Dream come true?

R

ruining

New member
Well, I've been intrested in getting a business going for quite some time. I've been doing family and friend's vehicles for a while with the PC with great results. I'm getting started with the rotary and had some pretty good luck on my own 350z (DB), but not confident enough to really make a go of it on black yet.



So, I was talking to my dad and the transmission shop that he works in is in the process of opening up a detail shop. They are the top of the line shop in the area and the owner had a bad experience with the only detail shop in town. He decided to open a detail shop to offer better customer service and some competition in the town. I've been in sales for about 9 years and have great customer service skills, so I was kind of a shoe-in.



The beatiful part of all this is that he offered the space to me to get a shop going. It's going to be a bay right next to a muffler shop, but it's big enough that I can install a half wall to separate the business.



I asked him what he had in mind for running the shop and he told me, "The space is yours. Run it." I asked him if he wanted a percentage of the work I was doing and he said, "how about $200 per month? Do you think you could do that?" I said absolutely and that was pretty much it. Here are pics of the work area. Everything you see is mine for detailing.



What do you think? Pics are with a camera phone. Sorry.



This pic shows an extended work space. You can't really tell, but the space goes back about 20 feet.

06_18_07_1333.jpg






This pic shows my bay door. Once he gets the cars out, I need to clean up the walls and get some tools in, and I'll be set!

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It's amazing what kind of opportunities a little spite will inspire. The owner took his truck for a detail and the shop left it looking like a Zebra from the stripes from the rotary. When he complained, the detail shop said, "it's an old junk truck, what did you expect?"



UNREAL! His truck isn't in that bad of shape. They just wanted to make a quick buck off of him. Lucky for me!:spot
 
I don't understand, where is the muffler shop? In the same space? If not, that is unbelieveable, you're basically renting the space for $200/month. Get started, then find yourself an Autopian helper because you can definitely fit more cars in there than you can work on yourself. Can you wash inside?
 
optimusp517 said:
Sweet deal! Where are you located???
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The shop is in Shelton. I'm about 45 minutes away. The problem is, I don't know anyone in Shelton, so getting some clients could be an uphill battle at first. I'm coming up with flyers, brochures and business cards tonight with a buddy of mine that is really good a Photoshop CS2.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I don't understand, where is the muffler shop? In the same space? If not, that is unbelieveable, you're basically renting the space for $200/month. Get started, then find yourself an Autopian helper because you can definitely fit more cars in there than you can work on yourself. Can you wash inside?
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As you're looking at the pic of the inside of the building with the door, there is another door on the left that is not pictured. The door on the left is where the muffler shop will be. Everything you see in the pics will be my work area and he will have one bay and the office.



I've been wondering where I was going to find someone to work in there with me. I'm new enough to detailing that I'm sure I could learn a thing or two from someone more experienced. I AM thorough and meticulous, but very slow. At $200 for that much work space, once things get going, my goal is to hire someone else to help out.



EDIT: Oh, and no washing inside yet. I'm wondering what it would take to make some drainage area in that first pic toward the back wall. Right now, the hose bibb is outside on the other side of the muffler shop door.
 
Do you have any experience with no rinse washing (ONR, QEW, etc.)? If not, definitely give it a go, I actually prefer it to "normal" washing - I'd probably just do that instead of messing with drains and all.



Awesome price for that space. Stick with it, you will make a great business there. Grow it until you've got all the work you can do yourself, then hire one person, get it to where you're both booked solid, bring in a third, transition to manager...



If you can, try to get the while $200 a month thing in writing. That's so awesome dude.
 
HomicidalSloth said:
Do you have any experience with no rinse washing (ONR, QEW, etc.)? If not, definitely give it a go, I actually prefer it to "normal" washing - I'd probably just do that instead of messing with drains and all.



Awesome price for that space. Stick with it, you will make a great business there. Grow it until you've got all the work you can do yourself, then hire one person, get it to where you're both booked solid, bring in a third, transition to manager...



If you can, try to get the while $200 a month thing in writing. That's so awesome dude.
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Thanks for the advice. I'll definately get it in writing.



I haven't used a no rinse wash yet. I figured it would take longer than a regular wash because it rains so much here, they would always need lots of attention. We'll see how the water situation goes. If it gets uncomfortable at all, I'm game.
 
Man, @ 200 a month it doesnt matter if you have a hard time getting business at first. You just need 3-4 details a month to keep the business running. I payed 11 times that when I first started and my credit cards felt that. Looks like im goin to have to ask around for an oppurtunity like that because its almost not worth it anymore,
 
backwoods_lex said:
Jump on that like it is Jessica Alba in lingerie. Good luck.
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Jessica Alba, man you have some awesome taste in women.:wow:



I sure wish you all the luck in the world. That is a heck of a deal he offered you. Start NOW to try and find a helper or two you can rely on. Good help is the hardest thing to get in the business world.

I hate to bring this up, but I would have some sort of contract drawn up between the two of you. There is a million reasons to do it!!!!!
 
Great opportunity. All you need to do is paint the interior with some nice fresh clean colors. See if you can get polish/wax companies to send you some banners, buy some shelves and storage and you're set. I've never used ONR what I've read nothing but good things about it and some of the best detailers on this forum use it on a daily basis. Again, make sure you get it in writing because once he sees the money that you can make he's going to want more. At least do a 1 year contract.



Good luck and don't forget to send us pictures as prepare your shop.



J
 
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