Anything I should know about detailing as a side job?

01WJLimited

01WJLimited

OTC Home Detailer
I would probably open the offer to anyone in my neighborhood. I don't have a PC, so it would all be done by hand, as far as polishing and waxing. I'm not sure what the going rates are for a whole car detail, or how much it would be to do individual parts of a car (just engine, just interior, etc). I'm no professional, so the prices should reflect that. I feel that I do a good job on my own car, and I get some sort of satisfaction out of making cars clean, whether it be mine or my friends or parents. I have done my friends for a while, and in addition to my part time job at night, I could detail a car or two during the day.

Part 2: Is there anything Illegal about detailing for money, and not being registered as a business? I don't need to be getting in any trouble... Haha. I see kids mowing grass and selling lemonade... so it shouldn't be a problem?


Sorry for all the retarded questions, I'm just a kid trying to make a buck or two doing what I love.
 
01WJLimited said:
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Part 2: Is there anything Illegal about detailing for money, and not being registered as a business? I don't need to be getting in any trouble... Haha. I see kids mowing grass and selling lemonade... so it shouldn't be a problem?


Sorry for all the retarded questions, I'm just a kid trying to make a buck or two doing what I love.
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Its Called Income Tax Evasion.almost sure jail time is mandatory:lmfao
 
Yeah, do your taxes thing.

I charge:
$50-$65 wash & wax + $20 for clay + $20-$30 AIO app
Car/Truck Int. $49.95 avg + $20 shampoo
Van/SUV Int $59.95 avg + $25 shampoo
Wash $11.99-$14.99
Vac & Wash $19.99-$39.99 (includes dusting dash)
I also offer things like RainX app, power wash carpets, windows as extra, scratch repair, limited paint touch up, polish, and a franchise paint renewal system.

Everything except Step 1-2-3 polish systems and scratch repair don't need a polisher. Even still a PC would be a good cheap upgrade.

Now, keep in mind, it costs me $75-$100 to open my shop door each and every day, and I'm in an economically depressed area, so theose prices are a recipe for disaster.
As a p/timer in a similar area, they would work well.

Also, find a garage you can rend in evenings/weekends, or some old bitty's garage she isn't using. YOu could probably get an agreement for a coupla hundred a month, or $20-$30/day.
 
Until you make a certian amount you don't need to claim it on your taxes. It is a very small amount though. Like $1000 a year or some itty bitty number like that. I would just include it as 'additional income' on your taxes when you file. That's what I do and it is what I would recommend you do as well.

As for having a business license... yes, technically you need to have one. Technically you should have insurance to cover you for this type of thing too. If you think that you can't get nailed just because you are a small time hobbiest detailer, then just read this article. You can be shut down and fined by your city if you operate a business without a license.

Without a PC you really aren't going to be able to do much for people other than wash and wax. Swirl removal and even oxidation removal are jobs for a machine. Get a PC before you get too serious about detailing for money. Just waxing the car isn't going to get you the 'wows' that polishing and really restoring the shine will get you. It is the 'wow' factor that gets you repeat business. "that's nice" doesn't get referrals and it doesn't get repeat customers. "holy cow! What a difference!" gets lots of referrals and repeat business.
 
Yeah, I understand the "Wow" Statements. I don't know if I could do it for free and just hope for a tip, that's ripping myself off, and a waste of my products. I don't know anything about the whole tax deal or business permit, or what to do about them, so I'll just hold off until I have some of this stuff figured out. Keep in mind I'm only 17, therefore the lack of business knowledge.
 
01WJLimited said:
Yeah, I understand the "Wow" Statements. I don't know if I could do it for free and just hope for a tip, that's ripping myself off, and a waste of my products. I don't know anything about the whole tax deal or business permit, or what to do about them, so I'll just hold off until I have some of this stuff figured out. Keep in mind I'm only 17, therefore the lack of business knowledge.
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i'm sorry i wasn't being serious. go ahead make the money on the side. i dont see this as a problem.
 
I wouldn't do really anyone's but my friends and neighbors.

And if I knew them, I would sure as hell beat the CleanTown standard price of $23.00.
 
If you withheld a third of your extra income for the tax man, that gives you the authorization to claim purchases as business write-off's, right? Or, do you need to have a license as proof of being in business before you can write anything off?
 
You can set up a DBA for really cheap. An LLC is also very very cheap. In my county a business license is only around $100 bucks a year to maintain, so it isn't like going legit would break the bank.

I've got an article on my site that I should cut and paste and put over here. I'll do that and maybe that will give you some advice that will be useful.
 
Jngrbrdman said:
You can set up a DBA for really cheap. An LLC is also very very cheap. In my county a business license is only around $100 bucks a year to maintain, so it isn't like going legit would break the bank.

I've got an article on my site that I should cut and paste and put over here. I'll do that and maybe that will give you some advice that will be useful.
Click to expand...


Thanks, I would appreciate that.
 
'Doing Business As' It's the type of business structure where you list the business under your own name and not an actual business name. Most people in direct sales businesses will be listed this way. Its just easier and cheaper (as in free) than getting trademarks for your business name and all that jazz.
 
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