How did you get started?

2wheelsx2 · 04-16-02, 11:39

A little background:

I have been learning more and more on this board in the last 6 months or so. I used to wash my cars once or twice a month, but since I have been on this board, I have been washing twice a week. I started out using carnubas, and (gasp) even Armor All. But now, I am using SMR, #20, and the like.

Anyway, lately, I have been doing more and more friends' cars, as they see what my car looks like. It's getting to the point that I am basically taking appointments. I have been doing it in exchange for products and meals, and gifts, but I think it's about time I made a business decision. This has been spurred on by the fact that I got laid off my full time job (hi-tech) a couple of weeks ago.

So, I was wondering, how did you guys get started? Was it a hobby turned into work? Or was it a pure business decision? How did you tell your friends that they must pay, now that it's a business, instead of getting freebies? And most important of all:

Have you lost any of the passion of detailing, now that it's work, and not a hobby?

Thanks for your input.

JasonC8301 · 04-16-02, 12:47

I started just like you. A 15 year old taking care of family cars. I had my first try of Armour All original protectant, Armour All paste wax (still got some, smells just like Platinum wash), Armour all wash (great wash, but I like Meguiars GC wash better), and some foam and terry applicators. Everyone has to start somewhere. I found this board and upgraded some of my products. I followed up with purchases of Meguiars #7 polish, Gold Class paste wax, and Meguiars #26 paste wax. Then came 3M IHG and Blitz wax. It just took off from there. It was a hobby turned into an obsession and people were asking me to do their car. I didn't charge at first, then people started giving me some nice tips. Easily spent $500 on product and stuff by then time I turned 17. I am now 18 with around $700 in detailing supplies, darn credit cards let you buy and buy without hesitation, but i keep it within my budget.)

I then found NY detailer on this board. This is my first detailing job and its pretty darn good. I mostly work on Sunday's and spend about 8 hours working (5-6 hours with my PC.)

I still love detailing even with detailing cars one day every week fro 8 hours. I have not lost my passion for it. I don't think I'll ever lose that. Theres just something about spenting about 5 hours on a car and turning it from a swirled and dirty mess to a less swirled (lightened, don't know how to sue a rotary yet, PC just will do so much on a neglected car) clean and shiny automobile.

Love for detailing + great job detailing + kick butt boss = Hobby Detailer for life.

I'm doing detailing for the spending cash (high school senior), but intend for my career to be in soldiering.

Jason

2wheelsx2 · 04-16-02, 01:38

Very cool. Thanks, Jason. Unfortunately, I am a bit older than you (37) and am already on my second career. Geologist for twelve years, then when the gold market collapsed, I got into telecom, thinking that it was the bomb, but it too collapsed, which leaves me where I am now.

Hmm...I guess I better get that PC sooner than later.

JasonC8301 · 04-16-02, 02:32

Cool

The PC is worth its weight in gold! 37 is not old, once you break 45 then its middle ager, old is around 55-60 or so.

Intel486 · 04-16-02, 03:24

Business decision for me. The business I wanted to start would require too much overheard for me to be competative. I then was sitting there one day going, "Hmmm what should I open?" I then turned around and saw my detailing stuff and was like "YES!!! that is it!" So now I'm working on getting a detailing business started. I't actually just starting out with pro detailing so I don't know how it is going to work out. From what I've seen it is probably going to work out. Very labor intensive job though. Plan to have a fixed location in a few years with employees.

I mean, I wanna own a business so why not make it in a field I enjoy?

Scottwax · 04-16-02, 03:44

I was a restaurant manager and hating it (Denny's, which meant that no real restaurant was interested in me), so when I detailed my brother's car and he called me and said 4-5 people in his office were so impressed that they wanted me to do the same, I had a decision to make.

I started doing cars on the side to see if I liked it enough to make a career of it and if I could also make a living. I quit as a manager and went to work at another Denny's as a waiter at night, and slowly built up my business. Passed out flyers when I didn't have cars to clean and after about a year, I was able to support myself detailing.

