i detail cars

So i have been detailing cars for alittle over 3 years now. I have gotten very good at it and have had lots of expericance with dark colors. So many people have said to me recently "why dont you start your own company detailing cars"..Now i am thinking more and more that I should. I would need someone to start it up with me and have that person be able to tint and do clear bras. There was an Auto spa on hilton head that did everything i would want to do with my own. I can wetsand, fix hazed headlights (with a DA sander) highspeed buff, pinstripe, clean interiors very very well, clay ect. I do not want to do a mobile thing. Right now i am working for a dealership here in Ocala and they are shocked by the jobs that i have done. I am the only detailer they have that can buff. So am i crazy for even thinking i should start up something?.. It would be in Sarasota which is high dollar area and lots of nice cars. I know i would need funds and to do a lot of research .
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No, you're not crazy. If you feel confident enough to do it you might as well give it a shot. No sense working for someone else making them richer when you can do it on your own.

CLEAN!! If you can get a partner to go in with you, it's worth a try. Otherwise, you'll never know.

No, you're not crazy. If you feel confident enough to do it you might as well give it a shot. No sense working for someone else making them richer when you can do it on your own.

yeah i feel that i have reached apoint when even i am saying wow i am doing a good job and i am getting paid way to little . I am confident i have had to many compliments now that have told me that i am good. I am tired of working for someone.

Go for it!

I was asking myself the same thing 5 years ago....stuck at a dealler, then went to a private shop..where I started at(as a tech)...the boss called me in one day and told me I was wasting my time there, I should open my own shop.
This was hard to do....I was making 50k a year. Well I went to work for a contractor...he jipped me so I started my own company(after thinking about it for years) It was very very hard to get going. Starting with no money. But now 5 years later i'm bringing in a good 6 figd and still growing. So it was the best move I ever made.

I know you have a little one and that makes it even harder.....I think you will have to have some sort of mobile set-up(say a dealer needs a buff they can sub it to you) Start looking for buildings to rent.....possibly work out with a bldg. owner to get a cut etc. (not a partnership) there are alot of ways to do things...most of the time its all in the presentation. Learn how to wright a bis. plan with goals and present it in the right way.

Having your own bis is not easy....the work is easy, making the phone ring and keeping everything running is hard.

One place I would start is going dealer to dealer used and new.....talk to detail mngrs, get cards......put your name out BIG time. When they need you they will call.. and never burn any bridges, I bet the dealer you work at now will send you work and if your slow may even let you take a few cars to prep.
A guy I know was getting 3 cars aday from a used car dealer....they paid a flat rate per car so you win some and some are crap...but he was working everyday.


Small bis partnerships NEVER work out. So get that out of your head.....Do it yourself and there is no turning back, you get a partner you both will get emotional and run it into the ground and you will then be stuck at the dealers til your 65 .




P.S. Get a loan from Threxx, he is rich from what I hear

Fly out to Vegas. My GTO could use a good detail. The Z could as well. I'll take you out to dinner too. :D

It would be awesome if you do it Carly.Definitely go for it! Mdacton has some great advice.

Would you do it in a bikini?

I've got a knob that could use a good polishing :p

In all seriousness, go for it! I agree on the partner thing, it can turn bad quick if one person thinks they do more than the other. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience on this.

its worth a try...get hooked up with a few dealers that send out their used inventory to be detailed and get contracts with them. I am a lot tech right now at a Ford dealership. But a good detailer is hard to find at a decent price around here. They charge 65 a car here but do a very ****ty job. With all the BMWs, MBs, Audis and so forth in florida you could definately do well

holy crap, if i could find a woman to clean my car I would marry her.
"Hey woman, get out in the garage and clean my car!"

thanks guys for the advice i see the thread got moved i wasnt posting it to advertise i detail cars just wanted opinions on doing my own thing BUT whatever

I've got a knob that could use a good polishing :p

In all seriousness, go for it! I agree on the partner thing, it can turn bad quick if one person thinks they do more than the other. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience on this.

