Retail vs Home based shop

J

jk2paintworx@ho

New member
I have been detailing in the high end market for 20 years. The last 7 years have been at a private home based shop. I have a 3000 sq ft shop and I stay busy with $300 to $800 details. This is all well and good but not really building towards anything that can eventually run itself and bring in money without me doing the work. I do have one guy thats works for me full time and besides some seasonal slowdown in the winter we rarely run out of work. The bussiness has grown steadily by word of mouth and I only service retail customers and do not do wholesale car lot stuff. I feel fortunate to be able to have the freedom to work at home on luxury cars in my back yard.



However, I have often wondered if I am missing the boat. Or if I have achieved what everyone wants?? Is it harder to make it in a retail detail business or private word of mouth shop. It seems that starting a retail shop with a fairly large group of dependable customers would be a headstart. Relying on the retail location and the ability to advertise to bring new customers. Or... am i just asking for way more headache dealing with employees and customers... for just a little more money in the end. I am in Spokane wa.
 
Depends on what you're ultimately after. Personally I'd rather stick to working on higher end vehicles for people who at least somewhat care about their cars and have money to put into them than deal with the cheapskates with trashed vehicles who would bombard a volume shop.
 
IMO if you want to continue working IN the business doing the actual detailing I would keep working out of your shop. If you want to work ON your business and have employees doing the work while you take care of the business end you need to get into a shop. The $300 - $800 details are great, but your bread and butter in a shop environment is most likely going to be $150 interior jobs or a quick one step exterior, and wholesale accounts will get you through the rainy north west winter.



I would rather have the luxury (like Barry) of running a crew and only detailing when I want to, than having to ride a PC day after day until you are 60. That being said, not everyone has the ability/skills to run a shop and a crew of guys.
 
I like Johns setup!!!!! High end SHOP!!!



I eventually want to hire and train someone to help me out. I am growing tired of working 12+ hour days 5-7 days a week. Sure the money is there, but when I know I can get 5 $150 jobs done in 7 hours with some help, Ill be much happier!!!! And then eventually I wont have to work anymore, but rather trust my employees to put out quality work and make money off them!



I am in the same boat as you right now...kind of. I am mobile and am typically in the 400-600 range per car. Sure there are the one step jobs with interiors at $300 each where I can get two done in 11 hours working alone, but with a shop, that would turn into 3 done in one day (with help) in 8-9 hours and only paying $200 out for the help leaving me with more profit and less hours worked!



BUT, then comes the overhead and what if you have 2 employees and all the lights on with water running but no clients for the day....wasted money vs being a HOME based business where you are free to just relax! The thing about a shop, its only good if its operating...does no good empty!
 
John, I will be in your area the first part of august and plan to stop by. Same goes for you, I think Quality auto trim is doing another clinic soon. You should come over. Toyotaguy, you hit the nail on the head. When I am slow or want a day off it is nice to just not go out to the shop instead of feeling like it is poor business to just keep the doors of a retail shop closed or pay someone to be there. The thing is that I hardly ever do that, its more like, on the weekends and days I should be off I find myself in the shop on a project. And as you said, the slow days do not really put me in the hole since my costs are very low. I think I am leaning towards maximizing efficiency in my private shop. Sometime I think I am selling myself short though. I do know that the clients that I have truely appreciate the fact that I am a small private business where they are dealing with the guy that is doing the work and that they are not dropping the car off somewhere with a bunch of in and out traffic...
 
If you have a 3000 sq ft home shop and are busy, why not step up the marketing and grow it there? Jumping into an expensive shop may very well be a huge stressful headache.
 
David, I think that the thing that I am missing is the ability to have a couple employees that focus on dealer work and more of a basic detail pkg. Since my shop is home based I do not want to cause an impact on my neighbors that would wear out my welcome. As of now I am very fortunate that they are all happy to have me around (I think). I just dont wanna have a bunch of ratty cars around here since I am in a pretty nice neighborhood and nobody minds when $100k cars are around, POS minivans... are a different story. I am in the process of having a website built that focuses on hig end. You are 100% correct on the marketing. So far I have not done anything other than put out good work. Might take more to get to the next level.
 
I totally understand. My neighbors are pissed as it is, and I have expensive cars here too. Seems like you sure are at a crossroads to some major changes. I think Barry Theal was too and decided to get a full blown shop and I believe is doing very well for himself both on the high end and dealer front. You might also want to think about posting some of your write ups here and adding a link to your business or contact info in your signature line and update your profile with your location. There's tons of people that search this website daily for detailers.
 
What about insurance? Is your shop covered under home owner insurance or do you have a separate policy? Have you formed an LLC to protect your shop and house or are you a sole proprietor?
 
Shiny Lil Detlr said:
All the more reason to move back up here to MI!
Click to expand...



I'm trying! There just isn't any jobs up there!(out in for a transfer 6 months ago) But when I do, you'll be invited to detail at my home based shop any time.
 
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