Auto Detail Shop Manager Salary

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WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING A MANAGER 

HAVING THE BEST DETAILER BECOME A MANAGER, CAN BE A CRUCIAL MISTAKE 

In the previous discussions on people management, the attributes of good management, and what it takes to be a good manager were discussed. Also, presented was information on how to hire the best personnel for your detail center. 

Now, we investigate one of the essential aspects of people management: “How To Hire A Good Manager.” The importance of this aspect of the detail business was made evidently clear to me at a Car Care World Expo in Las Vegas.  

During the exhibition I talked to no less than 10 car wash and large detail business owners who were experiencing serious problems with their detail operations. Discussing at length the various problems and the particulars of their situations, it became clear that their problems could be traced to an inadequate manager. In every case, the operator had committed, in my opinion, The Cardinal Sin…he hired a “detailer” as his manager. The criteria used for determining a good manager were his skills as a “detailer" and not as manager. 

A Manager Is a Manager, Is a Manager  

“But isn't that what we want, a person skilled in detailing, as a manager?” The answer, in my opinion, is an unequivocal NO! What you want is a person skilled in management. A person, who can hire people, train them, motivate and supervise them. A person skilled in organization, customer relations, marketing and sales. Someone who understands the big picture, who is goal-oriented and not talk oriented. As any good personnel manager will tell you, a person with good management skills can learn to manage any business.  

Detailers Vs Managers  

Think about it! Should a person whose only skills have been detailing cars be chosen to manage a business? I think not. However, this is the classic mistake made by most owners when selecting a manager for a detail shop. Operating a detail center, like any other business, requires attention to the ABC's of basic management first. Most good detailers are happy detailing cars and spend most of the day detailing and not managing. The good detailer might make a good shop foreman, or lead man, but in most cases, not a manager. 

Managers Make Money  

Beside the obvious mentioned above, why do you need a good manager in a detail center? The main reason, you are in business to make money! Considering that over 75% of the motoring public do not really know what detailing is, and that probably nearly 85% have never been to a detail center, it is critical you have a manager who can educate them, explain what detailing is, and why they need the service. If you are asking more than $200.00 for a service they don't even understand you better have a good spokesman if you expect to get a sale.  

You also need a person who can monitor and regulate labor. Like the car wash business, profit in auto detailing is a combination of high sales and low labor. Most operators I spoke to report labor costs in the detail shops in excess of 50%, some over 60% of sales. This is due to poor management, no other reason. 

Salary 

How much do you pay a good manager?  That is like asking, “how much do you pay a good teacher.” 

It is all relative to what the businesses can afford first, and second if you hire this person how much will they increase business? 

To be specific, today a good manager, as described could cost you a minimum of $2500 to $3000 a month plus bonus’ based on gross sales and keeping labor in line with production. 

If you need more specifics please feel free to contact me at buda@detailplus.com