What do I need to start a business

holland_patrick

holland_patrick

New member
HI there and I have a ton of stuff and I know what I like but Every so often we come across people who want to know what to get when starting out.

So with a 1000 dollars to start with what would you get.

I'm working on my list as we speak.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

holland_patrick said:
HI there and I have a ton of stuff and I know what I like but Every so often we come across people who want to know what to get when starting out.

So with a 1000 dollars to start with what would you get.

I'm working on my list as we speak.
Click to expand...

Patrick

I'm not one to say much about spelling but STAR should be START and BUSSNESS is BUSINESS....that might be a good start...Just saying
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

I would call you favorite car care supplier previously based in Upstate NY, mail him $1,000 and see what he sends you. :clown:

Is the $1,000 for everything or just supplies? Does this include legal stuff such as DBA, sales tax set-up, website, advertising, etc.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

-Makita 9227 ($200)
-Black & Decker Pressure Washer ($100)
-Fiber-Works Pro kit ($180)
-(4)Eurow Sheepskin Mitts ($20)
-Rubbermaid wash bucket ($20)
-(2) 3-gal buckets ($6)
-TOL Bubble Bath ($20)
-White Distilled Vinegar ($2)
-Meguiar's Overspray Clay ($25)
-Meguiar's Wheel Brightener ($30)
-TOL Tire Cleaner ($20)
-(2) Bug Scrubbers ($10)
-Flitz Metal Polish ($6)
-Menzerna FPII ($25)
-Menzerna Powergloss ($30)
-Optimum Car Polish ($20)
-Klasse AIO ($25)
-Zaino Z2 Pro ($25)
-Zaino Z8 ($25)
-FK1 Pink Wax ($20)
-FK1 #425 ($25)
-Poorboy's Spray and Wipe ($40)
-Poorboy's Trim Restorer ($15)
-Zaino Z10 ($20)
-Turbo Wax Tire Gel ($20)
-Assorted Spray bottles ($20)
-Rigid Vacuum ($100)
-(4) Kids&Pets ($20)
-Oxi-Clean ($10)
-Lake Country Pad Trio ($40)


Totals: $1219


Do not quote me on my prices...They are purely approximations.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

Im asuming that considering a mobile set up? I dont think a 1000 dollars will go very far lets start from scratch and you can delete where applicable.

Vehicle
Water tank
Generator
Hoover
Carpet extraction machine
Pressure Washer
Polish,waxing products
PC or Cyclo
Washing products
Buckets
Large amounts of towells ,leathers microfibre cloths
A complete line of commercial chemicals ,glass ,cloth .apc.acid and non acid wheel cleaners etc etc.
Extension cords
Canopy

That gives you some idea oh and dont forget tax ,insurance ,fuel and running costs.

A lot of the larger companys in the US sell start up packs of chemicals etc and also get involved with training too
I shant name any in case I get flamed but a goole search will find them
Regards
Jay :goodluck:
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

Sorry about my miss spelling . I'm a firefighter not a school teacher...

Anyways like I said this is for the people who Log on and right away say WHAT DO I NEED...

PS Scott if you showed up to a poorboys meet I would send it along to ya..
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

GSRstilez said:
-Makita 9227 ($200)
*snip*[/b]
Click to expand...

Sean, if you don't mind I'm curious why you don't mention a PC at all? I find that even with the rotary, I still use a PC for "final polishing" and to do any jobs on brand new vehicles that come around and don't have much more than a bit of marring that is easily corrected with a PC. I'd say it is still an essential tool to have in one's arsenal, even for a pro.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

Charlie: I've used a PC maybe three times in my career and never on a customer's vehicle. I trained myself on the rotary and have never looked back. Its arguable you will not get a better finish than Menzerna PO85RD / FPII on the finishing pad @ 1500rpm. Days/weeks/months after, never a sign of buffer haze or micromarring.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

What do you need? is a question connected to what do you want to do. To make your money go farther, do these services:
-wash, wheels, engines
-full interior clean using a self-extracting system (a shop vac, not an extractor/steam cleaner)
-a one step hand polish like KAIO or (apparantly good) PB's Polish with Sealant
-clay
-wax

With that you could probably set up for $1000 if you have your own wheels already, or a garage to work out of. Coupla cautions:
-get a 5+ hp wet/dry vac
-get lots of good attachments for the vac
-get a 1500+ psi pressure washer
-simplify on waxes & sealants, only give a couple of choices
-get enough mfs for one load in the washing machine; hang dirty ones to dry and then put them away until you have a machine load; for me, that is about 40 cleaning mf and 20 paint mf, but I could have 75 altogether before overloading the machine
-if you like a product, use it until it is 80% gone before testing others
brenton
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

My list is here, but here it is again. :)

Four Star Ultimate Paint Cleanser 9.95
Four Star Ultimate Paint Protection 14.95
Four Star Ultimate Gloss Enhancer 9.95
Four Star Ultimate Spray And Clay Combo 28.95
Meguiars Dual Action Cleaner Polish 18.95
Porter Cable 7424 Dual Action Polisher 139.95
Meguiars Foam Pad Accessory Kit 45.95
Four Star Rubber & Vinyl Protectant 32 Ounce 10.00
Soft Touch Microfiber Towel X 4 4.95 each
Premium Drying Towel 25x36 Inch Waffle Weave 10.95

