Starting a Detailing Business

J

Joshua312

New member
Hello fellow Autopians, my name is Josh and Im 18 years old. I am currently attending college for a dual major in Business Administration/Entrepreneurship. I have been detailing for about 6 months now on the side for friends, family, and some random people. My dream would be to own my own mobile detailing business. My question goes out to those autopians out there who detail full time and have started their own business. I was wondering if detailing is able to give me a lifestyle that would make me happy and be able to support a family in the future. Some background information on my self that might be important, I live in west Michigan and there are not any mobile detailers that I know of. I want to be a mobile detailer because I love restoring a cars finish and being able to please the owner. I dont mind spending 7-8 hours on a car, it is fun to me and I love exploring new products, reviews, and detailing tools. So if anyone out there has any comments or input it would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!



1. Is detailing full time going to give me an income that would be able to support a family in the future? (30k to 50k?) I know 50,000 may be too much to ask for if the business would only be run by me...but thats why Im asking this question :)



2. Those of you who detail full time...if you could start over at 18 again, would you take a different route, or would you still be a detailer.



Thank you again to all who reply, I log onto Autopia while at work, at school, home..any time possible. I love learning new techniques and about peoples experiences with products and tools. There are some amazing detailers out there and I only hope that one day I can have skills like those detailers.
 
I can't be of too much help since I'm the same age as you - but my question to you is, why mobile detailing? I feel as though a fixed location business in your state would be more profitable (and comfortable/convenient for you) due to cold weather and snow.



I'm also majoring in Bus. Mgt. with a focus on entrepreneurship and most likely a minor in marketing - I hope to keep my business (full time when I have the business, fixed location) throughout college because the money is good and I enjoy the work, but after school if I choose to stay in detailing my goal would be to get to the point where the only vehicles I detail personally are my own and I'm able to simply run the business.
 
Joshua312 said:
Hello fellow Autopians, my name is Josh and Im 18 years old. I am currently attending college for a dual major in Business Administration/Entrepreneurship. I have been detailing for about 6 months now on the side for friends, family, and some random people. My dream would be to own my own mobile detailing business. My question goes out to those autopians out there who detail full time and have started their own business. I was wondering if detailing is able to give me a lifestyle that would make me happy and be able to support a family in the future. Some background information on my self that might be important, I live in west Michigan and there are not any mobile detailers that I know of. I want to be a mobile detailer because I love restoring a cars finish and being able to please the owner. I dont mind spending 7-8 hours on a car, it is fun to me and I love exploring new products, reviews, and detailing tools. So if anyone out there has any comments or input it would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!



1. Is detailing full time going to give me an income that would be able to support a family in the future? (30k to 50k?) I know 50,000 may be too much to ask for if the business would only be run by me...but thats why Im asking this question :)



2. Those of you who detail full time...if you could start over at 18 again, would you take a different route, or would you still be a detailer.



Thank you again to all who reply, I log onto Autopia while at work, at school, home..any time possible. I love learning new techniques and about peoples experiences with products and tools. There are some amazing detailers out there and I only hope that one day I can have skills like those detailers.
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You can make much more then 50k a year, but you have to stick with it and work smart.

Sounds like your traveling in the correct direction with college. Concentrate on business skills rather then detailing skills. Its 80% business and 20% detailing skills.
 
I am in the same boat you are. I started detailing when i was a freshman here in san antonio. I've used part-time detailing to get me through college, and hopefully I should be graduating Next spring. :woohoo:



I still live at home with my parents so I have very little bills. Detailing has created a way for me to support myself and save some money. However, once I graduate I will start another career. Detailing is a very respectable way to make a good living, but damn these San Antonio summers are kicking my ***...and they seem to last longer every year. 2005 summer seemed to last from mid-April to end of September. It's January and we've had some days well over 80 degrees.



Evaluate your market and don't be hasty to jump into any major decisions.
 
Joshua312 said:
1. Is detailing full time going to give me an income that would be able to support a family in the future? (30k to 50k?) I know 50,000 may be too much to ask for if the business would only be run by me...but thats why Im asking this question :)

.

2. Those of you who detail full time...if you could start over at 18 again, would you take a different route, or would you still be a detailer.

.

Thank you again to all who reply, I log onto Autopia while at work, at school, home..any time possible. I love learning new techniques and about peoples experiences with products and tools. There are some amazing detailers out there and I only hope that one day I can have skills like those detailers.
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I know a lot of detailers and I can tell you one thing. The ones that make the most money, in this area anyway, buy in bulk, get fleet work such as limo services, funeral homes, used dealerships and so on. They also don't spend hours polishing a car before waxing it like a lot of Autopians will. A one step cleaner wax / glaze is about what they will do. Now this is not for 100% of the detailers but it seems the ones I see making a killing are like this.

