Contemplating (sort of) detailing full time...advice?

maecrispy

maecrispy

Obsessed... who me?
Ok. Right now I've done several cars (friends and acquaintances) and gotten paid but only about half of what I normally would charge since I"m just learning.



The thing is, I've actually contemplated the idea of detailing full time. However, I know next to nothing about the business side of detailing.



So, knowing that I have a secure job which pays me pretty well (about 75K+/yr):



(1) Would detailing full time (assuming a moderately successful full time business, myself as sole employee) mean giving up a lot in income? (I understand if posters don't want to reveal how much they make, I just need a general yay or nay here.)





(2) Would you consider detailing a 'secure' line of work? Does work ebb and flow with certain conditions (bad economy, etc...) or is business generally consistent?





(3) For those that do this full time solo, are you considering expanding and hiring help?



At this point, this is just a tiny seed in my brain. I just want to get an idea whether I should squash this and be happy doing it on the side as I am now or whether I should invest more thought and energy into making this happen.



Thx for any advice!
 
maecrispy,



I'll give you my two cents, for what that's worth. For starters, I earn just under a six-figure income in sales, and while I have enjoyed detailing cars on the side, I've never had to detail as my sole source of revenue. In other words, take my advice with a small grain of salt :)



If you're making $75k a year, and it's a secure job (as 'secure' as secure is these days....), you'll want to evaluate a few things before you take the 'full-time detailer" plunge.



First, can you afford the almost certain pay cut? To make $75k a year detailing, you'd have to do 10 $150 details a week.....every week. While it sounds achievable, remember that it's 2 a day for 5 days a week. Of course, you'll have cancellations, rain, etc to deal with.



Second, I think there is some level of security in detailing. My small clientele is upper class, and they associate their car with status. They also see the value in 'maintaining their assets', so for the foreseeable future, I'll continue to keep working on the weekends. I can't say whether there's an ebb and flow to this business, because it's never been my primary source of income. However, I'm willing to bet if you fish towards the lower end of the market, you'll see business disappear in a bad economy. Even worse, they won't be loyal because they don't understand the value of your service.



From my own perspective, I'll continue to detail on the side. It provides me with a means of testing new products, and also allows me to teach my teenage son the value (and rewards) of hard work. Then there's that nagging question: Would I enjoy detailing as much if I HAD to depend on it for a living? I've entertained the thought of detailing full-time over the years, but haven't felt the urge (or need) to choose that direction.



Regards,



Ntwrkguy1
 
Do you want to do it because you love to do it or because you hate the job you have right now?



You make a pretty good living now and if you're young you'll probably have a good future ahead of you with the kind of money you're already making.



Being successful in your own business takes alot of hard work but it also takes alot of luck.



As stated earlier your love of detailing may wane once your doing it day in and day out not to mention the day to day stress of running it.



Personally I would continue the way it is now and do it on the side. You still get to indulge in your hobby(and still make money on the side) and take breaks whenever you need it. You seem to have the best of both worlds so why screw with it. As you can see I'm not a risk taker.
 
Hi



I have met the same situation than you. I guess many autopians also.



In my opinion, the KEY question is what I want to do with my life/way of living? Thats the question. Yes it is!!



Are you happy with your current job? Promotion posibilities? Lot of travel? Stressed life? Nice salary? ( Yes to last question)



I personally wanted to run my own business. The independance make me feel good. Take my own decisions, be my own boss, ...



So I decided to jump to detailing, while keeping my job. I only work 7,5 hour/day and start very early, so have free afternoons. I started 3 months ago, and if business keep growing I leave my current job soon.



The money is the other big question. To get some money you will think to hire some employees (I have 3 right now), rent a suitable place, ...



I agree with ntwrkguy1. Need 10 details a week. No way!!. Rain, cancellations, bargain hunters, .... You need a bigger structure to make some money.





I hope this help
 
I'll chime in that detailing when you want to do it is fun and rewarding. Detailing when you have to would probably get old. I do friends' cars and and some people in my Miata club and occasionally for customers of my mechanic. These are all jobs I want to do for some reason or another.

Having to deal with cars (or people) I'm not interested in just doesn't excite me.

Use the money you make to buy toys and keep your day job.
 
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