Starting a Professional Detailing Business! Help???

Jakerooni said:
I'll try to make this as simple as I can to understand. learn your products, Learn your canvas (yes this is an art form) When you can do it all no matter what someone puts in front of you without having to log on and ask a bunch of questions you've made it to "Detailer" status. But you absoultly have to know what products you use. What they are meant for, What they say they can do, And what they can actually do. Then you absoultly need to know what you're dealing with as a surface and what it takes to get that surface back to "like new" condition. From Single stage paint, to soft clears to hard clears and ceramic clears and every other possible scenerio. Enamel paints react differently than laquer paints. Knowing which cars would even have laquer paints is also a must. When do you use wool? When is foam the best option? And why? What abuot the knap of the carpet? Plush and fluffy vs. cheap industrial hard knap that dosen't want to release anything. Leather vs. synthetic New cloth vs. old cloth. Headliners and the many forms they tend to come in. What about the glass? Tinted or no? What product is the correct choice? Is there more than one product in your arsenal that's correct? Red stains and black scuffs? How to handle them. Sand in the carpeting? Bleach spill? hazards like spilled gas or vomit. (you'd be suprised) how do you handle that? Rubber seals and engine bays. electronics. and the other various surfaces that are trickier than most. And then the thousands and thousands of other things that can and will pop up when doing this professionally. The way to become a detailer is get very very good at all this... The way to become a master is to niche yourself into something very specific and do it better than anyone else could.
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Very Good Posting! Could not have said it better!
 
Got Wax said:
OMG, really?!?!?!?!? I guess you are NOT LISTENING to what anyone is suggesting!!!! You are NOT going to become a detailer by reading posts on this forum!!! You need to gain experience from someone who has experience. Sounds like you are currently doing work for$$?! I imagine it will be only a matter of time that your inexperience brings you to the Forum asking what it is you can do to correct the damage you have caused to a client's car because you have no clue what you're doing??? Considering that and the possibility that you may not be properly insured: this is the exact scenario that turns people against the industry! :hmph:
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Now listen here buddy, you don't have to help me if you don,t want to, I have read every post on this thread, But right now I'm going to gain as much knowledge as I can before doing it myself that includes with professional help, I take things like using a high speed buffer, If you don't know the proper techniques and products to use you can mess up some paint, I combine information and experience to make a logical choice before doing anything.



Ive worked under a car salesman on his lot before, he wanted me to use a rotary on one of his truck on his lot, after listening about 30 minutes on how to use the rotary started it up and about 10 minutes later burned threw the clear coat, I went forever feeling like crap because I ruined his hood on his truck. I did exactly what he said but wasn't informed about the edges. Reading on autopia informed me about around the edges the paint and clear coat tend to be less, making it more suitable for burning threw the clear coat quicker then area on the hood.



That's the main reason I'm very hesitate on learning from certain people. Theirs not a lot of people around where I live that take their time and finish off there cars right. I finished off a girls altima after a friend got done buffing it at his body shop, had swirls all in it. I watched my friend buff for hours on cars watched him buff my corvettes bumper and my entire truck once (when he painted it), hes good when he takes hes time, but I find that I can usually get better results out from the information I've read on autopia from you guys, because you guys are the real professionals, and better yet are solely devoted to detailing



I think everyone getting a little frustrated with me posting so much, ill quit for the time being on questions, Ill just stay in the background reading and viewing threads, Im sorry If I wasted anyones time, but you helped me a lot in this one thread, I'll take all your advise and work under someone more experienced then me and maybe one day start a business.



I Just wanted to have an idea before making a choice, Its either detailing or highway patrol, I need to start off and having a terrible time figuring what I want to do in life, I need to move out and get a career, one that I enjoy and detailing car is, money good to have when detailing but just having the feeling of using your new chemicals is better than money! :bigups:
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Wow, I think we've come full circle. A lot of us here were 18 once, I came at this from the angle of in most cases you can't learn a craft/business/vocation instantly and own your own business the day you graduate from high school. On the other hand, to have a detailing business you don't have to have the equivalent of 10 years of higher education like you're going to be a doctor.



Dustin, isn't there a middle ground here somewhere? I forget which relative owns the car wash, and I thought you worked in the detail shack there? Can't you negotiate a slightly different niche, where you take the higher end/higher expectation clients from that business? Under a different EZ-Up? In that way you aren't working for the cheapskates who don't know what a detail is and you aren't burning trim on a Gallardo that TH should have been working on. You can progress slowly, keep learning here and elsewhere, maybe even go to college at the same time. When you've got a few hundred more details under your belt, an established clientele, then maybe it will be time to move out to your own place.



