Tint Slayer

Daaaaaaayyum.     5 drops per gallon...   Shieeet I use more washing my hands

clean the window with white scrubby and squeegee dry.  wet a corner of a cloth with pro-bond and wipe the grid and frit.   pro-bond flashes quick,  re-wet cloth 2 to 4 times depending on BG.  I also have rapid tac 2,  peanut pops up, peel back and spray full strength and squeegee quick.
 
tons of data on peanuts,  stronger cleaner/degreaser prepping seems to be key.  now i can go back to torching chargers in 2 min and 300's in 40 sec with out headaches.

Joy Non-Ultra, I tried JnJ for a while it tacks too quick for me, I've been using Dawn Simple Clean Non Concentrated and find it's really slippery, almost too slippery. So I went back to Joy Non-Ultra because the tack/slip is just right for me.
I use Dawn 4x for cleaning, Joy Non Ultra for slip. 
Note that Joy and Dawn are made by the same company, Proctor and Gamble, so the both Non Concentrates are likely similar.
If you're using Dawn or Joy that has "Concentrated" on the label then i can see the argument about it maybe being bad for the adhesive, but if you're using Dawn Non Concentrated or Joy Non ultra you should be fine.
People say all the time about how bad dish liquid is but it's been in use forever and nobody has shown me a written test proving that dish liquid is bad, it's all "i heard from someone", even 3M install guide still says to use Joy (see attached). Anyone who cleans with Dawn 4x then one time tries to clean with Dawn Simple Clean kinda knows the difference in how weak the Dawn Simple Clean is compared to concentrated.
The "better slip" argument is pointless, just use what's good for you like any other tool, the hard part is testing them out to find which is the best for your style, we'll all have a different opinion just like we do on films. 

Exactly! Great post. Not to toot my own horn, but I have never had issue with pay, with any of my installers. I believe it is because I install day in and day out myself. I left commission years ago and went flat rate. That way the installer could care less what I charge. They make the same regardless. I can give a buddy a hook up, or even tint a family members car for free if I choose, with out it effecting the installers pay. But it goes both ways. I can charge a ton if I want also. I have had a couple prospect experienced installers that I have phone interviewed that could not come to terms with the fact that I pay the same for ceramic as I do a NR film. The work does not change. "but you charge more so I should make more" If they can't grasp the concept then I don't think they are the right fit for my shop.Now before anyone gets mad, the ceramic we use installs they same. In fact i like installing it better. If we used a film that took longer to install I would pay more. Now that's just for pay scale. Not saying I haven't had employee issue's in other area's.

Simple to bottom load with seals pulled. If you are getting creases when two stepping a window be sure NOT to squeegee your sides close to the change over point. This gives you lots more leverage to make the transition without the creases.

I use x-100, and dirt off. Works on some cars not so much others. Don't stress out about accord dots  those cars aren't worth the effort 

Yup

I use steel wool on every window I do that has defroster lines!!!  

When I was using the Green, I was using 3oz. to 4 gal. of water, if I'm not mistaken.  Of course that is for a 5 gal. tank or bigger.  
That was my year round amount for when using the green slime.  It got a little *tacky* in the hotter temps at that rate.    
 
 
If you are trying to use it in 32oz. spray bottles... I just transfer some slime to a sauce bottle(some sort of squirt bottle) that will deliver even squirts.  
Then I just use three even squirts per 32oz. sprayer. 
 
My bottle and measuring syringes   
 
 

Do you guys do keyword research or are you just guessing? Go to Google ad words, find key words, type in what you "think" are good key words & it will show you how many times a month that word or term is searched.

newbie assistants I start at $400/wk salary.  90 day probation and one year verbal agreement.  "If" they get good, they can choose salary or a percentage that adjusts with skills.  after a year  they can take a 50/50 split or start their own business.
 
