I am 16 and trying to start a mobile car wash business

OP, you want to be spoon fed with information. If you really wanted to start a business you would look into everything yourself

Products vary from experience and how much money you have..

Why wouldn't you need a spray wax for a car wash?

No you don't need insurance, you need knowledge on what you're doing..
 
I wouldn't get insurance. I would if you were polishing paint as mentioned by Robert8194. To screw up a paint job washing it you would have to do it intentionally or not know what you were doing. Assuming you are washing with a power washer, and possibly a mitt, the only way I could see anything go wrong is if your power washer blew up and sent a piston at the car or you got too close with it and damaged the paint that way. So I think you would be safe without it.

Also I don't think you would need a generator for anything if you purchased a gas powered power washer

(I'm not responsible for anything you do) lol
 
thebamboo23 said:
list of detailing products
Click to expand...

I think this is a good list, but it is way too much for a 16 year old. He does not realistically need even a portion of those products. With some ONR, spray wax, micro fibers, and a good tire shine he could get going with wash/wax.

Interiors is a different ballgame of course, but a shop vac, apc, and some interior dressing and he is good to go.
 
VP Mark said:
I think this is a good list, but it is way too much for a 16 year old. He does not realistically need even a portion of those products. With some ONR, spray wax, micro fibers, and a good tire shine he could get going with wash/wax.

Interiors is a different ballgame of course, but a shop vac, apc, and some interior dressing and he is good to go.
Click to expand...

I agree. Keep it simple. Like I said earlier, start with friends and family. I'd do them before you invest in everything. Use their water and electric. Then use that $ to reinvest In the equipment, licensing, etc you need to "go legit".
 
bcope said:
I agree. Keep it simple. Like I said earlier, start with friends and family. I'd do them before you invest in everything. Use their water and electric. Then use that $ to reinvest In the equipment, licensing, etc you need to "go legit".
Click to expand...

I agree i'm probably going to start on family vehicles to make sure everything goes okay and then I will get to doing a business, but I want to wash their cars as if i'm washing a customers.
 
And the reason I need a generator is for an electric pressure washer and vaccum

Money isnt really an issue but I'm still trying to keep mself from spending unneeded amounts of money
 
If OP is not going to be polishing paint or driving the vehicles, is insurance a big issue?
Click to expand...

Absolutely it is. What if his watch or ring scratches the glass or paint beyond correction? What if he uses too harsh of a cleaner on a hot wheel and stains the rim? What happens if he cleans an engine and gets too much water in the alternator? Or if a bottle of cleaner spills on the carpet and leaves a chemical spot?

Although these may be unavoidable with a little precaution, it doesn't mean it can't happen.

I don't know about anyone else but I'm constantly moving my customer's vehicles around. Under my tent to polish and wax, out from under the tent to inspect, putting the car in the garage at my customer's request, etc. You may not think you'll need to drive the cars but I promise there will be a time when you do.

The $600 I spend a year on insurance is worth every penny, because in most cases a claimable repair will exceed $600.

And, just because he's young doesn't mean it can't be done or he shouldn't start a business. I started mine when I was 18 and everything was legit and on the books.

Good luck to you, but also remember that it can't hurt to wait until you're 18. Doing so will make everything a lot easier and will save you the trouble of transferring everything out of your mom's name and into yours when the time is right (it can be costly, too). If I could give my opinion, it would be to do as much research as you can and maybe buy a product here and there until you're ready to start your business; it may seem like a long ways away but I promise you the time you take to research and learn will be well worth it.
 
I don't see any of that happening. Don't wear jewelry. It's an exterior wash only so the alternator issue wouldn't apply. Also if he is using too harsh of a cleaner he's not using something we've recommended already.

If insurance is dirt cheap I would go for it. Other than that I wouldn't worry about it. He's not moving any vehicles or anything, just doing an exterior wash, maybe a wax and tire shine and that's it. I have never damaged any car I have washed before and after learning about autogeek and all the techniques.
 
