AGO an economic indicator?

[TornadoRed]

Another economic trend I'm seeing in AGO is new people with new cars (like me) looking to take proper care of their new pride and joy. I believe new car sales are increasing which could be a sign the economy is picking up.

 

[silverfox]

I agree with Mel Craig on this. Get educated first and I'm not talking about how to polish a car. I'm blessed with the fact that I can detail cars as a love for cars, and not to pay the bills as a primary source of income. Frankly most people don't give a damn about their cars other than getting them from point A to point B. Thats just a fact. Then there's a group that wants a nice clean car once or twice a year but it's not a priority with them. Finally you have those who are car nuts and want their cars looking great all the time. Not very good odds if you ask me especially if your not close to a city. 90% of running a business is having the drive and knowing what the requirements are to run business from insurance to accounting. If only buying a bunch of car products is all that is needed, but thats only a tiny part.

 

[SeaJay's]

I too have noticed the trend in newbies to detailing lately. It may have to do with people being unemployed and looking to make a quick buck. I myself tested the waters prior to getting my llc and following the correct path. I researched and learned from others. I'm still learning and I know that there is still a high risk I could fail. But the love of detailing is keeping me going. I also am not scared to admit when I either don't know something and will find the answer.

As others have said it seems as though more people are jumping into this because of the lower start up costs. Also I don't think a ton of people actually have their business on the books. So the rate of failure is probably higher than 50%.

I wish anyone willing to try to start a detailing business the best but they need to realize it's a lot of work and not all just working on beautiful cars.

 

[Rav777]

I will admit I have been detailing for a business for 5 years, and now I am finally starting my own business so I tend to ask noob sounding questions.
On another note I have seen an increase in auto detailers here in San Diego, but the dropout rate is insane. If you go on craigslist many people are selling their whole business or trailer set up which is only about a year old. It’s a good place to find parts but I wonder why these people decided to sell their detailing rigs.

Have any of you guys ever wondered why a brand spanking new company labels themselves as professional detailers? Is it a marketing strategy?

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Have any of you guys ever wondered why a brand spanking new company labels themselves as professional detailers? Is it a marketing strategy?

How about they don't know any better? That they think since they have that trailer full of stuff it makes them a "professional".

 

[Rav777]

How about they don't know any better? That they think since they have that trailer full of stuff it makes them a "professional".

It must be. I have only been detailing for 5 years but I still have way more things to learn. I do respect the real professionals that have racked up over 20 years of detail experience and know everything there is to the trade.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Wow... been out running errands all day and this thread really took off! Here goes:

I've seen it numerous times recently, that some members on here have a name of their detailing business in their signature, yet ask very basic questions about detailing. A bit disturbing if you ask me.

:iagree: Just because someone has a business name picked out does not make them a professional detailer.

:hijacked: :bolt: :laughing:

I have been at growing my detailing business, starting as a noob as you describe in your original post. I started with zero startup money and relied on a percentage of my profits to propel the growth of things.

Going about it the way that I did was a tough road to say the least. Having to keep a full time job and grow this detailing venture on the side has been draining for me but I still enjoy the satisfaction of the work that I am doing and have carved out a nice clientele locally.

I am now as busy or busier than I would like to be (still working the full time job) but to go at it full time from here would still require a large sum of working capital to cover slow periods, marketing/advertising budget, insurance, supplies, gas/vehicle expenses (mobile) or rent/shop costs if I were to go with a fixed location.

I am in my third or forth year of this venture and cover a lot of the costs with my pay from my regular full time job. I can say for certain that this is no easy venture especially going at it alone. Some folks, I think, don't consider the maintenance involved in running a detailing venture either. Who will launder the towels, refill the bottles, clean the pads, do the products inventories, order the products. write out the checks, run to the bank, meet with the insurance agents, estimate the jobs etc. etc.

Sometimes I wonder how I keep this gig going by myself:doh:

I wish the best to all of the noobs trying to do this and encourage them to do their homework before jumping in with both feet and above all get some experience before trying to work on customer's cars.

