Starting a Professional Detailing Business! Help???

[DetailnByDustn]

Okay thanks everyone who posted, I agree on apprenticeship with a more "experienced" detailer. What should I do when talking to a "more experienced detailer" as far as wages and working hours, ex: $ a hour or $ based on cars condition? I know Ive only been on here since feb, I also know that when I joined I was very unaware of all the nationwide products and procedures people use when detailing cars, I will always be learning, Lets say a little down the road like 10 years could I start my "own" detailing shop?

When did you all start operating a detail business?

[Jakerooni]

I wouldn't worry about the pay by any means. Worry about leaning the craft. Money will always follow skill. The more you master the more you'll make. Let whoever you apprentice with determine that part since it will be his business plan in play.

I've been detailing since the early 90's (91'-92' timeframe) and I just got to a point a couple of years ago that I thought I was ready to go out on my own. It was a HUGE learning curve. Because while I was a very good detailer there was alot about the business side of things I simply didn't know. You really have to be very very good at both to make it. Learn all you can about the craft and take as many business classes as you can possibly fit in between to get a grasp of that side of things. Being a top notch detailer dosen't garuntee a succesful business venture.

[DetailnByDustn]

Originally Posted by Jakerooni

I wouldn't worry about the pay by any means. Worry about leaning the craft. Money will always follow skill. The more you master the more you'll make. Let whoever you apprentice with determine that part since it will be his business plan in play.

I've been detailing since the early 90's (91'-92' timeframe) and I just got to a point a couple of years ago that I thought I was ready to go out on my own. It was a HUGE learning curve. Because while I was a very good detailer there was alot about the business side of things I simply didn't know. You really have to be very very good at both to make it. Learn all you can about the craft and take as many business classes as you can possibly fit in between to get a grasp of that side of things. Being a top notch detailer dosen't garuntee a succesful business venture.

Okay, what should I keep in mind when learning the trade? dent repair, paint corrections, wetsanding, paint chips?

[Got Wax]

I'm gonna chime in then leave you to your vices. First, at least as far as where I fit in; we do only detailing. No chip repair, dent repair, clear bra, etc. -strictly detailing. And, as for where you should focus; as Jake mentioned, working as an apprentice is going to mean you leave it up to who it is you apprentice for. If you believe you are going to bring your limited experience and step up to compunding, polishing, etc - prob not. I would guess you are going to start right off washing and cleaning. At the end of the day, that's where it all begins. If you can't master the basics of getting the car to a pristine starting point, you'll never become an accomplished detailer. Find someone willing to put you to work and who is willing to take you under their wing. From there you need to learn everything from cleaning tires up and being ent about moving on. Don't be surprised if you find yourself cleaning a wash bay, filling and restocking chemicals, etc. Business begins at the begninning.

Okay, I'm done!

Originally Posted by DetailnByDustn

Okay, what should I keep in mind when learning the trade? dent repair, paint corrections, wetsanding, paint chips?

[Jakerooni]

I'll try to make this as simple as I can to understand. learn your products, Learn your canvas (yes this is an art form) When you can do it all no matter what someone puts in front of you without having to log on and ask a bunch of questions you've made it to "Detailer" status. But you absoultly have to know what products you use. What they are meant for, What they say they can do, And what they can actually do. Then you absoultly need to know what you're dealing with as a surface and what it takes to get that surface back to "like new" condition. From Single stage paint, to soft clears to hard clears and ceramic clears and every other possible scenerio. Enamel paints react differently than laquer paints. Knowing which cars would even have laquer paints is also a must. When do you use wool? When is foam the best option? And why? What abuot the knap of the carpet? Plush and fluffy vs. cheap industrial hard knap that dosen't want to release anything. Leather vs. synthetic New cloth vs. old cloth. Headliners and the many forms they tend to come in. What about the glass? Tinted or no? What product is the correct choice? Is there more than one product in your arsenal that's correct? Red stains and black scuffs? How to handle them. Sand in the carpeting? Bleach spill? hazards like spilled gas or vomit. (you'd be suprised) how do you handle that? Rubber seals and engine bays. electronics. and the other various surfaces that are trickier than most. And then the thousands and thousands of other things that can and will pop up when doing this professionally. The way to become a detailer is get very very good at all this... The way to become a master is to niche yourself into something very specific and do it better than anyone else could.

