Starting Up Part Time Detailing

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dannyboy98

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Hey, I was wondering if any of you have started a small detailing business? If so, how did you start up. I am a junior in high school and want to start a part time auto detail for a summer job. It would start off small doing a basic wash and wax and claying. Any suggestions on how to start this pursuit? Also, any ideas on how much to charge for a washing and waxing? All advice would be appreciated.
 
With your intentions, I would go with a Griots Garage 6, third generation. It ' s a great unit for the $ and provides a liftime guarantee. Hard to beat. This in the only machine I own and it works wonderfully. As far as products, I would look to Mcguiars or Menzerna both will heat the job done. Others will chime in. Good luck.

Peace,

Darrin
 
how much to charge is based on your target market and your location. For me, standard wash and wax on a sedan would be $40
 
If you're doing washing and waxing that will be about $50 on a sedan. People will hire you based on you prices. You'll most likely be cash or check, so just undercut whomever else is in your area.

Products of your doing something that basic, keep your products cheap. Something like Megs Cleaner Wax. Its like $8 will achieve what you want it too and everyone will be happy.
 
OTS is very right in that your market will help guide your prices, but just let them be a guide. All markets are different, for example my basic wash, Nanoskin mitt decon, and wax is $120. I'm the most expensive here, but no one that I know of is in the $40 range - but that's just my market. Do some research on your specific market and see what other shops charge and try to be in the same range - ideally you'd like to be higher than the average shop in your market.
 
North26 said:
If you're doing washing and waxing that will be about $50 on a sedan. People will hire you based on you prices. You'll most likely be cash or check, so just undercut whomever else is in your area.

Products of your doing something that basic, keep your products cheap. Something like Megs Cleaner Wax. Its like $8 will achieve what you want it too and everyone will be happy.
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Going the route of undercutting your competition only hurts all of you in the long run. Instead help build your market up - you'll also attract better clients if your prices are higher.
 
dannyboy98 said:
Hey, I was wondering if any of you have started a small detailing business? If so, how did you start up. I am a junior in high school and want to start a part time auto detail for a summer job. It would start off small doing a basic wash and wax and claying. Any suggestions on how to start this pursuit? Also, any ideas on how much to charge for a washing and waxing? All advice would be appreciated.
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First step get Renny Doyles book.

How to Start a Home-based Car Detailing Business, car detailing book, best auto detailing books
 
Thank you for your advice everyone. My plan is to be mobile, so I am wondering if it would be wrong to use the clients water and later on use their electricity for a polisher.
 
dannyboy98 said:
Thank you for your advice everyone. My plan is to be mobile, so I am wondering if it would be wrong to use the clients water and later on use their electricity for a polisher.
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As long as it's agreeable before hand. Everything needs to be up-front before you start. Look for Mikes VIF, sorry don't have the link right now. The key is they know exactly what you doing and their expectations match. No surprises anywhere. Good luck @ take care.

Peace,

Darrin
 
Also, I need a business license to do this? And if so, how does one file for a business license?
 
Depending on where you live you will want to file a dba with your local county clerks office.

Every state/county is different.



-note 4 powered by T-Mobile
 
If you want to do basic services, you will need to manage time and cost otherwise you won't make any money.

It's hard to make money doing basic washes because of the commute time. Let's say the client lives 20 minutes away from you.

You need to get everything ready in your truck/car. Say 10 minutes.
Drive there 20 minutes. Meet the client and setup at least 15 minutes. Do the work say 1 hour if you are really fast and good but more likelly 90 minutes on average. Put everything away in your truck and get paid an other 15 minutes then drive home 20 more minutes... total: 170 minutes on average so let's round that up to 3 hours.

Let's say you charge 40$, you have to pay for gas and products. You will use around 5$ Worth of products and a few bucks in gas... let's say 5$ more. So you have 30$ in your Pocket for 3 hours of work... 10$/hour. Not exactly a decent pay.

One of the things you can do if basic washes are really your goal is to do it for companies. Have minimum number of vehicles to do at the same time. Usually 3 is a good start point. This will drastically increase profit.

Otherwise, try to offer more expensive packages that include more work. Doing both interior and exterior would be a good starting point. For me, 100$ is the minimum I would do. Less than that is just not Worth my time.

Get Renny Doyle's book: How to start a home-based car detailling business. You will learn a lot of the things you NEED to know in there.

Then if you are still interested in Starting your business, get Mike Philipp's books about proper techniques.

There is also tons of videos on Youtube about every aspect of detailling.

Last, try to get products that will save you time. For exemple, using a no-rinse wash will cut down the time it takes you to wash a car. If you get one with wax that's an other time saver. You will need to optimize in order to make it Worth it.
 
Why not call around and see if an established detailer in your area will hire you for the summer?
 
Since you are in Jr high its very unlikely you have a car of your own that you have practiced on . It is likely that you have practiced on your parents cars though so i wont take that away from you. The idea of a person in Jr high using a polisher, even one as forgiving as a GG, on a car for pay is some what unsettling. Not saying that you are a bone head and will burn though the paint or sling wax every where as i dont know your skill set. What I am getting at is a lot of people are gonna see you as a kid with a grinder to their paint in my opinion. Plus the cost of a polisher and pads youre upwards of $300 so you gotta figure how long it will take before you see a return on your investment. So here is my advice since i have brothers around your age.

No need for a business license as you arent really going to be a business. Id throw up an add on craiglist saying $50 wash and wax most vehicles. Then id print out some flyers and put them up on the cork board at community centers, grocery stores, and even pass some out to your teachers. But then again how do you plan on getting around and transporting all your equipment? So heres another idea. Print out a bunch of flyers and knock on your neighbors doors and tell them who you are and what you are doing. I think thats your best approach.

Now in your position as far as products go I would go fairly cheap on this. Meguiars makes some very easy to use stuff. When i say easy i mean if it gets on trim it wont leave a chalky residue. Id pick up a fairly nice wash mit, 5 gallon bucket, stoners glass cleaner, a decent shampoo, micro fiber towels, wax applicators, LA totally awsome, megs nxt gen wax, and a run of the mill tire dressing. All that together will be around $70 to give you an idea.

Its totally fine to use a customers water and power. Just make sure to give them advanced notice. All you have to say is "is there water and power on site" or something similar. Some of us who have been doing it for a while and who are a legitimate business still use customers water and power and have never had an issue.

I hope this helps
 
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