Printed Version – 125 Page Start Up Guide

Nick Vacco’s 125 Page Guide: How To Start, Operate & Grow A Successful & Profitable Car Detailing Business

How To Start Your Own Car Detailing Business - printed version

My 125 page Startup Guide: How to Start, Operate & Grow A Successful & Profitable Car Detailing Business is perfect for the new entrepreneur starting a car detailing or mobile car detailing and coating business. This guide is also beneficial for entrepreneurs who are already in business but want to take their current detailing and coating business to the highest level. Be sure you check out all the chapter titles and content descriptions below.

Nick Vacco’s 2023 Startup Guide was recently published and contains very valuable, up-to-date content. You can purchase the printed version of my Startup Guide for only $99 by clicking on the BUY NOW button. I also include FREE email or phone consultation with your purchase. If you want immediate access to the Online Version of my Startup Guide you can Download it immediately for only $69!

Chapters

Nick Vacco’s Bio
I started detailing cars as a side hustle for profit when I was only 14 years old. Had my first detail shop when I was only 25. Before I knew it, I had 13 employees and my business was generating $60,000 a month providing car detailing and restyling services at my shop in Pittsburgh.

My Bio chapter talks more about the challenges and successes I had and how I eventually sold my business for a large sum of money. Then I started DetailKing.com and my car detailing school.
Mobile Or Shop Location?
When starting your own car detailing business, you face many decisions to make especially in the very beginning. In this chapter of the course, I discuss the pros and cons of working from your home, operating as a mobile detailer, and conducting your business from an automotive shop.

I also discuss operating from a carwash and a stand-alone location. You will need this critical information to make the right decisions from the beginning.
Name Your Business, Design Logo, Register Domain, Form An LLC
Choosing a great name for your business that stands out and can be effectively branded will quickly help build customer acquisition from the start. Having a professionally designed logo and creative tag line will also help brand your business and separate your business from the competitors.

I will also discuss about reserving a website domain name and why you will want to incorporate your business. Most new small businesses today incorporate as an LLC and I will provide you the information needed.
Know Your Costs & How to Price Jobs
I receive calls all the time from new entrepreneurs asking what they should charge for their services. My response is “what does it cost you to operate your business per hour?” Unless they have gone through my training, they don’t have a clue!

In this chapter I teach you how to establish what your hourly break-even cost is so you can then determine how profit you want to make per hour on top of that. This will enormously help when setting up your service menu pricing and providing estimates on unusual and over-sized vehicles.
Permits, Licenses, Business Bank Account
There are various permits and licenses you will need to operate your business legally in your city and state. The permit and license costs are usually less costly than the fines for not being compliant. In this chapter I discuss how to determine the permits and licenses you may need and how to go about getting them.

I will also explain why it is critical to you have a business checking and savings account to keep your business expenses separate from your personal expenses.
Accounting & Accepting Credit Cards
Having an accounting software system like QuickBooks for small business is imperative for the health of your detailing business. You need to always know the financial fitness of your business.

Most professional detailers are very good craftsman but lack a basic business accounting skill set. In this chapter of the course, I will discuss the benefits of having an accounting software system. Credit card payment transactions will be the majority of how your customers pay you. It is a MUST to accept credit card payments.! There are many ways to do this, and I will explain them in detail
Deciding What Services to Offer
From a basic hand car wash to a full-blown paint correction, ceramic coating application, clear protection film and even window tinting installations are services you may want to consider offering. It is difficult to offer all of them when you first start out.

I will talk about what profitable detailing services you should consider offering from Day #1 and how to add other profitable appearance services and lucrative maintenance packages as your customer base grows. Very popular chapter of this course.
Upselling & Cross Selling
In this chapter I will teach you how important it is for your success to be able to upsell and cross sell your services to every customer. This is how you really make money in this business, build your brand and create customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction leads to repeat business and more referrals.
Business Cards, Service Menu, Flyers
Your business card is your “calling card” in this chapter I will discuss what to have on both the front and the back of your business card. I will also talk about Digital Business Cards and the benefits to help with customer acquisition.

Your business should also have a service menu and promotional flyers that you can hand out at car shows and networking events. Many detailers make the mistake of sending the wrong message in their flyers and cram too much information in their service menu. I will tell you about the content that is needed and what content to avoid.
Business Insurance
Having insurance when operating a small business is critical especially when working on and moving around customer’s cars. You will need three or four different insurance coverages for your car detailing business. I will discuss all four types of insurance coverages and why you need them and how to get the best premium rates. You can never have too much insurance.
Social Media Marketing
For a small business, having a social media strategy is essential for increasing brand awareness, reaching your target audience, and driving sales. It can easily create familiarity with your company’s web presence and leaves an imprint on the minds of customers, prospects, and patrons.

In this chapter I will discuss how to effectively use facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. Keeping your social media platforms updated with fresh content is important for your brand’s identity.
Why Have a Website?
A great website is the best way to showcase your car detailing business. A professional website isn’t an expensive luxury or a frivolous endeavor – it’s an affordable, fundamental tool that every detailing business needs.

Your website acts as an anchor for your marketing and builds credibility in your marketplace. In this chapter I will go over what you should publish on your website and how to get prospects to your website. Most importantly I will teach you how to get these website visitors to call you or submit and information form. Very important chapter.

