Basic detail business startup questions

[strader327]

Hello everyone, I'm very interested in starting up my own car detailing business either in the near or distant future. I was curious as far as how to get things started.

First off in order to have a detailing business do you have to own a garage in town or have a garage built somewhere with running water, electric and so on in order to really have a true detailing business?

Or are there some instances where you can operate from your house if you have a small two car garage? Or can you even travel to the customers home and detail their car at their house? And or can you pick up their car at their house and for instance take it to a car wash place that has a power washer and detail it there?

Plus do you have to carry any insurance for the cars you detail?

Last question, another way I was thinking about having a car detailing business is to try and strike a deal with some of the local car dealers in my area and see if they need anyone to detail the cars at their car lots. Do any of you all on here do that sort thing? Anyways thank you all for your time.

[smack]

Re: Basic detail business startup questions

I am on the same path as you and right now I have a full time job (military) and I dont want to go to far with it as of now. As of now I have business cards and shirts on the way to advertise my small operation and I dont do a whole lot of cars at the moment. Just friends and extended friends but im sure that will change with my cards that I handed out. I only work Saturdays and Sundays doing cars at one per day if I have the work.

With that said I do it at my house in my two car garage. If I have to I will pick up their vehicle and bring it to my house as I dont have to cart around my supplies in my camry no do I have to ask to use their water or electricity. My customers have brought their car to me and dropped them off for the work to be performed.

I dont have any experiance on getting a deal with anyone like a car lot. Hope I provided a bit of help with the small setup im trying to get going as well.

[Cosmin]

Re: Basic detail business startup questions

how to get things started.
read about marketing and business , and clean some cars , have some money to invest.

First off in order to have a detailing business do you have to own a garage in town or have a garage built somewhere with running water, electric and so on in order to really have a true detailing business?
depends of your initial investment and what`s available to you. better focus on your detailing and business skills, that will help you get clients. having a shop or garage is not a must, your skills are.


And or can you pick up their car at their house and for instance take it to a car wash place that has a power washer and detail it there?
if you need extra headache than drive clients cars and wash them where ever you want. but have a solid insurance to cover any damage when you drive the car around.. plus be ready to face the client if anything happen with the car.

Plus do you have to carry any insurance for the cars you detail?
as peace of mind is good to have insurance , accidents happen.

another way I was thinking about having a car detailing business is to try and strike a deal with some of the local car dealers
Good luck ! from your mind set , you will fail before day one... why... you already cut yourself short with "strike a deal"

Do any of you all on here do that sort thing?
Dealer work is good if you have helpers , your skill level can handle a variety of issues, you work cheap and fast...last one is not my case

have fun!