First Paid Job Today

nickis

New member
It sure is nice to turn a hobby into a paying job.

Today I got to do a Subaru Outback owned by an older woman that my mom works with. She just opted for my wash/vacuum/wax type deal so I didn't get to go all out but the car still improved by leaps and bounds. I spent about 4 hours working on it and only charged $50 because I didn't want to discourage her business and I need some referals. She lives in an upscale neighborhood so hopefully some of them will ask her who did her car and she can send them my way.

I started out with the interior because I knew that it was going to be pretty grueling. There was clutter all over but I just worked around it. I used Natural Look on most of the vinyl and plastic and it produced pretty dramatic results, definately moreso than on my own beige interior. I was pleased with how well it cleaned up, it felt much nicer to be in after I got through with it. Before and after shots of the console are below.

There were pretty severe swirls and maybe some mild etching on the outside but she just wanted wax and I really didn't want to try to upsell my first customer. I washed, clayed, and did a coat of VM and a coat of S100. The result on this color (its actually a very dark blue) was fantastic, although admittedly the pictures below are in the shade and it wouldn't be quite as pretty in full sun. I wish I had taken before pictures.

Her and her husband left me with the car and weren't back by the time I was done, but I trust they are quite pleased with the result.


outback01.jpg

outback02.jpg

outback05.jpg

outback08.jpg

outback11.jpg

outback10.jpg
 
Congratulations on your first job - looks very good :bigups :bigups !

Very cheap though especially if they're not friends or relatives. If you get any referalls from them the next person may expect the price to be that low also. Better to start out charging what you want to make rather than having to explain to the next guy why your charging him more than the person before him.
 
same deal

very nice job on the car . its real clean for 50 bucks. i did the same thing you did when i started out . some lady came into the shop the day i opened and said she had an x5 only a year old . so i told her 60 bucks for the full detail . i didnt spend all day on it and looked like a 130 job . when she came to get the car she almost passed out it looked so good she was stunned i explained to her during the payment process the fee of $60 was only for her because she was my first customer . she understood and spread good things about me like wild fire in hay field. she has brought me buisness . but i could see how she could have mistook me for a really cheap detailer.
 
Sorry, but the first thing I noticed is the little mini-driveway under the tree. Anyone else think thats virtually a perfect place for a car pose? Sorry, it just looks cool.

Nice job though.
 
very nice. i remember my first paid job too :). i havent gotten one since :wall, hehe because ive been really busy with tennis and summer school, and driving of course :P. very nice. ill be the first to ask, what did you use (hopefully you didnt answer that question yet). very niceeeeeeeeeee. its the most fun when you see their faces after they see their car. its almost like on "the swan", when the contestants have themselves revealed, and they start screaming and such. so much fun to see their faces, especially on first time customers. good job, hope to see more in the future
 
Great Job!

Welcome to the world of getting paid to do what you love to do!

And you do it pretty darn good as well!

:cool
 
Thanks for the compliments and advice, guys. I wouldn't be doing it without this forum for encouragement and answers. I don't know if he will read this but denverdetail's previous posts have been especially insightful on managing the business end of detailing and I want to recognize him for that.

I wish I could have stuck around to see the reaction of this customer because I have the feeling she was quite pleased. She showed me all the clutter in the car on the way out and told me not to worry about vacuuming around it all so I think her expectations were pretty low. Her and her husband are really nice people though, so I didn't think much of going above and beyond.

I would say $50 is a bargain too, but my regular asking price will only be $60. It isn't a full detail, I didn't shampoo the carpets or even polish the exterior unless you count the claybar. For four hours of work $60 will turn out to be a solid $15 an hour, and thats fine with me. I would rather have plenty of work at a modest price than have a job here and there for big bucks. Believe it or not plenty of people scoff at $60 (not to my face but you can tell they think its pricey). Consistency of income counts for something.

The mini-driveway thing really is perfect for pics. You've got shade, a nice lawn, and a square of blacktop that fits the car perfectly. It looks very neat. I pulled it out a bit to wash though, because there are some low hanging branches that would interfere.

zesty: I did indeed mention what I used, but just for you I'll repeat it ;). Natural Look on all the interior vinyl, and VM + S100 outside. Oh yea, and Turtlewax tire dressing (works for me).

My mom will talk to this woman tommorow at work, hopefully I will get good remarks. Right now I have to go print more fliers!
 
nickis said:


Natural Look on all the interior vinyl, and VM + S100 outside. Oh yea, and Turtlewax tire dressing (works for me).


maybe not a full detail, but damn sure worth more than 50 bucks considering you used a two-step (and a claying). IMHO it could've fetched $75-100. you've got great business ideas though, start small and get your word around, in no time you should have a solid foundation. excellent work bro!
 
nickis said:
Her and her husband left me with the car and weren't back by the time I was done, but I trust they are quite pleased with the result.
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Looks like you did a very good job. Why not call your customer and get their reaction to your fine work firsthand? That way you'll show them that you are truely interested in making sure they were satisfied with your work.
 
your buisness

how ever you feel you can get your buisness going then my god go with it . it is "yours" after all. your right a steady income does count for something and that will help you to spend money on either product or other thoings you want with out expecting to much or to little come time to count your money. you also know the area you live in and if you think people will say 60 is pricey you need to explain to them what your process involves. also i would point out anything you think you would need to remove with clay, tell them it is an extra 5 0r 10 this way it makes you seem like you spending a whole nother period of time cleaning thier car. and alot of ppl dont know about clay it is a fairly hidden technique to most people who come in for details. good luck .
 
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