Market review for Mobile Detailing using steam wash

[shakeel.saddozai]

Hi, I have been running a 3M Authorized Detailing Center in Dubai for the past 7 years. I was also running mobile detailing units with portable steam machines. Now I have moved to Islamabad and wants to start the same business here.

A little bit confused as I didn't see anybody offering this service in the capital using portable steam machines.

I am starting this thread to get the members opinion . Please do give sincere opinion to help me decide.

Main Concept
Clients will call and the detailing van will come to clients premise and will offer on the spot Steam wash exterior, Engine, Interior, Interior detailing, Exterior detailing, Paint protection, Clay baring, Crystal coating etc services.

Steam cleaning interior will result in Killing any smell, bugs, bacteria, fungus in fabric as well as AC ducts.

Steam cleaning interior will result in quicker dry time.

P.S Please do give your opinion for the prices

[bewareofdevilz]

Sounds amazing idea bro, don't have any such proper detailing services in Twin Cities, the ones we have (small ones) are very expensive with not so great service... Mostly people in ISB will prefer getting their cars detailed while being at home

[shakeel.saddozai]

Actually many friends are against mobile detailing. They say a car spa is a better option.

I feel the high cost of shop is abolished and i can reduce my service cost accordingly.

Secondly i am really surprised by the present detailers service time. 2-3 days. Why on earth one needs that much time. Maybe to increase the price.

With proper gadgets a vehicle can be finished off in a day.

[bewareofdevilz]

Agreed bro.. Lots of people wanted to do this that I know off by the cost of owning a shop at a good place is Too much investment, better invest in Mobile Detailing Vans & get it done likewise .. Best of Luck & do let me know once you begin, will be your first customer IA

[shakeel.saddozai]

thanks. Luckly few of the staff I hired in dubai from pakistan are also joining me here. Looks like istakhara going well. Thanks again for boosting my moral.

[nfsmostwanted]

Its a great service brother and as you mentioned the service charges will be balanced as you wont have to pay for a shop with bling bling lights and rent etc, it will really work IA

[Chaps]

Mashallah, that's an amazing idea
Once u started do let me know bro
Will be one of your first customers inshallah

[ehhaq]

1st few months will be tough for u but you have to bear it. You also have to run massive awareness compaign for the same.. best of luck..

[shakeel.saddozai]

Got it.
now lets discuss pricing. Keep in mind all the products used will be of high grade. Also keep in mind that even meguiars and 3m have A B and C grade product lines. The grade difference is higher gloss and longer life.

Let me clear the options & time required to impliment
Clay bar (2-3 hours)
Polishing exterior stage course (4-6 hours)
Polishing exterior stage fine (2-3 hours)
Carnoba wax (2 hours)
Synthetic wax (2 hours)
Glass coating (2-3 hour)
Interior detail (4-6 hours)
Engine detailing (3-4 hours)

Price recommendation should be in these catagories

Light color sedan
dark color sedan
black sedan
light color suv
dark color suv
black suv

One can Give price recomendation is lowest or highest.

[shakeel.saddozai]

Any body with price recommendations?

[memad]

As you were having the business in Dubai. The bounty of less govt duty there is balanced by cheaper labor here so you can start with almost the same prices.

[shakeel.saddozai]

Mmmmm
One cant compare one market with another.

Secondly fuel cost also needs to be added.

My question is if I offer car wash, interior minor cleaning & engine minor steaming roughly (2 hour service) how much should i charge.

Second option is interior and exterior major cleaning, a full day service. How much should be charged

[memad]

The price list should be based on not ideas but actually on the cost incurred for the various elements like cleaning products, labour, running expenses, depreciation, advertisements and your profits. As being the pioneer you can set the trend. Keep profit reasonable and source the merchandise you use in bulk to reduce cost.

[shakeel.saddozai]

I got your point but there is some thing called a good work and not so good work.

There are services available as low as 6000 till 15000. All using good quality products but main difference is the quality of workmanship.

The pricing i am considering keeping in mind not skipping any steps is 10000 plus for dark colored sedans. Yes i can reduce the price by skipping steps but only for light colored sedans.

Second options are maintenece of detailed cars.

One option is body wash and paint protection, interior mid level detail and engine mid level steam wash for 5000.

Second option is just body wash, interior mid level detail, engine mid level steaming for 2500

Any recomendations?

[Bilalicious]

I got your point but there is some thing called a good work and not so good work.

There are services available as low as 6000 till 15000. All using good quality products but main difference is the quality of workmanship.

The pricing i am considering keeping in mind not skipping any steps is 10000 plus for dark colored sedans. Yes i can reduce the price by skipping steps but only for light colored sedans.

Second options are maintenece of detailed cars.

One option is body wash and paint protection, interior mid level detail and engine mid level steam wash for 5000.

Second option is just body wash, interior mid level detail, engine mid level steaming for 2500

Any recomendations?

Dont wanna sink your boat but the quoted prices are high for anyone to become a regular customer. I'm sure you will use quality products and equipment but 2500 for body wash and 'service' won't get you many loyal customers.
Unless our mindset is shifted and there is some appreciation of detailing among the masses, majority of consumers will still go for 250Rs service at the pump for weekend washes.
I'd recommend starting with break even prices and eventually increase once you have a customer base.
Good luck.

[shakeel.saddozai]

Let me break the 2500.

A normal service stations are using lowest quality chemicals and are offering interior cleaning service from 1500-2500 as i am using high quality. Car wash is between 250 - 500 and they dont engine detail or if they do the engine is cleaned with water and soap risking a demage. Even if they do they charge 300-400 for it.

So if we calculate the lowest mark it comes to 1500+250+300=2050 and better seevice at a service station is 2500+500+400=3400
I am offering a better result, home visit & the finest chemicals at 2500

Do you still think its expensive?

[Bilalicious]

May be if U can elaborate what's included in the 2500 package?

[shakeel.saddozai]

Same goes with the second option.
people are charging 1500-3000 for waxing, interior for 1500-2500 and engine for 300-400.
So 1500+1500+300=3300 &
3000+2500+400=5900
My price is 5000
Plus i will will only use polymer based wax rather then carnoba.

Only wash and vaccum of vehicle wont be feasible for me as my cost of fuel towards customer premise will exceed 250-500 service stations wash price.

[memad]

Please carry your own power/water source. In order to save weekends for other works ppl will call you at their office locations during weekdays.

What's the good bout polymer based wax. Since beginning carnoba was preferred.

[shakeel.saddozai]

Thanks for the advise, its already in the plan to carry RO Filtered soft water with me. The result is better wash, as you know hard water is not even good for cloths washing.

The main difference between carnoba and polymer is that carnoba is a natural product & polymer is synthetic.

Carnoba is a oil which is not desolved in the paint so it will be washed off after washing the car at a service station as they dont use PH balanced and paint friendly detergents.

Polymer is obserbed in the paint and hardens the paint. The shine will remain with the car even after 5-6 service station washes plus hardening the surface resulting in 20% less swirl marks accorance afterwords.
Another advantage is polymers are settled in the present swirl marks reducing the swirl marks too even without using the polishing process.

Keep in mind polishing takes off a layer of paint off the car. So compounding/polishing should always be avoided.

Oh another feature in newer polymer waxes are that they have hydrophobic qualities resulting in less oxidation and water marks