How Nice of a Living Can Be Made in Detailing?

[Deanski]

How about specific examples? Like what full time detailers make and so on.

You need to research Professional Car Wash and Detailing trade magazine. There, you`ll find more answers and also some issues have with laws and personnel, equipment, rent/lease etc



Deanski

[imported_Detailing Technology]

Don`t chase a number, chase a goal. The money will come.



$200k as annual personal income equates to about $600k in annual business income in the most efficient model.



After expenses of tax, rent, employees, electric, insurance, supplies.



If you can build a business model that dumps 50k per month in your business account, you are there.



So work backwards from there and see how many cars you need to do. Might not work out...





Or you can just get a job that pays in the 200-250k range a few years after your MBA and detail for fun money

It is possible..

[imported_Jakerooni]

Don`t chase a number, chase a goal. The money will come.



$200k as annual personal income equates to about $600k in annual business income in the most efficient model.



After expenses of tax, rent, employees, electric, insurance, supplies.



If you can build a business model that dumps 50k per month in your business account, you are there.



So work backwards from there and see how many cars you need to do. Might not work out...





Or you can just gat a job that pays in the 200-250k range a few years after your MBA and detail for fun money

It is possible..

QFT!!!! Making $200,000 detailing and keeping $200,000 are compeltly different numbers here. I had a 1 bay volume shop when I first opened I easily made over $100,000 a year there. However I kept very little of that because of the cost of doing business. Now that I gave up the shop and I`m just doing it out of my own garage I make much less but I find myself able to actually keep more ot it. Just because you have a business that earned a million in gross sales dosen`t mean by any means that your a millionaire 200K at a volume shop with the right account should be a cake walk. (Dave F. was pulling in half a mill with his shop when he had it) but the little bit you actually get to keep after paying all the bills is a harsh reality check no doubt.

[imported_Detailing Technology]

What is "QFT"?









Here is something for the younger guys looking for money:



I always maintain 2 income streams. No jobs, ever. I try to have a main income generator running and taking my attention from 7am-5pm, then a secondary running 5:01-9:00pm. Having two really makes both more enjoyable as the pressure is not as high. I also find myself taking insane leaps and gambles, which make my wife cringe with fear, that generally work out because I have a lot less to lose if they don`t. I do work 7 days per week at times, but it doesn`t feel like work at all because there is a personal purpose and personal rewards. You just find yourself saying, "is it Sunday already"?



I am not smart enough to have some magical business that makes buckets of money with no effort when I am not working. Maybe my kids will figure that out.

[imported_Jakerooni]

QFT = Quote for Truth!

[Got More Wax]

My goal is to chase and catch hot chicks, drink margritas poolside, work once a week - on Fridays when I go in for my paycheck and bark orders and complaints at the young kid in my garage detailing my Ferrari!!:clap:



Andy

Don`t chase a number, chase a goal. The money will come.



$200k as annual personal income equates to about $600k in annual business income in the most efficient model.



After expenses of tax, rent, employees, electric, insurance, supplies.



If you can build a business model that dumps 50k per month in your business account, you are there.



So work backwards from there and see how many cars you need to do. Might not work out...





Or you can just get a job that pays in the 200-250k range a few years after your MBA and detail for fun money

It is possible..

[Setec Astronomy]

At 17 i thought my Dad worked too hard, and that i would find a better way to support my family. Guess what i am 43 years old and the best thing you can learn is to bust your but at whatever you do. Try to give 110% percent and keep your head down and work hard through the bumps and set backs and when you look back you will have suceeded. It`s not a quick process.

Well said...there`s no free lunch, no easy way out, no retiring at 40 (unless you`re like that jerk, jdoria...:p ).

