mobile vs home shop

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Denali2011

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Well as I learn and get better at detailing I am getting more hope that I will be able to start my business. The question I have is would you rather have a home shop and allow people to drop cars off or start with a mobile set up? Thanks
 
I have my shop at home and wouldn't have it any other way. I have low over head and get to work from home. For me I could never be mobile I would feel rushed to get the car done cause I'm at someones office or home. Be mobile is great if you like doing it lots of people here do great with being mobile. Being mobile wi cost more to start up if you do it right.
 
Pureshine said:
I have my shop at home and wouldn't have it any other way. I have low over head and get to work from home. For me I could never be mobile I would feel rushed to get the car done cause I'm at someones office or home. Be mobile is great if you like doing it lots of people here do great with being mobile. Being mobile wi cost more to start up if you do it right.
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Do you ever worry about having people come to your house?
 
I wouldn't want to do mobile for the simple fact of me being so forgetful. I have a horrible memory, and would likely forget something everytime I went out. I keep all my stuff in my garage cabinets.

I also work from my home, I have very few concerns since I live on a military base.

The only exception is some of the female customers now stalk me!! ( probably not, just seems that way)

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I'm completely mobil and it's a pain.
I'm looking to move into a place where I can detail at home so I can detail in my underwear.
If I could just go to my garage in the morning I'd be happier then a pig in poo.
.... and my garage will be air conditioned
 
Denali2011 said:
Do you ever worry about having people come to your house?
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Just like Todd "Pureshine", I am 100% shop based ..... and no I am not concerned about people coming to my house. My house and shop are alarmed monitored and am a proud CCW licensee. I am strictly word of mouth and normally booked 3-4 weeks ahead (solid). I do have to disclose the fact that I only offer my weekends, because I have a regular job :xyxthumbs:. I do have 2 employees at the moment (also only working on the weekends).

Before you ask....(if there is a concern about losing business that way!?!).... as a convenience to my regulars (or certain customers), I will offer to go get the vehicle, but normally they come drop it off when I ask them to (normally the night before).

Was it a concern initially that I was going to frustrate some customers? The answer is that is: "it is still is a concern"..... but I am reassured by the fact that I am booked 3-4 weeks ahead solid and have been that way since 2 months after starting my detailing business. I am also blessed and reassured by the fact that it is not at all uncommon nowadays to have people drive 30-40 miles one way to come drop off their car for the weekend (polishing jobs)

Build it the way you want, and put your all in it.... and they will come!
 
A home shop you can work any hours you choose. Mobile you usually have to pack it in just before dark. Even if you have mobile lighting the sound of DA's vibrating a hood, deck or top makes it just to loud to work late at night and at 1:00AM... forget about it! (neighbors).
 
I'm 100% mobile and love it! Clients also love it because they don't have to worry about arranging a ride or waiting at a shop. Everyone is different and some would prefer a shop. It just comes down to what fits you. It's great to have a van that's wrapped that is a moving billboard generating business everywhere you go.

Hope that helps and Good luck!
 
I plan on being home based.

My youngest uncle however was or is shopping for a shop. To open up his own body shop. I went with him the day I started working on his BMW. It looked nice and he even suggested that I could have my own area of the shop to open up my shop. (But who knows... If that will ever happen)

But for now I am just concentrating on being home based.
 
Detailing by M said:
I'm completely mobil and it's a pain.
I'm looking to move into a place where I can detail at home so I can detail in my underwear.
If I could just go to my garage in the morning I'd be happier then a pig in poo.
.... and my garage will be air conditioned
Click to expand...

Amen brotha

Sent from my SCH-I605 using AG Online
 
I have a two bay ac and heated shop in my backyard and love it. Im able to write off a chunk of my rent and utilities. My place is nice looking, fences and gated and has a separate drive back to the shop.

I have absolutely no trouble finding clients, although it took a couple years to get to that point and really struggled at first.

Im detailing full time and work on some awesome cars. I have some slow weeks here and there and january and february can be brutally slow.

I love having a home based business. I can prep the car in the morning and then go take a lunch and rest at the house.

I can also keep a close eye on the cars when i keep them overnight which i actually do quite often.

My place isnt super fancy, but is nice and has somewhat of the upscale image i was going for. I mostly target higher end clientele so this was very important.

The look of your place can hinder you or be an advantage. It doesnt have to be super nice but needs to at least be clean, have nice landscaping etc. People will judge you...its a fact.

I looked around for a while but find a place, zoned commercial just off a busy road and close to upscale neighborhoods. Even if you are paying 1k to 1500 for rent you will be saving money compared to mobile detailing and are saving a ton of money compared to somebody with a shop and separate house.

Home based is the way to go imo. Im continuously working on nicer and nicer cars and making more money than a mobile detailers. No offense to you mobile guys. You are awesome!
 
I would same I am a mixture of the two. I have a van and I am mobile but try and get people who want full corrections to drop off. Anything I can do under 8 hrs, I usually will do mobile.
 
yes... home is more comfortable, you may get some light volume , strangers around your house :))

No , i am mobile and it works for me , i go and get the dollars, max 200$ on gas/month , but i can finish the month with 6-11k in my pocket so i have no complains about driving to the clients. PLUS driving with a wrapped van says: ADVERTISE!
being mobile is not boring , new place , new people , new cars , sometimes you get right where the babies are ...:)
see what your budget allows , shop is a big investment , home shop is light , plus watch for the city...., mobile ... a car and equipment.
 
RedXray said:
A home shop you can work any hours you choose. Mobile you usually have to pack it in just before dark. Even if you have mobile lighting the sound of DA's vibrating a hood, deck or top makes it just to loud to work late at night and at 1:00AM... forget about it! (neighbors).
Click to expand...

This!

I work from my home as well. Some things I've done mobile from my G35 totally packed to the gills. To do it without feeling like I'll need something I don't have I either use my sons 4Runner or the wife's Denali. (The Denali means she takes my G, and I REALLY don't like her doing that!)

The one thing about mobile with high-line detailing/paint correction is when you spend 2 days at the clients home they get a different perception of "value received". The old saying "out of sight, out of mind" really comes into play when they are not privy to what all goes into a higher end detailing job. The taping alone tends to blow away most owners as they have no idea of all the trouble one has to go to BEFORE you can even start working. :dunno:
 
I'm 100% mobile and some days are better than others. Going to someone's home could mean an apartment complex or condo/town house where you working area is limited. Also, it's not fun working in 90 deg/90% humidity weather.

However I do love detailing and it's great having a job to do when it's your passion.

If I had a shop I would want it to be in a commercial area vs. my home. Better chance to get visibility in your market and grow the business.
 
I do both. I have a residence based shop(read: garage :)) and a full mobile rig. I find the mobile rig is priceless for boats, RV's, express work and the shop is perfect for correction, coatings, etc..

I'm looking into buying/renting/building a true detail shop that will feature production work and high end work next year.
 
You guys that work from home, your town doesn't give you a hard time about it? I had dreams of working from home...went to the town to get a business license and the zoning officer said, "no way can you do that, your in a residential area". Then proceeded to tell me about all the commercial inquiries they have turned down for detailers.
 
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