-

I feel that this is 99.9% on your location as well. Where I live, people would rather pay the local detail shop $79 to wash and throw some glaze on their rides than they would to pay me $200 to polish the swirls out and put a good coat of LSP on it.
 
doged said:
You can make much more then 50k a year, but you have to stick with it and work smart.

Sounds like your traveling in the correct direction with college. Concentrate on business skills rather then detailing skills. Its 80% business and 20% detailing skills.
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Even working only by myself and not hiring any help do you think it is possible to make over 50k?

As for college..I wanted to make sure I was a good business man first, detailing skills second. I know I can gain detailing skills through practice, business however takes the classes Im in now, and hopefully I gain the education needed to start and run my own business successfully.
 
Joshua312 said:
Even working only by myself and not hiring any help do you think it is possible to make over 50k?

As for college..I wanted to make sure I was a good business man first, detailing skills second. I know I can gain detailing skills through practice, business however takes the classes Im in now, and hopefully I gain the education needed to start and run my own business successfully.
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You could easily make over 50K if you marketed right. Heck, one of my local guys makes a ton of money and he does no work at all. He hires a bunch of highschool kids to do the work making like $15 per car or some junk like that. LOL
 
Joshua312 said:
Even working only by myself and not hiring any help do you think it is possible to make over 50k?

As for college..I wanted to make sure I was a good business man first, detailing skills second. I know I can gain detailing skills through practice, business however takes the classes Im in now, and hopefully I gain the education needed to start and run my own business successfully.
Click to expand...



Yes you can!!!

The best advise other then the business prep classes you are taking in collage is to learn (sales). Direct Sales is one of the most important business skills needed in any arena. Pick up and as many sales books you can and attend a few live sales training seminars. Sales seminars will make you more money then any detailer school ever could. What is most important, they will teach you how to sell value and not price, cold call, etc.
 
Danase said:
You could easily make over 50K if you marketed right. Heck, one of my local guys makes a ton of money and he does no work at all. He hires a bunch of highschool kids to do the work making like $15 per car or some junk like that. LOL
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You make a good point that some "detailers" make their money this way. And I definately respect this answer because, well it's true. In my opinion, this isn't what detailing means to me. If I were to continue with this venture, I would like to do quality workat a fair price for both my customers and myself. However, this does not mean I will not offer services that may call for this type of service, when people aren't looking for the full blown detail, I'll still be willing to do this service for them. And also thank you to doged, that is some very useful information I didn't really think of. I will be looking into that. If anyone else has input, let's keep this thread goin. Im sure there is a wealth of information and tips people could share which makes a detailing business successful. :2thumbs:
 
Joshua312 said:
You make a good point that some "detailers" make their money this way. And I definately respect this answer because, well it's true. In my opinion, this isn't what detailing means to me. If I were to continue with this venture, I would like to do quality workat a fair price for both my customers and myself. However, this does not mean I will not offer services that may call for this type of service, when people aren't looking for the full blown detail, I'll still be willing to do this service for them. And also thank you to doged, that is some very useful information I didn't really think of. I will be looking into that. If anyone else has input, let's keep this thread goin. Im sure there is a wealth of information and tips people could share which makes a detailing business successful. :2thumbs:
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I am the same way you are. I like to take pride in everything I do and don't want to slap some glaze on and call it a day. However, if you get some fleet services like I mentioned earlier, that is all they are usually looking for anyway, especially used car dealers. ;) But if you live in an area where people are going to pay for the good service I say by all means do it. :xyxthumbs
 
also know your target customers and how much they are willing to spend. Near where I live in a downtown area a "detailer" charges $100 but a few miles away in a higher end community a detailer charges $175. The guy closest to me would probably go out of business with a price of $175. You can only charge what the customer base is willing to pay. You could probably charge $500 a detail if you could attract enough of the right customer base.
 
Renny Doyle with Attention To Details is writing a series of articles on this subject. He's been in the industry for over 25 years, and it's clear he's very knowledgeable with business start ups and detailing in general. Starting a detailing business is not a "get rich quick" kind of thing like too many people believe, it takes a lot of hard work, determination, training, savvy business, marketing, finance, and sales skills, and a heavy dose of patience. As a full time venture, much of what you'll make the first and maybe second year will be poured back into the business. Here's the link to the article:

http://www.mobileworks.com/detail-business-myths.html



It's a great read and a very realistic view of what starting a detailing business may entail. I'm pretty sure he is going to be writing future articles in this series as well. Good luck and happy detailing.



