So I've decided that I don't make enough money in my current job to adequately feed the Mini mod bug. I am in the process of starting a mobile detailing business. I am 21, in college, already working 30 hours a week, playing baseball, but when I look outside and see my Mini sittin' there waiting for me to come back and motor, I just wanna buy things for him. I don't have time to start a business, but I need money to mod

Anyway, what do you folks think about my business idea? I've gotten fairly good feedback from friends and family, but I need some unbiased opinions. Granted we own Minis and are passionate about maintaining our own cars but I postulate that most people would sooner drive an $80,000 car through a car wash than they would pick up a wash mitt, especially here on Long Island. I will have a website up soon and I'll post it for fellow NAMers to check out.

But if you have ever started a business, or made any sort of big decision, you tend to want as many ideas and opinions as possible, so fire away!

My car is stock right now, by the way, but so much is planned:

WMS Stage 1 upgrade (15% pulley, CAI, exhaust, Denso plugs, Unichip)
H-sport springs
H-sport rear bar
18" Enkei RPM2
Aero Kit w/ Color-coded trim
Tint
Pioneer Avic-N2 (or N3)
Maybe some CF goodies here and there

 

As long as your side business doesn't interrupt your studies (your main
responsibility for your next big step getting a real job), then i think
it sounds fine to me.

not that im your dad or anything... i wouldn't want my son to be
23, still in school, getting food from dad cause he couldn't graduate
or some load of crap like that. that would be unacceptable.

 

Obviously~

I'd kick me out, too. I graduate next May. Probably going to go right into my MBA right after I graduate so focus on school isn't a problem, I appreciate the concern though

Does anyone think there is a demand for a detailer to come to your house and detail your car? It makes sense in my head.

 

That list of stuff doesn't look so expensive that you need to start a new business. But if you must, detailing doesn't seem too bad since it doesn't require too much start-up capital.

I would say:
1) Make sure you know how to detail a car perfectly. You don't want to incorrectly wax a car and then have to pay for a new paint job. I don't really know if insurance coverage is needed here. Anybody? At least have a disclaimer.
2) Have you thought about how you're going to do marketing? What makes your detailing service better than the other places that have an established location? The fact that they don't have to wait at a detailing place, but get to stay in the comfort of their home?
3) Make sure to think about the 4 P's: Product, Pricing, Placement, Promotion (Hey, what do you know, I actually learned something while getting my BBA)
4) School is most important so don't slack off in school to wax that debutante's boot...

[EDIT] Have you already gotten into a graduate business program? I didn't think that many MBA schools took kids right out of undergrad.

 

Yes. There are many mobile detailers here in SoCal. I would think that you'll have some interest, especially if you detail at their location. After winter, you could offer a Post-Winter Wash & Wax Special, emphasizing cleaning up after all the roadsalt, etc. Good luck to you!

 

yeh, well, graduate school is a little different. i would invest in my
son too if there was a purpose and solid goal (becomes more of a
business proposition, i guess. )

Actually one of by buddies is coming over when it gets warmer to do my
cars... so YES, there is need for good detailers! goodluck.

 

Are you ready to spend from $600 to $1000 for all the necessary materials you will need to start a detailing business? Plus replentishment of supplies?

 

First thing, come on over to my website forum, www.ShowCarGarage.com
We've got a section for people just entering the detailing business, appropriately called "Start Your Own Business Detailing Cars!"

Secondly, there is a very wide definition in the title of "Mobile Detailing".
Anyone can be a mobile detailer. Get a wash bucket, a mitt, some wax, and some towels and you're in business.

There doesn't have to be a huge investment, depending on the services you want to offer.

Just realize, detailing is a strenuous job. If you're already working a lot of hours, and are active in sports, studying for school, that taking on detailing work might be more work than you bargained for.

You will need to learn a great deal about proper techniques, and your best bet is to hook up with a local detailer or detailing enthusiast. You can find them all over the world over at Meguiarsonline.com under Detailing 101.

What you charge and where you find your clients will be based on a number of factors, but most importantly is whether people trust you with their precious cars.

If you're in it to wash cars, then you're competing with the local hand wash companies. You can price it accordingly. Will you do interior detailing? How about engine detailing? Do you have the full assortment of products?

