Should I try it?

[SL1CK]

Re: Should I try it?

On a side note, wow Sl1ck I had no idea you are 17. You seemed much older than that (maybe because you have a Cadillac?).

Maybe. Alot of people do think I'm older than what I really am, now if I could only get that to work in my favor when attracting customers!

[hammer55]

Re: Should I try it?

doesn't matter how old you are if you have the passion to succeed

[Scottwax]

Re: Should I try it?

doesn't matter how old you are if you have the passion to succeed

Agreed. ScuboSteve on Autopia is only 17 and does absolutely amazing work. And being up in Canada, the vehicels he deals with once winter is over are absolute nightmares. There is no reason a highly motivated teenager can't excel at detailing if they put the effort into it.

[Shaun Carollo]

Re: Should I try it?

The age thing also affects me at age 20. Sometimes we show up in my little coupe rsx, and people look hesitant at first. After I pull out my 2 boxes of supplies, vacuum, extractor, compressor, 2 canopies, ozone generator, hoses and other miscellaneous items they ease up a bit. After we are done, they are all in awe at how we have left their car and sometimes even tell me how they thought this was going to be a waste of money at first, but now they are glad to do it.

As far as liability, an entreprenuership teacher I had said that if you had a DBA, your parents were not liable if you damaged a car. As soon as you can afford insurance buy it, and advertise with it.

As far as marketing/advertising goes for you, I would buy a digicam and create your own website. Dont get a free one with a bunch of ads, pay $75 (or less) a year for hosting and get a proffesional looking website. We get about 40% of our business from search engines for local detailers through our site.

As for expenses, I would guess I have put a good $8,000 into my business over the past 2 years and have gotten that and more back in return. I think you should start with your $400 investment, and put 20% of what you make into future investments.

Good luck to you.

[sneek]

Re: Should I try it?

LOL I am 17 too!
I probably have enough supplies to start a business but I think that school is a touch more important for me. I usually detail cars of my neighbors, family and friends. Unfortunately they usually expect the neighbors, family and friends discount.

I am not sure about the camera thing, but I think it’s always a good idea to ask if you can take pictures of their car. My neighbor specifically told me that he didn’t want any pics of his SL55.

[hammer55]

Re: Should I try it?

Agreed. ScuboSteve on Autopia is only 17 and does absolutely amazing work. And being up in Canada, the vehicels he deals with once winter is over are absolute nightmares. There is no reason a highly motivated teenager can't excel at detailing if they put the effort into it.

[the other pc]

Re: Should I try it?

...I am not sure about the camera thing, but I think it’s always a good idea to ask if you can take pictures of their car. My neighbor specifically told me that he didn’t want any pics of his SL55.

Always ask first.

And always block out any identifying details, license plates, house numbers, street signs, etc.


PC.

[SiriusRIMZ]

Re: Should I try it?

Go for it, its extremly profitable and rewarding buisness.

I'm 17, going on 18 soon, and I have been doing this over a year now, professionally. I started with a PC, 80, 83, NXT, 21, Trim Detailer and Plastix. Now I have over $1,000 in detailing accessories. Start with exterior detail ONLY. I still turn down many many interior details because some people are complete pigs, and I refuse to clean up dried food several months old, or old vomit in a persons car (true story).

I say you invest the majority of your starting money in advertizing, and offer special rates to attract buisness. Make sure you meet the person your detailing in person, and explain to them that age doesn't mean irresponsiblity. Several people I talk to over the phone are convinced I'm in my late 20's or early 30's, but when they meet me in person they are shocked. Let your work speak for its self. Do good work, your age shouldn't matter. I've been doing a small-key detailing for a while, and the best advertizing is happy customers. Go the extra mile. Say they paid for a basic wash and wax... Suprise them with a run of polish, on the house. By getting several good repeat customers, your going to widen your customer base by word of mouth very fast.

Go for it, its fun, and profitable if your work is good.

[vettemaniac]

Re: Should I try it?

I wont quote vettemanic's whole post because of length but his post and this thread only, have just encouraged me to finally start my little business up!! I have been holding back for about 2 years now because of cost/time restriants but I have figured out the way to do it and been encouraged greatly by this thread.

Thanks guys!!

Always glad to be of help!

[MotorcycleDetailing]

Re: Should I try it?

To help with the liability side of things, if the car looks to have scratchs thake before and after pictures of it, that way you can prove that the scratchs were there before you started.

[Lydia]

Re: Should I try it?

Thanks again for the advice and suggestions, y'all!

As far as advertising goes, my sister works at a print shop so I get a family discount there. I think it's either 30% or 50%; I will have to ask her. Either way, that will be nice to have. What kind of advertising do y'all suggest? Business cards? Flyers? Signs posted around the neighborhood?

My sister is talking about doing detailing with me. I'm not sure how serious she is about it, though. You might see her around these forums; her user name is hannahruth0.

What is a DBA?

That is a good idea to go the extra mile, SiriusRIMZ. I know if someone gave me more than I paid for, I would want to continue doing business with them.

LOL Sl1ck.

Thanks again for the helpful comments!!

[Scottwax]

Re: Should I try it?

DBA = doing business as. Mostly used by sole proprietors.

Flyers and business cards would be a good idea. I am guessing with school you cannot do this full time so stuff like yellow page listings probably won't help you much.

To generate interest, why not offer an exterior detail as a door prize at a school function?

[Lydia]

Re: Should I try it?

Oh ok. I've never heard of one of those, but I will see what I can find out about one.

With school I will not be able to do this full time, like you said. I don't want it as a full time job anyways, since I have other jobs also.

I like the idea of generating business like that, but I am homeschooled so that wouldn't work to well. Maybe do it as a door prize at my house? Whoever gets home first gets a free detail? Lol just kidding.

[the3dwizard]

Re: Should I try it?

Get some magnetic signs. Put them over the scratches on the side of your truck when you go out to a job

[mirrorfinishman]

Re: Should I try it?

Lydia,

Everything I have commented on falls under the heading of Pros;

That fact that you have figured out that since you already live next to a very rich community and could probably get a few people as new clients, shows that you have a basic understanding of how to get the most out of your marketing efforts and keep your costs down at the same time. Very smart thinking.

It sounds like you realize the advantages of doing a good job and that in itself will allow people to talk to others about your good work, which in turn will probably get you a lot of business by word of mouth. Also allowing you to keep your costs down.

The fact that you 'love detailing' shows that you already have a passion for detailing. That is a something that will help to keep you motivated.

Sounds like you are learning a great deal from reading posts here, and that will certainly help you to do a good job.

orcycle to sell it, and the guy that bought it told me if I ever come down to the area he lives in I should bring my stuff, because he has 4 vehicles I could detail for him....he was raving about how good I got it looking, because he said black vehicles are hard to get looking good)

You should not be concerned with the fact that there is another mobile detailing business in the area.

You do not need a PC, buffer or any other machine to start a detailing business. You can create your own marketing niche by simply being very selective about the cars that you work on and specialize in doing all of the polishing and waxing by hand.

Your truck should have nothing to do with advertising. All that matters is the job you do with the clients car.

Being 16 years old can actually work to your advantage. All you need to do is let every single prospective client know that all you are trying to do is earn money for college. That should be at the center of all of your marketing and advertising efforts.

Afternoons and saturdays would work just fine for most people. Hey, most people are off on Saturday, so that would probably be your biggest day.

Like I said before, you do not need a PC, so you can save your money(for college).

$400 is more than enough money for you to get started.

Again, do not worry about your truck. At this point it is simply transportation.

Actually, everything you listed is basically under the Pros.

In the beginning, stay with doing the cars of friends and family.