[DetailnByDustn]

Originally Posted by Jakerooni

I'll try to make this as simple as I can to understand. learn your products, Learn your canvas (yes this is an art form) When you can do it all no matter what someone puts in front of you without having to log on and ask a bunch of questions you've made it to "Detailer" status. But you absoultly have to know what products you use. What they are meant for, What they say they can do, And what they can actually do. Then you absoultly need to know what you're dealing with as a surface and what it takes to get that surface back to "like new" condition. From Single stage paint, to soft clears to hard clears and ceramic clears and every other possible scenerio. Enamel paints react differently than laquer paints. Knowing which cars would even have laquer paints is also a must. When do you use wool? When is foam the best option? And why? What abuot the knap of the carpet? Plush and fluffy vs. cheap industrial hard knap that dosen't want to release anything. Leather vs. synthetic New cloth vs. old cloth. Headliners and the many forms they tend to come in. What about the glass? Tinted or no? What product is the correct choice? Is there more than one product in your arsenal that's correct? Red stains and black scuffs? How to handle them. Sand in the carpeting? Bleach spill? hazards like spilled gas or vomit. (you'd be suprised) how do you handle that? Rubber seals and engine bays. electronics. and the other various surfaces that are trickier than most. And then the thousands and thousands of other things that can and will pop up when doing this professionally. The way to become a detailer is get very very good at all this... The way to become a master is to niche yourself into something very specific and do it better than anyone else could.

Thanks for that post, Dang that a long post haha! I need to investigate on the different paints esp ceramic clears, and red wine spills, black scuffs as in shoes? What can you do for bleach spills Dye?

[Got Wax]

OMG, really?!?!?!?!? I guess you are NOT LISTENING to what anyone is suggesting!!!! You are NOT going to become a detailer by reading posts on this forum!!! You need to gain experience from someone who has experience. Sounds like you are currently doing work for$$?! I imagine it will be only a matter of time that your inexperience brings you to the Forum asking what it is you can do to correct the damage you have caused to a client's car because you have no clue what you're doing??? Considering that and the possibility that you may not be properly insured: this is the exact scenario that turns people against the industry!

Originally Posted by DetailnByDustn

Thanks for that post, Dang that a long post haha! I need to investigate on the different paints esp ceramic clears, and red wine spills, black scuffs as in shoes? What can you do for bleach spills Dye?

[Setec Astronomy]

Wow, I think we've come full circle. A lot of us here were 18 once, I came at this from the angle of in most cases you can't learn a craft/business/vocation instantly and own your own business the day you graduate from high school. On the other hand, to have a detailing business you don't have to have the equivalent of 10 years of higher education like you're going to be a doctor.

Dustin, isn't there a middle ground here somewhere? I forget which relative owns the car wash, and I thought you worked in the detail shack there? Can't you negotiate a slightly different niche, where you take the higher end/higher expectation clients from that business? Under a different EZ-Up? In that way you aren't working for the cheapskates who don't know what a detail is and you aren't burning trim on a Gallardo that TH should have been working on. You can progress slowly, keep learning here and elsewhere, maybe even go to college at the same time. When you've got a few hundred more details under your belt, an established clientele, then maybe it will be time to move out to your own place.

I'm sorry I and others rained on your graduation-day parade. It's essential to have dreams and aspirations, it's just as essential to keep your feet planted on the ground. Just give it a little time, it might be a year, 2, or 3, or it could be longer. Nobody is suggesting you give up on your dream, to the contrary, get going on making it happen, just realize it won't be an overnight thing. That's the old joke about actors and musicians talking about their "overnight" success that took 15 years...

[Showroom Shine]

Originally Posted by Jakerooni

I'll try to make this as simple as I can to understand. learn your products, Learn your canvas (yes this is an art form) When you can do it all no matter what someone puts in front of you without having to log on and ask a bunch of questions you've made it to "Detailer" status. But you absoultly have to know what products you use. What they are meant for, What they say they can do, And what they can actually do. Then you absoultly need to know what you're dealing with as a surface and what it takes to get that surface back to "like new" condition. From Single stage paint, to soft clears to hard clears and ceramic clears and every other possible scenerio. Enamel paints react differently than laquer paints. Knowing which cars would even have laquer paints is also a must. When do you use wool? When is foam the best option? And why? What abuot the knap of the carpet? Plush and fluffy vs. cheap industrial hard knap that dosen't want to release anything. Leather vs. synthetic New cloth vs. old cloth. Headliners and the many forms they tend to come in. What about the glass? Tinted or no? What product is the correct choice? Is there more than one product in your arsenal that's correct? Red stains and black scuffs? How to handle them. Sand in the carpeting? Bleach spill? hazards like spilled gas or vomit. (you'd be suprised) how do you handle that? Rubber seals and engine bays. electronics. and the other various surfaces that are trickier than most. And then the thousands and thousands of other things that can and will pop up when doing this professionally. The way to become a detailer is get very very good at all this... The way to become a master is to niche yourself into something very specific and do it better than anyone else could.

Very Good Posting! Could not have said it better!