Good thread Charlie!!

Thanks Dave! You definitely took an unconventional road to growing your business into what it is now, but you've come out the other side of it a successful and knowledgeable professional. That just goes to prove that there are multiple ways to approach success in this industry but regardless of the approach, it takes a level of deep commitment.

This has been a pet peeve of mine for a while (the decision to start a "detailing business" when you've never even detailed your own car), but I don't see it as an economic indicator or anything else, or that it's changed this year from previous years.

Remember, it's spring and a bunch of people just graduated from high school and college into a crappy job market, and there's a whole bunch of high school and college kids off for the summer, looking to make some bucks so they can party.

That's a good point as well.

Thats actually more helpfull then some I've seen. At least tell me what you currentally have

The ones that bother me go like this:

hi, my name is xxxx, i've been thinking about getting into detailing and am wondering if you guys could tell me "everything" i will be needing? i've already done a search, but got no results

This place is awesome

Regards,

xxxxx

Those folks you should just direct to the list of Mike Phillips' articles and say "Start at "A" and read through "Z." Come back if you have any questions." :laughing:

I could be an instigator in this theory, since what I have been doing is leaking valuable info into the hands of younglings willing to learn....recently 1 even left my staff to start their own bussiness. I do believe it is an education for them, if they succed great, if they fail they don't return. Not everything is as easy as it seems. I notice a cycle over the years also where peeps are starting up in the spring and don't generally make it to the fall. I found in my bussiness it helped me make some coin also, if they did a poor job, I usually ended up with a new customer who realized cheaper isn't always better!

The difference there is they're at least getting some hands-on experience and training before going off on their own. A lot of the folks we've seen on the forums aren't in that same position.

I would have to agree with almost everything stated here. I graduated with a Small Business Management and a Entrepreneurial Studies degree last year. I am in no way a professional (at least yet) but I do see a lot folks asking questions about unaffordable ventures they want to start. I've only been detailing for 3-4 years and still learning new things from the more experienced people like yourselves.(Dwayne) I just think people should look more into developing research about the industry before they ask a question that requires us to do it for them. For example, a gentlemen who just graduated from high school was asking questions about owning and operating a 700k - 1.5 million dollar 10 bay self car wash. He was asking about the profitability of this venture and several other car washes instead of a more realistic approach to a mobile detailing venture, which was suggested to him. The questions I ask myself are..... CAPITAL??? NO ESTABLISHED CREDIT....how could this even been somewhat realistic at this time? I've also had people pm me asking me for my product lists, things I use and don't use.....how to use a buffer.... and questions pertaining to those topics. I understand everyone wants to learn, but they need to do so with an experienced person!! (actually in person)

:iagree:

Charlie...a really great post:dblthumb2:

I believe you were being kind in your estimate of the percentage of year-to-year new business failures---but it is an eye-opening, clean off the rose-colored glasses reminder...

Another stark reality that will effect any new start-up, or for that matter, IMHO, some "established" detail businesses, is, among others:

-More and more dealerships (new and used), under the auspices of their OEMs, are now understanding the profits that can be earned to "detail" their own client base vehicles.
-Teph Seal is just one example of the "detail" companies the dealerships employ
-Proctor & Gamble has recently decided to venture into the "detail" business

How does a new "detailer/detail business owner" compete with the investment capital these Corporations have?

Bob

Thanks Bob! You could be right about the numbers but in the first business class I ever took (I'm in a business management degree program right now) the statistic we were told was that 50% fail within a year, and 80% within 5 years.

As for how a new business owner competes with the investment capital of large corporations, I think the real success lies in finding ways to provide a different sort of service than the large "cookie cutter" operations out there.

Knowing and catering to the specific market you're in instead of just being the "franchise with the same packages everywhere" definitely has the potential to appeal to a certain crowd.

I agree with you 100% Charlie but here's the thing, with AG advertising heavily now more and more people will find their way here and the trend will continue. AG is here to service that crowd, they thrive off of it. I can't say that I blame them either, there's tons of money to be made on the quick start up and fail detailing business. The best thing we can do is point them to Mike P's how-to page.

