Any pro detailers here?

[fitzt4r]

I am thinking about starting up my own detailing business and was just wondering if there were any on this board with some good insight.

I have about 7 to 8 years experience detailing cars and this desk job just isn't cutting it anymore.

I am thinking about starting off small with one of the starter kits and work out of the back of the 4R, but eventually hope to move up to a trailer or even a shop of my own.

Would you ever take your 4R or other car to someone else to was/wax/detail your ride? I know some people in apartments don't have the availablity to wash their own cars.


Thanks in advance. Ryan

 

[broncosi]

I was just wondering if there were any on this board with some good insight.

i started with 2 other guys and myself with the mobile detailing and it was ok for a couple of summers, but hard hard work, and i didnt really see it as being worth it.

then i moved to an already accomplished detailing company that wasnt mobile and worked there for a year and it was a little better but your still washing cars for a living, they didnt really detail to my specifications which doesnt matter since i wasnt running the company anymore.

i would suggest finding an established detailing company that has personel garages that you can pull your customers car in and work on, and go from there.

 

[sketch1]

Myself and a few buddies did the detailing thing a few summers ago... it was fun at first, but way to repetivtive for me. I thought it would be fun and easy money, but I got burnt out on it really fast... I couldn't imagine doing it for a living, no offense, but I would just get so sick of it.... unless you owned the company and paid others to do the detailing.

Would it be you doing it alone, or would you have someone to detail with you?

 

[pipspeak]

It would be tough. I recently bought a used 2004 4runner and the detailers did a crappy job inside. So I had the dealership clean the inside again, and once again all the same dirt was there. So I checked out their detailing area and it was basically a handful of immigrants slogging away churning out cars as quick as they could.

They were probably getting paid $8 an hour and probably spent less than a half hour per car, which made me realize that the 1-2 hours I spent getting the the car spotless myself when I took it home would just never pay for itself, at least not at the hourly rate I'd wanna be paid.

 

[toybox]

Most of the people who would appreciate a proper detailing, and see the value in the expense, are doing it themselves.

 

[Falls]

Nothing wrong with doing what you like and have a passion for . You can make a good living at it , but you have to start some where and build from there. Yes it can get old , but so can everything. If thats what you want to do go for it !!

I've been detailing for years but do it at my house where I have a heated and air cond. garage.

 

[broncosi]

I've been detailing for years but do it at my house where I have a heated and air cond. garage.

yea thats sounds like heaven, when i did my own business and worked for other companies we were never in air condition or heat. Maybe id still be in it if it were.

 

[druuu88]

www.autopia.org

one of the best detailing forums ever. they really do know their cars

 

[Falls]

yea thats sounds like heaven, when i did my own business and worked for other companies we were never in air condition or heat. Maybe id still be in it if it were.

I get some good bucks for doing it , but do it because I have a passion for it. Follow your passion and work hard and the money will come on its own.

I don't go out looking for it , but people know I'm into it so I do some cars here and there.

As far as the garage , I have a nice but nothing fancy set up , good tunes , cable TV , heat/air , 60" ceiling fan , compressor , ect.... hey I like hangin out in the garage , what can I say. The wife thinks I'm nut , but that is only until she wants her car done....lol. Oh and she does pay !!