It takes time to build a detail business

Pureshine

Pureshine

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I had to say this to many people here are trying to start detail business with no customers or just a few customers. It took me 2 years to get where I'm at now to be full time. You need to get the skills and practice on friends/families members cars first. I didn't touch a customer until I had the skills and training to do so. So many people thinking watching videos and buying all the product makes you a professional it doesn't. It takes years of detailing to make a true professional like any profession. I think its funny when people get high and mighty I won't do a dirty car really your a detailer thats what we do. So many people want it to happen over night it doesn't.

I just had to put this out there.
 
I really appreciate that bro. Patience is always my thing as this is my first year out of college going straight into detailing for a living. Thanks!
 
I've done it professionally. (As you a lot of you may know)

I still do it for fun, hobby and passion.

My concentration is school. However don't come up to me and ask me about washing a car or swirls etc... Cos we will be talking all day lol. :D

My goal is to get my own place with a garage. Your the one that actually that gave me the idea PureShine (thanks btw) :props:

Well the idea is to have my own garage and setup shop. Because I can't be mobile. And continue Detailing for the passion, I have read Renny Doyle's book and changed the way I see business and Detailing Business. Plus a lot of you helpful members here on AGO

I plan on attending the Meguiars classes, 3D classes and was even planning on taken the Renny Doyle classes in Big Bear, CA. (About a 2 hour drive for me, would be a nice vacation with my lady and kid)

Heck I might even fly to Florida one day :)

I'll be taking all these courses not for the money, but for the knowledge and experience.

I'll let word of mouth get me there. Little by little baby steps.

So while I do it for the passion, I don't work for free (got that from AGO) :)

I'll be a college graduate with a degree in computer science, who also Details.
 
Nice post Todd!

Rome was built in a day nor was Apple or any other
Company so why would it be any different from any other business.

Hard work dedication passion and lots of patience are just a few things you will need if you want to become successful.

Training and practice is very very key.
Knowledge if what your doing and knowledge of defects and how to fix them.

Read read read practice what you read. Detailinging is ever changing with new technologies and advancements all the time so knowning what's new and what the go to is key.

Mike always says detailers that hang out on forums like this one know more than detailers who don't.
 
Evan.J said:
Nice post Todd!

Rome was built in a day nor was Apple or any other
Company so why would it be any different from any other business.

Hard work dedication passion and lots of patience are just a few things you will need if you want to become successful.

Training and practice is very very key.
Knowledge if what your doing and knowledge of defects and how to fix them.

Read read read practice what you read. Detailinging is ever changing with new technologies and advancements all the time so knowning what's new and what the go to is key.

Mike always says detailers that hang out on forums like this one know more than detailers who don't.
Click to expand...

Thanks even :)
 
hernandez.art13 said:
I've done it professionally. (As you a lot of you may know)

I still do it for fun, hobby and passion.

My concentration is school. However don't come up to me and ask me about washing a car or swirls etc... Cos we will be talking all day lol. :D

My goal is to get my own place with a garage. Your the one that actually that gave me the idea PureShine (thanks btw) :props:

Well the idea is to have my own garage and setup shop. Because I can't be mobile. And continue Detailing for the passion, I have read Renny Doyle's book and changed the way I see business and Detailing Business. Plus a lot of you helpful members here on AGO

I plan on attending the Meguiars classes, 3D classes and was even planning on taken the Renny Doyle classes in Big Bear, CA. (About a 2 hour drive for me, would be a nice vacation with my lady and kid)

Heck I might even fly to Florida one day :)

I'll be taking all these courses not for the money, but for the knowledge and experience.

I'll let word of mouth get me there. Little by little baby steps.

So while I do it for the passion, I don't work for free (got that from AGO) :)

I'll be a college graduate with a degree in computer science, who also Details.
Click to expand...

No problem glad I could help just want people to succeed :)
 
Great advice Todd and Evan. IMO, you guys are two of the most helpful and knowledgeable AG forum members. I have learned alot from your posts, and I know that the info coming from you guys will always be accurate.

I am in the process of working towards detailing part time, am following your recommendations, and have done a few cars other than my own so far.

I think that one of the biggest surprises for anyone starting out in detailing is the difference in time and effort between detailing your own well maintained car and someone else's car which is much worse condition. As others have said, I have much respect for anyone that is a full time detailer. I spent two consecutive Saturdays last month detailing for 10 hours straight each day, and I was exhausted and sore.
 
So true... even from a customer stand point, I would not want to give my business to someone with very little experience. One can gain all the concepts and knowledge by reading the forums but without hands on experience and lots of it, it really doesn't mean much because every paint can react differently. It would take a huge leap of faith to place something that costs tens of thousands dollars to just anyone. Not to mention, detailing is not cheap... costs hundreds of dollars. Experience and reputation are 2 key items in my opinion and these doesn't happen overnight in most cases.
 
