"Specialty" Detailing?

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Nabors

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Hey everyone!

I have posted a while ago about starting a part time detailing business, and got a price list and brochure together fully intending to do that. However, I wanted to see how school panned out and realized that I had very little time to devote to doing "full" basic details.

In searching for a commuter car to get back and forth to classes and just driving around, I see a large number of headlights that are almost downright dangerous to be driving with at night, as well as many car ads with dirty cars and a couple poor picture.

My idea:
-Stick to headlight restoration and pre-sale detailing which is a basic "full" detail with the addition of a headlight restoration if needed, and get my brother on board (wannabe photographer) to get pictures together for a car ad.

My question is what other types of "specialty" services such as headlight restoration is there that could be done? (I tried to polish some of the family cars' windshields but m105 and orange pad with the ol' PC doesn't cut it.)

What I want is to be able to do quick jobs in maybe an hour and a half or so max, aside from the pre-sale detailing in order to fit into a tighter schedule.

Feel free to tear into the idea if you don't see me being able to sustain something like that for the rest of my school career!
 
Yeah, glass polishing, or at least from what I have read, can be time consuming even with the right tools and polish.

Just thought of wheel coatings or trashed wheel restoration. Maybe you could work with a local tire shop that sell aftermarket rims also and see if you could do it as an add on for them. Wheel resto, or maybe I should say heavy wheel cleaning/polishing, might take some time.

Headlight resto is a good idea.
 
maybe engine details.

Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk
 
Bit off topic, but I hear people do well for time spent doing cell phone screen replacing.
 
Mantilgh said:
Bit off topic, but I hear people do well for time spent doing cell phone screen replacing.
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A lot of places do iPhones around here. Hard to find places to do Android phones. I guess because there are so many models. They sure do get enough for them.
 
Thanks for the suggestions! The wheel restoration is a really good idea.

As for the screen replacement, in my area, they are a dime a dozen. There is even an advertisement for one in my local neighborhood ad.
 
DetailKitty said:
Would trim restoration count?
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Trim resto great idea! We did a Chevy Avalanche in boot camp using Solutions Finish to restore the trim. Unbelievable results and its supposed to last a while. It really changes the appearance of a car.

I can see people wanting that and being able to charge a nice dollar for that work.
 
Nabors said:
Hey everyone!

(I tried to polish some of the family cars' windshields but m105 and orange pad with the ol' PC doesn't cut it.)
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You can use a specific glass polishing pad and glass polish also. A glass specific pad is very thin and definitely will offer more cut then an orange foam cutting pad. Also preping the glass is important before polishing.
 
High Caliber said:
Trim resto great idea! We did a Chevy Avalanche in boot camp using Solutions Finish to restore the trim. Unbelievable results and its supposed to last a while. It really changes the appearance of a car.

I can see people wanting that and being able to charge a nice dollar for that work.
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:dblthumb2:
 
touch up paint for rock chips, paintless dent repair, tire patching, fluid top offs, air filter change, paint transfer removal, carpet upholstery spot removal, pet hair removal, window tinting, metal polishing, glass etching, just to name a few that come to mind.
 
I have been looking for a good trim restorer, and so far Back to Black and Ultimate black haven't made me very happy. The trim restoration is a great idea!

I did think of the spot paint repair and chip repair, but without any sort of insurance or anything, even though I can do it, I want to avoid the "invasive" paint type repairs. I do really like all of the options I have been given so far!
 
Nabors said:
I have been looking for a good trim restorer, and so far Back to Black and Ultimate black haven't made me very happy. The trim restoration is a great idea!

I did think of the spot paint repair and chip repair, but without any sort of insurance or anything, even though I can do it, I want to avoid the "invasive" paint type repairs. I do really like all of the options I have been given so far!
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One word: Penetrol :dblthumb2:
 
At the moment I'm doing the same and reserving full details for Saturday's since I'm a 1 man operation.
So I mainly focus on headlight resto as I tend to charge anywhere from $40-100 depending if a customer opts for a lens coating or not. Along with that I offer: windshield chip repair, glass coating, wheel coatings, trim restorations, and bug splatter removal. And from these small services I've gotten appointments for full details or restorations.
 
DetailKitty said:
One word: Penetrol :dblthumb2:
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Perfect! Even more so since I could get it locally and try it out! Im the MAN

usmcpab said:
At the moment I'm doing the same and reserving full details for Saturday's since I'm a 1 man operation.
So I mainly focus on headlight resto as I tend to charge anywhere from $40-100 depending if a customer opts for a lens coating or not. Along with that I offer: windshield chip repair, glass coating, wheel coatings, trim restorations, and bug splatter removal. And from these small services I've gotten appointments for full details or restorations.
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That is exactly the kind of thing I was trying to get together in my head but couldn't figure it out. I still want to be able to make a full car beautiful, but don't have the time to do them on weekdays. :detailer:
 
That is exactly the kind of thing I was trying to get together in my head but couldn't figure it out. I still want to be able to make a full car beautiful, but don't have the time to do them on weekdays. :detailer:[/QUOTE]

It works out perfectly for me since I do it mostly p/t. I earn enough to where I don't have to worry and I'm slowly building my arsenal. Next up for me is a Flex! :)
 
DetailKitty said:
One word: Penetrol :dblthumb2:
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Picked up some Penetrol while I was out today...and WOW!!! For me, at least, it seems to yield better results. I'll see how it lasts a few washes from now, but so far I'm very happy! Thanks!
 
I had to Google Penetrol. Are y'all using oil-based paint promoter on your trim? Or am I just senile?
 
Damonsfcd said:
I had to Google Penetrol. Are y'all using oil-based paint promoter on your trim? Or am I just senile?
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I don't know about you being senile, but what you found is correct! Im the MAN

It makes your hands sticky and doesn't come with the perfumes in the normal detailing-specific products, but it has been looking great so far from an afternoon shower yesterday and off and on storms today.
 
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