16 Year Old...Summer Job

[BlueTooth]

Im 18 and I have been detailing for a long time, Ive done everything by hand. The best way I have found to spread your business is drive a very very shine Red Car / truck. I keep my Red Ranger so clean I get asked who details your truck adn I say I do adn they say oh wow how much?... lol

[sneek]

most people ask me how much it cost to do a car when I am working on a car. I guess no one notices a detailed silver car

I am 17 now and i do a lot of cars for free just to gain experience. like this one

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13118

the girls parents offered to pay me $150 but i promised to do it for free so i didnt take the money

[SiriusRIMZ]

Originally posted by SL1CK
Damn I'm doing the same thing you are, theres money out there to be made. However, to answer your question of to do both interior and exterior, I decided to do just exterior detailing, being that I know much more about exterior detailing than interior. For my services, I charge atleast 40$ and go up to 50$. The most I charge is 50$, I want them to think theyre getting a bargain, which they really are IMO. I put out flyers and stated that the process takes atleast 2.5 hours or more.

If your charging only $40 for 2.5 hours of work, your really not getting enough. Your only making $16/ hour.

I really do not like to discuss my numbers, but for a full service which included, wash, clay, polish, wax, tire/ wheel dressing, trim dressing, window cleaning, and full interior detail, I'll charge $200+ depending on how large or small the car is. If its a small VW, I'll Charge $150-175. If its a Tahoe or Suburban, it can eaisly get 250+. I figure, my work is worth about $30-$40/ hour. I'm using my skill that I have trained and learned to correct flaws in their paint. Its just like a computer tech charges for their skills. The most I've ever charged for a detail was $350 on an old Z71 Tahoe, it was horrific, and I had to borrow a rotary because I promised a mirror finish, and I had to deliver.

You may attract lots of buisness at a low price but does it cover the cost of your time/ gas/ materials?

[N.E.W.car]

You might get a lot of business, like he said - BUT you are also undercutting the pro detailers out there who are doing this to make a living and put food on the table.

[Carl]

lancerplayer,

Do you feel you have adequate experience to deliver the best possible result to your client? I'm 16 years old right now, and I had thoroughly researched all detailing procedures, products, etc. and spent months refining my technique on personal vehicles and acquiring a proper arsenal of quality supplies and equipment before feeling that I could give a client a great service. It is definitely not as easy as mowing lawns, if you're looking at it from a summer job perspective (I looked at it from a long-term standpoint). I believe it needs to be taken very seriously as you're working on something that costs tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to the owner.

My personal philosphy on this business is to do it right or not do it at all. I don't wash a car and polish by hand. The first time I meet with a client they know what to expect by word of mouth, and if not, I'm upfront and explain to them that I only do a full detail to bring the vehicle to like-new condition as their first service. Then, if they're interested, I provide a follow up "maintenance" type service that they can chose to purchase at intervals after the initial service.

Likewise, my clients feel comfortable paying for my services because they know that they are getting personal, premium attention.

At any rate, this isn't a "grab-a-bottle-of-soap-and-a-sponge" type of deal in my eyes.

Good luck with your endeavor,

Carl

[lancerplayer]

Originally posted by Carl
lancerplayer,

Do you feel you have adequate experience to deliver the best possible result to your client? I'm 16 years old right now, and I had thoroughly researched all detailing procedures, products, etc. and spent months refining my technique on personal vehicles and acquiring a proper arsenal of quality supplies and equipment before feeling that I could give a client a great service. It is definitely not as easy as mowing lawns, if you're looking at it from a summer job perspective (I looked at it from a long-term standpoint). I believe it needs to be taken very seriously as you're working on something that costs tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to the owner.

My personal philosphy on this business is to do it right or not do it at all. I don't wash a car and polish by hand. The first time I meet with a client they know what to expect by word of mouth, and if not, I'm upfront and explain to them that I only do a full detail to bring the vehicle to like-new condition as their first service. Then, if they're interested, I provide a follow up "maintenance" type service that they can chose to purchase at intervals after the initial service.

Likewise, my clients feel comfortable paying for my services because they know that they are getting personal, premium attention.

At any rate, this isn't a "grab-a-bottle-of-soap-and-a-sponge" type of deal in my eyes.

Good luck with your endeavor,

Carl

I can't agree with you more. I take pride in my work, which is not all that common these days.

When I first got my car, my parents sent it in to get it detailed and I was pretty excited to get it back. When I did, it looked good from a distance, however the got closer and there were swirls galore and it looked like they did not vaccum under the seats. To me, my parents' paying 100+ for that kind of result is unacceptable.

I was not happy with their work and decided to do a little research (this is how I found this great forum). I read up, asked questions, and spent around $100 getting my detailing supplies. This way I put in 3.5+ hours getting the results I want. I do not work half *** and if something does not come out the way I want it to, I come on here and ask questions and learn.

If I were to be detailing another person's car, then I would only do the best I can. I just think if I was the person letting someone else detail my car, I would only expect the best, which is why I would do everything to give them the best.

I think I am going to practice on my car and my famiy's cars and get some more supplies to see which gives me the results I feel are the best before I start detailing a stranger's car.

I appreciate the advice everyone has given

[fuzzydd]

I'm 18 and I'm doing this with a partner.

1) How should I advertise? Should I use the newspaper? Post flyers? Word of mouth?

Right now I'm mainly word of mouth, there are a surprising number of customers you will find through this.

2) Should I do only exterior or only interior or both?

Both, just make sure you're making money. For interiors, however, I'm starting to think its a bit risky. People and their pets do all kind of things in their cars, and that could pose a potential health risk to yourself. Even if you protect yourself you still risk contaminating your equipment. That being said, many of my customers are more concerned about the interior rather than the exterior.

3) What is a fair price I should charge?

Think $/hour, and google search some of your local competitors.

4) Would you trust a 16 year old to detail your car?

As long as you present yourself properly.

***

We've been pretty successful considering how terrible the weather has been lately up here (rain every week, inaccurate weather reports..)

Other stuff to think about:

- offer services you are confident that you can provide
- can you drive MT?

[Deaner5]

Here is another idea.......Work at a dealership of some sort to grow your client base and your skills. I have worked at a motorcycle shop for a while and I have a few customers that just stopped by for a quick wash and wax by me. Plus having a dealership behind you if you do screw anything up, they eat it. Just another idea, hope everything goes well.