Email & Text Messaging Your Customers
You know you need to attract new customers and keep your existing clients coming back, but you can’t afford to invest time or resources into something that isn’t going to deliver the results you expect. Email marketing and text message marketing is so important when it comes to small business marketing.

Not only does it help you to keep in touch with those that want to hear from you – keeping you top of mind – but it also allows you to educate your readers, drive traffic, conduct surveys, share updates, and show off your work. This is another critical chapter to read and remember.
Why Use a CRM Tool?
Real-time dashboards and reports help you better understand what’s happening with your business. Track profitability, technician efficiency, customer aging, fleet performance and more.

Use built-in tools to communicate with customers via text and email. Send automated appointment confirmations & reminders, share invoices, inspection sheets, collect payments or answer questions with just a few clicks. I will discuss how critical it is to have this tool and all the benefits.
Customer Acquisition & Prospecting
Simply put, customer acquisition refers to gaining new consumers. Acquiring new customers involves persuading consumers to purchase your detailing and auto appearance services.

I will teach you about content marketing, mobile marketing, networking, pay per click marketing, target marketing and how to make cold calls and book appointments with a solid prospecting plan.
Hiring Employees, Compensation, Sub Contractors
When employees are adequately compensated, they feel motivated to come to work. Their morale remains high, and their job satisfaction levels increase. High morale ensures that employees are motivated enough to come to work every day and deliver work to the best of their abilities.

In this chapter I will teach you how to seek out quality talent, compensate them and provide them the opportunity to grow with your business. Hiring Sub Contractors for services that your detailing business does not provide can be very profitable and promote your brand. I will discuss why you may consider using sub-contractors and when not to use them.
Equipment & Supplies Needed
There are certain equipment and detailing supply products you will need to provide professional car detailing services for profit to your customers. Many detailing start ups are on a shoestring budget and that’s OK. I will advise which tools you should consider getting first to generate profitable revenues right away.

Having the right products to get the job done efficiently and on a timely basis so there is enough profit, and the customer is thrilled about how their vehicle looks is the goal. I will review the essential polishers, extractors, ozone generators, cleaners, dressings, polishes, coatings, towels, brushes and other accessories you will want to consider having for your detailing arsenal.
How To Get Reviews, Repeat Business & Referrals
Getting great reviews from past customers will bring you new customers. I will teach you how to get these reviews and where to publish them.

Having the customer continue to do business with you and providing you referrals will put your detailing business in the fast lane. This is another critical chapter, be sure to read it 2 or 3 times.
Training & Certification
You and your employees will be providing cleaning, detailing, and coating services to your customers vehicles. Knowing how to use the equipment, products and supplies is vital. Just as important is knowing the “business side” of running your detailing business.

You will learn the business training with my manual, and I will also discuss your options for hands on training and why you should consider it.
Offering Paint Protection Film
Paint Protection Film AKA “Clear Bra” is becoming a popular upsell for growing car detailing businesses. Many of today’s new vehicles are more aerodynamically designed than ever before and their front ends are more vulnerable for stone chips.

Detail shops that have been professionally trained are providing PPF and are charging their customers anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars are profiting handsomely from it. This 4 page chapter gives you a background on PPF and discusses some of the more important components that you should be aware of.
Create A Business Plan
Having a business plan is critical for your business’s growth and success. Without a business plan it will be like navigating through a dark cave without any lighting. In this chapter I review the most important components of a business plan for an auto detailing or mobile detailing business.

Keep in mind a business plan is a “living document” and will need to be edited and updated from time to time. The climate, economy, pandemics, recession and many other external variables will play a role with how successful your business is and keeping your business plan updated to meet and beat these variables head-on is critical.
Detail Business Start Up Check List
In this chapter I provide you many tasks that you will need to do to start, operate and grow your car detailing business. I have created a 28 task checklist that is an excellent reference what you need to do to get your business going. It includes legal, accounting, marketing, advertising, administrative and other tasks that are of critical nature.

I list these tasks in the order of which you should proceed, although there will be times when you have to go out of this order based on your individual circumstances.
Wrap Up!
By this time, you have read a lot of great information on how to start, operate and grow a profitable car detailing business. In this chapter I will reveal some of the secrets that I have used to be successful in this industry over the years. These secrets are just another weapon for your arsenal to crush your competition and help make your business more profitable.

Nick Vacco’s 125 Page Guide: How To Start, Operate & Grow A Successful & Profitable Car Detailing Business

Chapters

Nick Vacco’s Bio

Mobile Or Shop Location?

Name Your Business, Design Logo, Register Domain, Form An LLC

Know Your Costs & How to Price Jobs

Permits, Licenses, Business Bank Account

Accounting & Accepting Credit Cards

Deciding What Services to Offer

Upselling & Cross Selling

Business Cards, Service Menu, Flyers

Business Insurance

Social Media Marketing

Why Have a Website?

Email & Text Messaging Your Customers

Why Use a CRM Tool?

Customer Acquisition & Prospecting

Hiring Employees, Compensation, Sub Contractors

Equipment & Supplies Needed

How To Get Reviews, Repeat Business & Referrals

Training & Certification

Offering Paint Protection Film

Create A Business Plan

Detail Business Start Up Check List

Wrap Up!

the Detail CZAR

Licensee Training Center

Marketing Seminar Dates – 2023