Jump to content

Car Detailing Business

RyanbabZ71

By RyanbabZ71
in The Off-Topic Bar

Recommended Posts

RyanbabZ71 Senior Enthusiast

RyanbabZ71

Posted
Posted

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 :cheers:

Import Hater Enthusiast

Import Hater

Posted
Posted

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 Senior Enthusiast

gmcjoe

Posted
Posted

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

 

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

pacodiablo Senior Enthusiast

pacodiablo

Posted
Posted

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.

Greg Senior Enthusiast

Greg

Posted
Posted

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 Enthusiast

wisconsinz71

Posted
Posted
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 Senior Enthusiast

99silveradoz71

Posted
Posted

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.

carguru Senior Enthusiast

carguru

Posted
Posted

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!! :cheers:

General Lee 01 Senior Enthusiast

General Lee 01

Posted
Posted

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 Senior Enthusiast

gmcjoe

Posted
Posted
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 :cheers:

 

GO FOR IT :cool:

RyanbabZ71 Senior Enthusiast

RyanbabZ71

Posted
  • Author
Posted

JOE AND GENERAL

 

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

 

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 Senior Enthusiast

gmcjoe

Posted
Posted
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 :confused:

 

Joe

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • Chuck FB
      Tire psi

      By Chuck FB · Posted

      Uh yes, that's the name of the package. It doesn't quite bring it up to 1 ton specs unfortunately and imagine they have to do that for a numbers reason rather than a physical one.    Am I correct though that the Max Trailer Package and therefore the 12" rear is only available on the Duramax and not on any of the L8T 3/4 ton trucks ( and that the same 11.5 rear axle center section is used on the 3/4, 1 ton SRW and even 1 ton dually gas version ) ?   I'd also be curious to know if the wheel bearings are the same on a SRW configuration between an 11.5 vs the 12" diff as I assume parts would show that up but may not explain what the difference is if indeed there was a physical difference. 
    • Atlas
      Gas Prices

      By Atlas · Posted

      Why is gas up? Same reason the deficit is now $40 Trillion.
    • richard wysong
      Gas Prices

      By richard wysong · Posted

      Mobil up another dime this am , $3.89, others will probably go up later. Any ideas on the reason for the increase other than greed? I've been working 14 hour days and haven't caught the news in a few days.
    • Grumpy Bear
      Some Assembly is Required

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      AMSOIL SS is about prevention and it is very good at it's job. I've never seen it claim to be a cleaner however like Valvoline R&P. Almost any oil that has some Ester or Alkylated Naphthalene in sufficient quantity will do a good job at keeping the rings functional.     I see the market splint among these types in two groups; those that use the same tech in every weight grade and those that reserve the tech for the EPA (EPA) friendly grades. Mobil 1 for example keeps the Advanced Clean chemistry out of the SAE 40 and up weights. Other like HPL (top shelf group and No-VII), Red Line HP, TORCO, MPT30K use the tech in all grades. Just not something the Wally World oils are into. 
    • newdude
      Tire psi

      By newdude · Posted

      Max Trailering Package.  RPO code NHT.   includes 3500 HD Frame, 3500 HD Leaf Springs, 12" Rear axle and 3500 HD Shock Package.   GVWR goes to 11,750lbs for crew cab standard box 4x4, 11,900lbs for crew cab long box 4x4.  2WD crew standard is 11,500lbs, 11,550lbs crew long 2wd, and 11,450lbs on regular and double cab 4x4.       There is also NHT on 1 ton dually regular cab 2WD.  includes 3500 HD Frame, 3500 HD Leaf Springs, (F60) Heavy Duty Front Spring/Camper Package, 12" Rear axle, 3500 HD Shock Package, and Z6A Gooseneck / 5th Wheel Prep provisions with bed stamped holes and caps.  GVWR of 14,000lbs.    

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...