Hi Guys,

I'm new here and i'm from singapore. i'm planning to start car detailing service in chiang mai. Any kind soul willing to share or give advice?

Advice..

Price will be crucial.. Expats here range from cheap to very cheap..

My wife gets a clean and color wax, cleaned inside and outside, good wax, etc etc for 300b.. Thats not the cheapest locally but it does a better wax than others lower cost.. Thats without treatments for leather, clay stoning etc or the glass coatings and the special stuff.. But any expectation of multi 1000 detailing will be a tough road.

My wife gets a clean and color wax, cleaned inside and outside, good wax, etc etc for 300b....

So...Let's not go there, eh?

You might want to have a good look at what the competition is doing & charging, have seen some good ones come and go when high endish.

Also consider that low paid staff come and go a lot. Anything is doable however sometimes the way Thais run some businesses, albeit not always, is just the way it works here.

Rule #3) Do not open a business.

But how about a mobile detailing service where you come to the customers residence or business. At least you would be a moving target for bent cops who come to extort. No trouble with the music license scammers either.

go check out the competion, pay for some friend/acquaintance's to have their vehicles cleaned/waxed and compere the results

Rule #3) Do not open a business.

But how about a mobile detailing service where you come to the customers residence or business. At least you would be a moving target for bent cops who come to extort. No trouble with the music license scammers either.

I like that idea. much more convenient and I for one would be happy to pay a premium for that service.

Also, make sure the job done is 'perfect'. I've never had it done as well as I do it myself, even when we have given the shop the same polish that we use at home. I've also had someone wearing a jacket with a zipper...

Rule #3) Do not open a business.

But how about a mobile detailing service where you come to the customers residence or business. At least you would be a moving target for bent cops who come to extort. No trouble with the music license scammers either.

good idea, But will there or any condo that have water & power supply?

Rule #3) Do not open a business.

But how about a mobile detailing service where you come to the customers residence or business. At least you would be a moving target for bent cops who come to extort. No trouble with the music license scammers either.

I like that idea. much more convenient and I for one would be happy to pay a premium for that service.

Also, make sure the job done is 'perfect'. I've never had it done as well as I do it myself, even when we have given the shop the same polish that we use at home. I've also had someone wearing a jacket with a zipper...

Hmm .. Usually i will spend more than 3hrs for interior and exterior grooming ( depending on the color and condition of the car ) Hope there will be a chance to groom your car.

Mind sharing your contact and your car detail ( brand, Model, Color and your contact number ) Will call or watapp ya for a free trial

Cheers

You might want to have a good look at what the competition is doing & charging, have seen some good ones come and go when high endish.

Also consider that low paid staff come and go a lot. Anything is doable however sometimes the way Thais run some businesses, albeit not always, is just the way it works here.

Thanks and i will for sure take a good look first ( pricing and products ) before i make my move. Any idea how many car detailing shop and mobile car detailing in Chiang mai? I'm talking about those well known. Mind to share?

Cheers

Not going to work, you can get a decent car wash inside out for 150B. That's pretty much below cost.

Rule #3) Do not open a business.

But how about a mobile detailing service where you come to the customers residence or business. At least you would be a moving target for bent cops who come to extort. No trouble with the music license scammers either.

I like that idea. much more convenient and I for one would be happy to pay a premium for that service.

Also, make sure the job done is 'perfect'. I've never had it done as well as I do it myself, even when we have given the shop the same polish that we use at home. I've also had someone wearing a jacket with a zipper...

Hmm .. Usually i will spend more than 3hrs for interior and exterior grooming ( depending on the color and condition of the car ) Hope there will be a chance to groom your car.

Mind sharing your contact and your car detail ( brand, Model, Color and your contact number ) Will call or watapp ya for a free trial

Cheers

Awful timing! My wife has just driven the car off the driveway on her way to Udon for 5 weeks.

It's a metallic black Ford Ranger and you're more than welcome to come and clean it when she returns (I insist on paying though).

Edited March 14, 201610 yr by JaseTheBass

You might want to have a good look at what the competition is doing & charging, have seen some good ones come and go when high endish.

Also consider that low paid staff come and go a lot. Anything is doable however sometimes the way Thais run some businesses, albeit not always, is just the way it works here.

Thanks and i will for sure take a good look first ( pricing and products ) before i make my move. Any idea how many car detailing shop and mobile car detailing in Chiang mai? I'm talking about those well known. Mind to share?

Cheers

There's 2 near me.

1 at the top of Sirimangkalajarn Soi 7 (not impressed) and one half way up Nimman Soi 13 (not tried).

