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Slow05CC
11-23-2011, 03:13 PM
I have been tossing around the idea of putting together a mobile detailing business and was wondering if anyone out there has this business in place? If so, would you say its successful? ehh pays the bills? or a bust?

I have a friend out in Arizona that does this and makes quite the living off of it. His business went from a F250 and a trailer to full on detailing cargo vans and a detailing box truck with everything under the sun in it. He has established a nice book of clients and a lot of recurring clients, along with 2 accounts for used car dealerships. He has gotten to the point to where he needs to expand again, but he is looking into getting accounts with companies that sell resto parts and such just to have that base and upselling products while doing his job.

I am very familiar with detailing and very anal about the small things most people miss, I am also very detail oriented, and super clean so I feel that this may work for me. I also like detailing vehicles, including my own and family/friends vehicles. I have some money to purchase a nice rig and have looked into all the insurance that I would need, and advertisement, so I think I am ready to throw down. I live in a area where there are very little car wash/detail facilities, also the area in which I live has a higher income and there are a lot of nice rides that are super neglected. I feel these people would pay to have their vehicles done since there is a lack wash places and people are just lazy when it comes to vehicle maintenance.. Am I out of line here?

My question is? How many of you went out and bought all the stuff needed and it was a total bust ( didnt pay the bills, didnt pay for the equipment, loans, ect ), the business is making due and paying the bills and a little on the side, or the business took off and you have more work than you know what to do with ( like my buddy which does over 1 mil a year in gross sales )??

Any tips?? or suggestions??

I have looked into accounts for product and equipment and think that start up would be around 10 grand to get into??

Any help is much appreciated

Thanks In Advance,

silverado_lover
11-23-2011, 03:15 PM
subbed

Joe
11-26-2011, 09:35 PM
Checkout the detail specific forums out there, Detail City is one. You will find everything you are looking for :D

neubauej
11-27-2011, 08:53 AM
Check out www.autopia.org They have LOTS of pro mobile and static detailers there. They even have a forum for aspiring and current small business owners.

Slow05CC
11-28-2011, 05:14 PM
Thanks for the input. I will check those sites out...

J

BigBlack03
11-29-2011, 01:29 PM
If/when you get this up and running or get to a point where you start looking at advertising options to plan ahead, shoot me a PM. I deal with local Houston cable advertising for Comcast at my new job so I won't be able to help you directly unless you expand to Hiuston but I can offer advice and point you in the direction of some contacts in Austin who sell in that market.

I'm probably way ahead of you on the timeline here but just throwing it out there :cheer:

Slow05CC
11-29-2011, 02:49 PM
If/when you get this up and running or get to a point where you start looking at advertising options to plan ahead, shoot me a PM. I deal with local Houston cable advertising for Comcast at my new job so I won't be able to help you directly unless you expand to Hiuston but I can offer advice and point you in the direction of some contacts in Austin who sell in that market.

I'm probably way ahead of you on the timeline here but just throwing it out there :cheer:

Thanks man... I will let you know!

Joe
11-29-2011, 05:44 PM
Thanks for the input. I will check those sites out...

J
Good luck!

Look into joining a local business networking group as well. Well worth the effort :cool:

Chevy4life11
11-29-2011, 07:06 PM
if you need to practice detailing, take a trip out here to jville florida and you can detail my whole truck :lol: