What do I need to start a business

Re: What do I need to star a bussness

jason(england) said:
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:
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Im just starting mine and I thought I was being fair to myself saying that i could do it for 3k. I am at about 3k now and I still have to buy all my chemicals, my generator, my vac., my carpet extractor, my canopy, and all advertiseing/legal costs.
 
Patrick

You know what products work for you and what one's don't. I don't need to waste your time picking through my list for more to try. I have seen your work and it speaks for it self. you have a lot of pride in your workmanship and it shows.

To get your business of the ground you need to know how many repeat customers you are guaranteed for a year, that will give you some idea of a steady income to base your yearly income on. Then you'd have to do your home work and find out what your insurance, registration fees, and licensing fees would set you back. if you can not make enough to cover all your pay out you would be operating at a loss. and after finding out what all your pay out will be will you have to raise your pricing structure? will your customer base stay with you after the increase? many things to ponder.

I have though endless nights over this subject and one of My main concerns would be "IF" something were to happen could they take My House, My Truck, My lively hood....the one way to avoid this is to "Coop" which opens up a whole new basket of litigation.

I know here in N.J., I would have to register in every County I would work in, at a $50+ registration fee per year it adds up fast. and then you need a name, is that name reg. in another CO? and as far as I know right now is you have to spend a fee to find out if that name is used else where, that might set you back at least $100+ per County.

I'm not trying to discourage you, but you have to dot your "i's" and cross your "t's" and cover you ass in the same stroke.
Good luck My friend.
 
I have yet to try this method, however i have heard great things, and once i figure out hoe to get around some drange laws I will try it. But what i was told is start with a fed hundred dollars in prodcts like 150 min. start with small things such as a hand wash for 20-25 bucks, maybe an interior wipe and vacume. If someone wants more offer that service. The catch is all the money you make gets investedright back in. For example you buys a ww mf and some pb sss. Wash say 10 cars at $25 bucks, now you have 250 to invest, buy a good vacume and offer interior detailing, make another few hundred and there are some more supplies. Eventualy you will have a full line of procucts as well as a cliental base. If you want to open a show you have a means and if you want to keep going the route your on your good to go. I have heard great things and plan on trying this soon, im already working on a portfolia of pics for clients so check out.
I know i have missed some things to buy such as a pc and what not. However you need to buy what you find works for you and your customers.
Good luck to however trys it
(like i said earlier i did not come up with this, the idea was given to me here on dc, i cant remeber by who, or on what post so to you thank you I am not trying to steal and idea just cant remeber and cant find it so thank you and im sorry)
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

futuresweets-10 said:
Im just starting mine and I thought I was being fair to myself saying that i could do it for 3k. I am at about 3k now and I still have to buy all my chemicals, my generator, my vac., my carpet extractor, my canopy, and all advertiseing/legal costs.
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Yeah I'd say to do a 100% legit, full-time business, you should be aiming at more like $10-15K of start-up capital. With all the big-ticket stuff you say you still need to buy, you could easily reach that point without trying too hard.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Yeah I'd say to do a 100% legit, full-time business, you should be aiming at more like $10-15K of start-up capital. With all the big-ticket stuff you say you still need to buy, you could easily reach that point without trying too hard.
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I wouldnt say you would have to go that far. Im going to be right about 3500 bucks for all my supplies, equipment, and chemicals. Its not going to be but a few hundered bucks to get the business as an LLC. Past that point I dont know what other expences could be another 12k. BTW, i dont know where I got that 3k figure, Ive spent 1700 so far. Once I purchase everything I need I will make all of my total costs and everything public knowledge to help others out.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

futuresweets-10 said:
I wouldnt say you would have to go that far. Im going to be right about 3500 bucks for all my supplies, equipment, and chemicals. Its not going to be but a few hundered bucks to get the business as an LLC. Past that point I dont know what other expences could be another 12k. BTW, i dont know where I got that 3k figure, Ive spent 1700 so far. Once I purchase everything I need I will make all of my total costs and everything public knowledge to help others out.
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Granted you could do it cheaper, but to buy the very best equipment, products, etc. for a high volume business you'd need more start-up capital. OK equipment can be had for cheap, GREAT equipment is a major investment.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

Future, don't let pretentious comments throw you off. Start with what you've go, do good work. You could build a bigger chemical base, good extractor, etc. You can specialize.
I spent $30-$35,000 CDN start up for a rented shop and operation expenses for the first year ($25k actual start up). That's without a few renos I'd like, short a nice $10,000 sign, and short a $1400 extractor I'd like. But it included a dealership with a creative, exclusive product.
Now I have a growing, very happy client list in a tough atmosphere. The client list gains value, and the dealership holds value. No, I don't do custom work or electronics or undercoating, but what I do I do well.
 
Re: What do I need to star a bussness

Shiny Lil Detlr said:
Granted you could do it cheaper, but to buy the very best equipment, products, etc. for a high volume business you'd need more start-up capital. OK equipment can be had for cheap, GREAT equipment is a major investment.
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I guess youve got a point... I went ahead and bought the best pressure washer I could find since I dont want to be replaceing that.
 
Shiney's quote is pretty close. If you are starting from scratch you can easliy make it to 10k. How will you be mobile? Will it be by trailer,truck bed or van? Starting from scratch you would have to get one of these. I started off by attaching my mobile unit to the bed of my truck, but has soon as I had enough money I got a trailer. The weight of the water alone will cause damage to a truck after a peroid of time. You mentioned a carpet extractor and those are not cheap. After you get all of the tools and products your going to need then you've got to do some type of advertising. I would also recommend putting some money to the side just in case you don't make the profit you expected the first few months. I'm not saying you have to spend that much money to be good at what you do, but I've learned that the proper tools and products will make you great at what you do.
 