There's also a ceramic coating place near Siam TV.

On my drive from Saraphi to Nong Hoi I pass 3 or 4 places - some just car wash, some detailers - this within a 10 k distance. There are shops in most if not all shopping malls and a number of ceramic coating shops around the city. There is one mobile/low water use operation at one of the Bistro's in Chill Park opposite Big C on the Ring Road at it's junction with Hang Dong Road.

A few suggestions:

1. Hire an all-female crew, they will be better workers.

2. Look into the import costs of good quality polishes, clay, etc. I'm often shocked by the prices I see. 900B for a single clay bar! A small tin of medium polish from Japan, 650B.

3. I've seen several places that seem to be Meguiar's franchises around the country. Find out what's available.

4. Do your research in Bangkok first because of its far greater number of good quality detail shops there. They often go upmarket by providing really comfortable waiting rooms, good coffee, etc.

5. Teach you staff to use a wheel properly, or equip them with RO machines. As you know, many shops don't know how to handle a rotary wheel and burn swirls into the clearcoat.

6. Distinguish yourself somehow, either in your service (mobile idea is great) or location or whatever. Maybe go green, or specialize in something others don't do well (like waterspots). Detailing here is a "race to the bottom" kind of business, because customers are very price sensitive and labor so cheap.

7. Create a business that shares knowledge. Most customers don't understand paint, don't know the difference between polish and wax, love silicone, etc. Inform them and they will trust you and come back.

8. Location matters. You'll see that ever shopping mall has a detailing shop in the parking garage so that people can leave their cars while shopping. No one wants to sit around waiting with nothing to do but play in their phone.

Good luck..!

>>. Hire an all-female crew, they will be better workers.<<

>>Distinguish yourself somehow, <<

Topless car wash ?...IE ,Hooters Car wash with a wink and a smile .

>>. Hire an all-female crew, they will be better workers.<<

>>Distinguish yourself somehow, <<

Topless car wash ?...IE ,Hooters Car wash with a wink and a smile .

I once commented to a massage girl I know, who was having issues with her shop boss.. The best place to set up would be near a carwash, perfect cheaters charter, where you been "?? Getting the car polished.. See how shiny it is !!!

Gotta think of the upselling

One aspect no ones really brought up.. The legality.

As a non Thai this is going to have so much in overhead to legally work in it, overhead a Thai company wouldnt have, that makes it hard to imagine already.

One aspect no ones really brought up.. The legality.

As a non Thai this is going to have so much in overhead to legally work in it, overhead a Thai company wouldnt have, that makes it hard to imagine already.

Legal possibly, but that's an additional cost factor to tailor in. Most carwashs emply Burmese, if you want to run a company as foreigner you need to employ at least 4 Thais and they wont work for 300B a day. If you find any at all.

Edited March 15, 201610 yr by MadMac

>>. Hire an all-female crew, they will be better workers.<<

>>Distinguish yourself somehow, <<

Topless car wash ?...IE ,Hooters Car wash with a wink and a smile .

I once commented to a massage girl I know, who was having issues with her shop boss.. The best place to set up would be near a carwash, perfect cheaters charter, where you been "?? Getting the car polished.. See how shiny it is !!!

Gotta think of the upselling

Getting my door knob polished takes on a whole new meaning .

Rule #3) Do not open a business.

But how about a mobile detailing service where you come to the customers residence or business. At least you would be a moving target for bent cops who come to extort. No trouble with the music license scammers either.

I like that idea. much more convenient and I for one would be happy to pay a premium for that service.

Also, make sure the job done is 'perfect'. I've never had it done as well as I do it myself, even when we have given the shop the same polish that we use at home. I've also had someone wearing a jacket with a zipper...

Hmm .. Usually i will spend more than 3hrs for interior and exterior grooming ( depending on the color and condition of the car ) Hope there will be a chance to groom your car.

Mind sharing your contact and your car detail ( brand, Model, Color and your contact number ) Will call or watapp ya for a free trial

Cheers

Awful timing! My wife has just driven the car off the driveway on her way to Udon for 5 weeks.

It's a metallic black Ford Ranger and you're more than welcome to come and clean it when she returns (I insist on paying though).

Great! I will be in chiang mai 1st week off april. Will be busy looking for a place to stay.

You might want to have a good look at what the competition is doing & charging, have seen some good ones come and go when high endish.

Also consider that low paid staff come and go a lot. Anything is doable however sometimes the way Thais run some businesses, albeit not always, is just the way it works here.

Thanks and i will for sure take a good look first ( pricing and products ) before i make my move. Any idea how many car detailing shop and mobile car detailing in Chiang mai? I'm talking about those well known. Mind to share?