I do have a person i would love to have as a partner but i doubt he would be able to do it...but i am sure i could find someone

I do have a person i would love to have as a partner but i doubt he would be able to do it...but i am sure i could find someone

You don't want a partner...you want an investor........someone with plenty of loot that you can convince to have faith in you, and isn't afraid of a high risk investment.....This is where you bis proposal comes into play.

Check your local area SBA and chamber of commerce...they have special FREE courses that promote small bis growth for women and minorities

You don't want a partner...you want an investor........someone with plenty of loot that you can convince to have faith in you, and isn't afraid of a high risk investment.....This is where you bis proposal comes into play.

Check your local area SBA and chamber of commerce...they have special FREE courses that promote small bis growth for women and minorities

really??..wow ..seriously you have been a wealth of info :)....i think i should do it....i am good at it....i am worried being female will be a negative though ....car dealerships were hmm about me but lexus gave me a shot and i become one of their best...then BMW was a bit weird but now they are very happy ....i am ready to be away from them i hate it....i am a single mother i need to do more

Being a female is an advantage.......try being a white male. White males never get goverment grants or SBA backed loans......If you were a minority it would let you qualify for even more...

If your worried about the dealerships thinking "oh shes just a girl, she can't clean a car"
Don't be.....in the bis world.....the only color you see is GREEN. If they see you and see green your good. Its all in how you present yourself. Just always be smiling and confident..that will get you far. If you ever show anyone your weak they won't want you.

I know guys that aren't worth a crap at anything.....but they are some damn good liars and BS artist...now they get a wide customer base...problem is its not deep. By deep I mean the width is new customers...depth is old customers/repeat/word of mouth.

A repeat customer is a great investment....once you get them.....consider that much less advertising plus good referals from them+ wise investment.

I would go to those classes a good while and BE SURE TO HAVE A MARKETING PLAN worked out before you make the big jump.

BTW....Its not easy....the work you do now(labor) will probly be the only thing you enjoy......and after a few years probly a fat bank roll. Hanging out with the right people, going to the right parties....

I had several businesses including a chain of 36 detail shops in the 80's and 90's which I was forced to run with my real job after my general manager from my detailing shops passed away. As said you do not want a partner, do everything you can to do it yourself, most partnerships do not workout. It will take some time to get enough customers and really make money, but if you work hard, give people a good job for the money you will do well in the long run. :)

I agree with Carl ;)

I started detailing cars for a couple of family members, and solely through word of mouth, the business TOOK OFF.

I do all the work myself, and if you do a good job, "they will come". :) I've had several customers schedule Spring, Summer, and Fall details for their cars.

I really haven't done much to promote my detailing...word of mouth has been sufficient so far.

Just do what you like. If you like what you do, you can't help but do it well, which in turn will lead to success. ;)

i skimmed this thread and thought i'd offer my two cents. I think it would be a good idea to start getting your name/business out there through family friends other dealerships etc..and planning everything for a building lease or what have you, while working at the dealership if you can, that way you won't be too stressed about money issues. ? just a thought . then when business for you starts picking up you could make the transition to doing it full time. - or something of that sort.

I think you would have to do a lot of work but then again starting your own business is a lot of work, go for it though. I hope to one day own my own business also and I hope you make it. everyone has given great advice though so def go for it :)

Learn how to write a plan....
with short and long term gaols that are attainable.....Even list them on here.
Your first step needs to be to go to the book store.....Get some good books and read them 10x a pc. You want all types of bis books, self help books are good too. Your not only looking to start a company but also a huge lifestyle change......Read anything you can get your hands on, If something does pop up you will know how to deal with it!


I also recomend this...call your local chamber of commerce......Pay your fee and become a member. Go to all the functions and bump elbows..give out cards and explain your goals. When you have a good network, when times are tight they will send something your way