14 years old with a REAL detailing company

[Thomas Dekany]

Are you in Richmond? There is a new shop in Richmond. The first store has been operating here in Arlington for a long time. The only fixed location I`d take my car to.



The new shop won the best in the country award I believe for 2006. Can`t think of the name right now though.



However I would.t think of trying to learn from them. I tried years ago (know the owner) and they wouldn`t help me out. So I trained myself.



This class is good and isn`t too far from you.



Car Detailing Training | professional auto detailing school | detail class

[todd@bsaw]

I told my father about going to a clinic and he told me to ask you guys what steps you guys took in transforming to a proffesional detailer from a car enthusiast that just loved to detail cars. Can anyone give me advice?

5 years experience

Knowledge

Writing a formal business plan

Forming a formal business identity with the state

Printing business cards, brochures, and flyers

Maintaining a detailed client database

Building relationships with local executives and business owners

Operating and maintaining a website

Having a large portfolio of client referrals, testimonials, and pictures

Marketing myself as a PROFESSIONAL



Notice "being a really good detailer" isn`t anywhere in that list. With out all or most of the above, you are just a technician that is good at detailing. Having a wealth of knowledge of every chemical made as well as nuances of paint and product helps as well.



If it sounds like I`m trying to be intimidating, I am. Starting and operating your own business is a lot of work and it`s not all cleaning cars. If your dad is willing to help you with all that, good for you. But you should still have a working knowledge of everything in the business.



Know how to descriptively explain the difference between a wax and a polish, what is harder between aluminum or chrome, when you`d recommend a wax or a sealant, where the hood latch is on a Porsche Boxter, why you cool brakes before spraying a degreaser, and who you would send a car to for PDR.

[baseballlover1]

5 years experience

Knowledge

Writing a formal business plan

Forming a formal business identity with the state

Printing business cards, brochures, and flyers

Maintaining a detailed client database

Building relationships with local executives and business owners

Operating and maintaining a website

Having a large portfolio of client referrals, testimonials, and pictures

Marketing myself as a PROFESSIONAL



Notice "being a really good detailer" isn`t anywhere in that list. With out all or most of the above, you are just a technician that is good at detailing. Having a wealth of knowledge of every chemical made as well as nuances of paint and product helps as well.



If it sounds like I`m trying to be intimidating, I am. Starting and operating your own business is a lot of work and it`s not all cleaning cars. If your dad is willing to help you with all that, good for you. But you should still have a working knowledge of everything in the business.



Know how to descriptively explain the difference between a wax and a polish, what is harder between aluminum or chrome, when you`d recommend a wax or a sealant, where the hood latch is on a Porsche Boxter, why you cool brakes before spraying a degreaser, and who you would send a car to for PDR.

Would you mind if i tried to answer the questions that you asked if i would know how to answer?



Difference beetween a wax and a polish: A wax is putting a protective layer on the paint where as polishing is just buffing to get the imperfections and such out of the paint. polishing also adds a shine to the paint. i know that i am lacking some major wholes in that, but am i somewhat right?



I do not know the difference beetween alluminum and chrome however i do know that alluminum doesnt rust. What is harder beetween alluminum and chrome?



To open the hood of a Porsche boxter you pull the lever in the inner car just like any other car and move the latch to the left while pushing down slitely on the hood. I am not completely sure of how to do this but i do not think that that is a hard question to answer if i had the Boxter in front of me. I also think that question was retoricle.



the Reason why you do put degreaser on brakes before they are cooled is 1. You might start a fire if the brakes were THAT hot and 2. you might worpe the brake callipers or pads or rotar. Was i right?





When i asked "what is the next step" i was trying to convey that i understand that you don`t transform from a car enthusiast to a pro over night. However i want to become a pro, and i am willing to work hard at it.

[baseballlover1]

Are you in Richmond? There is a new shop in Richmond. The first store has been operating here in Arlington for a long time. The only fixed location I`d take my car to.



The new shop won the best in the country award I believe for 2006. Can`t think of the name right now though.



However I would.t think of trying to learn from them. I tried years ago (know the owner) and they wouldn`t help me out. So I trained myself.



This class is good and isn`t too far from you.



Car Detailing Training | professional auto detailing school | detail class

I live in Roanoke, VA. I think the guy thats near me might spring to train me, on the condition that if one of his workers is sick or is on vacation i come on temperarily. He is a REAL business man and i think if i spell it out for him like this he will want to train me. However i am not sure. I am either going to bike down there or call him up on monday.

[BlackElantraGT]

I can see why some people are calling BS on this, but based on what I`ve read so far, I would highly suggest you make your education your #1 priority, instead of trying to run a profitable business. You`ll have plenty of opportunities in the future trying to figure out how you`re going to make money and survive. At 14, just enjoy your teenage years. Even though in your eyes you may think you`re a young man, you`re still a little boy. You`ll only live once and in 10 years, you`ll look back and wish you could go back to a point in time when life was so carefree.



If detailing is something you enjoy doing and you like having some extra money to buy material things, then do it on the side during the weekends. There`s no reason why a 14 year old needs to be concerned about bringing in the dough for the family and even though you may feel your family is not well off, you haven`t a single idea what being poor really is. The fact that you got enough money from your barmitzfah to buy a car proves that neither you nor your family need extra income from a 14 year old to survive.