Very true rops:

I agree with Mel Craig on this. Get educated first and I'm not talking about how to polish a car. I'm blessed with the fact that I can detail cars as a love for cars, and not to pay the bills as a primary source of income. Frankly most people don't give a damn about their cars other than getting them from point A to point B. Thats just a fact. Then there's a group that wants a nice clean car once or twice a year but it's not a priority with them. Finally you have those who are car nuts and want their cars looking great all the time. Not very good odds if you ask me especially if your not close to a city. 90% of running a business is having the drive and knowing what the requirements are to run business from insurance to accounting. If only buying a bunch of car products is all that is needed, but thats only a tiny part.

:iagree: 100%

It must be. I have only been detailing for 5 years but I still have way more things to learn. I do respect the real professionals that have racked up over 20 years of detail experience and know everything there is to the trade.

I would disagree -- I don't think there's ANYONE out there who can claim to know everything there is to know in this trade. There's always something more to learn. rops:

 

[Flash Gordon]

I don't think there's ANYONE out there who can claims to know everything there is to know in this trade.

I only know of one who knows everything Im the MAN

 

[TornadoRed]

I only know of one who knows everything Im the MAN

Google?

 

[rwright]

I only know of one who knows everything Im the MAN

That's not my quote Flash, trying to start something here? oke::laughing:

 

[Flash Gordon]

That's not my quote Flash, trying to start something here? oke::laughing:

How the heck did I do that :dunno:

 

[VIP Reflections]

The economy has to be the # 1 reason why the detail boom is happening. i know for me it was because my full time job stopped giving raises and cut some hours. so i went back to detailing, just not for someone else. thought i could do it on my own w/ little $, no knowledge on marketing or business, or how to write a solid business plan. just a few years experience working for a detailing company. boy did i learn my lesson. but im OK now that i slowed down, did mass hours of research, worked with a mentor on a business plan and spent time with some detailing businesses in my area taking notes.

scary thing is, some people are doing this with no detailing experience at all. just youtube.. what happens next is they make 1 bad mistake on the wrong persons car, and detailers all over have a bad name because they told the world what happened.

so i hope noobies read this whole thread and all the comments and really think about what they are doing.

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

I started out as a noobie at some point just like everyone else did. I did work for very little money ($30 wash and wax w/interior) as a teen. The thing is, as a teen, i could afford to NOT have to have a big income from it, because i had time on my side. I'm 25 now and have a few years under my belt, and i'm still learning.

I agree w/who said the thing about look at craigslist..its INSANE how many 'detailers' are on there doing what they call 'full service details' for $50. I never called myself a detailer when i did wash and wax jobs as a kid...OTHER people (clients) did, but i always had a feeling that there was more to it than what i knew...and then i found AG and MOL and Autopia etc and read for hours on end....at that poitn i didn't even have fast enough internet to watch vids like most can now..i just READ...and learned..and sifted out what made sense and what didn't...and in the end you just have to TRY things..practice and work at what you do.

I really don't know if its good or bad these 'detailers' coming up out of no where...that don't know what they're doing. On the one hand if they work at it and become good, then good for them. It's how i started out and how everyone else here for the most part did...so i can't hate on them for that. But for those who just want a quick buck and think what those of us who really WORK at and for what we have is 'easy'...well those are the guys mostly who have their whole rig up for sale.

I have accumulated lots of gear over the years..but i didn't go out, go in debt to buy 1000's of dollars worth of gear thinking 'ok i have all the tools now im a detailer'...I think the old saying is, its the size of the fight in the dog not the size of the dog in the fight...meaning that...i think some of us here who have a passion could do more with our bare hands and basic equipment than those who have a whole rig set up but no knowledge or passion.

I grew my equipment set up AFTER i grew my knowledge and skill level...not the other way around. I think all too often people think that the opposite is the way its suppose to go.:nomore: