄😄
Good to know!
Customers want professionalism and their want cars to sparkle. They knew this is what they got when I worked on their car. Truthfully, I had so much fun doing the work I already had my orgasm before they picked up their car.
Excellent
Hey Yvan, love your content and watching your videos inspired me to work towards opening my own detailing business! Starting up this week, I did mobile detailing for a few years but didn't take it too seriously. Thanks in large part to your content on youtube, I am starting my paint correction & ceramic coating shop out of my garage to work part-time alongside my software engineering job. The goal is to be able to build processes/a business that I can scale in the future, and while I have the comfort of a secure full-time job so that I can make mistakes without disaster. And detailing is my way to become my own boss and get out of the 9-5, and with coatings n such I can make as much as an entry level software engineer without too much effort lol
I wanted to see if you could clarify something for me a bit. You mention all the time about how a customer is typically okay with scratches as long as they are shiny scratches. When customers ask for getting their paint perfect, do you try and convince them that they likely don't want their paint perfect? Pretty much explaining how we are removing more paint than what they need to be satisfied? And what happens when you convince them of getting just a paint-enhancement or a more in-depth one step correction and they wished they had gotten a higher level service?
Also I haven't seen a video of you talking about a paint depth gauge. I know that for one-steps and most 2-steps, the amount of paint removed shouldn't put you at much risk of burning through the clear coat with proper technique and diligence, but for the heavier 2-steps and 2+-steps do you incorporate that into your process? Maybe check each panel as you're going around the polish the vehicle, and opt for just a paint enhancement where the paint is running thin? I know they aren't too accurate, but I figured that if you're being paid for this service it would really suck to lose money on it having to repaint half a side for a small burn through.
Thanks for everything, and once I get more funding and figure out costs & procedures, I hope you will still be available for coaching! I can't even imagine your gold nuggets I'd get that AREN'T included in the youtube library somewhere. I appreciate you spending your time reading this, and I hope you have a good day! :)
Thanks for your support and questions.
Most customers equate « perfect » paint with what they get on a new car from a dealer. The reason they say perfect, is along the way some detailers told them they would make their paint perfect.
The paint guage is a good sales tool to show customers how thin the paint is.
When you explain it to a customer that you preserve and protect instead of perfection, you will have happy Customers.
Wheel coatings! Do you include them in your ceramic coating package? Do you/should you coat wheels at all? How do you properly prep wheels for coatings? Thanks Yvan
When you’re Coating most modern wheels , you’re coating clear coat, just like the rest of the paint on the car.
Answer your damn phone people and set up your voice mail and make it sound as professional as you can. Rinseless is the best. One thing I have never done is trade shows as there are none in Australia and going to the usa for the weekend for a show isn't viable for me now that I'm retired from doing it for money. MTE and conferences for those in the industry still are a must if you want to network, learn and grow bigger. Leave your ego at home so it's not in my industry. Being cheap, discounting and undercutting makes most of the industry a race to the bottom. And my #1 piece of advice - think and act bigger with your biz. Buy everything in bulk, especially pads. I have foam manufacturer contacts in Europe if anyone's interested in bulk buying ie hundreds of pads at a time or more. It doesn't cost that much really.
Which pads?
Thank you
@@gleamcardetails whatever you want virtually, there is at least one manufacturer who will make them in whatever edge profile you like and from 20mm up to 450 mm in size but 100-160mm is common for pads.
these companies supply the brand names most know
Are you familiar with Paul Akers and his 2 second lean (he has free ebooks online to help businesses) and his business Fastcap in Washington state? He motivates his employees by letting them fix what bugs them. The Japanese measure their productivity by hundreds of a second. I like your practical business tips. Don't waste your time or the customers time
Marvellous
Ivan, I always listen to your videos, and when you do videos for companies. You are a good educator for car detailing.
But, there is always a but.....
Many customers just want a clean car and the bragging rights that the car was detailed. Many have no idea about protection types such as wax, a sealant, or a coating. They just want the car cleaned and many just want the interior to look better. And they want it done cheaply. That is why many do the drive-through car wash. It is fast and cheap, and no appointment is needed. The car looks clean and they are happy to have spent only $20 or so.
Yes, there are customers that know products and detailing and would do it themselves, but they have no time. Those types of customers are very few.