BLUELINE 1 said:
Shiney's quote is pretty close. If you are starting from scratch you can easliy make it to 10k. How will you be mobile? Will it be by trailer,truck bed or van? Starting from scratch you would have to get one of these. I started off by attaching my mobile unit to the bed of my truck, but has soon as I had enough money I got a trailer. The weight of the water alone will cause damage to a truck after a peroid of time. You mentioned a carpet extractor and those are not cheap. After you get all of the tools and products your going to need then you've got to do some type of advertising. I would also recommend putting some money to the side just in case you don't make the profit you expected the first few months. I'm not saying you have to spend that much money to be good at what you do, but I've learned that the proper tools and products will make you great at what you do.
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that makes sense. I currently go to school about 25 hours a week and work about 30, so Im not going to be doing the detailing thing full time. Personally, Ive got a trailer I am useing.
 
I think the most expensive piece of machine. It gotta be the extractor, I seen from 400.00 all the way to 2000.00 dollar :eek: I was consider getting me that small portable Aztec extractor(dont have exact model #). Good luck.
 
Without getting into the thousands of dollars it will take to start a business, let me make this one point. KEEP MONEY IN THE BANK FOR WORKING CAPITAL!!!! If you spend all your money on great supplies and then no customers call for a week, you're screwed. Buy the barest of essentials that you need for the services you have booked as of right now. If a new customer needs a machine buff in the future, just schedule them for the next day, go buy a PC, do the job. Same goes for pressure washers and generators. I drove around with a pressure washer, 100gal water tank, generator, and extractor for three months before I ever had a job that required them, meanwhile I couldn't pay for the gas to get to my regular hand wash clients! Don't do that!
 
So realistically - a single person doing it full time - how much do you think you could clear in a year - say with a good 25K startup for a mobile detailing.
 
groebuck said:
So realistically - a single person doing it full time - how much do you think you could clear in a year - say with a good 25K startup for a mobile detailing.
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It all ends up being about a few things, one, how ambitious are you? That may determine how much you want to make...then word of mouth and location...so I am not sure there is a number that can be put on this...
 
I am just looking for a ballpark here - A single person mobile detailing - working 5 days a week - I live in ohio so going to have off time for winters etc and probably drop off but I would love to do it. I have the capital to start a mobile detailing biz, the skill and knowledge to do the job right and fast enought to have a profitable turnaround time. I can do the business end of research and marketing and such - just want to know what a ballpark income is for a someone doing that...say with a good client base, 5 days a week - 2-3 cars a day - possibly some twice a month industrial park jobs with 10 wash/quick details in there...
 
groebuck said:
I am just looking for a ballpark here - A single person mobile detailing - working 5 days a week - I live in ohio so going to have off time for winters etc and probably drop off but I would love to do it. I have the capital to start a mobile detailing biz, the skill and knowledge to do the job right and fast enought to have a profitable turnaround time. I can do the business end of research and marketing and such - just want to know what a ballpark income is for a someone doing that...say with a good client base, 5 days a week - 2-3 cars a day - possibly some twice a month industrial park jobs with 10 wash/quick details in there...
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first being mobile and starting new, you will not be working 5 days a week. Count in rain days and no booking days, and even a few " I'm too sore or tired" days. You will be lucky to average 2-3 days a week to start. After a while and with some contacts and referrals you can get easily booked everyday if you really wanted to. If you get regular customers, you will need to plan these days for the industrial parks. With some luck, you can make $45K by yourself (before expenses), but I doubt that will be possible for the first year or two :passout:
 
Poorboy said:
first being mobile and starting new, you will not be working 5 days a week. Count in rain days and no booking days, and even a few " I'm too sore or tired" days. You will be lucky to average 2-3 days a week to start. After a while and with some contacts and referrals you can get easily booked everyday if you really wanted to. If you get regular customers, you will need to plan these days for the industrial parks. With some luck, you can make $45K by yourself (before expenses), but I doubt that will be possible for the first year or two :passout:
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To piggy back on steve you also have to account for cancellations and no show.

How long does it take you to do a full detail on an average size car?

On 2-3 cars a day what will be the average price for each?

On a 5 day work schedule what 2 days will you be unavailable? Especially in a 4 season climate area.

How much do you make now at your current job?

What type of vehicle will you be using if mobile?

How will you market and advertise your business the first year?

Etc....
 
well I am pretty good at detailing - I have all the tools needed and depending on the condition of the car - 1-2 hours can turn out a "wowser" to the average consumer. The reason I got curious is I work in an industrial park now, I had the local guy do my trailblazer (the vehicle I would be using) for a "detail" in/out and hand wax - 100 bucks - xxxxty job - residue in my gaps, tire shine on the wheels, smeared windows...and the people here were like "really? we think he is awesome" And he took about an 1 hour and I think he cranked out 7-8 cars that day - 800 bucks for xxxxty work lol.
 
groebuck said:
well I am pretty good at detailing - I have all the tools needed and depending on the condition of the car - 1-2 hours can turn out a "wowser" to the average consumer. The reason I got curious is I work in an industrial park now, I had the local guy do my trailblazer (the vehicle I would be using) for a "detail" in/out and hand wax - 100 bucks - xxxxty job - residue in my gaps, tire shine on the wheels, smeared windows...and the people here were like "really? we think he is awesome" And he took about an 1 hour and I think he cranked out 7-8 cars that day - 800 bucks for xxxxty work lol.
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Getting your car detailed by the competition was the right thing to do.

Now you have some good information to improve upon. My question is how are you going to educate the consumer? Meaning if they think he is awesome how are you going to show them they are missing out on something special?
 
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