Matt Williams

Silver Lining Detail
 
SilverLine said:
Renny Doyle with Attention To Details is writing a series of articles on this subject. He's been in the industry for over 25 years, and it's clear he's very knowledgeable with business start ups and detailing in general. Starting a detailing business is not a "get rich quick" kind of thing like too many people believe, it takes a lot of hard work, determination, training, savvy business, marketing, finance, and sales skills, and a heavy dose of patience. As a full time venture, much of what you'll make the first and maybe second year will be poured back into the business. Here's the link to the article:

http://www.mobileworks.com/detail-business-myths.html



It's a great read and a very realistic view of what starting a detailing business may entail. I'm pretty sure he is going to be writing future articles in this series as well. Good luck and happy detailing.



Matt Williams

Silver Lining Detail
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Not bud and company again.

This is what they wrote from the link provided:�Your first week – You will need to locate ten vehicles to detail. Using your inner circle of friends, you call everyone and locate your needed ten full details Your first month – You will need to locate an additional thirty full details for your first month, Again you go to friends, family and co-workers and locate thirty jobs�.

“Four Hundred & Eighty vehicles is a huge number for a first year business and for most this will not be a reality. I feel that while this is obtainable, most new start-ups will simply miss this mark therefore this is an unrealistic goal for the greatest majority of new detailing business start-ups�



Interesting that is only two new customers a day. Hmmm........... . I could do that setting at the high end Starbucks drinking coffee, not to mention walking though a few offices. I wonder if they know what Direct Sales is?
 
doged said:
Interesting that is only two new customers a day. Hmmm........... . I could do that setting at the high end Starbucks drinking coffee, not to mention walking though a few offices. I wonder if they know what Direct Sales is?
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You make it sound much easier than what reality dictates. Even gaining 2 new customers (not just prospects) day in and day out for the entire year is a daunting task for a first year business to achieve. Achieving these types of numbers so quickly goes against proven statistics showing that 8 out of every 10 new businesses will fail within the first two years. The few companies that are able to achieve these numbers or at least decent numbers are the ones that survive and thrive, but to say that hitting 480 new clients your first year is easily attainable is misleading and is simply not the reality of things. I'm not saying it is impossible, but it is much harder than what many people entering the industry are led to believe. I'm curious to see how many full-time professional detailers attained the 480 new customer mark their first year. And if so, were these retail, wholesale, fleet vehicles? Were they full detail, or washes, ect.?



While I don't believe this article is meant to turn people away from starting a detailing business, it is meant to simply inform people of the misconceptions that are clearly present when starting one.





[quote name='doged']Not bud and company again. QUOTE]



Just for the record, while you may not agree with the opinions of "Bud and company", these experienced industry veterans should at least get the respect they're due.



Regards,



Matt Williams

Silver Lining Detail
 
Im 22 and a Marketing Major at George Mason. I thought about starting a detail business in my area (Northern VA) but there is no way I would do it. As one mentioned above earlier, your area/location is very important. The surrounding competition and target market can vary greatly on the area. ANother thing is that the detialing business would to me at least seem very seasonal, meaning business will be quite slow during the winter months in areas where it gets cold and snows. There is a lot to be figured out when starting a business... Take time to research and research, then when you are ready research some more. This of course my personal opinion, although not always the case, it takes money to make money. Starting a decent sized operation will cost some good coin. Doing the business yourself and by your-self it would be very difficult to bring in more than 40k a year. Think, if you worked 365 days a year and made $100 bucks per day, you are only bringing 36,500 a year. Kudos to anyone that has started a detailing business that can actually represent autopian standards and make it a living!!
 
SilverLine said:
You make it sound much easier than what reality dictates. Even gaining 2 new customers (not just prospects) day in and day out for the entire year is a daunting task for a first year business to achieve. Achieving these types of numbers so quickly goes against proven statistics showing that 8 out of every 10 new businesses will fail within the first two years. The few companies that are able to achieve these numbers or at least decent numbers are the ones that survive and thrive, but to say that hitting 480 new clients your first year is easily attainable is misleading and is simply not the reality of things. I'm not saying it is impossible, but it is much harder than what many people entering the industry are led to believe. I'm curious to see how many full-time professional detailers attained the 480 new customer mark their first year. And if so, were these retail, wholesale, fleet vehicles? Were they full detail, or washes, ect.?



While I don't believe this article is meant to turn people away from starting a detailing business, it is meant to simply inform people of the misconceptions that are clearly present when starting one.





[quote name='doged']Not bud and company again. QUOTE]



Just for the record, while you may not agree with the opinions of "Bud and company", these experienced industry veterans should at least get the respect they're due.



Regards,



Matt Williams

Silver Lining Detail
Click to expand...