I'm sorry I and others rained on your graduation-day parade. It's essential to have dreams and aspirations, it's just as essential to keep your feet planted on the ground. Just give it a little time, it might be a year, 2, or 3, or it could be longer. Nobody is suggesting you give up on your dream, to the contrary, get going on making it happen, just realize it won't be an overnight thing. That's the old joke about actors and musicians talking about their "overnight" success that took 15 years...
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Okay, I guess watching my dad build car washes I figured I could do what he does, but hes also got about 20 years on me haha, my dad and mom are entrepreneurs and I had in my mind I could be, I have yet to learn I need to wait. haha I dont have a detailing shack at the car wash, haha I run the car wash part time which is a pain the a$$ with the access unit (computer for the laserwash) on the fritz half the time, I have a shop dad built a while back I detail in, I have a separate business from the car wash, I just use the wash to wash cars in.
 
Sheesh Dustin, nobody is telling you not to post. If you've gotten a little backlash here, think about if you went to the highway patrol employment office and said you wanted to start as a captain because you've watched every episode of "Cops" and you worked last summer doing mall security.



Personally, I think you'd be better off with a career in the highway patrol than detailing, but I don't make my living doing either so don't listen to me. But since you're even asking, I'm guessing that you would prefer detailing. As I suggested, look for a middle ground where you can learn as you go. I think having a mentor is perhaps less important than just doing a lot of cars, keep pushing the edge of the envelope. Try and go to some local meets with Autopians or other forums to trade some tips. Etcetera.
 
DetailnByDustn said:
Okay, I guess watching my dad build car washes I figured I could do what he does, but hes also got about 20 years on me haha, my dad and mom are entrepreneurs and I had in my mind I could be, I have yet to learn I need to wait. haha I dont have a detailing shack at the car wash, haha I run the car wash part time which is a pain the a$$ with the access unit (computer for the laserwash) on the fritz half the time, I have a shop dad built a while back I detail in, I have a separate business from the car wash, I just use the wash to wash cars in.
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That access sounds like your ticket to me. Perhaps you have already done this, but you can certainly put a lot of marketing literature around the car wash, and talk to people and talk them into letting you detail. Is it a tunnel wash or a self-wash? If it's a tunnel...many of them have the little detailing tent there where people who think their car needs a little more TLC go--can't you be that guy? The expectations of those customers are a lot lower than most who seek out Autopians; will give you a chance to build up your experience base.



EDIT: and presumably do it under the umbrella of the car wash insurance, business license, etc.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Sheesh Dustin, nobody is telling you not to post. If you've gotten a little backlash here, think about if you went to the highway patrol employment office and said you wanted to start as a captain because you've watched every episode of "Cops" and you worked last summer doing mall security.



Personally, I think you'd be better off with a career in the highway patrol than detailing, but I don't make my living doing either so don't listen to me. But since you're even asking, I'm guessing that you would prefer detailing. As I suggested, look for a middle ground where you can learn as you go. I think having a mentor is perhaps less important than just doing a lot of cars, keep pushing the edge of the envelope. Try and go to some local meets with Autopians or other forums to trade some tips. Etcetera.
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HAHAHAHA I get your point before, but thanks for the example, my friend whos also a highway patrol does detailing part time on the week ends I may do that just depends I rather do detailing full time though Ive got a pretty good personality, just to be grumpy all the time and pull people over for speeding haha just kidding. With the state cutting jobs and salaries I would also rather do detailing, highway patrol are losing a lot of their salary next year plus their benefits. So even a better reason to do detailing
 
Setec Astronomy said:
That access sounds like your ticket to me. Perhaps you have already done this, but you can certainly put a lot of marketing literature around the car wash, and talk to people and talk them into letting you detail. Is it a tunnel wash or a self-wash? If it's a tunnel...many of them have the little detailing tent there where people who think their car needs a little more TLC go--can't you be that guy? The expectations of those customers are a lot lower than most who seek out Autopians; will give you a chance to build up your experience base.



