Detailing as a college side job? Thoughts?

NorCalZ71 · 06-23-04, 05:19

Im off to college next year, and i know for a fact im definitely going to need at least a bit of income while im there. Parents are covering all my costs, but if i feel like going snowboarding for the weekend thats on me for the most part.

I just really got into the more intense detailing scene, ordered a lot of new high end stuff and i have more on the way. Im set to detail pretty much my entire block, plus a few others. I figure if i enjoy it enough for the pay-off, that i might take my detailing "business" to college with me. It'd be nice because i could more or less do it when i do have free time, and also could end up being something that lasts me through all 4-5 years there.

My question is how often do you guys detail for each client? weekyl? monthly, bi-annually? I think if i could pull a couple details a month, that would suffice at $100/per or so? what do you think?

ntwrkguy1 · 06-23-04, 05:38

My thoughts....

Yes, you can definitely take your business to college with you. I'm not so sure that it's all that important you have regular repeat clients (though that's nice). But if you find that you do, I tend to detail for my regulars, on average, about 4 times a year. And depending on just how involved your details are, I'd be looking for something north of $100 per. Don't be afraid to charge for your work, as long as you feel your work is worth it.

I'd get as much practice as you possibly can on your block. Do as many cars as you can before you go off to college, but be sure to pay strict attention to your routine. Once you have your process down, detailing will become much easier, and as a result, more profitable.

Good luck with it. I paid my way through college detailing cars (as well as buying/selling lots of them), so it can be done!

-DavidM

andriver · 06-23-04, 05:41

You may want to PM ZaneO. I believe he is finishing school and also details. His work is very good.

Intel486 · 06-23-04, 09:01

It's not that hard. I'm a Chem. E. Major at LSU and have a business opened as an LLC. It takes work but not too difficult.

Don't let your school work get behind... ohh... and you don't need money for food... Beer is food!

Can PM me w/ any question or hit me up on AIM at F150Intel486

dcswd · 06-23-04, 09:50

I'm in college right now and even though its the summer, ill be continuing my business when school starts. I'm still living from my parents home so that makes it a bit easier for me to store all of my stuff though. I don't know what your situation is going to be.

I'm hoping to do detailing mostly on Saturdays. So it wouldnt be a lot of work, but id still be doing something.

Not many people our age have their own business. I think that adding something like this to your resume would help you out tremendously for your future job search.

maxedmax · 06-25-04, 08:02

I also would like to continue detailing. I have been detailing for three summers now, and It's so frustrating when I Have to go back to school. No water hookups/no shade/no product storage space. I hate it. After the summer, I will be entering my senior year, and i'd love to have some spare cash. Just can't do it though. On a side note, there seems to be a decent amount of college age people on this board. I wonder what the average age is?