Mark101

Cig burns were my favourite, easiest, quickest and therefore most profitable part of my SMART repair business. It is a piece of cake to make them dissapear but it is NOT a long term solution as the new "cover up" does expose itself after some use. Great to get it gone at POS but not sure how many came back to complain when they started to fail. I rarely see fag burns now, possibly as many cars have leather nowadays but more likely the e cig and vape market overtaking the lit cigarette.

That is a bargain. My landlord has offered me the unit next door at £5 per sq.ft (5,000 sq.ft) but there is no rate relief, so more like £3k per month approx vs. my £1,000 inc VAT current set up. I am lucky that until that unit is let, they are letting me have the outside space FOC, allowing an additional 10 units. When it is let, I shall have to rethink my strategy; I do have room for around 15 at home (at a push) but 35 min commute each way. It is tucked away right at the back end of an estate and most people cannot find me without a prior call for directions, really annoying. If I do go bigger and at £3k month, I want main road frontage in the hope of attracting the ad hoc casual sale.

Mine is 1600 sq ft including 2 offices and toilet. I can squeeze 10 in Home page on my website has a video overlay (when viewed on pc or iPad but not on phone) should give you an idea. www.imperial-marques.co.uk

I have got through a few valeters since September: 1st one, brilliant but completely unreliable, always off sick type, GF issues etc 2nd ones, again brilliant but became arrogant, turned into detailers refusing trade work as we don't pay enough. 3rd ones, really good hand car wash types, cars brilliant afterwards but had to deliver and collect them and if it rains, need doing again. Current one, very average, several attempts to get a car clean, doesn't listen or act on what I tell him. His added value is that he is a nice guy, 100% reliable, great with customers, polite, knowledgeable, parks stock with precision, nice to have around as a doer. I wish I could have a hybrid on them all but what do I expect for £9/hr?

From your rear view mirror?

12” plate

Hilton Park Services M6 - think they have a Travel Tavern (Alan Partridge, a ha)

When I was 18 and first "dabbled" in car sales a friend of mine (a bit of an idol actually, 2 years older and drove a Renault 5 GT Turbo). He found "value" in smashing his own door locks and selling them as an unrecorded stolen recovered with just lock damage. Reckoned people believed they were getting an easy DIY fix up bargain and sold plenty. Back to @BHM's greedy punter mentality I guess.

Result mate

What I like most is it is equivalent to selling a couple more cars without any extra effort AND it hits the account in September, so I can hit the ground running.

I only did one or 2 a month when first registered. Think I have done 5 this month, so looking forward to the cheque next month.

@tradex

Tony?

Why would you move to a unit when you’re after a lifestyle business? If you’re not hungry and don’t need the income, I would stay as you are.

You mean Colour Magic?

OMG - mind reader, word for word.

My case: I worked out how much I was spending on PAYG valeting and realised for a little more, I could employ someone 2 or 3 days per week for not much more. So I have and my business has revolutionalised. He moves stock, handles customers (when I am busy), test drives, collects cars, parts, valets, answers the phone, fits number plates, small non-skilled mechanical fixes, inflates tyres - you get the picture. Costs me £9 per hour and he is now more or less full time, all above board with invoice plus he invoices other work on the days off, so I am covered from the 13 week employment law. Yes, we have run ins and I have lost my shit twice with him (speed and talking too much on his phone) but he is great to have around. Conclusion: I couldn't manage the level I am at (around 15-20 stock) without him now (or someone else if he goes).

That is a consequence, not the original idea. It was put down to stop wet cars pooling throughout the unit after a wash.

No, I believe @Rory RSC will give him £16k

I don't think your photos are too bad but, the drivers floor mat looks filthy, as does the OSF tyre. The wording of your ad is bargain basement stuff, not what a Volvo owner is after. But, the issue is value for money. I would rather a V60 (or a V40 for that matter) on double the miles for less. I just sold a mint V40 (40k full history) in white ( https://www.imperial-marques.co.uk/cars/volvo/v40/d2115start-stopse/277085/ ) for under £8k - which looks better value?

I suddenly feel much better about myself

Doom blue, old shape and too much money when a new shape is available.

Just my opinion but... Do you want to be a car dealer or a car detailer? I don't have the time, energy, motivation, inclination or anything else to do my own prep. I have a full SMART Lechler paint scheme but still send everything to the SMART professionals around the corner. I pay my guy to do all the prep, leaving me to concentrate on buying right, picturing and advertising right - the rest is either outsourced or Nick (my detailer) does it. By the time you have factored equipment and consumables cost (and most importantly time), it makes no sense (to me), unless you enjoy doing it to do it yourself.

Wow