[brwill2005]

I do some detail work for people i know and i don`t charge through the roof but i make a amount on each car i do maybe 2/3 cars a month if i feel like it and of course mine... i am in college this is not the business to be in if you are going to college it is very time consuming if you really want to go and get your M.B.A (Which i think is a good move) you will want to be getting good grades. I would try detailing on a small scale for fun and sooner or later the people you have asking about your car and others that you have done will grow keep it as a side job. I personal do not think there is any way you will be making 200 K a year you would need large multiple sites if you wanted to make that much i know detailers that make 40 K on a good year it is not guaranteed at all one year you can be making bank the next you are losing money hand over fist. If you want to make that kinda of money go in LAW or the Medical field not detailing. Like i said i am a college student and when school starts i barely have time to detail my car let along other peoples car`s. Then again i maintain a 3.98 GPA. This is not the field to make bank in and it is nothing is guaranteed





Just my $ 0.2

Running any kind of business would definitely take away from your studies. I detailed part time will in college and also worked other part time jobs at the same time. Have you studied the income potential of an efficient express detail type operation? My opinion is a shop such as that, properly done, can make lots of money. I currently run a mobile detail operation. Though I am profitable, there is a limit to what you can make. The problem is that, this type of detailing is a niche market. Most simply are not willing to pay a premium to have their car detailed for 4-8 hours at $40-$50 dollars per hour. I have learned a lot in the last nearly four years, about running a business. College never came close to teaching me these things. I also love the freedom and challenge of being an entrepreneur. I pretty much make my own schedule, and never have some under qualified jerk telling me what to do and how do it. This allows me to spend time with my family and have lots of fun. In the near future I plan on opening up a nice store front shop that does a quality express detail much faster and much cheaper than the type of detailing most do here. This will allow me to serve a much larger market share and hopefully make much more money. The one thing you forget about with the whole law school and medical school thing is, unless mom and dad are paying, it will cost you six figures and you will lose 8-10 year or more of your life.

[Got More Wax]

Doesn`t sound like that wait is going to be very long.



Andy

Have fun waiting.

[Got More Wax]

I`m going to start selling Medical Marijuana franchises.



Anyone in??



Andy

Running any kind of business would definitely take away from your studies. I detailed part time will in college and also worked other part time jobs at the same time. Have you studied the income potential of an efficient express detail type operation? My opinion is a shop such as that, properly done, can make lots of money. I currently run a mobile detail operation. Though I am profitable, there is a limit to what you can make. The problem is that, this type of detailing is a niche market. Most simply are not willing to pay a premium to have their car detailed for 4-8 hours at $40-$50 dollars per hour. I have learned a lot in the last nearly four years, about running a business. College never came close to teaching me these things. I also love the freedom and challenge of being an entrepreneur. I pretty much make my own schedule, and never have some under qualified jerk telling me what to do and how do it. This allows me to spend time with my family and have lots of fun. In the near future I plan on opening up a nice store front shop that does a quality express detail much faster and much cheaper than the type of detailing most do here. This will allow me to serve a much larger market share and hopefully make much more money. The one thing you forget about with the whole law school and medical school thing is, unless mom and dad are paying, it will cost you six figures and you will lose 8-10 year or more of your life.

[imported_Detailing Technology]

I just got involved in an electronic medical records business, then back out just as fast. Worst experience of my life, the used car dealers had more ethics...

[5spdfrk]

Good topic! I was just thinking about this the other day.

[Showroom Shine]

It will be very difficult in Baltimore,since it will be seasonal. Also to make 200k detailing is definitely the high end. If you don`t like what you are doing,and have a Passion for it. The money is not going to make you happy.I own and operate a Mobile Detailing business,and I do pretty good in Ohio. ( SEASONAL) I also work a fulltime job in city government,and I have learned to appreciate the positives and negatives of both. We all realize that everyone wants to make a good living for ourselves and families,girl friends,cars toys etc. Your best bet is to go to college,get a degree,learn how to really run a business and make a profit. Do the detailing on the side. Learn the trade first. Study ,read ,use every available option. You are very young and a carreer choice can be decided as you discover what it is you really like and want to do in life.

[JohnKleven]

You can certainly make that amount of money, but you`re not going to make it working with dealerships. You need to really establish yourself as being the best there is, and have a good constant flow of retail customers coming through your doors. I used to work for dealerships, and they want everything for half price, and they want it done by yesterday. When we first started our shop we targeted dealerships for the steady work flow, but now we concentrate on getting only a few cars done throughout the day, but can really spend a lot of time to make them perfect, and we also get paid for our work.





John

[David Fermani]

You can certainly make that amount of money, but you`re not going to make it working with dealerships.

Wanna Bet? That`s the only way to make big money in this business.