What are your plans for the future?

C

clnfrk

New member
For all you seasoned detailers out there, how long have you been detailing professionally and how long do you see yourself doing this type of work? I have yet to start detailing full time, but I have had a legitimate mobile business for a little over a year now and have invested probably around 12-15k in equipment and supplies. But still to this day I only perform details on weekends, although I would like to give up my weekly gig to detail full time. But, currently I don't have the luxury of giving up guaranteed income (which isn't much by the way but does pay the bills) for the uncertainty of cash flow that comes with a new business.



That is why I am devoting as much as I can of what I make to paying off debts so I can eventually afford to take the risk of going to full time detailing and not have to rely so much on a set amount needed to take in each month. But, once that does happen I really can't think of anything else at the moment that I would like to do for a career. So, I'm hoping my body will hold up to full time detailing over the years. I am 32 now though, which brings me back to my original question about what you fellow professionals have planned for your post-detailing years and how long before you think changes will be in the works.
 
I will have been detailing full time three years this August. There has been some tough times, but I stay pretty busy these days. I attribute this to signing up people for maintenance details (bi-weekly or monthly). This is in addition to the full details. I am currently concentrating on more advertising; direct mail, which has paid off nice so far. I wish I had done it from the start though. As far as future plans; I want to continue to grow the detailing business, and eventually expand into other car related things, such as customization etc. Starting and growing a business is a long term goal for me.
 
Very good question. After a long day at work and a sore back from a self-inflicted hangover the other day, I asked myself how I would be holding up in 20 years. Where do the 1 man independents move on to and when do they move on.



Myself, I would actually like to tap into the chemicals and supplies market. When I am older, I may also open a stationary shop where I run the business and supervise. It is not something I would plan on anytime soon because I would hate to create new competition from workers that I have trained when I have yet to gain a firm grasp of the local market myself.
 
backwoods_lex said:
Very good question. After a long day at work and a sore back from a self-inflicted hangover the other day, I asked myself how I would be holding up in 20 years. Where do the 1 man independents move on to and when do they move on.



Myself, I would actually like to tap into the chemicals and supplies market. When I am older, I may also open a stationary shop where I run the business and supervise. It is not something I would plan on anytime soon because I would hate to create new competition from workers that I have trained when I have yet to gain a firm grasp of the local market myself.
Click to expand...



While my back hurts from time to time, detailing keeps me in pretty good shape. Usually people who do physical activity daily for many years end up better than the office types who are over weight and get very little physical activity. BTW, I could not tell from your post, but do you detail full time?
 
I've been earning far too much in the engineering field so i took my website and bought a house.



Im thinking of starting up detailing again now that ive settled into my new place. Going to turn my double carport in a wash bay, and then start doing one or two customers cars on saturday mornings.
 
Yep, full time. But it is mostly dealer work and less than 40 hours per week. I lost my last job under unfortunate circumstances (and lawsuits will be filed within the next 1.5 years) and was kind of forced to get out there sooner than expected and under less than ideal conditions. I'm a neighbor by the way in Jefferson County WV.
 
Yep, full time. But it is mostly dealer work and less than 40 hours per week. I lost my last job under unfortunate circumstances (and lawsuits will be filed within the next 1.5 years) and was kind of forced to get out there sooner than expected and under less than ideal conditions. I'm a neighbor by the way in Jefferson County WV.
 
backwoods_lex said:
Yep, full time. But it is mostly dealer work and less than 40 hours per week. I lost my last job under unfortunate circumstances (and lawsuits will be filed within the next 1.5 years) and was kind of forced to get out there sooner than expected and under less than ideal conditions. I'm a neighbor by the way in Jefferson County WV.
Click to expand...



Jefferson County would be where the race track is located, correct? I have had some opportunities to do dealer work, but they do not want to pay, oh well.
 
I have been detailing for three years. I plan to grow the business using a business plan and well planned goals, then smoking lots of cigars and drinking way too much all the time.
 
Yeah, Charles Town Races and Slots (aka the vault) is located in Jefferson County. Dealers around here have no idea what autopian level detailing is, so they won't pay. They expect a "full detail" on a wholesale (read crappy/trashed auction car) in 3 hours regardless of the size or condition and want it cheap. I can't wait for the day when I'm strictly detailing for the general public.



Sorry for hijacking the thread. It's a good topic. But Brad, feel free to PM me if you ever need a cheap helper.
 
brwill2005 said:
I have had some opportunities to do dealer work, but they do not want to pay, oh well.
Click to expand...



Wouldn't it pay off if there was enough volume? How hard would it be to create $10,000 per month in sales with 2-4 dealerships? You could earn a decent profit if you had 2-3 people to do the work. Alot of detailers can't reduce theirselves to doing a "complete" dealer detail for $80. But, if you could do 100 of them per month (every month), would it be worth it then? Espcecially if you paid your workers 30-40%.
 
David Fermani said:
Wouldn't it pay off if there was enough volume? How hard would it be to create $10,000 per month in sales with 2-4 dealerships? You could earn a decent profit if you had 2-3 people to do the work. Alot of detailers can't reduce theirselves to doing a "complete" dealer detail for $80. But, if you could do 100 of them per month (every month), would it be worth it then? Espcecially if you paid your workers 30-40%.
Click to expand...



Your correct, buy it would create a lot of headaches in addition to the extra money. I may revisit it in the future.
 
My plans are to focus more attention on the manufacture of new technology products that have not been made yet (not just same old polish, wax etc but new categories) and cut back on the detailing a little
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top