If you focus on exterior detailing like I do, then
consider you will need car wash soap, clay bar and lubricant, a paint cleaner, a polish, a wax, a wheel cleaner, metal polish, tire dressing, plastic dressing, a good vacuum cleaner, lots of high quality towels, spending $150 to $200 on supplies is very likely. I use both a PC and a Rotary for my work to remove scratches and swirls and buffer holograms left by other detailers--figure on spending atleast another $200 for those, depending on the brands, plus at $10 a pad--you will need one for each chemical, it gets expensive quick. Then you have to get access to lots of different cars to practice on. You're not going to practice on customer cars, so figure you're going to be perfecting your technique for atleast several weeks, maybe months, maybe years. Depends on how fast you learn, and how much time you put in, and whether you are using good technique or not.

Since you are looking to do this for supplementary income to buy mods, I would assume you want to start with as little investment as possible, so then just consider what you can offer. Most cars you work on will not be in as pristine condition as your MINI. Working by hand is tiring work.

Finally ask yourself, will you do this because you love it, or because you need money, or both??? I limit the number of cars I work on per month to between 4 and 5 cars. I'm selective about what I work on as well. Learn the products and techniques, and get comfortable with your knowledge because when you get that customer who thinks he knows everything about car care starts grilling you about what you recommend, if you can't answer with a firm--"this is the answer", then you will leave doubt in his mind, and possibly lose that job as well.

IMO, as a paint polishing artist, it's rewarding and flexible work, though it's not glamorous, and you won't get rich off of it, and it's dependent on the weather---you won't have much work when it's raining or snowing!

Good luck and definitely focus on your studies first, mod your MINI later.
FWIW, I have a BArch (Bachelors of Architecture) and experience in wide range of fields from IT to video production. Detailing cars to me is rewarding because not only do I transform something that was previously considered ugly or a lost case into something gorgeous, but it affects the owners feelings about his car--usually restoring a lost love or passion.

But I don't rely on it as my sole source of income, I've currently got 3 other businesses that I'm involved in and they all help to supplement my income when times are tough in any of the markets.

Richard

 

Two things I can think of right off the bat...

Living in LI like you I would think it may considered a seasonal job. So you may not have "customers" regularly all year long with some harsh winters. Also it sounds like you are pretty busy already with some work (may change) school and baseball. Plus at 23 I wanted to hang out with my friends a bunch too. You would need to be extremely flexible in your schedule.
Nothing could be worse than having a book full of appointments and only to have it rain.

Just some things to consider. You will play by mother natures rules when you take the show on the road as opposed to having a garage.

 

While there is no doubt a market for mobile detailers, the market for any detailer (mobile or not) who really knows their stuff seems huge. Sadly, can't find anybody I trust around here yet...heard too many horror stories. If you can do it and do it right more power to ya, I say...it'd be a bit of effort to get to that level though. Otherwise, the market seems full (here anyway) of those who talk big but can't/won't/don't deliver.

 

Seems like your extra income choice is all labor... YOUR time and labor. Well, that might not be the ideal thing considering all the things eating up your time right now.

Mmmm... instead, how about attaching ads to your forehead?

 

going bald? place ad here.

 

Good points from everyone, i really appreciate the help and opinions. I plan on leaving the job I have now if this detailing business starts to get some real interest, so that should free up the schedule a bit. The reason I came about this was I was outside detailing my Mini, and my Dad asked me to do his car ('05 Civic) so I did it. It looked damn good, however we are now getting dumped on with snow/rain/sleet so ya mother nature does have a bearing on this particular business. So then I started researching detailing techniques and came across some websites, particularly autopia. When I work on a car the hours fly by. It doesn't seem like work at all. So I thought that maybe I could make some money doing this.

This post is kind of scatter-brained as I'm about to leave for class . But when I get home tonight I'll read through it more thoroughly.

By the way, my girlfriend just bought a new car ('06 Hyundai Elantra) and her old car was a mess so that will be my main training subject. Inside and out there were imperfections everywhere, however not many major repair-type jobs. I'll use that, and my Mom's Dodge Grand Caravan to hone my skills.

OctaneGuy I've been to the forum where the pics of the two restored cars you did are. Very impressive.

uhm...more to come later once I have some time to get my website up and running. Probably this weekend.

 

OK, I am a Business major with a concetration in marketing, so I am well aware of the Four P's, because they have been drilled into my head. I plan on marketing my business as "a high quality come-to-you detailing service." I plan to offer four different packages.

