Mobile to Fixed Location, Not letting fear hold me back!

[FinishingTouchA]

I apologize in advance if this is stops short or is somewhat of a ramble, will finish as soon as I get time. Crazy tired right now, been running nonstop for the past week!
I've been detailing mobile out of my pickup for the past 2 years, last year I went full time beginning in march then pickup up a 9-5 in November when weather started limiting my ability to even schedule a detail because the weather is 1000% unpredictable up here in the NW. I've always despised being mobile as working in some people's unclean driveways fighting wind and sun and leaves and dirt, etc drives risk up and quality down. Just this week I was strolling CL for a shop and found my dream shop, 2 bay with large parking lot on the busiest intersection in our small town (8k pop. 20k+ including local towns) for 1050 a month. In a small town everyone one knows everyone, especially business owners, realized I know the owner and can get the first year for around 850 a month. For the last few days I've been crunching numbers, making calls and doing everything I can to make it happen. I'm planning on moving in next month, I know the overhead that I'm not used to is going to be overwhelming but this is the opportunity I've been waiting for. Already have a PDR guy on call. My friend who has done tint for years is going to train me in tint to provide another source of revenue. I've been brainstorming every night for more ideas and already have details lined up a month out. Working on developing signage right now and wanted to know if any of you have gone from mobile to a fixed location and how you best used it to your advantage? Pics coming soon

 

[jarred767]

I apologize in advance if this is stops short or is somewhat of a ramble, will finish as soon as I get time. Crazy tired right now, been running nonstop for the past week!
I've been detailing mobile out of my pickup for the past 2 years, last year I went full time beginning in march then pickup up a 9-5 in November when weather started limiting my ability to even schedule a detail because the weather is 1000% unpredictable up here in the NW. I've always despised being mobile as working in some people's unclean driveways fighting wind and sun and leaves and dirt, etc drives risk up and quality down. Just this week I was strolling CL for a shop and found my dream shop, 2 bay with large parking lot on the busiest intersection in our small town (8k pop. 20k+ including local towns) for 1050 a month. In a small town everyone one knows everyone, especially business owners, realized I know the owner and can get the first year for around 850 a month. For the last few days I've been crunching numbers, making calls and doing everything I can to make it happen. I'm planning on moving in next month, I know the overhead that I'm not used to is going to be overwhelming but this is the opportunity I've been waiting for. Already have a PDR guy on call. My friend who has done tint for years is going to train me in tint to provide another source of revenue. I've been brainstorming every night for more ideas and already have details lined up a month out. Working on developing signage right now and wanted to know if any of you have gone from mobile to a fixed location and how you best used it to your advantage? Pics coming soon

That is so awesome!! Congrats to you man, I've been doing mobile detailing up in Seattle for the past 9 years (been full-time the last 6) and I've started working out of my garage some over the last couple years but still 90% mobile. I know exactly how you feel on the weather, unpredictable is so true.

I can't really provide any advice, but I will most certainly be following along with this thread as I've wanted to branch to a shop myself, but now I'm in the process of moving the business down to Bend, OR. I know the weather will be drier and a little easier for most of the year, but then worse during the winter, and I've only got a 1-car garage at the new place. There's a good chance I'll be looking for a garage just like you come late fall early winter.

Making that jump is difficult, especially for us guys who have gotten used to the luxury of having such incredibly low overhead while running a strictly mobile business. I wish you nothing but the best, and look forward to the advice that others have for you on here. :dblthumb2::dblthumb2:

 

[RPM_BR]

Save the money for rent and other costs religiously. There will be times where more than half of the month you'll work only to pay for the costs. Open saturdays as well, people always come to see what do you do, methods, price, stuff etc. Try to offer small paint job and some small repair, people also wants for you to take care of everything, I have a guy who comes for paint jobs and other for small repairs.
There are some lazy clients which I even buy for them car parts, usually hard to find, like an air filter for a Mercedes Diesel 1981. Or side repeaters for a Land Rover 2002.
Put a fast internet with wifi. A fridge with coke and other beverages, but no beers. A coach, some detailing and car magazines, and power plugs for them to charge their smartphones. Some pictures on the wall, like before and after, especially black swirled cars, and some posters and info about your methods. A AG banner . Nice painted walls, and keep your stuff neat, they will look at it. If I remember more, I will come back. Right now, saturday morning, I have to open the shop. Best regards, and good luck!

 

[RPM_BR]

Oh, i forgot, clean bathroom, coffee machine, clean floors.

 

[FinishingTouchA]

Thanks guys for the advice, definitely planning on setting up an account with Keystone Automotive so I can order aftermarket parts (window visors, floor liners, etc). I'm going to talk with the owner of the building next week about coating the shop floor, painting the walls, and just cleaning the place up. He seemed very interested in what I want to do with the place as his past renters just rented the place and used it as is. With a detailing business cleanliness is key. Here's the CL ad for now