So you want to become a detailer for profit.

D

Detailing NY

New member
Well here is what you need to think of before you start.



1. What do you want to achieve? Do you want to start a full time business or start a part time business.



Do you like having weekends to yourself? if you do this may not be the job for you. Most detailing I do is on weekends and customers like it better this way.



Will you need insurance? thats up to you. but think of it this way, what would you do if someone uninsured scratched your car while they were detailing it? (i know what i would do)



taxes, do you plan to pay sales tax or income tax? If you want to stay low key and not pay any better hope you never get caught. Lots of peneltys and fines.



products, are you sure you know how to handle ever situation that comes up. Trust me wierd stuff wills start to show up. I dont know it all, but it helps to know some stuff. Just because you know how to wax does not make you a detailer.(not to be harsh but laying it down)



There is so much you need to think of before you start your own business whether it be a detailing business or a hot dog stand.

You always need to plan things out and think ahead.

NYD
 
Thanks NYD, I've been trying to make money over the weekends and the vacation by detailing, and while I have made quite a bit of money, it could be much more. I think the main reason for this is my planning. I had initially marketed myself as a detailer who uses only the best products from Germany etc etc. However, that didn't pan out as no one really cared what I used as long as I got the results. Therefore, I'd been spending 20 dollars or more getting p21s gel wheel cleaner every time it ran out, and paying another 8 for the shampoo when there were cheaper solutions around. I just saw that Eagle One A2Z costs about 4 dollars, and can be found on sale for 2. Having said this, what does everyone use for the different parts of a detail as a substitute for what gets used on their own cars. I don't mind treating my car to the best, even if there is a price markup, I just don't want that markup multiplied every time I do a customer's car, when the job could have been done just as well with something cheaper.
 
When you are doing several cars a week or more then you start buying things in bulk usually. I just picked up a deal at a business to do a dozen or so basic washes per week. Those cars aren't going to get the P21S treatment or anything expensive like that. I'll find a good wheel cleaner that I can get in bulk like the one from autoint or something like that. When you are doing lots of cars you don't shop at AutoZone for very many things. You find a supplier who can sell you vinyl/rubber protectant by the gallon. You look for other products you can get by the gallon as well. Many of the products you may use on your own car can be purchased in bulk. Its just a matter of finding a Meguiar's distributor who can get you the gallon jugs of whatever it is you need or something like that.



I wouldn't necessarily say that people want their cars done on the weekends more than the middle of the week. Most of my customers are durring the week. I don't do any details on Sunday and I reserve Saturdays for my own vehicles or my friends' cars. I don't do a lot of residential detailing though. I pick up a lot of cars from their work and do them while they are working. Anyway, I just think if you are starting out then you need to do it whenever they are available to have it done. I'm lucky and work nights so my days are open for detailing. Weekends are pretty much off limits though. I need my family time and my homework time. ;)
 
:nixweiss



OK jngrbrdman, excellent points. So how do I locate a bulk wholesaler? Additionally, do each of us have to go through a trial and error period to determine what products we like best or is there a concensus among pro's of a few brands that you can't go wrong with that are both cost effective and provide a superior product and results?



I'm all ears.



Thanks



Billium
 
It depends on what you use. I know that NYD and Scottwax use different products than maybe Intel or I do. Its all just a matter of what works best with your technique. I dig Meguiar's for bulk stuff. 4 Star makes some great products available in bulk too. Or you can try autoint.com's stuff. It just depends on what you like. Just like with the consumer marketed products there is no best. Only what works for you the best. I just use a bit of everything that catches my eye.
 
billium said:
:nixweiss



OK jngrbrdman, excellent points. So how do I locate a bulk wholesaler? Additionally, do each of us have to go through a trial and error period to determine what products we like best or is there a concensus among pro's of a few brands that you can't go wrong with that are both cost effective and provide a superior product and results?



I'm all ears.



Thanks



Billium
Click to expand...



In my opinion, you probably shouldn't be detailing for money until you know your products, what they are and aren't capable of, and have enough experience to tackle what needs to be done.

www.topoftheline.com has some good bulk products
 
Like Jngbrdman, I use a lot of Meguiars stuff, especially their Body Shop Professional line for surface correction and leveling. If you go to www.meguiars.com , you can find a link to pro distributers in your area. One gallon of product normally is in the $20-25 range (Final Inspection is around $18, #26 is around $26).



My normal final glaze is Vanilla Moose and I can buy it locally, along with Quikshine. I have a Harley dealer about 10 miles away that I buy S100 at, and I order Final Polish online.
 
MY employer uses products from a company called car care (:confused: ) as well as products from meguiars and last some of the products we use (wheel cleaner, degreaser, tire, vinyl and rubber dressing) are in giant barrels that we punp out the product.



How good is the product? I don't know, he does all of the buffing, but all of his buffing producs are meguiars where his glaze and wax are that car care stuff.



Our degreaser is just some blue solution and they use it for EVERYTHING, clean the floor matts, scrub down the vinyl on the interior (diluted of course) and washing the car.



I don't have a ton of say but I do what I can and I bring some of my products in (including my own MF towels) to show him what my stuff can do.



Bryan
 
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