How to Start a Boat Detailing Business
It doesn't take a lot of money to start a boat detailing business, but it does take a lot of effort and hard work. Like any business, the key to success lies in good advertising and providing a valuable and reliable service to your customers.
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Things You'll Need
- Boat cleaning supplies
- Flyers
- Business cards
- Office phone
- Appointment book
Instructions
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Create a schedule.Decide what your regular hours will be, keeping in mind that most boaters like to use their boats on weekends and evenings after work. Because you are just starting out, you might need to be very flexible with your hours and adjust them to accommodate customers as needed, but it's always good to have at least a basic schedule.
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Advertise your business.Place an ad in the local newspaper, hand out business cards, post flyers and check into placing advertisements in local outdoor magazines or fishing and boating club newsletters. Don't forget online advertising, much if which can be free on sites like Craigslist and Kijiji. Post flyers at places boaters frequent, like marinas, boat shops, bait shops and outdoor outfitters.
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Offer specials.Word of mouth is often the very best advertisement. Offer specials like a free boat detailing for each friend referred to help drum up business. Work with boat dealers and offer to clean a few boats at a boat show for them in exchange for recommendations and referrals. Offer a discount for first-time customers to encourage them to book an appointment.
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Provide excellent service.To gain both repeat and new customers, provide excellent service each and every time. Make sure you are thorough in your detailing, charge a fair price, don't add on any surprise charges, and reliably show up on time. This is one of the most important things you can do to start a successful boat detailing business.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have your own boat or a good friend or relative with a boat, advertise your business on the boat itself.
Don't add unexpected charges to a customer's bills.
Don't promise more than you can deliver.
- Photo Credit Antonio Jiménez Alonso
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Comments
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Greaqt Idea! Good ADvice Navtech USSA.
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Anonymous
Jul 16, 2011
Although the four point given are valid, the starting of the article is a bit misleading "It doesn't take a lot of money to start a boat detailing business", boat detailing is an expensive business and most people prefer to go with known brands like ours, if someone was to start a boat detailing business they must have a crew of at-least 2 including them self. boat detailing is all about quality and on time service. a crew of just one will only delay service on most of the jobs as a quality boat detailing service would require twice or three times the amount of time of a single person than of two. Most of the boat owners we know are not willing to give too much time for boat detailing, they like to get a fast service just like there boats :-)
