Cold Climate Considered

Let's say you live in a cold climate, and you want to start a service business, perhaps you love motorcycles, and although you don't have the money to start a repair shop, you have read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Repair," and you happen to have enough money to start a mobile Motorcycle detailing company. Does this make sense, sound like something to think about?

Not long ago, someone from Edmonton Canada who was considering starting just such a business, noting that in the winter time it was quite cold, and he'd have to have an enclosed trailer. He asked me what size trailer he might need, and what kind of setup I recommended. Here is what I suggested;

You may not need large water tanks, maybe only 50-100 gallons or so, and you can use a high pressure sprayer at 2 GPM, some folks use pure steam to clean motor cycles, that uses very little water, so you don't even need a water tank, or if you had one it could be 25 gallons or less.

Of course, if you are considering setting up a mobile Motorcycle cleaning service, you will probably need to get some additional tools such as; some folks use a brush like vacuum unit used to clean computer keyboards. For your trailer unit you'll need heat up there, and a nice seat with rollers.

Next, you need to decide what kind services do you think I should offer? For instance, a "Basic Hand wash, Hand Wax, basic wax, tef guard, high gloss wax, total detailing, high speed buffing? 
Pin-stripping is a good ad-on, perhaps oil change," as people are really into their scooters you know.

Next he asks; "What kind of prices do you think would be fair for a 'come to your door' service?"

Hard to say what you can get in Edmonton, but suffice it to say the oil crowd loves their summer motor cycles. Don't work too cheap. Maybe figure $35 to $70 per hour and work backwards to figure prices. As you get good at it, you'll increase your speed by 30 - 100% and that will give you a good and fair amount.

And his last question is quite important; "I would appreciate any advice you may be able to provide me with to make this a relatively painless to start up (I do however expect some pain though)."

Heck, my best advice is to KISS: "Keep It Simple Stupid" because Murphy is everywhere, but "darn the torpedoes, full steam ahead," right? If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. You will need trailer brakes, so you don't slip on the ice, you will need a very good lighting inside the trailer where you work, because artificial light is hard to work under, and you can miss things when you're detailing a motorcycle. Indeed, hope you will please consider all this.