EDIT: and presumably do it under the umbrella of the car wash insurance, business license, etc.
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The access machine is a machine that stands outside of the car wash that accepts your money such as credit cards or cash, the laserwash m5 is the actual machine that washes you car with high pressure rinse and very good presoaks it also adds silicone sealants like rain-x which im not to tickled with but customers like it so.. haha the laserwash machine is a touch free machine that uses ultra sonic waves to pin point corners and bumpers on your vehicle it process the data and determines where to turn based on your vehicle. I rather not be the tlc guy that more of "low income levels and cheap results as far as detailing goes I rather make sure there clean. I also hate car washes that offer this, most "tlc" guys miss half of the car with a quick clean up and most dont know what to use cleaning and swirl customers paint because they wont change drying towels out they use the same all the time, and swirl the paint.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Why can't you be the "tlc" guy that does a good job? Be the guy that changes the rep of the tent.
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Haha I rather be the guy in the nice garage listening to the stereo having a good ole' time detailing a person car, not to far from the fridge too :) Its always good to have a good cold drink on a day when its 90' and take in the accomplishment of the car you just got done!
 
DetailnByDustn said:
Haha I rather be the guy in the nice garage listening to the stereo having a good ole' time detailing a person car, not to far from the fridge too :) Its always good to have a good cold drink on a day when its 90' and take in the accomplishment of the car you just got done!
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Yeah, good luck. If you find the formula for instant success, please share it with us because I'm sure I'm not the only one who's sick and tired of this working our way up crap.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Yeah, good luck. If you find the formula for instant success, please share it with us because I'm sure I'm not the only one who's sick and tired of this working our way up crap.
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Haha I've got a long ways ahead of me before I can even start to complain, I probably will never find it man haha If only I was like that boy that one that big jackpot! then we would be in town! I would never have to work again that would be the life!
 
Just stick with it man.. I've been full time for 5 months and I think i have moved up pretty far. alot of the guys are questioning my skill level, but its all in the work I do. Some people pick it up faster than others i guess..



Oh, and buy a CYCLO! It is my gold mine. without a doubt the most valuable piece of equipment in my trailer! (and not price wise either). PM me if you want some more info Dustin.
 
Dustin, Flawless is a lot older with a lot more life experience than you. I think we'd all like to see you with your own business, it's just that you are going to have to start with just yourself and work at it for a bit before you get to the point of having employees and charging more and more money. Maybe it will be 5 weeks, maybe it will be 5 months like Flawless, maybe it will be 5 years. Shucks, I somehow think that NC highway patrol requires at least some college, academy, OTJ training, before you are a "highway patrolman", don't they? Here in NJ cops now have to have a 2 yr. degree or 2 yrs. active military before they can even go to academy.
 
i see what you are saying too.. at 18, I was NO WHERE near ready for a business.. But like I said Dustin, get you a Cyclo. If you dont like it, I will buy it from you! It will be well worth the investment. Pretty much fool-proof.
 
I can agree that the Cyclo is an excellent polisher. With all the rage about the Flex and UDM, the Cyclo gets left out of the discussion. It is the machine that I use 90% of the time. Of course for serious correction, the Metabo is go to polisher.
 
Don't get me wrong, I have a Cylco as well. But, mine gets most of its use on glass, aircraft or RV jobs. For cars, it's either Makita or Flex. The Cyclo is a bit cumbersome for me to get around cars. And, frankly, as I get older I appreciate having the rotary to save me from the vibration of the DA.
 
beaurogel81 said:
Just stick with it man.. I've been full time for 5 months and I think i have moved up pretty far. alot of the guys are questioning my skill level, but its all in the work I do. Some people pick it up faster than others i guess..



Oh, and buy a CYCLO! It is my gold mine. without a doubt the most valuable piece of equipment in my trailer! (and not price wise either). PM me if you want some more info Dustin.
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Ive learned a lot on this forum, but as everyone says it takes practice to be good



Setec Astronomy said:
Dustin, Flawless is a lot older with a lot more life experience than you. I think we'd all like to see you with your own business, it's just that you are going to have to start with just yourself and work at it for a bit before you get to the point of having employees and charging more and more money. Maybe it will be 5 weeks, maybe it will be 5 months like Flawless, maybe it will be 5 years. Shucks, I somehow think that NC highway patrol requires at least some college, academy, OTJ training, before you are a "highway patrolman", don't they? Here in NJ cops now have to have a 2 yr. degree or 2 yrs. active military before they can even go to academy.
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No nc highway patrol you can take the long school or short school, difference is previous education but due to budget issues they are postponing the short school so there no reason to go to a college for criminal science.



beaurogel81 said:
i see what you are saying too.. at 18, I was NO WHERE near ready for a business.. But like I said Dustin, get you a Cyclo. If you dont like it, I will buy it from you! It will be well worth the investment. Pretty much fool-proof.
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I might a little down the road the next thing Im going to buy is a makita, I have a pc (incredible machine) takes for ever though.
 
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