BradsDetailing said:
I don't see any of that happening. Don't wear jewelry. It's an exterior wash only so the alternator issue wouldn't apply. Also if he is using too harsh of a cleaner he's not using something we've recommended already.

If insurance is dirt cheap I would go for it. Other than that I wouldn't worry about it. He's not moving any vehicles or anything, just doing an exterior wash, maybe a wax and tire shine and that's it. I have never damaged any car I have washed before and after learning about autogeek and all the techniques.
Click to expand...

Like I said...Although these may be unavoidable with a little precaution, it doesn't mean it can't happen.
 
BradsDetailing said:
He's not moving any vehicles or anything, just doing an exterior wash, maybe a wax and tire shine and that's it. I have never damaged any car I have washed before and after learning about autogeek and all the techniques.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I'm doing, But maybe vaccuming the interior and wiping it down. The thing is, I may have to move cars but just under the canopy because it is way too HOT to wash cars in the sun in vegas.
 
Even with just washing the outside, houses can scratch paint, windshields can crack, side mirrors broken. It only takes one customer. If your driving your car to the customers house, it needs business insurance, at least here it does.

Sent from my Dell Streak using AG Online
 
You need some ONR. Hot weather washing problem solved.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
VP Mark said:
You need some ONR. Hot weather washing problem solved.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
Click to expand...

Does ONR get all of the dirt and hard stuff off as well as OPC?
 
Romym said:
Does ONR get all of the dirt and hard stuff off as well as OPC?
Click to expand...

ONR will remove road grime and pollen (which are the big ones here and you know collects like crazy in Vegas because of our oily streets) but if you get anything more than that you might want to use your electric power washer to remove the big stuff so you don't scratch your customers' vehicles because it's easy to do with small particulates.

Also, where would you be getting your water from for your pressure washer? If you plan on driving a van or having a water tank, there are a few places here in LV that supply DI water for "Mobile Detailers" (I use that term with some :doh: because even the "big 3" here are uneducated about detailing, give shoddy results in terms of product, method, and execution.)

Back to the insurance and licensing thing, in Vegas it's not going to be a big deal at all. There are hundreds of guys here out of work on every single empty lot here that use "Mobile Detailing" to provide for themselves and their families. Most watched Paul Dalton's viral YouTube interview and caught some inspiration. On a side note, be safe, because this is their income to pay for bills, food, etc. And I've heard too many stories about territorial issues and stealing whole rigs. But, If you're just doing car washes on exteriors, go for it.

My advice for your summer venture: stay local, and in your neighborhood. If you need to, go door-to-door. You guys are young and people won't be offended.
 
Any updates with your business? Why do alot of people confuse mobile carwash with mobile detailing? Who in here does mobile car wash only?
 
thebamboo23 said:
OP, you want to be spoon fed with information. If you really wanted to start a business you would look into everything yourself



Products vary from experience and how much money you have..



Why wouldn't you need a spray wax for a car wash?



No you don't need insurance, you need knowledge on what you're doing..
Click to expand...


Very well said. I couldn't agree more.
 
My advice is START SMALL! Let the business dictate growth...that is not to say dont look to expand, but dont go out and rent a building or finance a brand new $30k van because you hope to have alot of customers. Start small and when you have so much business you cant keep up...raise your prices, when you have too much again maybe raise them again or expand a little. Be smart and you will be successful.
 
Hey guys, where do you purchase the insurance from?
Like do i speak with the guy who does my auto insurance?
Or is it a different type of insurance agent i need to speak with?
 
Ask alot of them. Some do sell it some dont. Also make sure they understand what youre trying to insure.
 
dcjredline said:
Ask alot of them. Some do sell it some dont. Also make sure they understand what youre trying to insure.
Click to expand...

That's a good tip. I had to argue my point across as they thought i was a car repair or and some thought i installed decals on cars..weirdos!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top