Legalities of Starting Mobile detailing

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Bojo20

New member
I was thinking about starting a mobile detail service in my area (Pittsburgh, PA) and I was wondering what some of the legal issues are that I could run into. I am currently a marketing/sports marketing student at Duquesne University. So I understand how to market a small business starting up. My first question is do I have to register as a business imediately? What are the consequences if I don't? There is kids all the time that cut grass, shovel snow, and rake leaves that are not registered business' so do i have to register. I mean if end up collect a large clientelle and business is doing well I will register but just starting off I dont see the point.



Second question where is it legal to put flyers on cars? If I am at the mall and see a car that could use my help can I get in trouble by putting a flyer on it? Where has everyone had the most success with flyers neighborhoods, office buildings, aforementioned malls, or etc?



Also I work at a country club as a valet currently and I see dozens of cars everytime I work that could use my help including a black M5 that is always there that is swirled beyond belief. I know if I put flyers on their cars that I would get fired and there cars are always empty and clean on the inside so I dont think I would be able to get away with leaving a business card on the console. Can anyone else think of a way to advertise to this large target market that I see all the time without getting fired? Most of the members arent very friendly also so just telling them that their car needs some attention would more then likely get them angry at me then get me business.



Thanks in advanced for any input you guys have
 
I too work at a country club, only i am a chef not a valet. Part of my job involves interacting with the members on certain nights, they are actually nicer than they appear. The best way for you to approach it is just to ask them if they have ever had their car professionally detailed, then slowly jump in with well i am working on starting up a small detailing business, and i would love to do some work on your car, and since your a member at XXXXX country club, i would do it a a decent price. (Give him a pretty good deal, his referral in the locker room will net you 20 more customers. Good luck with your venture, if you need any help with anything, check out my profile and try and contact me. Like alot of people on this board, i ahve alot of things and information that i am willing to give away. Have a nice afternoon



-Michael Gleeson
 
If a 'no soliciting/handbills/etc sign is posted in a lot, then don't put out flyers. Your best bet is to put them on doors in high end nieghborhoods. Every time it is raining, put them out. Treat rainy days as full time marketing days until you really get going and you should be able to cut back.



Have you talked to the manager of the country club about the club hiring you to do details for members? If they are playing 18 holes, that should be enough time to detail a car, especially if they suck at golf. See if the club will set you up an area there to detail in exchange for a cut.



If you only accept cash in the beginning, you can get by without registering your business, but if you take checks, you have to get at least a DBA (doing business as) to open a business checking account. In Texas, it cost me $6 for my DBA and it is good for 10 years (I have 11 month left!).
 
Second question where is it legal to put flyers on cars?
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Municipal code may prohibit that....Check with your city hall.....also, remember, mailboxes are off limits...You can attach a flyer to it, but not in it...

There is kids all the time that cut grass, shovel snow, and rake leaves that are not registered business' so do i have to register.
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You have to consider the "what ifs" in small business, theres really no risk taking in shveling, raking or mowing....Grass always grows back right ? But "what if" you dropped a product on a car, , used the wrong cleaner while cleaning leather etc....I would start legite....Also, before you enter high rent neighborhoods?, get some skills aquired under your belt b4 you start working on $60,000 vehicles ! This great country of our is lawsuit crazy !
 
Thanks for all the replies guys.



I have tried to talk to the manager of the country club before about detailing for them but he just brusjed me off like I was crazy. So that I idea is pretty much dead in the water unless the members would request it.



Patrick I do have some cars under my belt but they are mainly family and friends who I don't like to charge that much or at all most times. So I have the expierence which include a benz 2 BMW and one Porsche. So I am not afraid to work on some of the higher end cars unless of course it would be a Lambo or Ferrari something exotic like that I don't think I would ever feel comfortable doing.



Thanks for the help and the info.
 
A detailer left a business card on my car at a nice restaurant. His card said "licensed and insured." How is important is this for a professional detailer. Patricks scenario made me think.
 
If you accept cash you can get by without registering. Even if it is legal and you get cash you can get by without... Nevermind :)



Here I think you have 30days to register your business. Some states you have to advertise the business for a certain amount of time before you can start or have proof that you have already used the name of your business in a sale.



Just go to you County Clerks office and they can set you on your way. You can also try to find the webpage for the city you are in as they probably either have a small business start-up center or a page telling you what you need to make your biz legal.
 
I too was thinking of starting a mobile detailing business here in pittsburgh. Im in the south hills and noone is a mobile detailer everyone takes thier cars in so I think it would be quite a new thing to people and I might get alot of clientelle.



In the end all, either good or bad, I ended up getting hired by a local detail shop for some good pay and had to put it off because now I have a consistent job (9-5 every day) and I am getting paid really well.



I was just wondering where in pittsburgh you would be doing your detailing. I just think its sort of funny we both had the same idea this summer.



Bryan
 
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