[baseballlover1]

I can see why some people are calling BS on this, but based on what I`ve read so far, I would highly suggest you make your education your #1 priority, instead of trying to run a profitable business. You`ll have plenty of opportunities in the future trying to figure out how you`re going to make money and survive. At 14, just enjoy your teenage years. Even though in your eyes you may think you`re a young man, you`re still a little boy. You`ll only live once and in 10 years, you`ll look back and wish you could go back to a point in time when life was so carefree.



If detailing is something you enjoy doing and you like having some extra money to buy material things, then do it on the side during the weekends. There`s no reason why a 14 year old needs to be concerned about bringing in the dough for the family and even though you may feel your family is not well off, you haven`t a single idea what being poor really is. The fact that you got enough money from your barmitzfah to buy a car proves that neither you nor your family need extra income from a 14 year old to survive.

i think you misunderstood me... and i might have said something to lead to to that conclusion. i take all responsobility if you did misunderstand me.



I *am* going to finish my education. That is not up in the air. Also, i am very gifted to have the family i do, and i know i am not what is considered poor to some people, however i doubt anyone on this forum can relate to me. Instead of spelling everything out i am just going to say that you do not know half of my life.



Now, Please do not tell me not to follow detailing. I know that you are just trying to help me, but please do not tell me what i can and can`t do. Also when i said, work for the detailer down the street i meant on weekends and during holidays (when im out of school).

[BlackElantraGT]

You`re right, we don`t know half of your life but at 14, most kids thinks it`s me against the world. Trust us, you`re not poor. Your family isn`t poor either if your father can afford to race in the SCCA every weekend. That`s not a cheap hobby that "poor people" have the liberty of doing. "Poor people" also don`t have 2 cars at 14 that they can`t even drive yet because they`re too young to have a license.



So don`t try to lie to yourself with some sob story as an excuse for you to get in business when all that you really should be concerned with at this point in your life is getting a proper education (which based on your typing and grammar so far you highly lack) and just being a kid. Like I said, you`ll have plenty of opportunities when you`re older to worry about money, whether you like it or not.



And I never told you to do this or to do that, and I especially never told you to quit detailing. This just proves my point even further that you need a good education, because apparently reading comprehension isn`t your strong point either.



The more you respond to this thread, the more I`m thinking this is pure BS.

[booyah]

thats a bad azz bus right there

[DaGonz]

Baseballover...



Do yourself a favor...



Stop trying to BS your way here on the forums. A few people, including myself have called you on it, yet you continue. That`s just not cool...



If you are really passionate about learning about detailing, download the Autopia Guide to Detailing. David B., the owner of this wonderful website and resource explains it all.



You will have learn what the different products are. Professionals will know what products to use and be able to explain to their clientele the processs used if they should happen to ask. The average soccer mom won`t, but a guy with high end car who is passionate about cars will.. and you can`t baffle them with BS like " I used the pink stuff my Dad got from some body shop".



Know the surfaces you are working on! Using the wrong chemical can cause immediate damage, and telling the client "oops" isn`t an option.



Know the "tools of the trade" and how to use them. Using a rotary polisher requires lots of practice, and a mistake can cause hundreds if not thousands of dollars in damage in paintwork repairs.



Learn your cars! In a previous post, you called Saturn a "high end" car. While Satrun builds dependable cars, they are hardly high end.





I hate to bust your bubble, but the guy who owns the detail shop down the street will not hire a 14 year old to detail for him. Child labor laws and the liability of having a child in a workplace environment, not to mention the liability should you damage a client`s car are the number one, two and three reasons.



Enjoy your youth while you still can...and most important of all, concentrate on your school work!



The real world is coming, and sometimes it eat it`s young...

[jeteast99]

can we please get off this topic. i am tired of seeing this on top of the thread list. what happened to this being a professional part of the forum?

[Bigpoppa3346]

Baseballover...



Do yourself a favor...



Stop trying to BS your way here on the forums. A few people, including myself have called you on it, yet you continue. That`s just not cool...



If you are really passionate about learning about detailing, download the Autopia Guide to Detailing. David B., the owner of this wonderful website and resource explains it all.



You will have learn what the different products are. Professionals will know what products to use and be able to explain to their clientele the processs used if they should happen to ask. The average soccer mom won`t, but a guy with high end car who is passionate about cars will.. and you can`t baffle them with BS like " I used the pink stuff my Dad got from some body shop".



Know the surfaces you are working on! Using the wrong chemical can cause immediate damage, and telling the client "oops" isn`t an option.



Know the "tools of the trade" and how to use them. Using a rotary polisher requires lots of practice, and a mistake can cause hundreds if not thousands of dollars in damage in paintwork repairs.



Learn your cars! In a previous post, you called Saturn a "high end" car. While Satrun builds dependable cars, they are hardly high end.





I hate to bust your bubble, but the guy who owns the detail shop down the street will not hire a 14 year old to detail for him. Child labor laws and the liability of having a child in a workplace environment, not to mention the liability should you damage a client`s car are the number one, two and three reasons.



Enjoy your youth while you still can...and most important of all, concentrate on your school work!



The real world is coming, and sometimes it eat it`s young...

I agree 100% with this.



You don`t own a real detailing company at age 14, you obviously don`t know that much about detailing, and your BS stories don`t add up.



This thread has been waayyy too long, and everything that needed to be said has been said by DaGonzs last post.

[baseballlover1]

thanks, for all your input everybody!