1) Basic Wash- Wash, Dry, Clean glass, Clean wheels and tires, Vacuum interior, Dust interior ($25-35)

2) Basic Detail- Basic wash + an express wax, Int. dash dressed, tires dressed ($45-55)

3) "Deluxe" Detail- Basic wash + clayed, polished, Klasse AIO, Ex. trim dressed, chrome polished, tires dressed, upholstery cleaned and leather conditioned, floor mats shampooed ($90-110)

4) Full Detail- Deluxe + concours wax, glass polished, wheels polished ($120-150)

I will distiguish myself from the quantity-driven automatic car washes by focusing on quality and making sure the customer recieves the same car care that I would give my Mini.

I have been reading practically everything I can get my hands on regarding technique and different chemicals to use and how they work. Ordered about $750 worth of supplies from autopia (including a vacuum, PC, oodles of towels, pads, buckets, wash mitts, nearly every product Sonus makes). Waiting til the weather gets a little nicer to start practicing.

Worst thing that can happen is that I have $700 worth of stuff to use to detail the Mini, right?

 

Another thing is that I see this as essentially a day-only job. It's not often that you see people outside detailing cars after 7 or 8 at night.

Just rattling things off as they come into my head, after all its my thread and I'll do what I want .

 

about WHAT HAPPENED WHILE TRYING TO POST THIS

Earl

 

MINIotaple, no I haven't gotten in yet but the school I am at now has a very good MBA program and I have been told that if I graduate with decent grades I will be able to jump right in.

 

about detailing in Nue York Cety but Here in San Diego my guy details my MINI (and does a damm good job) for $15.00 and my wife's Lexus 330 for $20.00. Comes every Friday, calls the day before to see how many cars we will have, sometimes daughter and or friends get their cars/suvs washed also.

If you do a good job people will have you come back every week or two.

Good Luck,

Earl

 

Where are you going to school SHRTSTAK? My experience with starting a new business is that professors have a lot of good theory, but very little good advice when it comes down to the reality of starting the business. I started a tutoring company a couple years ago that still brings me a good bit of income, but the advice my professors gave me was basically useless. It was mostly "Yeah, go for it, it would be interesting to see what happens." I was in the red for about a year before I started turning a profit. A year isn't a huge turnaround, but new businesses have to deal with that.

The bonus is that when I graduate I'll be able to sell this business to somebody younger who can keep student tutors employed. Most of my tutors are graduating this year, so a younger kid would be able to replace them with reliable people in their year.

It can be done, but it's going to take some time before you have a modding budget. Good luck!

 

Now THAT is brilliant!! It's prime real estate up there...why not put it to good use??? Talk about making lemonade!!!

 

I'm at Adelphi University on Long Island. And ya I have found that most professors have more theory than actual good advice. One of my old professors that I need to track down, has started 3 businesses, he would be a good mind to pick.

Thankfully for me, there is not much overhead involved in a mobile detailing business. Don't need a building or employees (just me right now). Costs include product, equipment (PC orbital, vacuum, hose, towels, etc.), gas (to get to where I'm going), marketing (flyers, business cards, website).

The two major costs to most businesses are eliminated in that I have no rent to pay and no payroll. On top of that most detailing jobs have a huge profit margin.

I'm looking to get this off the ground once the weather gets better, so maybe 2-3 weeks. We'll see, I'm excited about it.

 

That is exactly what me and two friends did during college. We set up a mobile detailing business and did pretty well for working a few hours a week.

Our product was purchased from a wholesale supply company. We carried one of those collapsing tents so that we could detail in the shade. Some days were hard work but working for yourself is the best way to learn about business.

We advertised in the local paper to get clients and for more steady work we had contracts lined up with a high end stereo store to detail cars once the custom stereos were installed. We did several of the 49r's cars, Andre Agassi's Porsche and Mark McGuires M5 (While cleaning out the inside I found a gas reciept with his autograph).

Another contract we had lined up was with the local Porsche/Audi dealership to do their "paint protection" jobs.

Another good way to get business is set up in a companies parking lot and do employee's cars while they are at work. Pick one day a week and spend the the day there. Back then we used to charge $100 to $250 per detail depending on the job.

We also gave away freebies like car duster's and things like that. Those were a real big hit.

The only way to really make it in this world is to work for yourself.......or be employee #2 in a start up.

Good Luck!

 

Aright guys, I've been hard at work getting my website up and I figured I'd post here and see what fellow NAMers thought. Again, fire away any thoughts you have about it.

Thanks

 

where's your website?

 

I'm an idiot...

Here's the site: www.mirror-finish.com