Considering business

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jetblackchew

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For those of you already owning businesses, without letting everyone know your rake in the business, does owning a detailing business make a comfortable income. And those who run a part time outfit, has it really been worth the effort. I've got a fulltime job and want to see what that plus running a detailing business will do with my time and effort. Any advice would be appreciated :cheers:
 
jetblackchew said:
For those of you already owning businesses, without letting everyone know your rake in the business, does owning a detailing business make a comfortable income. And those who run a part time outfit, has it really been worth the effort. I've got a fulltime job and want to see what that plus running a detailing business will do with my time and effort. Any advice would be appreciated :cheers:
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I'm making no income, and probably won't until next spring. I bought all my equipment and everything outright. My last big expenditures will be this month. After that it will be about $1500/mo for shop, insurance, phone, and gas. I can probably break even through the winter.

I work 10hours/week as an educator, and am teaching a class at the local college. I also do writing and public speaking. Hopefully all that will get us through a cold winter.
 
If you own a shop and live in a place where winter will affect you especialy when snow hits i highly reccomend you put up signs outside your shop for hand washing! As soon as salt hits the cars people go crazy and want them clean! After you get the initial WASH then up sell them a nice 1 step polish/wax to get them through the winter. I helped run a hand wash a few years ago and we went from washing about 150 cars a day to 600+ a day when sniow and salt hits.
 
im doing good as a side job I made 475.00 this week on the side and im in my second year .. im making more because im using my rotary and doing difficult jobs like cut and polish jobs that are 200.00 for paint work only . also doing an overspray job on a camry saturday .. clay then rotary polish and sealer 150.00 but these people are very picky .. once you get the basics down you can step up to more difficult jobs .. dont skimp on equipment like an extractor . if you want to do top notch work you need good equipment . i spent all last year paying off my equipment and now im making good dough .. good luck and ask lots of questions . also contact our sponsors for equipment and advice. dwayne at PAC, STEVE AT POORBOYS , EDGE PADS . they all provide customer service and advice second to none ..
 
one option is to look into govenrment small business loans or grants. do a google search or check with a govenment employment office. everylittle bit helps.
 
Great, thanks all for the info. just trying to figure what the ROI is for starting up small and building it up as business grows. It seems as if it'll be roughly the same base outlay for equipment for a good period of time before any thought of expansion. I'll dig around the area as well and see if there are any local shops that will affect potential business.

thanks again all
 
I'm a weekender and during the summer months I make about 350 to 450 a weekend.........its worth the time that I invest only beacuse I like the work.....I don't do much in the winter here prefer not to work in the rain or cold.
 
It is a scary thing to go full-time. I made no money mon-tues-wed, then brought in $230 today, and have $165 tomorrow (and will be done work by 3). Then, who knows? That's why I do other part-time work.
 
It will take you years to learn "YOUR" way. I starved for a long time, before I could live confortable. Now I just do it part-time and my help does it during the week while I'm at my day job.
 
I think it sounds like a great Idea!!! The first thing you need to do is get the equipment/ chemicals.
I have:
mytee hp 60, and hp100
PorterCable Buffer, Dewalt buffer
30-50 Different pads, you will need about 4 different pads to start.
PorterCable Pressure washer 1700-1900 psi ?
5-7 buckets
Wash mits, and brushes
2 high flow fans 9 for drying carpets)
Craftsman 60 gal compresser w air guns
2 Craftman 16 gal shop vacs
50-100 Micro fiber towels
100-200 terry towels
batt charger, full line of tools, gas can, broom, squegee, garbage can, ect..
drill with sticker eraser
razor blades
Alot of chemicals
computer , phone, creditcard machine, desk, printer, camra, internet,
INsurance 106.00 a month
Rent 2000 Sq Foot ? 550.00 a month Remember you will need first month and deposite up front.
Steam Cleaner for carpets
ladder
washer dryer
business cards, website
Sign on building
parking lot for cars to dry..

Im sure the list could go on but i wont Bore you...

so bills i have are rent 550, insurance, 106, phone/cell 100, heat/ elec depends , Water is free, I will tell you some months are hard to make it.. this month started well for us. In the first 8 days of work we grossed 3000.00 I think this month will bring in somewhere between 6-8,000 I have one full time guy who works for 7.50 an hour and one part-timer who works for 7 an hour plus an extra 10.00 for an car he buff's they could work for more else where but its fun to work at my shop... I willpost some pics of the place soon.. Btw I started about a year and half ago and right now im 22 years old.. also you will have a hard time finding insurance at any age under 21.

my .02
 
$550/2000sq.ft? Wow. I got $1100/1600sq.ft and feel great about it.
I would love 50+ m/f, but only bought 10 good ones plus 10 average ones.

My set up is good, good location. It is my lack of customers that is problematic.
 
Well if you decide to go mobile detailing instead of a store front your overhead is alot lower. All you have to worry about is supplies and car payment and / or insurance .

You use your personal cell and personal car / truck / van. I do this part-time because I need SOME time off from working.
Depending on how much you want to work is how much you'll make. Well its true out here in Hawaii. I could make over a 1K a week if I really pushed it and got up a 600am every morning but I'm not like that .

Although my airline just filed for bankruptcy protection so you might see me at Starbucks in the mornings...LOL I hope not..
 
Alien: Great info there. Thanks for the perspective on starting out. And I aree with PEI, thats some really low rent. Here in North Jersey I cant even imagine what sq footage will cost.

Hawaiian: I have to factor in the winter months and whether or not do do any business as a mobile detailer freezing my butt off :) Or I could move to HI

Beemerboy: I would probably start off doing a few on weekends and see how it works out as far as repeat customers and word of mouth business. If it takes off, then put in some more investment and go the mobile or aliengotpsi route.

detailbarn: i'm in north jersey

and again, thanks for all the info guys! :cheers:
 
Hawaiian: I have to factor in the winter months and whether or not do do any business as a mobile detailer freezing my butt off :) Or I could move to HI


That's a great idea. There's soo much work here you wouldn't be disappointed. And you can detail year 'round. People here are either too busy or too lazy to clean their cars and will pay good prices..

Disclaimer: median house prices for O'ahu = 510,000
Milk = 3.60 a gallon.
Gas prices went from LOL to OMG to now WTF!!!

Move at your own risk .
 
Hawaiianelement said:
Hawaiian: I have to factor in the winter months and whether or not do do any business as a mobile detailer freezing my butt off :) Or I could move to HI


That's a great idea. There's soo much work here you wouldn't be disappointed. And you can detail year 'round. People here are either too busy or too lazy to clean their cars and will pay good prices..

Disclaimer: median house prices for O'ahu = 510,000
Milk = 3.60 a gallon.
Gas prices went from LOL to OMG to now WTF!!!

Move at your own risk .
Click to expand...

haha, i lived in san francisco for 3 years. Those numbers sound awfully proportionate.
 
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