Trying to create my own Mobile Detailing business...what should I buy?

xfire · 03-08-05, 04:35

I am 17 and I am sick and tired of working in retail. I am thinking of quiting my job and try to start my own mobile detailing business. The problem is, I don't know what to buy in terms of actual detailing supplies. So, my question is, what products (specific names) should I get if I plan on doing exterior and interior detailing (don't forget little tools). What products would work well on all types of colors, surfaces, etc... I see so many detailers using all types of products, but I simply can't afford all of these. The most that I will "invest" in detailing products would be $500.00. I have read everything on this site, as well as in the Autopia e-book, but I still don't feel comfortable knowing which products to buy.
Despite this problem, I was thinking of buying these things to start:

Exterior:
AIO Glaze
AIO Sealant
Clay Bars
Porter Cable
Pinnacle Souveran wax
Wolfgang Body Bath (I think this is what it is called, it's the Car Wash Soap)
California Water Blade
Lot's O'Microfiber towels
Portable vaccum

Interior:
???...stuff for cleaning carpets
stuff to clean the dash (I hate the greasy look of armor-all for the interior)
leather cleaner/restorer/protectant

Maybe I should just get a car detail kit?????
Thanks a million for your help...FREE ME FROM RETAIL!!!!!

ShineShop · 03-08-05, 04:48

You are commiting the number one mistake 90% of detailers make when they try and get into this business. It's all about running the business properly and doing the best job. The actual products you use are simply a tool you will use in the course of running your business. See this post and read the advice there:

http://autopia.org/forums/showthread...threadid=51717

xfire · 03-08-05, 05:10

Quote:

Originally posted by ShineShop
You are commiting the number one mistake 90% of detailers make when they try and get into this business. It's all about running the business properly and doing the best job. The actual products you use are simply a tool you will use in the course of running your business. See this post and read the advice there:

http://autopia.org/forums/showthread...threadid=51717

Wow, I read this earlier today...it was very good, but I just want to talk about detailing supplies...I have definitely looked at the business/legal aspect of detailing cars. At this point, I just want to start off slow and if I feel I can make more money than I currently do in retail, I will quit my retail job and focus more on the business aspect of this to make it more profitable. Nevertheless, getting insurance will be the first thing to do before actually detailing other people's cars. What makes me feel confident in pursing this job is that I am already well-respected by in my town for being an honest, trustworthy, and intelligent student, and I want to use this to my advantage to attract customers.

xfire · 03-08-05, 05:11

Did I mention that I took a class in Entrepreneurship (it tought me how to make business plans!)

Also, I would like product suggestions so that my work can create "repeat customers." Having good products would increase my chances of "blowing the customer away" with how clean their cars look.

Jimmy Buffit · 03-08-05, 07:21

"Did I mention that I took a class in Entrepreneurship..."

Probably just me, but does this belong in the Professional Forum?

I certainly wish you the best in your endeavor, but...

Maybe your question(s) will receive more attention in the Detailing Product Discussion Forum...

Jim

holland_patrick · 03-08-05, 09:25

Jimmy I'm not sure if you looked but I did because he only has nine post it didn't take long anyways I'm going to put the old flame suit on and take a swing at this one.

I'm not and old guy nor am I pro I have been working for a few years and have a family. Your 17 and have a crossfire and don't want to put in a hard days work at a retail store. now i'm sure your parents bought your car and they make sure you have everything you need so I could rattle off a list of items you could get but I don't want you to get burned and I don't want to see you lose money. Work on your own car and be happy. I saw that when talking about pad you asked what Orange peel was Now not for nothing If you don't know what a paint defect is how are you going to correct it or what if someone says you caused a paint defect. I think you should be happy and live life becuse you'll be going to college and then out to the real world.

Now if your set on this talk to the two young guys that I truely respect
mongoose and buick guy.

ZaneO · 03-08-05, 09:41

Well, after reading through all of your posts, I think you don't know too much about detailing or cars...

I suggest that you spend lots of time learning before you ever think about detailing someone else's car. Start with yours and your family's.

www.autopia-carcare.com/how-to.html

xfire · 03-09-05, 09:24

Quote:

Originally posted by holland_patrick
Jimmy I'm not sure if you looked but I did because he only has nine post it didn't take long anyways I'm going to put the old flame suit on and take a swing at this one.

I'm not and old guy nor am I pro I have been working for a few years and have a family. Your 17 and have a crossfire and don't want to put in a hard days work at a retail store. now i'm sure your parents bought your car and they make sure you have everything you need so I could rattle off a list of items you could get but I don't want you to get burned and I don't want to see you lose money. Work on your own car and be happy. I saw that when talking about pad you asked what Orange peel was Now not for nothing If you don't know what a paint defect is how are you going to correct it or what if someone says you caused a paint defect. I think you should be happy and live life becuse you'll be going to college and then out to the real world.

Now if your set on this talk to the two young guys that I truely respect
mongoose and buick guy.

After reading the replies, I have come to many conclusions...1. I should of never mentioned my age as some will treat you inferior 2. Like in many scenarios, people make assumptions about others 3. In this case, some, and I mean some, are assuming that just because I drive a nice, LEASED car, it would mean that I would try to avoid hard work 4. Some think that immediately after I get detailing supplies, I will look around for customers without performing any previous detail work 5. Just because I do not post a lot on this forum, people would think that I will have not read most everything available on the web and in this website that would help me learn to detail cars at a more advanced level 6. At my age, people will assume that just because I drive a nice car, that I will be very careless with my money.