2wheelsx2 · 04-16-02, 04:03

So, when you guys all got started, did you have a price list? Or did you work by the hour? I find it difficult to estimate how much work a car would be. Sometimes a car that looks not bad because of all the dirt, turns out to be a nightmare because once the dirt is cleaned off, the bird drop etchings, tree sap and scratches all show and make it look terrible. I guess when it wasn't all shiny, it was tough to tell.

DK Mobile · 04-16-02, 04:04

After commuting 2 hours each way to make big money, and working a job I hated, I was asked by my wife about staying home and taking care of my new-born daughter. I thought about it for a few weeks and decided that it was far more important to be with my first child then, risking being killed during rush-hour commutes! This goes without saying but; my wife makes great money and I'm very lucky to be able to have this resource to do what I wanted to do. Not everyone can do this.

That was over two years ago. Fast forward to present time. I had bought a new car and when I took it to the dealership to get the plates put on, I was approached by another new car buyer about the condition of my car's finish. I told him I just liked keeping my cars in top shape. He and his wife had just bought a new BMW 7 series and wanted me to do a detail on it. I laughed at the suggestion, but relented after they would not leave my car alone. They kept touching it and feeling the glossy finish (Zaino will do that).

I told him I had no insurance, no real professional equipment and if that was not a turn-off in it's self, I'd do it. He said "Name your price" and that was that.

One of my friends has been doing detailing at a very up-scale body shop in my local area for many years (over 20) and told me I had a knack for using a rotary buffer and being very logical about my approach to detailing a car/truck.

After posing as a customer to several detailing outfits near my home, I soon found that I could do a better job then them, and turn a profit. I would also use high-end name brands instead of buying in bulk. I would advertise this fact and let my work do the rest. I also enjoy educating people in the correct way to treat a car, no matter how expensive or not it is. Even if I loose that customer due to them doing it themselves, they will tell several of they're friends or co-workers along the way.

Well, I got a business license, city permits for the places that require them, and insurance. Throw in a V10 E350 Ford van, a 125 gallon water tank, a gob of equipment and now I'm doing it for a living (may not get rich, but being your own boss is tops!). Due to the climate I live in, I can see it being seasonal, but that will give me several months per/year to relax and spend time with my children should I want to.

So that's it, that's how it started for me. My suggestion to anybody wanting to do this line of work is simple; do the research, be polished when dealing with people, and CYB (cover your butt) get insured. If you don't your asking for trouble.

Here is a link to my website should any of you be interested: http://www.dksmobiledetailing.com

Regards gang!

2wheelsx2 · 04-16-02, 04:35

Check your PM's.

PrinzII · 04-17-02, 10:54

This all started with taking care of the family cars since the age of 12. Then at the age of 19, I was a detailer for my parents' body shop and I did pretty good work despite not having a lot of the tools at my disposal. Currently, I am 34 and I am already thinking about starting my own detailing shop as well as bolster my current career in IT.

Ironically, I have people at my job who have seen what I did to my '94 Maxima and want me to do their cars. One guy has an older ('60's) Cutlass and wants me to come down to his neck of the woods and help him out.

2wheelsx2 · 04-17-02, 06:17

So what do you then, give them a freebie? Or whip out a price list? I am just not sure how to start charging for stuff I have been doing for free. Everyone seems so incredulous that money can be made detailing. When I told several people I have been helping out that I plan to make it into a business, they are all like, "No way, no one is going to pay you that kind of money!"

Dr. Jones · 04-17-02, 09:55

man i must say i thought getting people to pay would be a hassle.. but it doesn't seem to be... i mean your every day average driver doesn't need or want a full detail.. but car people, people who know facts about the car they drive (like engine size.... and year) and people who invest time or care for their cars.. they'll pay. I just got $60 for doing a 5 hour job... the guy wanted to pay me a lot more.. i wouldn't take it... didn't feel right. I know some more people who want me to do theirs... they say the'll come in in a week or two when htey have the money.. i say not to worry about it and just to pay me for the products i use... they won't do it.. they insist on paying me very well for my services...