Auto Detailing Training Seminar
Technician Program - 2 Day Class

Laying Out The Groundwork

• Introduction to developing a business plan
• Determine if there is a demand in your area
• Investigate local environmental laws with EPA
• Check out the competition
• Educate yourself continually
• Permits and licenses needed
• Business structure
• Business bank account
• Determine the types of vehicles you will detail

Setting Up Shop/Mobile Operation

• Choosing a location
• Determine type of vehicle & mobile equipment
• Purchase adequate insurance
• Communication system
• Acquire a business credit card
• Set-up merchant credit card acceptance
• Investigate state, city and county laws
• Environmental issues to be compliant

Advertising & Promotion

• Choosing a business name
• Developing an advertising budget
• Create a company logo for branding
• Design professional looking business cards
• Design a service menu
• Create specialty flyers
• Display your company name
• Dress for success
• Promote your new venture
• Promote your expertise
• Website & Internet Promotion
• Yellow page advertising
• Direct mail & email campaigns
• Print media advertising
• Cold calling - face to face campaigns

Operational Issues - Exterior

• Determine what type of reconditioning vehicle needs
• Determine paint condition
• Check for environmental fallout
• Check for paint over-spray
• Check for scratches and micro marring
• Check for paint over-spray, tree sap, excessive tar
• Check for rock paint chips
• Check for faded plastic trim
• Check for foggy headlights
• Excessively soiled convertible roof
• Loose emblems and trim
• Excessively dirty wheels
• Paint in wheel wells
• Condition of glass - water mark etching

Operational Issues - Interior

• Customer’s personal items
• Vacuuming and air purging process
• Pet hair removal
• Seating surfaces condition
• Excessively dirty carpets/mats
• Faded carpets
• Vinyl and leather condition
• Red stains/coffee stain removal
• Headliner cleaning/condition
• Foul odor removal process
• Vacuuming and air purging

History of Base/Coat/Clear Coat Paints

• EPA and auto paint companies involvement
• Base Coat/Clear Coat Process
• Pros and Cons of Base Coat/Clear Coat Paint
• How to protect Base Coat/Clear Coat Paint
• How to sell paint protection to prospects

Auto Detailing Clay

• Benefits of using clay
• Different clay grades and their use
• How to sell clay detailing services

Service Menu Review - Features/Benefits

• Review Engine compartment services and precautions
• Review exterior detailing services
• Review interior detailing services
• Review added value services
• Review detailing packages
• Review New Vehicle Protection Packages
• Review VIP Plans/Cosmetic Maintenance
• Review the Spectrum Of Services

Equipment & Supplies Needed

• Mobile wash equipment and trailers
• Vacuums and extractors
• Exterior Detailing Chemicals
• Interior Detailing Chemicals
• Supplies, products, and tools
• Towels, applicators, and brushes
• Detailing terms glossary

Marketing & Prospecting

• Definition of marketing and prospecting
• Chamber of commerce program and benefits
• Promote at car clubs and show
• Automotive business networking
• Opportunities at dealerships
• Opportunities on-site locations
• Target market niches
• Insurance companies
• Affluent health clubs
• Real estate agencies
• Transportation companies
• Stand alone car washes
• Office building blitzes
• Doctors/Hospitals
• Flea Markets
• On site promotions
• Welcome wagon
• Referral program
• Over-spray removal accounts
• Car rental agencies
• Police and county vehicles
• Food delivery service
• Pet mobiles
• Kid mobiles
• Collector cars
• Tractor trailer cabs

Reoccurring Revenue

• Doing the job is only 1/2 the job
• 2 to 8 Rule
• Customer retention
• Marketing/sales funnel
• Success and failure
• Learn to listen to customer needs!
• Propose a solution
• Understand the "buying signs"
• Understand the "right to fail"
• Understand the "opportunity to win"

Costs and Profit Margins

• Understanding your costs
• Determine your margins
• Look for ways to increase margins
• Always maintain quality of service
• Review hourly overhead formula
• Determine what you should charge

Questions & Answers

Chemical and Equipment Overview

• Polishes - Glazes - Compounds - Waxes - Sealants
• Exterior Soaps, degreasers, cleaners
• Interior Soaps and aerosols
• Dressing products for exterior and interior
• Plastic trim dyes
• Carpet dyes
• Non silicone products