Agreed
Hiring staff is the biggest challenge we face today to grow our business and not be booked out a few weeks. This, despite a 40% pay bump over minimum wage for our entry level position. Tips?
ruclips.net/video/ltC8QTQsM4w/видео.html
Yvan, will you be at this year's Southern Detailers Conference this year in Louisville, KY June 2nd and 3rd? Hope to see you there.
If all goes as planned, yes
I enjoy your videos. I learn a lot from you. Keep them coming.
Thanks, will do!
Hi Yvan, awesome video. Thank you for that, much appreciated.
My pleasure!
Have you been talking to my wife? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Not yet
@@Detailers-Business-Academy 🤣🤣🤣
Have you or anyone commenting use the RV water filters attached to the hose to try to reduce minerals and spotting? Something that is portable and not something that is expensive and bulky like the ionized water systems?
They do not do much for mineral content.
thank you! i really appreciate the info ive felt bad about not being booked out for months, but that point of view really changed my perspective. much appreciated!!
Glad it was helpful!
The one that bother me the most is when you call a business (any type of business) and they answer de phone like: “hello?” It is so confusing! You don’t know
If you’ve called the right place…
When you answer the phone as a business owner, you should say; “ABC detail, hello!” Or something like that
Agreed
Nice job thanks Mr . Detailers Business Academy.
You are welcome
So how to actually respond when you don't have a time at the moment and a customer wants the service ?
Give the customer options.
Words of wisdom
Thank you
Nice message Yvan, and regarding the phone, if you do miss the call and have the voicemail and no message is left, call back as soon as possible 👍🏻
Agreed
Hi Yvan, thanks for sharing knowledge, keep doing it. Regards from México.
Thank you
Great job
Thank you
Sir what is MTE can i get to know more about MTE are you part of IDA sir
Mobile Tech Expo. Yes I was on the first board of the IDA and am one of the Registered IndependentTrainers.
@@Detailers-Business-Academy sir is waterless SOLUTION & Rinseless wash SOLUTION same there is product name proklear clain 1:500 dilition
Short and to the point! Yvan one of my biggest pet peeves is the phone issue. Good customer service starts with a hello or a professional voicemail. You've been saying for a long time that we're selling time and we need to know what our time is worth.
Then actively listening to the customer and giving them a nice clean car on time vs a pristine vehicle they run through the car wash the next day.
I hope to attend one of your seminars someday!
Thank you
Spot on advice as always. Thanks Yvan
Thank you
So true!! What I love about Yvan is he brings us to reality. Sure, there's the multi millionaire perfectionist who wants his Mclaren flawless and doesn't give a damn about the cost; but most customers are not looking at a car with the eye of a detailer or show car judge. They just want their car to be presentable, relatively clean, shiny and best of all.... easy to maintain.. And they don't want to spend thousands of dollars to do it. You can be a master at a trade, but be a horrible businessman! Take it from me! I love plumbing, but I always struggle with the business end of things.. be honest guys, I know I'm not alone.
You are not alone.
Such a great point, and unfortunately, this happens with business every day! they follow this "backward" principal day in and day out! They do this to undercut their competitors, and sooner or later, it backfires on them, and they go belly up! This happened in every industry and business that does this crap!! I personally hate it! Yes, please do check your egos at the door!! Well said, Yvan!👍
Thank you.
Nothing related to the subjects, great video as always. Nikola Tesla, not Nikolaj or Nikolay ❤️💪🏎️
Thanks for that!
Thank you for everything Yvan! Cheers from Serbia. @@Detailers-Business-Academy
First!!!
Thank you
Sad
You are absolutely right I made that mistake, I went from 300 to 400 for a full detail and had to start over l. I did have some follow me with the price hike though.
Some will, most won’t.
Good as always Yvan !! Here at our office, there is no way we will enter a phone system with « do 1 for service, do 2 for … » just because we want the customer talk to someone who says « compagnie name Hello !! »…you know, the human voice !! 😂.
Excellent
Pricing as stated is a real problem all new to industry must face. My local competitors are either stupid cheap or have learned your lesson. A business cannot survive or grow being the lowest cost provider.
Thank you
Fantastic Yvan! Following your content for years has been a tremendous payoff! I am forever grateful for the "true" no-nonsense smart and efficient ways of detailing (and running a business) that you present...thank you
I appreciate that!