Buisness started need help

[Breese147]

So for about a year now I have been wanting to start a detailing business. I have all the products that I use on my personal vehicles. And wanted to focus more on the paint correction side rather than washing side. I wanted for people to come to me,instead of a mobile business. Well my parents wouldn't let me run out of my house. So summer came and my friend approached me on a partner ship. This is our first week but it seems like I'm getting the downside of the deal. We are using all my stuff and I have to haul around 3 buckets,pressure washer, and

 

[minorc]

What does your friend offer in this partnership? Facility? Money towards products? is it 50/50

 

[Breese147]

I have to haul around 3,buckets
Wash mitts
Soaps
Spray waxes
Towels
Vacuum
So all of this stays in my truck all day and it's a mess. So we are using my products, also I drive to his house which is 20 miles away to pick him up instead of taking his vehicle(hummer) to the clients and then I drive him back to his house and then all the way back home. He has the 2bm down but as far as towels go nope. He has a bottle of Meg's endurance shine and his had it for a week and it's already half way down. I asked him to show me how he applies it. He puts a huge quarter size glob and proceeds to spread the glob on only about 1/4 of tire! I have used twice the gas I normally use and expensive towels/products are degrading. We charge $45 for a
Wash,vacuum,interior wipedown(seats,dash,steering wheels,trunk) glass cleaned,tires dressed and spray wax. I feel this is low and approached him about it but he says it's already high. So we each spilt $22 but he hasn't purchased a single product and he doesn't drive us there and I told him to wait until the end of each week before we pay ourselves but he has already dipped into this weeks twice! I was just wondering if you think it would be a good idea to back out now before it's too late. I feel like this is more wash peoples cars service(dislike) rather than a true paint correction and detailing business. Thanks for your input in advance.

 

[Kamakaz1961]

IMO this does not sound like a good deal. I would dissolve the partnership ASAP.

My question to you what do you want to accomplish with the partnership?

From what I am reading you are getting the short end of the stick. I would just venture out on your own. If you start on your own what do you lose? IMO you gain more on your own and lose more with a partnership especially if it appears you are getting the shaft on this. It appears you are.

If you do start on your own then..IMO you are going to have to over ALL aspects of detailing. From the washing side as well as correction side.....IMO you have no choice.....that what detailers MUST do. Wash and correct. You can't do one without the other....unless the car does not need any correcting....just a wash.

I say dissolve the partnership ASAP and start on your own. I have had 2 partnerships and both ended up badly....I got the short end of the stick of both.....just do not do it.

 

[Breese147]

What does your friend offer in this partnership? Facility? Money towards products? is it 50/50

He offers business tips/ experience and making excel spread sheets. His parents are successful business owners and he usually works for them doing maintenance(the sweaty work) @ $12 an hour on the apartments they own. But he wanted to make "easier money".

 

[Breese147]

IMO this does not sound like a good deal. I would dissolve the partnership ASAP.

My question to you what do you want to accomplish with the partnership?

From what I am reading you are getting the short end of the stick. I would just venture out on your own. If you start on your own what do you lose? IMO you gain more on your own and lose more with a partnership especially if it appears you are getting the shaft on this. It appears you are.

If you do start on your own then..IMO you are going to have to over ALL aspects of detailing. From the washing side as well as correction side.....IMO you have no choice.....that what detailers MUST do. Wash and correct. You can't do one without the other....unless the car does not need any correcting....just a wash.

I say dissolve the partnership ASAP and start on your own. I have had 2 partnerships and both ended up badly....I got the short end of the stick of both.....just do not do it.

Yes I am thinking of ending it before I invest too much money in it. I have all the paint correction/interior detailing aspects but he didn't want to offer those and it is hard doing that while mobile because it's always 100 degrees here in Texas. Plus on my own I will be offering a quality service and not have to worry about him destroying all my products. Plus I love doing paint correction and I can do it all from the comfort of my garage.

 

[medicscott]

He offers business tips/ experience and making excel spread sheets. His parents are successful business owners and he usually works for them doing maintenance(the sweaty work) @ $12 an hour on the apartments they own. But he wanted to make "easier money".

You'll get more from putting your head down and reading these forums than your schmuck of a partner will ever provide. From what you've stated here, run as fast as you can away from him and do your own thing. Remember once you become established and a revenue stream you can always hire extra muscle. Your partner is supposed to be your "partner" which means haul his 50% which is quite clear he has not. Don't burn a bridge, just tell him you've re-evaluated your options and decided that it's easier and more efficient to go on your own. Good luck!

 

[Kamakaz1961]

He offers business tips/ experience and making excel spread sheets. His parents are successful business owners and he usually works for them doing maintenance(the sweaty work) @ $12 an hour on the apartments they own. But he wanted to make "easier money".

His business tips so far do not sound that great. Who cares about excel spreadsheets. His parents are successful business owners....that's cool....but how does that help you? It doesn't. IMO you can learn and probably do a better job. Once it is YOU and know one else you learn quick.

You will make mistakes along the way, however, those are great learning experiences. It will make you better overall. BTW, there is no such thing as "easier money" unless you find a groove or "niche". IMO detailing can be a great "Niche". BTW, good to see you want to start your own business.

Awesome entrepreneurial spirit.

I think you should cut the cord and start on your own....IMO you will not have as much stress as you do now.....

IMO I think you would kick Azz with that stress/headache gone.

IMO he does not sound like a good Mentor. Good Mentors do not give you headaches and stress.

 

[Breese147]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I will talk to my parents about dissolving the partnership. There is still one problem and that's having a job. My parents did want me to work this summer. I have considered approaching the Best detailer in SA,Texas Michael Gottlieb (also known as Thumper) about possibly working for him as a know he needs help running his shop. He handles a lot of paint correction daily and I would be able to help him with the aid of my flex 3401 once I get it 100 percent as of right now my paint correction is about 85-90 percent.

 

[DeepReflections]

Looks like everyone has the partnership drill well covered, but little about building the business. When I first started I refused to do any washes for anyone but existing customers. Big mistake and learned that those non-customers can turn into a huge customer very quickly. As an example had a guy call me for a wash, and told me it was a new black Corvette. Having two myself. and sucker for them, I said OK. Once I did the wash and did the extra things we do to bring up the paint, he was ecstatic.
While I was washing the car we talked about an upcoming Corvette show and he was interested as a spectator. He called a couple days later and asked what it would take to make his car a winner in his class. We discussed and it was a lot of paint correction. He took 3rd in his class. They deducted .2 points for fingerprints on the roof(Yes scoring is that tight that.2 out of 100 was enough to knock it to 3rd). I complained about it as this is a show in a downtown area where the public has total access to the cars, but to no avail. Short story, long, that car brought us a ton of black cars for paint correction and the rest is history. Even other detailers tell people to bring in the dark cars to us.
It took time and I had to build the business with the mundane first, but patience paid off. We are now the go to shop in Silicon Valley for dark cars.