Auto Detailing Tools and Accessories

• Brushes
• Chamois and wash mitts
• Applicators and dressing pads
• Towels and micro fiber products
• Detailing tools and accessories
• Bottles & chemical storage

Equipment Being Used For The Day

• High speed rotary buffers (3)
• Orbital polishers (4)
• Hot water extractors
• Air movers/interior dyes
• Vapor steamers
• High pressure washers
• Low pressure washers
• Air compressors
• Generators
• Mobile trailers

Exterior Wash, Prep and Engine

• Check for any existing damage and document
• Review washing steps
• Tips to avoid scratching vehicle
• Check for loose accessories
• Select proper brushes
• Select proper cleaners, degreasers
• Wheels and wheel well cleaning
• Door jamb degreasing
• Bug removal
• Engine compartment prep and cleaning
• Moldings and trim cleaning
• Prep rinse
• Hand wash and rinse
• Plastic bag test for contaminants
• Claying of vehicle
• Chamois drying and water blade use
• Tar removal
• Tape uneven body panels
• Tape plastic trim, cracks, crevices

Exterior Detailing Training

Paint Condition and Inspection

• Oxidized and faded paint
• Clear coat environmentally polluted paints
• Tree sap over-spray
• Micro scratch removal (micro marring)
• Water spots and acid rain removal
• Road paint over-spray removal
• Surface scratches

Exterior Buffing, Polishing and Sealing

• Deep scratch removal through wet sanding
• Various types of paint blemishes/issues
• Rotary buffer techniques
• Compounding and glazing techniques
• Orbital polisher techniques
• Wax and sealant application
• Dressing of tires, wheel wells and trim
• Smear-free cleaning of windows and mirrors
• Tips for the perfect detail
• Final hand polishing and buffing
• Removal of fine swirls
• How to create a showroom finish even if paint was severely damaged
• Ongoing paint cosmetic maintenance
• Use of extra light duty clay bar well after detail
• Spray painting of exposed frame rails
• Acid rain removal from glass
• Final inspection of exterior
• Presentation to customer

Interior Detailing Training

Inspection Of Interior

• Check for damage components, missing buttons, levers, etc.
• Check for and bag customer’s loose items
• Check for unusual or potent odors
• Look for red stains/coffee stains
• Determine condition of leather and vinyl
• Determine condition of upholstery

Vacuuming and Air Purging

• Safety glasses • Floor boards • Under seats
• Rear shelf • Console • Cracks and crevices

Interior Scrubbing Of Components

• Headliner cleaning and precautions
• Dashboard cleaning and detailing
• Steering wheel and steering column cleaning
• Door panel cleaning and detailing
• Gas and brake pedal cleaning and safety precautions
• Center console/glove compartment cleaning & detailing
• Leather seat cleaning if vehicle is so equipped
• Pre spot carpet/upholstery stains
• Red stain/coffee stain removal
• Traffic area soap application
• Power scrubbing of heavily soiled areas including mats

Heated Interior Soil Extractor Usage

• Major components of extractor equipment
• Operation of extractor
• Hands-on techniques of use of upholstery soil extraction
• Hands-on techniques of use of carpet/mats soil extraction
• Maintenance & prevention review of extractor
• Check for faded carpets that may need dyed
• Apply fabric protection to upholstery/carpets

Trunk Cleaning and Shampooing

• Wear protective eyewear
• Clean trunk underside lid and quick wax if needed
• Purge compressed air onto carpet/floor to loosen debris
• Hand scrub with shampoo then gently extract

Dressing, Chrome, & Plastic Trim

• Hi gloss dressing of all vinyl components
• Low gloss optional dressing of vinyl components
• Aerosol spray dressing of ac vents/pockets/console
• Conditioning of leather seating surfaces
• Plastic and Chrome Trim hand polishing and smear removal
• Wood grain cleaning and conditioning
• Windows and mirror cleaning/polishing

Interior Final Inspection & Customer Prep

• Check for smears and smudges • Check for lint deposits
• Check for overall appearance of seats and carpets
• Place static cling reminder sticker for next detailing service
• Move vehicle outside and cover up or make contact with customer to have vehicle picked up or delivered
• Customer presentation and walk around
• Complete customer paperwork/ask for referrals