Why this works and understanding my sales pitch.
walk into any tint shop or place you want to tint.  never at open or close or lunch.  when they ask to help you,  say I want to make you a lot of money, if you have a couple minuets I will see if I can.   talk in their interest,  they do not care about you,,,, yet
 
crunching the numbers
do they tint,  what do they charge and how long does it take?  hours of operation and how many days to get appointment in season.
average answer from tint shops here is over $200 for 4dr cars.  3 to 4 hours for install and 2 to 3 week to schedule in season.
this shop would book 2 completes($400.00) and a set of doors($80.00) a day.  if one no shows they still have to pay the tinter hourly
so lets say $500/day 6 days a week brings $3000.00 total sales
I then state I will tint a vehicle an hour increasing the weekly potential to $9600 if they can book them.  8hrs/day x $200/car =$1600 x 6/day =$9600
If they only schedule 2 cars and a set of doors i will be done in 2.5 hours allowing 5.5 hours extra to book work in that bay
my program should make them $100.00/hr with no material, labor or warranty
I offer displays and price sheets and sales training (good/better/best) to increase average gross per delivery and warranty is on me if one comes back.
ask which number they like better  lol  offer to handle overflow or if the tinter calls in, say you will try to cover them so you do not have to cancel jobs.
In Michigan,  if you pay an employee 40k/yr with benefits or $20.00/hr the actual cost is about $35.00/hr.  I only take your money if I make you money.
good to have a couple vids on phone or flash drive  instead of the typical audition.  you can also project the additional income for up/cross sales.
 
I was a home based business. low overhead and great tax benefits.  10 to 20 sales reps booking and handling customers.   go to work only when there is work, part time job.  payed $100 to $200 an hour.  good CPA got my taxable income under 10k.  no clue how he does that,  why I pay him.
 

hardest part is finding the right person.  show up for work and on time,  reliable and trainable.   takes about 90 days to see if they make it.  employees are like children, at first eager to learn and plan to be the next world champ tinter.  between 30 and 60 days,  little late to work and longer lunches testing the boundaries.  have to smack their hand and get them back in place.  hire for attitude,  teach experience.
 
newbie helper
pull up to a shop,  I go get the keys and paperwork, helper unloads the car (toolbox light film) and sets up.  I cut and shrink sides, helper cleans the back window then puts film on outside. I cut and shrink back and hang,  helper cleans sides and rounds corners.  I hang the sides while helper cleans windows and picks up behind me.  I pull car out and check while helper repacks car.  the "dance" as I call it, once learned allowed me to schedule 1 car per hour to hour and half.
 
trained tinter
helper still sets up while I get the car.  helper cleans,  cuts and hangs BG while I cut all sides, shrink sides  and hang starting with pass rear then front.  when I get to drivers side I either leave rear door and quarter or driver front door depending how far they are on the BG.  if I am almost done they clean and pack up and I deliver car.    slight variations depending on car.   best day we completed 5 cars in 2.5 hours.  limped all the way to the bank  LOL

Stay tuned everyone, we will be running a Christmas Raffle beginning on 12/1/2017!!!!
 
 

We are aware, but still issue a receipt minus the shade.  Not to mention the warranty papers printed from both Llumar and 3M include the shade of the film.  Plenty of other ways they can prove you tinted their vehicle besides a receipt.  Simply put, it you are worried about that then do not do illegal installs.

Pretty much the way I work is I warranty anything that I have come up. Honestly I've only had two that were ever actually film warranty claims in 12 years. That doesn't mean I haven't had people comeback for non manufacturer warranty stuff, like a bubble or finger pop up. If it's one window I fill out a warranty card just like any other job and put exactly what window we tinted. As far as warranty on illegal work i don't fill out an actual card for them so it's kind of a honor system. Right or wrong it's how I run my business and haven't had any complaints as far as warranty process goes. When the situation comes up just treat that person exactly how you would want to be treated and you'll be just fine. 

Everyday it seems like there's something new with these chit boxes 

contests are not a crock,  full of great information to learn.   clean, prep and clean up almost anyone do,  so why do it your self?
I hired an assistant to do the basics.  saved 1/3 on time for install.  increased sales with extra time with minimal cost.  made more money, did less work and was not tired at the end of the day.  its the American way  LOL

That's like bringing your own cold cuts and bread to the deli for a sandwich. 

When u put it that way.... haha
 
it makes the customer sound that much cheaper

That's like bringing your own cold cuts and bread to the deli for a sandwich. 

We do 36/24 and only 2 issues of the film not fitting...one was an older Porsche and the other was a large windshield.  In those two cases, a 38" would of been too short too.

I got the covers in the mail. I will take some pics and give a review asap!

The video with the gasket wizard is an awesome method. That pre rolled, pre taped plastic rly seems to be the best (and prob cheapest) route to go. 

never heard of them but I recommend...global qdp and express classic black or suntek hp