Well I'm thinking of starting a summer business in a few weeks. I like cars. So I may open up a detail shop.

I already have some equipment to start up with. (vac, carpet shampooer ext). Basically I'll just have to buy some extra stuff. Clay bars, porter cable, swiss vax, stuff like that.

I plan on going around to some of the detail shops and seeing how much their prices are and go according to that to see how much to charge.

I could print up some 3 fold brochures with my location, name, number and prices on there and put them under windshield wipers at walmart and other places.

My friends mom used to own her own detail shop, so I plan on asking her for advice on many subjects, however I would like to know what the members here think.

I'm open to any ideas/suggestions that you have. Helpful input will be greatly appreciated.

Even if you have a link to how to proceed about detailing a car better I'd be open to look at all new ideas and learn as much as possible.

 

where would you set up shop if its close i would def come

 

Well I live in London, Ky So probably here at home.

I'd like to talk to mattfeet to get some expert advice.

 

yea mattfeet is the def person to talk to ive heard he is the best of the best

 

I just sent him a text. His computer is on the fritz so he's backing up all his stuff at a friend's house tonight. He'll be around asap!

 

Long post being typed up now...

-Matt

 

Thank you Matt.

 

Hey guys, like Molly said, my computer is not working well at all nor is the external hard drive Im trying to use to back things up.

Edit: FIRST THING FIRST, IF YOU DO NOT ENJOY DETAILING AS A HOBBY, DOING IT FOR A JOB IS AN ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyways Jamie, there is a lot to think about if you want this to be an actual business and not some weekend side job. First off, you need the skill-sets needed for this line of work. This is not something you can look at online and immediately know how to do well with a good set of instructions.

In regards to skills: With that being said, if you could find a local detail shop and be an "apprentice" there, that would give you more help, information, details (no pun intended), and a look into the industry than any online article. Ill guarantee you that right now you are unable to legitimately "detail" a car. I mean no disrespect to you whatsoever, but its the truth. Do you know the 2-bucket method of car washing? Do you know the difference between wax, glaze, polish, carnauba, sealant, etc? Do you know the proper way to feel the paint in order to figure out whether or not you need to clay the car? Again, not picking on you, but I just want you to know that a lot of people are not going to want to pay someone to (for lack of better term) experiment on their car(s).

With regards to legalities: Any good detailer that is wanting to open up his own shop will admit that you need insurance in case something goes wrong. Also, if you want to start up your own business, you will need to get a LLC (Limited Liability Company), setup for your company which will help you in the times of something going haywire. However, if you only plan to do one detail a week or something rather limited and not full time (it wont work full time, trust me), the aforementioned steps are not necessary as youll likely just be going friends and family members' cars where insurance and liability is not as big of a deal.

With regards to equipment: As you said, you already have a few of the (many) necessary tools needed (vac and carpet cleaner). However, with not having a Porter Cable yet, you also lack the knowledge and know-how which comes with years of experience of using this tool. You simply cannot use it to just slap some wax on a car and make all the swirls go away in one full-swoop. You also need to know which variable speed you can use with which polish, sealant, glaze, wax, and the amount of time that is needed for each different step. Also, youll have to think about how you're going to get the stuff to and from peoples houses because some clients do not feel comfortable with leaving their car at a strangers house. Youll have to find a way to cart all your supplies, vac, carpet steamer, pressure washer, buffer in your car and go to their house. Youll also have to tell all your clients that you need to use their water and power outlets (and likely the garage) for the detail.

With regards to Pricing: If you look on my website, youll see very average and competitive price for detailing. I spent hours upon hours upon hours researching and looking at different pricing schemes in order to come up with the best prices and pricing structure that fit how I went about doing business. my website is www.padetailing.com ; go there and click through it, youll find a good bit of information. Also, your idea of going to Wal-Mart and finding people who want to spend 140.00+ to get there cars detailed is awfully far fetched, as I know from experience. In advertising, you can NOT be easily defeated by lack of customers. What I mean is, if you put out 100 flyers and think youll get 30 people to sign up for a detail is delusional at best. The normal detailing ROA (Return on Advertising, a percentage which measures the effectiveness of your advertising to the number of "services" you're offering) is around 5-10%. For detailing, your best advertising (and most cost effective) is word of mouth. Listen Jamie, you're not making a career of this at such a young age. The best you can hope for is to make a couple thousand bucks by knocking out 1-2 cars per week. And with a cash flow of ~300.00 a week, youll pull in over 3k per summer (in gross income). Now, you have to go figure what all your supplies will cost you, onto the next topic...

In regards to Cost(s): This is NOT a cheap job, hobby, career, venture, etc by any means! Do NOT go into this thinking that the startup costs are minimal and that this will be an easy summer job to succeed at. It takes years of repetitive marketing, advertising, word of mouth, exceptional detailing, and other items in order to achieve vast success (which Ill define as 4 cars per week). If you do this this coming summer, you will not make a lot of money, Ill promise you that. Listen Jamie, I like you, and Im not trying to scare you off, or be a jerk about this by any means, so please dont take it that way, Im just being realistic. Which, at this point, is what you need instead of someone blowing hot air up your shorts and set you up for failure. If you were more local, Id LOVE to be able to teach you everything I know about the industry and then in a few years, if youre still wanting to do this, you could venture out on your own. Oh right, this was about costs, Ill break it down:

Costs:
-Porter Cable Kit 200.00 total
-Buffer pads 40.00 total
-Microfiber Towels 150.00 total
-Vac Tools 20.00 total
-Carnauba 30.00-190.00 (range based on what i use) each
-Polishes 100.00 total
-Sealants 30.00 total
-Tire Shines 10.00 each
-Engine Bay Items 10.00 each
-Brushes 50.00 total
-Storage Free-400.00 (trailer with all accessories like i have)
-Window Treatment 20.00 total
-Clay 15.00 each (lasts 2-4 cars depending on severity of contaminants in the paint)
-Advertising 50.00 per year
-Gas ~200.00 per year minimum

Right now, we're already over 1000.00 dollars and I could go on longer. That is a very minimum of things youd need and by far from a complete list.

Ill let you read this and reply back so I dont just aimlessly ramble on and on about stuff you dont want to hear about. Please dont hesitate to ask specific questions about anything. Im not an expert, nor am I the best on the board by any means, but Ive been around the block and been in the industry doing this for 6 years now with clients so Ill be happy to explain and talk about any and all of the information Ive gathered in this time. Sorry this is so long!

-Matt

 

And yes, that took 2 hours.

-Matt

 

Ok I've read it all. I'm not really a Novice. but I'm not intermediate either.

I know what the 2 bucket method is, how to feel the car to clay and a few simple things like that. And I've enjoyed the time I've done this so far. (the results are my favorite)

I'm currently attempting to get on at the local Nissan detail shop to learn the ropes there.

I don't plan on doing this as a career or anything. The 300 a week would be plenty for me.

(I was making 90 a week at blockbuster.)