Detailing on the side...

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Fifth_geN

New member
Hey guys/gals, question for ya



Alright, I'm in college right now, and want to detail for extra money. I have been trying to get a job at detailing shops near where I live, but everyone is either overstaffed or not hiring. Im sick of waiting around, and can't keep living off my savings, becasue they will run out exentualy :sadwavey: . Now I washed a few cars before in my neighborhood and made some good money. I want to get back into that but want to get a little more serious and do full detail with a buffer, etc. Anyway, to my question, if I wanted to advertise, do I need to get a small business lisence? I'm guessing that you would, but if I dont have to I won't. BUT I also dont want to risk skipping on it and mabye getting in trouble somehow. Anyway, any help advice on the best way to go about this would be helpful. I read through all the posts about detailing business here, but nothing is on a small scale level like what I want so I don't know the best way to go about it. Any help is much appreciated :hifive:
 
Well I am no professional by any means. I am in college and I'm working 2 jobs right now for about 36 hours a week all together. On the side I detail cars and I maybe do 5-6 a month because of my tight schedule. I have business cards I hand out to people or people hand out for me to friends, family, associates - - I also have my business cards sitting at a local mechanic down the street. I have had 2 bodyshops and 1 car dealer contact me wanting me to set up in their building and detail cars for their customers, not work for them. Because I just dont have the time I declined. You dont need to run a bunch of ads or anything to get business, it will just take time and word of mouth. If you know of anyone who is good at spreading the word and knows a lot of people/has connections give them a discounted or free detail and work will come your way. As for licensing and what not..I have never done anything with licensing or small business anything. Really for me it is a hobby that I have cards for. I have never gotten in trouble, and probably never will because of the small scale I detail on.
 
Thanks for the advice man. I do it for a hobby as well and just had some basic cards made up and was thinking of doing the same thing as you, just handing them out and putting them in local stores and such. Like I mentioned I was just worried about the legal side to it. Thanks again, just the advice I was looking for :2thumbs:
 
It can be fun and can be done on a small scale as Josh stated. That is basically what I do only fewer per month.



Just be careful as to what you offer and choose your tools wisely. It would probably not be a good idea to run a rotary because from what I understand everyone has an "oops" moment with them. Since you won't carry any insurance you'll be on your own to repair any damages. This could also lead to loosing that customer along with others if they bad mouth your service. With few customers this would be detrimental to you.



Good luck with it and remember to keep it enjoyable. :buffing:
 
In addition to all the advice before me, here's my $0.02



I too am a student (Senior in HS), and I do detailing on the side also. I started off doing complete interior/exterior for $40. (We all start from somewhere). I was paid on average $2 and hour, and averaged out into 9hour per job; as I had just started. Learning the process, and the tricks of the trade take time, and effort.



I started with just my family's fleet, and our extended family/neighbours/family friends just so I won't be 'sued' or screwed over by some stranger that I can pick up service from.

Without insurance or a 'legitimate' business, I'd stick to members of forums, and fellow car enthusiasts for now. There are a lot of a$$holes in this world, and you never know when someone pulls a fast one on your for a respray.



Well, a few cars later, and after pulling a few strings with my networking, I was able to find a more 'established' company, and started doing a few contract jobs for them. Now, I'm still learning, and do a few cars for them as a favor.



Coming this summer, I still plan on only doing jobs for people that belong in the same network of buds, and joining this company full-out.



One more thing. Don't be afraid to reject ANY business from someone you don't trust, or feel comfortable with. Better safe than sorry. Don't rush yourself and do a half-assed job; nor allow yourself to feel obligated to give more than they paid for. If you don't want a job because the person isn't willing to pay the Benjamin's, it would probably be wiser to just refuse the job entirely. (Don't ask me how I know)



Best of luck!

--Gabe
 
i wouldn't worry about it...most people when starting out are friends of friends of family...people who know people you know....once you start doing it for people you know doesn't know anyone you know, thats when you might have to get worried....you know! lol
 
so what about the licensing and the banking aspect of it? I want to go part time with my detail buisness, but I also want to have a seperate account for buisness money. If I open an account in a company name (just say brandons details), do I have to get a license or can I just hand out cards with that name?
 
Brandon1 said:
If I open an account in a company name (just say brandons details), do I have to get a license or can I just hand out cards with that name?
Click to expand...



If there are no age restrictions that get in the way, you can open a savings account under your own name, rather than in the name of a business. At the level you're talking about, I can't see why you'd need a DBA account. Link the saviings account to a debit card through the same bank or through something like PayPal and you can use the card to purchase supplies without having to write checks.



Handing out cards with a business name on them should be fine, regardless of the back-end banking setup. If you later expand outside a circle of friends and family, then you'll need the formality (and protections) that go with running an official business.
 
and you cant do business under brandon's detailing without filing a separate tax form...you can do it under brandon though and file it on your personal taxes, but only if you use your real name, nothing added to it or taken away from it



brandons detailing wont work

brandon wont work

brandon (last name) will work



those are to file on your taxes....basically, you have to do business under your own name, or file a business name....
 
Oh so I could print out cards with brandon wiggins on them and be just fine? So long as it's my first/last name in the title.
 
Brandon,



As long as you are not making a profit, then what you are doing can be considered nothing more than a hobby. However, when you begin to make a profit year after year, then it is clear that you are running a business.
 
frank is right, but according to my law for small business teacher, you done have to register a business name if you use your full name (and full name only, no additions, not even brandon wiggins detailing). you just have to claim the profits on your regular tax form, and you can still write off your supplies...
 
Crap.......after reading this thread I need to change a few things. I've been detailing cars on weekends like this for a few months now and have made up a website extremedetails.org and been using that to help get business. I guess based on this I need to change the name on my website to my full name rather than a detailing name. Will I still be okay using extremedetails.org as my webpage url but changing everything on the website from Extreme Details, to my full name? Also, can I put on business cards my name and then in small letters below that, "Automotive Detailing" just to state what service I provide? What would happen if someone found out about my stupid un-informed error?



Also, I detail on a pretty small scale like Joshua, maybe even a little smaller. This being the case, do you think I'll probably be okay the way I am, or should I change stuff pronto to keep from getting fined? Any advice is appreciated.
 
Actually I know a lot of lawyers and judges since I do the computers for the courthouses in our area. I guess it would be pretty simple to just ask one of them. DOn't know why I didn't think of that all along.
 
it's going to vary from state to state too. Once you get a business license, if that's what you do, you'll have to worry about water reclamation, insurance, taxes, etc., depending on the state you're in.
 
If I have to mess with all that, then I'd probably be ahead to quit for now (which I would hate). I only detail 2 or 3 cars a month and probably wouldn't make enough money to even break even if I had to do all of that.
 
It cost about $200 in New York to register a business name and incorporate it. But then you will have to file taxes for that corp every quarter or year. (READ: file, not pay) If you dont make any profit, which you wont, dont worry about it.



I have an Inc. and an LLP. THe inc was $200 and the LLP was $1500 set up.



I think you can register a business name with out an INC, (DBA) I dont know what that costs, but I cant imagine it being expensive.
 
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