Cheers

There's 2 near me.

1 at the top of Sirimangkalajarn Soi 7 (not impressed) and one half way up Nimman Soi 13 (not tried).

There's also a ceramic coating place near Siam TV.

Sound like these not many car detailing in chiang mai.

A few suggestions:

1. Hire an all-female crew, they will be better workers.

2. Look into the import costs of good quality polishes, clay, etc. I'm often shocked by the prices I see. 900B for a single clay bar! A small tin of medium polish from Japan, 650B.

3. I've seen several places that seem to be Meguiar's franchises around the country. Find out what's available.

4. Do your research in Bangkok first because of its far greater number of good quality detail shops there. They often go upmarket by providing really comfortable waiting rooms, good coffee, etc.

5. Teach you staff to use a wheel properly, or equip them with RO machines. As you know, many shops don't know how to handle a rotary wheel and burn swirls into the clearcoat.

6. Distinguish yourself somehow, either in your service (mobile idea is great) or location or whatever. Maybe go green, or specialize in something others don't do well (like waterspots). Detailing here is a "race to the bottom" kind of business, because customers are very price sensitive and labor so cheap.

7. Create a business that shares knowledge. Most customers don't understand paint, don't know the difference between polish and wax, love silicone, etc. Inform them and they will trust you and come back.

8. Location matters. You'll see that ever shopping mall has a detailing shop in the parking garage so that people can leave their cars while shopping. No one wants to sit around waiting with nothing to do but play in their phone.

Good luck..!

GREAT!!! Sound good but just to find out what is the rental for a small shop near city area or in city? Need to do some research. if i too costly, might look for plan B.

Yes do some research. Also clarify what you mean by car detailing as some here think it is a 150-300 Baht deal and others are talking about expensive imported auto cosmetics. What for example would be the range of services and approximate costs?

Rule #3) Do not open a business.

But how about a mobile detailing service where you come to the customers residence or business. At least you would be a moving target for bent cops who come to extort. No trouble with the music license scammers either.

I like that idea. much more convenient and I for one would be happy to pay a premium for that service.

Also, make sure the job done is 'perfect'. I've never had it done as well as I do it myself, even when we have given the shop the same polish that we use at home. I've also had someone wearing a jacket with a zipper...

I have seen worse. Teenager washed a Subaru with the pot-scrubber side of a kitchen sponge. Ruined the entire cars clear-coat.

Yes do some research. Also clarify what you mean by car detailing as some here think it is a 150-300 Baht deal and others are talking about expensive imported auto cosmetics. What for example would be the range of services and approximate costs?

will like to ask what kind of service they providing for just 150-300 Baht? if i'm not wrong 150-300 baht is those what we call quick shine in singapore. which is just wash, cray, wax and vacuum.

Currently i have no idea how many they are charging for a full comprehensive meaning to say removing of water marks, swirl marks and coating for exterior and leather cleaning vacuuming glass cleaning for interior.

what is the common product we can find in chiang mai?

Yes do some research. Also clarify what you mean by car detailing as some here think it is a 150-300 Baht deal and others are talking about expensive imported auto cosmetics. What for example would be the range of services and approximate costs?

will like to ask what kind of service they providing for just 150-300 Baht? if i'm not wrong 150-300 baht is those what we call quick shine in singapore. which is just wash, cray, wax and vacuum.

Currently i have no idea how many they are charging for a full comprehensive meaning to say removing of water marks, swirl marks and coating for exterior and leather cleaning vacuuming glass cleaning for interior.

what is the common product we can find in chiang mai?

Perhaps you should check into the Automotive Forum on TV.

You might want to have a good look at what the competition is doing & charging, have seen some good ones come and go when high endish.

Also consider that low paid staff come and go a lot. Anything is doable however sometimes the way Thais run some businesses, albeit not always, is just the way it works here.

Thanks and i will for sure take a good look first ( pricing and products ) before i make my move. Any idea how many car detailing shop and mobile car detailing in Chiang mai? I'm talking about those well known. Mind to share?

Cheers

There's 2 near me.

1 at the top of Sirimangkalajarn Soi 7 (not impressed) and one half way up Nimman Soi 13 (not tried).

There's also a ceramic coating place near Siam TV.

Sound like these not many car detailing in chiang mai.

Yeh, not much demand.

Actually there are a lot of wash and wax shops around it is the male equivalent of massage parlour.

Actually there are a lot of wash and wax shops around it is the male equivalent of massage parlour.

Mind i ask what service they providing in wax shop?