Total: 309.40

All that is available online. The stuff you can get locally is:

Prestone Car Wash (its blue. I dont' know much more about it.)
CD2 Engine Detailing Kit (Kind of harder to find. Check K-Mart for them. PepBoys sometimes has it. I'll go more into this later.)
Prestone Foaming Carpet Cleaner
Meguiar's #40 or #39 (Get the #39 if you can find it. Its stronger.)
Shop towels (Get two rolls at least. You'll need em.)
Detailing brushes (might wanna throw in a couple of your old tooth brushes too)
Invisible Glass
Tooth Picks
Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner
Foaming engine degreaser (Gunk makes a good one)
Eagle One A2Z wheel cleaner
Eagle One Wet tire shine (not the gel. get the spray)
Eagle One tire swipes (I wdidn't use to be a fan of them. Now I love them. They are the best way to spread the tire shine I've found.)
Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover
S100 wax
Mineral spirits
wool wash mitt


Anyway, since you already have a lot of stuff it would probably be easier if you post what you have and then people can fill in the blanks. With a thousand dollars you could expand into maybe PDR or touch up repair stuff. Personally I would dump the 1000 into training in one of those areas and just keep building on my current supply. I would also designate a certian part of that money to setting up an LLC so you can protect your personal assets from your business assets. Even if you aren't going to be doing this full time I would set up an LLC just for legal and tax reasons.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

GSRstilez said:
Charlie: I've used a PC maybe three times in my career and never on a customer's vehicle. I trained myself on the rotary and have never looked back. Its arguable you will not get a better finish than Menzerna PO85RD / FPII on the finishing pad @ 1500rpm. Days/weeks/months after, never a sign of buffer haze or micromarring.
Click to expand...

That's all fine and good (and very true) but remember not all that many folks are as skilled with the rotary as you are; and especially for someone just starting right in on customer's vehicles, they aren't likely to get quite as high quality output from relying on the rotary.

I suppose it depends on the person, and the products/pads they are using, though.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

Charlie: I see...I was under the influence this $1000 was our choice :)...It would be simple to swap the rotary for a PC, yep :).
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

What did I do..

Ok I'm Comfortable with what I have I have been doing the one a month detail here and there and i'm fine with what i have.

I find MANY people come in and say""What should i get?????""

So I thought that if people would like thier ""MUST HAVE ITEMS"" that if everything they had was gone and needed to start over with $1000 What would you get..
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

holland_patrick said:
Every so often we come across people who want to know what to get when starting out. So with a 1000 dollars to start with what would you get..
Click to expand...

Tell them to get more money...$1000 is not enough to start a real business

try adding another "0" to that amount ...

Interior:
A true professional will have an extractor...a decent one will be about $1,500-2000 alone.
A good selection of brushes and crevice tools $200-300

Exterior:

Rotary and/ or Cyclo and/ or PC $200-600
Pads for these machines $200-500 (a good selection will be needed)
Another selection of wheel and tire brushes, body brushes for larger trucks and vans. $200-300
Assorted tire brushes and dressing applicators $100

Chemicals:
Choose ones that are not only economical , but easy to use in all circumstances, hot, cold, sun, shade etc.. $400-1000

Of course if you are going to be a "professional" you will need insurance. $1000 or more if you have a "real" shop, don't forget about health insurance and taxes too...yes real "Pros" pay their share of taxes!!!!

Mobile detailers should have a recovery system for the EPA $600-$1500, a trailer $1500-5000, mobile shade $200-1000

For a shop you will have rent 500-2000 for a one or two bay shop, electric, heat and or cooling $200-500 per month, alarm system $? .

Of course the above is for someone who is legit and wants to be seen as a "Pro" , not someone just running around with the back of their car/truck with a polisher and wet vac:rolleyes:
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

Sean-- what detailing aid is this???

(4) Kids&Pets

I have 2 cats, but they have never been much help detailing my car. Do I need to add 2 more cats before the magic kicks in? :clown:
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

GSRstilez said:
Charlie: I see...I was under the influence this $1000 was our choice :)...It would be simple to swap the rotary for a PC, yep :).
Click to expand...

Yeah, I wasn't saying you were WRONG with what you were saying, I was just wondering about it; and then I was expressing "my" preference, too... ;)
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

chml17l said:
Sean-- what detailing aid is this???

(4) Kids&Pets

I have 2 cats, but they have never been much help detailing my car. Do I need to add 2 more cats before the magic kicks in? :clown:
Click to expand...

I thought this was hilarious.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

PEI Detail said:
I thought this was hilarious.
Click to expand...
I suggest he get the two extra cats i have four kids and their not worth darn when to comes to detailing lol !
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

Patrick: Are you referring to doing a couple jobs here and there, like most of us do, or a full time detailing business? If your trying to do this full time and actually establish a shop then I think Antonio is on the right track. For someone whos doing it mobile as a side job through word of mouth, I think some of the lists above are good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top