I agree in part. It’s not easy for most but easier for some. The multitude selling, “secrets of success� do not communicate the correct facts. Most business start-ups who fail have no aptitude for business. It does not matter how many books, collage, money, seminars or anything else. It comes down to facts, very few people have the skills to succeed in business. This is why I encourage young people who are looking for the, “American dream�, to work in sales, “commission only� for a few years. This will test your aptitude!!!



Remember the people selling “secrets� that you can get for free, are not pre-qualifying you for success. Guess why, and how many do you think fail who purchases from them?



I do not like “scare tactic� marketing.
 
Joshua312 said:
Hello fellow Autopians, my name is Josh and Im 18 years old.



My dream would be to own my own mobile detailing business.



My question goes out to those autopians out there who detail full time and have started their own business.



I was wondering if detailing is able to give me a lifestyle that would make me happy and be able to support a family in the future.



1. Is detailing full time going to give me an income that would be able to support a family in the future? (30k to 50k?) I know 50,000 may be too much to ask for if the business would only be run by me...but thats why Im asking this question :)



2. Those of you who detail full time...if you could start over at 18 again, would you take a different route, or would you still be a detailer.
Click to expand...



Hi Josh,



Yes, I started my own detailing business and currently detail on a full time basis. I can tell you from experience that going into your own business is a series of steps that you take in order to get you to where you want to be. Everything you do counts. Your successes and your failures create your own unique roadmap.



I'm going to share a true story that took place prior to starting my own business, while I was employed at a car wash manufacturing company as their Quality Assurance Manager. Like most companys, we used to have weekly meetings where all the managers would get together and discuss ways to improve things. It was at one of those meeting where the VP of Operations asked every one of us the following question; Why are we in business? Of course, some managers mentioned that we were there to service our distributors and so on. Well, as I sat there thinking about what my answer was going to be, I thought that surely one of the other managers must be thinking what I'm thinking. When it was my turn to reply, I simply said, 'we are in business to make money'. Hey, it sounded like an intelligent answer. My thinking was that if we didn't make money and remain profitable, then we wouldn't be able to stay in business. It made sense to me. However, it wasn't until long after I had started my own detailing business that I began to realize that making money was not always the number one reason why a company is in business.



Focusing too much of your efforts on making money could actually cause you to lose sight of other more important business goals. Remember, making money is just one of the goals and it's not always the number one priority.



And as far as starting over again at 18, no, I would not take a different route. I would still take the same steps that led me to starting my own detailing business in the first place.
 
...additional thoughts about Starting a Detailing Business.



Actually, you may be better off going for a career type vocation and then just building up the detailing thing on the side as a part-time business. Having a real job and doing the detailing part-time is the best choice in my opinion.



Sure you can try to build up a full time detailing business, but it takes time and I really would count on a 100% success rate. So if you understand where I'm going with this, I would highly recommend that you always have an alternate plan.



In your situation I would go after a real job first and then slowly start the detailing business. That way you can learn about the business as you go and you're not that pressured into making it an instant success.
 
doged said:
This is why I encourage young people who are looking for the, “American dream�, to work in sales, “commission only� for a few years. This will test your aptitude!!!



Remember the people selling “secrets� that you can get for free, are not pre-qualifying you for success. Guess why, and how many do you think fail who purchases from them?



I do not like “scare tactic� marketing.
Click to expand...



I whole-heartedly agree with this. I worked in sales for about 4 years prior to starting my detailing business, and the skills and experiece I gained from this have proved invaluable within my own business. You are a salesman and businessman first...and a detailer second. You could be the best detailer in the world, but if you can't get people in your doors what's the point.



I don't know if you were referring to the article as a "scare tactic" marketing tool, but my take on it was that it was a realistic view of what starting a detailing business many times entails. So many people come into the industry with the expectations that starting a mobile detailing business is going to not only be cheap, but also a cake walk as well. And for some genius entrepreneurs this may be true, but for the other 99% it just isn't the case. But I guess that is why this country is so great...with hard work and determination you can achieve great things.



Great discussions on this topic...keep it up.



Matt Williams

Silver Lining Detail
 
...additional thoughts about Starting a Detailing Business.



Actually, you may be better off going for a career type vocation and then just building up the detailing thing on the side as a part-time business. Having a real job and doing the detailing part-time is the best choice in my opinion.



Sure you can try to build up a full time detailing business, but it takes time and I really would not count on a 100% success rate. So if you understand where I'm going with this, I would highly recommend that you always have an alternate plan.



In your situation I would go after a real job first and then slowly start the detailing business. That way you can learn about the business as you go and you're not that pressured into making it an instant success.
 
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