All I can say is that it frustrates me to know that some people are against teens with some nice things. Just because I drive a nice car, and just because I am not paying for it, it doesn't mean that I do not respect my parents or honor them greatly for having the ability to do give me such a car when others are driving $500 cars around. And just because I have a nice car, it doesn't necessarily mean that my parents are capable of getting anything I want. What I wanted was too expensive, but leasing this was good. And, before getting any car, I thought that I would be paying for it, but I guess my parents just want me to save for college. I want to create my own little mobile detail business to make my long hours MORE PRODUCTIVE salary-wise. As a working student, I must not only attend school, participate in extracurriculars, do a plethora of homework, and maintain my 97.1 GPA, but I must also work 9-hour shifts on the weekends. Being that I barely have much free time, I would only like to quit my current job so that I could make a little bit more money doing something that I LOVE TO DO, even if it is more tiresome and stressful. I have detailed cars before, but without the products and techniques of the pros. But even at this amatuer level, after detailing the cars, I got a sense of pride and satisfaction knowing that I made that car look as good as it was. Taking pride in my work is what truly attracts me to this line of work. Some would say that I should just quit working all together, but I want money to feel secure about my future, to be financialy independent from my parents, and to get my dream car ASAP ("Daddy" cannot afford that car). Respect is all that I am asking for...sorry for the speech, but I felt offended after some seemed angered at my attempt to pursue my hobbies for profit. All I can say is that I know that experience is crucial in an industry such as this one, but if I don't start anywhere, how will I gain experience?

ZaneO · 03-09-05, 09:49

I respect the fact that you are eager and care.

Honestly, if you don't understand what orange peel is, you haven't researched detailing enough. If you don't know what a distributor is or looks like, you need to stay far away from engine detailing. Age has nothing to do with it.

I'll stick with my original advice....LOTS more research and practice on your cars.

As mentioned, particular products don't mean anything without the proper procedure.

Scottwax · 03-09-05, 10:11

I think the point everyone is trying to make is that if you are asking such basic questions you probably aren't ready for full on professional detailing.

Your best course of action is to start doing details for your friends and their parents. Keeping your own car looking good is one thing but are you ready to handle something like this:

How about swirls, scratches, oxidized paint and paint transfers? Do you have experience working paint in poor condition? You have to realize if you are charging for detailing, the customer will expect you to be able to handle something like that. In addition, you need to know what paint problems cannot be corrected, like laquer checking and clear coat failure.

Start off slow with your friends and family. If you do good work they will recommend you to others. Just make sure what you are doing is within your range of capabilities.

As for your list, you need a dedicated swirl remover and a compound and appropriate pads, a good wet/dry vac that converts to a blower, a professional level upholstry shampoo, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for door panels and other vinyl surfaces. Also, don't even think of using a water blade on a customer's car. You get a single piece of grit caught under it and drag it across someone's hood on a $75k car and it goes deep enough to be impossible to remove you had better have deep pockets or liability insurance.

There is nothing wrong with pursuing your dream but you really need to be prepared a lot more than you seem to be.

ajbarnes · 03-10-05, 08:32

Quote:

Originally posted by Scottwax
I think the point everyone is trying to make is that if you are asking such basic questions you probably aren't ready for full on professional detailing.

Your best course of action is to start doing details for your friends and their parents. Keeping your own car looking good is one thing but are you ready to handle something like this:

How about swirls, scratches, oxidized paint and paint transfers? Do you have experience working paint in poor condition? You have to realize if you are charging for detailing, the customer will expect you to be able to handle something like that. In addition, you need to know what paint problems cannot be corrected, like laquer checking and clear coat failure.

Start off slow with your friends and family. If you do good work they will recommend you to others. Just make sure what you are doing is within your range of capabilities.

As for your list, you need a dedicated swirl remover and a compound and appropriate pads, a good wet/dry vac that converts to a blower, a professional level upholstry shampoo, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for door panels and other vinyl surfaces. Also, don't even think of using a water blade on a customer's car. You get a single piece of grit caught under it and drag it across someone's hood on a $75k car and it goes deep enough to be impossible to remove you had better have deep pockets or liability insurance.

There is nothing wrong with pursuing your dream but you really need to be prepared a lot more than you seem to be.

xfire · 03-10-05, 09:34

Quote:

Originally posted by Scottwax
I think the point everyone is trying to make is that if you are asking such basic questions you probably aren't ready for full on professional detailing.

Your best course of action is to start doing details for your friends and their parents. Keeping your own car looking good is one thing but are you ready to handle something like this:

How about swirls, scratches, oxidized paint and paint transfers? Do you have experience working paint in poor condition? You have to realize if you are charging for detailing, the customer will expect you to be able to handle something like that. In addition, you need to know what paint problems cannot be corrected, like laquer checking and clear coat failure.

Start off slow with your friends and family. If you do good work they will recommend you to others. Just make sure what you are doing is within your range of capabilities.

As for your list, you need a dedicated swirl remover and a compound and appropriate pads, a good wet/dry vac that converts to a blower, a professional level upholstry shampoo, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for door panels and other vinyl surfaces. Also, don't even think of using a water blade on a customer's car. You get a single piece of grit caught under it and drag it across someone's hood on a $75k car and it goes deep enough to be impossible to remove you had better have deep pockets or liability insurance.

There is nothing wrong with pursuing your dream but you really need to be prepared a lot more than you seem to be.

This was exactly what I was going to do...but I asked questions about products so that I don't have to spend more money just to find the right products. I know swirls, oxidation, and scratches...but not the products to really remove them...what would you recommend?