Car Detailing Business

[RyanbabZ71]

Today I had my GF bring over her car so I could vacuum it out. It was a mess. I made it look like a total new car. She told me I am so anal because her seat bolts/bracket were rusty so I painted it and also her windshield wipers you know how they turn grey/white well I painted that too. I got to thinking man I love washing vehicles wouldnt it be cool to make some side money on weekends? Anyone ever do this or think about doing it? I know I have a million things running around in my head the biggest being do I do this at home or find a place for the spring/summer months to lease and try and run the business. Also there is advertising, pricing, buying products, etc.

 

I am brainstorming right now so throw some ideas out there.

 

Also would you take your car to someone like me to have your car cleaned? (ok maybe I dont want to hear the answers

[Import Hater]

I've done it. Mostly for my dad in the past. I detail the car, he enters in a show, and he takes the glory when it wins. I used to be all into it. The car had to pass a white glove test. I was using toothbrushes here, make up brushes there, it got silly. I'm burned out on it. 10 years ago when I was in high school, I would prepare his car for shows on the weekend and wash my own car and detail it on a weekly basis. Now I just pay $20 and take it to the local car wash and say that's good enough.

[gmcjoe]

Ryan, I've done quite a bit of research on that very subject

 

A great place to start is the forums at www.detailcity.com

[pacodiablo]

Go to Borders and Barnes & Noble...they may have books on it. I saw a pretty in-depth book at Borders on automotive detailing.

 

With the Ranger, I have nearly given up on keeping the black paint clean. I wash it once a month or so when it's warm (by hand) and it is taken to the touchless car wash after the DOT dumps salt all over the place. It looks dirty pretty much all winter though and much of summer. I am usually pretty pickey when it comes to the interior...lately I have slacked off, but I usually keep it pretty clean. This truck is a little bit more difficult to keep clean compared to our old Ranger because of the carpet and cloth seats (this is the first truck we have owned with carpet or cloth seats).

 

Honestly, I woulden't pay anyone to clean it because I am broke and do it myself, but you would find plenty of customers if you did detailing.

[Shotgun]

Well for what it's worth, I'd trust you with my baby...

[Z71]

I wish I could wash my truck in the driveway (it's illegal in Vegas because of the drought).

 

 

We are in the DROUGHT ALERT column right now.

[Greg]

I think most auto enthusiasts have thought of this one time or another. Then I ride in someones car who doesn't care about its appearance and I cringe. I'd probably refuse to work on too many scuzzy cars and I'd go out of business very quickly.

[wisconsinz71]

Today I had my GF bring over her car so I could vacuum it out. It was a mess. I made it look like a total new car. She told me I am so anal because her seat bolts/bracket were rusty so I painted it and also her windshield wipers you know how they turn grey/white well I painted that too. I got to thinking man I love washing vehicles wouldnt it be cool to make some side money on weekends? Anyone ever do this or think about doing it?

Ryanbabz71--I did this for a couple years by getting hooked up with a local Chev dealer that used to send his stuff out. I used his shop, water, soap. Brought in my own stuff for the engine, tires, paint for touch up of frames, bolts, whatever. I got $50.00 for car and small trucks, 75.00 for full size trucks and samm suvs, 100.00 for subs, vans, etc. I enkoyed it but took too much time away from the family.

[99silveradoz71]

Could be pretty successful. We have a few places in the surrounding cities that have opened up in the last year or 2 and they do quite well.

[sincityZ71]

I wish I could wash my truck in the driveway (it's illegal in Vegas because of the drought).

 

 

We are in the DROUGHT ALERT column right now.

Hence why I now own a sunset orange/light brown truck. Of course I have never been good about washing the thing anyway.

[carguru]

I do have a side business of detailing cars for a few extra bucks. It actually got started by a couple of friends of mine commenting on the cleanliness of my vehicles and me saying, "I can clean yours too." I do it for a few people I know. I don't know if I want to do it by myself full time. The last one I did took a full day. It was a minivan. I got $200 out of it because I had do a full detail inside and out plus touchup. It still makes me cringe at some of the food stuff that I found in there. This thing hadn't been touched in 3 years!!

[General Lee 01]

Ryan, if you're going to do this type of thing I would strongly advise against running your operation at home.

 

 

There's a guy around here that runs around in a van, he will come to your house and detail your car. < Food for thought...

[gmcjoe]

Ryan, if you're going to do this type of thing I would strongly advise against running your operation at home.

Starting at home is a great idea IMO. Very low overhead ;)

Start by doing vehicles for friends and family. You do a good job and word of mouth advertises for you (best type of advertising BTW).

 

Mobile detailing is another option as well. There are plenty of successful businesses like that.

 

Great way to start. like I posted earlier, checkout www.detailcity.com Ryan

 

GO FOR IT

[RyanbabZ71]

JOE AND GENERAL

 

I checked out DC.com and i started posting like crazy thank you very much for the link!!!

 

I will probably start at home (family vehicles which i already do) and i know a family friend who buys cars at auctions and sells them so i am going to contact him. I just want a few extra bucks and itll give me something to do on the weekends while my gf is working.

 

Eventually the mobile thing is what I want to do. They even make trailers for these operations. I am going to start slow and see where it goes. Probably give it a good year then evaluate it and see if i want to expand.

 

I may even have my brother help over the summer (he is graduating hs so he will be free until he starts college)

[gmcjoe]

i know a family friend who buys cars at auctions and sells them so i am going to contact him.

Excellent way to start Ryan.

 

Keep me posted

 

Joe