[DetailnByDustn]

Originally Posted by Got Wax

OMG, really?!?!?!?!? I guess you are NOT LISTENING to what anyone is suggesting!!!! You are NOT going to become a detailer by reading posts on this forum!!! You need to gain experience from someone who has experience. Sounds like you are currently doing work for$$?! I imagine it will be only a matter of time that your inexperience brings you to the Forum asking what it is you can do to correct the damage you have caused to a client's car because you have no clue what you're doing??? Considering that and the possibility that you may not be properly insured: this is the exact scenario that turns people against the industry!

Now listen here buddy, you don't have to help me if you don,t want to, I have read every post on this thread, But right now I'm going to gain as much knowledge as I can before doing it myself that includes with professional help, I take things like using a high speed buffer, If you don't know the proper techniques and products to use you can mess up some paint, I combine information and experience to make a logical choice before doing anything.

Ive worked under a car salesman on his lot before, he wanted me to use a rotary on one of his truck on his lot, after listening about 30 minutes on how to use the rotary started it up and about 10 minutes later burned threw the clear coat, I went forever feeling like crap because I ruined his hood on his truck. I did exactly what he said but wasn't informed about the edges. Reading on autopia informed me about around the edges the paint and clear coat tend to be less, making it more suitable for burning threw the clear coat quicker then area on the hood.

That's the main reason I'm very hesitate on learning from certain people. Theirs not a lot of people around where I live that take their time and finish off there cars right. I finished off a girls altima after a friend got done buffing it at his body shop, had swirls all in it. I watched my friend buff for hours on cars watched him buff my corvettes bumper and my entire truck once (when he painted it), hes good when he takes hes time, but I find that I can usually get better results out from the information I've read on autopia from you guys, because you guys are the real professionals, and better yet are solely devoted to detailing

I think everyone getting a little frustrated with me posting so much, ill quit for the time being on questions, Ill just stay in the background reading and viewing threads, Im sorry If I wasted anyones time, but you helped me a lot in this one thread, I'll take all your advise and work under someone more experienced then me and maybe one day start a business.

I Just wanted to have an idea before making a choice, Its either detailing or highway patrol, I need to start off and having a terrible time figuring what I want to do in life, I need to move out and get a career, one that I enjoy and detailing car is, money good to have when detailing but just having the feeling of using your new chemicals is better than money! :

[DetailnByDustn]

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

Wow, I think we've come full circle. A lot of us here were 18 once, I came at this from the angle of in most cases you can't learn a craft/business/vocation instantly and own your own business the day you graduate from high school. On the other hand, to have a detailing business you don't have to have the equivalent of 10 years of higher education like you're going to be a doctor.

Dustin, isn't there a middle ground here somewhere? I forget which relative owns the car wash, and I thought you worked in the detail shack there? Can't you negotiate a slightly different niche, where you take the higher end/higher expectation clients from that business? Under a different EZ-Up? In that way you aren't working for the cheapskates who don't know what a detail is and you aren't burning trim on a Gallardo that TH should have been working on. You can progress slowly, keep learning here and elsewhere, maybe even go to college at the same time. When you've got a few hundred more details under your belt, an established clientele, then maybe it will be time to move out to your own place.

I'm sorry I and others rained on your graduation-day parade. It's essential to have dreams and aspirations, it's just as essential to keep your feet planted on the ground. Just give it a little time, it might be a year, 2, or 3, or it could be longer. Nobody is suggesting you give up on your dream, to the contrary, get going on making it happen, just realize it won't be an overnight thing. That's the old joke about actors and musicians talking about their "overnight" success that took 15 years...

Okay, I guess watching my dad build car washes I figured I could do what he does, but hes also got about 20 years on me haha, my dad and mom are entrepreneurs and I had in my mind I could be, I have yet to learn I need to wait. haha I dont have a detailing shack at the car wash, haha I run the car wash part time which is a pain the a$$ with the access unit (computer for the laserwash) on the fritz half the time, I have a shop dad built a while back I detail in, I have a separate business from the car wash, I just use the wash to wash cars in.

[Setec Astronomy]

Sheesh Dustin, nobody is telling you not to post. If you've gotten a little backlash here, think about if you went to the highway patrol employment office and said you wanted to start as a captain because you've watched every episode of "Cops" and you worked last summer doing mall security.

Personally, I think you'd be better off with a career in the highway patrol than detailing, but I don't make my living doing either so don't listen to me. But since you're even asking, I'm guessing that you would prefer detailing. As I suggested, look for a middle ground where you can learn as you go. I think having a mentor is perhaps less important than just doing a lot of cars, keep pushing the edge of the envelope. Try and go to some local meets with Autopians or other forums to trade some tips. Etcetera.