I would like to throw in a different point of view. I am currently toying with the idea of doing the same thing (well pretty close to the same thing). My brother in law is interested in the industry and is in college so he would be good additional labor and I am looking to create a small business to create some additional income on the side. A little background on me, I have lived and breathed the air conditioning industry since I was a little kid. I started working in my dads shop when I was 12 and worked every position up to General Manager by the age of 21. Since then I have moved to a new city and am Vice President of Consumer Services with a very large state wide air conditioning company based in Orlando. In my state (Florida) the number of small A/C companies outnumber the large ones. To get into the A/C industry all it takes is some tools, a truck, some insurance and license (hopefully) and a phone number. The entry barrier is extremely low which is why there are so many people in the industry.
The detailing business is the same in this respect and the same argument can be made in A/C as many of you have made in this thread. If your service tech or installer is doing all the work, signs the customer up for the maintenance and is the one the customer sees then what stops them from taking those customers and starting their own business? The answer is a lot of things; The risk, the capital (even with the low cost to start), the confidence, the ability to answer phones, schedule, perform and keep customers happy, and the biggest one is THEY are now responsible for the number of calls they get per day, not someone else. I could continue on with the list but there is a reason that everyone doesn't own a business and it ultimately comes down to the know-how. Running a business properly is as important as actually detailing the car (or fixing/replacing their A/C system) and not everyone can do that.
The kind of detailing company I am starting will be like most, a mobile detailing company that will at first focus on quantity vs quality (by quality I mean high end details). The areas that I think I will differ is that I will find the labor that will fit with what I am looking to do (it will probably take me quite a few candidates) and find someone that is truly passionate about cars and taking care of them. The way you keep them interested and engaged and take the worry away of having them steal your customers, or money for that matter, is by making them a part of the company. The right employee with me will have an extremely attractive compensation package that will have a generous hourly compensation as well as a large amount of bonus or "spiff" opportunities that will reward them handsomely. The last piece will be a very upfront conversation with clear expectations from the beginning of how I would like to see this going and how they can work their way into having an ownership of the company.
This approach will take the risk of them taking my customers and running off the table, it reduces the risk or chances of bad quality work being performed (lets face it, no matter what, you will have mistakes and, unhappy customers are a part of customer service) and it helps me find a long term partner. I know this approach is not for everyone and certainly does not seem to be common. If my cash flow reports and forecasts are correct, this person may very well make more money than me in the first 12 months but I am willing to do that as an investment in the future.
Also, I have a fairly comprehensive marketing plan to acquire and retain customers. Again, this (if I choose to do it) will be my first time in the detailing industry but not my first time running a company, marketing, acquiring and retaining talent and growing a successful company.
Just my .02 on the topic. Might be a bit out there but it is what I am considering.
Glad to be a part of the group!