Understood and I fully agree no craft could be mastered in one day nor can anything be truly fully mastered there's always room for more knowledge and always room for improvement. I try to better myself any chance I get whether it be me detailing a family members car for free or trying to restore the beat up truck at work. Its been tough getting new customers in my area at the moment not everyone has the money to get they're cars done so I've been under charging just to get my name out there or doing cars for free just to showcase my work. I have my days where I ask myself why I'm wasting my time but the passion is still there. But then I tell myself quiters never win and winners never quit.
 
Very good post Todd. I have to say that Todd has helped me out a lot as well as a few others. just from the post on this forum, I was able to pick up a phone one night and call him to work on some of my questions. we talked for about 1 and a half hours LOLOLOL. He is absolutely correct in his post. While I am making cards and price listings,, I know im not close to the knowledge base some are. I have some past experience that I think helps, but I also am self aware. I will parrot what has already been said. Dont work for free. I have been asked by people to do their cars, when I say well ill do it, but not for free or beer then I have to let them know it takes time for it to look good.

In all honesty my own car is not a good example,, My wife's is better. I like the outside to shine, but its a DD and so while the inside is not nasty, its not pristine either. Hers is a DD but not so much tracked in crap LOLOL.
 
Dan K said:
Great advice Todd and Evan. IMO, you guys are two of the most helpful and knowledgeable AG forum members. I have learned alot from your posts, and I know that the info coming from you guys will always be accurate.

I am in the process of working towards detailing part time, am following your recommendations, and have done a few cars other than my own so far.

I think that one of the biggest surprises for anyone starting out in detailing is the difference in time and effort between detailing your own well maintained car and someone else's car which is much worse condition. As others have said, I have much respect for anyone that is a full time detailer. I spent two consecutive Saturdays last month detailing for 10 hours straight each day, and I was exhausted and sore.
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I like this a lot!!! THE TRUTH
 
Can you give me an idea of how much Adword ended up costing you monthly? I think they charge by click or something, would not like to receive a 1000$ invoice!
 
Calendyr said:
Can you give me an idea of how much Adword ended up costing you monthly? I think they charge by click or something, would not like to receive a 1000$ invoice!
Click to expand...

You can set your limit on Adwords so you don't get a big bill.
 
Excellent. Thanks! Once I am done with the re-design of the website I will start using Adword.
 
Beamerstrumpet: just restore yours. :)

I practice new techniques, products and methods on mine, all the time. Well mostly when I am not at school :)
 
Detailing is an art form that not everyone can do correctly.
You have to train, train and keep training.

Everyday there's new product, new paint and new techniques.
So you have to always be aware.

I've detailed all my life but only recently got serious.
So following a great detailer was my method of learning the proper way to run a detailing business.
On top of that I've been a regular at Meguiar's HQ soaking in all of there knowledge.
I wouldn't touch a customers car unless I knew all I could.
I was a "hack" detailer who "thought" I knew everything, boy was I wrong.
So after a few years I was set straight and my business has never been better.

So TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN!!!!
 
Detailing by M said:
Detailing is an art form that not everyone can do correctly.
You have to train, train and keep training.

Everyday there's new product, new paint and new techniques.
So you have to always be aware.

I've detailed all my life but only recently got serious.
So following a great detailer was my method of learning the proper way to run a detailing business.
On top of that I've been a regular at Meguiar's HQ soaking in all of there knowledge.
I wouldn't touch a customers car unless I knew all I could.
I was a "hack" detailer who "thought" I knew everything, boy was I wrong.
So after a few years I was set straight and my business has never been better.

So TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN!!!!
Click to expand...

Well put. I like this a lot. :props:
 
detailing cars for a university has given me my "experience". with no one to teach me I had to teach myself everything. it took allot of hours and then even more hours when I realized I had done everything all wrong and had to go back and fix my mistakes.

now im to the point where I am "comfortable" with what I do, that is when I decided to go into business for myself. but I have enough common sense to not quit my regular job until I have my clientele built up enough to support me. I really don't think that will take long because right now I am living off of barely over minimum wage. but I am able to get my bills paid and I don't own a single penny to anyone.

so being debt free, not married, no kids, and learned to live on a very tight budget I feel I will succeed as long as I trust God and work hard.
 
danieledwards12 said:
detailing cars for a university has given me my "experience". with no one to teach me I had to teach myself everything. it took allot of hours and then even more hours when I realized I had done everything all wrong and had to go back and fix my mistakes.

now im to the point where I am "comfortable" with what I do, that is when I decided to go into business for myself. but I have enough common sense to not quit my regular job until I have my clientele built up enough to support me. I really don't think that will take long because right now I am living off of barely over minimum wage. but I am able to get my bills paid and I don't own a single penny to anyone.

so being debt free, not married, no kids, and learned to live on a very tight budget I feel I will succeed as long as I trust God and work hard.
Click to expand...

I've just gotta say, I really like your outlook on this man, I don't think you can go wrong.


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