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Well, I started my own detailing business. I know, that seems to be a topic on here time and time again. But I wanted to take a minute to share some of my experiences with you guys.
I've been detailing cars for a long time(about 15 years). I finally decided to make a business out of it, and put my work to good use by bringing in some extra cash. I figured $100 bucks here, $50 there, and work in my free time after my full time job and on my days off. No big deal right? WRONG!
It started with 1 or 2 cars for some people that have been asking me to work on their cars. Then they told someone, and so on and so on, the ball started rolling. To date(only 3 months into my business venture), I am 35 cars behind schedule
and no end in sight. I have been getting about 1 car finished per day, and 2 scheduled per day(this is just an average, and not everyday is like this). I had a decision to make, either start turning down business or get some help. I decided for the latter of the two and hired a young man that has been very helpful.
I took a 2 week vacation from my full time job to try and get caught up, and maybe see some daylight. In that 2 week period, I grossed right at $4k My hands look like I've been shreding cheese. Everything hurts! My back, hands, arms, elbows, even my fingernails hurt. I am farther behind now than I was before I started my 2 week vacation, and Rick from ADS has been on speed dial to get more and more products(Thanks Rick!!!!).
Now, my thoughts are turning to getting another detail vehicle, and hiring a couple of more employee's to keep things at bay. I'm not sure if I want to go this route, because I like having my hands on all of the cars that have my name on them. Plus, there has to be an end to this current overwheming amount of cars, and I don't want to hire more people, just to let them go in a couple of months when things slow down.
The puprpose of this thread is not to brag about me, but to give some of you guys that are thinking about going this route some advice. Do a good job, take your time with your work, don't rush any part of the job, be respectful to your customers, use quality products and tools and it will pay off. And most importantly, treat every car the same. Detail a $3000 Honda Civic with the same respect that you would a $150k Lamborghini.
I am in a position that I never thought I would be in.....not in a million years! I have a part time business that brings in more money than my full time job. I have a reputation(from my customers) as being one of the best in my area. My details have gone from Daily drivers(like Civic's and Mustangs) to high dollar classics and exotics. I went from working out of the trunk of a old beat up Lexus, to buying a new van and having it stocked full of products and tools(generator, pressure washer, extractor, etc...) that are all paid for.
This is an awesome business, and I wouldn't trade it for the world!
Nick
I've been detailing cars for a long time(about 15 years). I finally decided to make a business out of it, and put my work to good use by bringing in some extra cash. I figured $100 bucks here, $50 there, and work in my free time after my full time job and on my days off. No big deal right? WRONG!
It started with 1 or 2 cars for some people that have been asking me to work on their cars. Then they told someone, and so on and so on, the ball started rolling. To date(only 3 months into my business venture), I am 35 cars behind schedule
and no end in sight. I have been getting about 1 car finished per day, and 2 scheduled per day(this is just an average, and not everyday is like this). I had a decision to make, either start turning down business or get some help. I decided for the latter of the two and hired a young man that has been very helpful. I took a 2 week vacation from my full time job to try and get caught up, and maybe see some daylight. In that 2 week period, I grossed right at $4k
My hands look like I've been shreding cheese. Everything hurts! My back, hands, arms, elbows, even my fingernails hurt. I am farther behind now than I was before I started my 2 week vacation, and Rick from ADS has been on speed dial to get more and more products(Thanks Rick!!!!). Now, my thoughts are turning to getting another detail vehicle, and hiring a couple of more employee's to keep things at bay. I'm not sure if I want to go this route, because I like having my hands on all of the cars that have my name on them. Plus, there has to be an end to this current overwheming amount of cars, and I don't want to hire more people, just to let them go in a couple of months when things slow down.
The puprpose of this thread is not to brag about me, but to give some of you guys that are thinking about going this route some advice. Do a good job, take your time with your work, don't rush any part of the job, be respectful to your customers, use quality products and tools and it will pay off. And most importantly, treat every car the same. Detail a $3000 Honda Civic with the same respect that you would a $150k Lamborghini.
I am in a position that I never thought I would be in.....not in a million years! I have a part time business that brings in more money than my full time job. I have a reputation(from my customers) as being one of the best in my area. My details have gone from Daily drivers(like Civic's and Mustangs) to high dollar classics and exotics. I went from working out of the trunk of a old beat up Lexus, to buying a new van and having it stocked full of products and tools(generator, pressure washer, extractor, etc...) that are all paid for.
This is an awesome business, and I wouldn't trade it for the world!
Nick
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