[Russo513]

I've been detailing my own cars and the cars of friends and family to professional quality for years now. I've recently been playing with the idea of starting somewhat of a small business out of it.

I can be mobile, but feel I can do the best job in my own personal space.

I cover all aspects of professionally detailing the exterior:
Wash
Clay
Polish
Wax

interior:
vacuum
shampoo
(working on getting a steam cleaner if business works out)

I will degrease and pressure wash engine bay at your own risk. (some cars can have this done without a problem, some can't)

I use all Sonus products. A new super high quality line of detaling products. My polisher is the Porter Cable 7424 which will NOT burn your paint.

I'm thinking of starting the complete detail at $99; will also do hand wash only for $15. So stop taking your car to those crappy car washes and ruining your paint with swirls and scratches and let me know if your interested!

email me at [email protected]

I'm on LI, NY.

 

[MrT]

Russo,

I think the demand for detailing is local and very dependent upon the culture. The greater Long Island area is one I'd expect to have quite a few people who couldn't care less what their cars looked like, and also many people who might be customers for the $10k car wash mentioned somewhere else in this forum. You'll have to do (I suspect) rather targeted marketing after quite a bit of detailed study. You sound like a self-assured go-getter, and that is what it takes in the business you are targeting. I wish you well. I am in VA and may venture to hiring a detailer for our family bus (Suburban) sometime soon. But I won't be anywhere near Long Island. I wish you well.

Michael

 

[minat]

It is hard work and it's tough to get/keep qualified workers. To make good money you probably need to be in a larger, more popular area. interior detailing You have to have many services available from just wash jobs to total, remove the interior jobs. Window tinting and accessories can be part of it. But be prepared to sweat your *** off.

 

[divotandtralee]

I met a guy in Hawaii who was there on vacation. He had a business in LA to tend to celebrities cars in and around LA. His hook was he did it at the customer's house. This was a huge advantage over any competition... Start out slow with a complete dossier of cars and photos you have done and exactly what materials and things you touch, Get your customers to give a positive review... Your price is way too cheap.. I'd think an annual deal would be like on Spring total job $250 .. followed by additional washes and vacs for like $100 ( depends on how much gas you burn) .. Include tire pressures...wiper checks..lights...leather treatment

 

[6alfas]

I met a guy in Hawaii who was there on vacation. He had a business in LA to tend to celebrities cars in and around LA. His hook was he did it at the customer's house. This was a huge advantage over any competition... Start out slow with a complete dossier of cars and photos you have done and exactly what materials and things you touch, Get your customers to give a positive review... Your price is way too cheap.. I'd think an annual deal would be like on Spring total job $250 .. followed by additional washes and vacs for like $100 ( depends on how much gas you burn) .. Include tire pressures...wiper checks..lights...leather treatment

Spot on as usual. I wrote a business plan in college to start a detailing business. I figured three pricing tiers based on the size of the car. You will lose your shirt detailing a minivan or Suburban for $99. Buy a water tank to pull behind your vehicle so you're not dependent on the customers water (could be too soft, too hard, etc.). Blast the neighborhood/town with coupons to get your foot in the door. Give a discount to repeat clients. Register your business as an LLC and GET INSURANCE in case you scratch or dent a customer's car. A lot of cities will have a Small Business Bureau that will assist you in setting up your business. Check around and see if LI does.

 

[divotandtralee]

Agreed.. the business demands you going to the car if for no other reason that the guy getting his car done isn't going to stand around twiddling his thumbs while he pokes around to pick up your secrets for up to a couple of hours. The guy who did the celebs went to the TV and movie studios

 

[lgbalfa]

I think these days the competition is a lot - here in New Jersey anyway.

 

[Alfajay]

I was talking with a fairly serious detailer last weekend while I was up in Monterey. Yes, he was detailing those cars. He said that when he wasn't at an event like the Monterey week, he would sometimes travel to his customers, but that he preferred to work in his shop, where he has all of his tools and chemicals. But the big advantage of working in the shop is the light; working in someone's driveway, with trees overhead or maybe on a cloudy day, gives uneven light that can hide a lot of sins.

What I concluded is that, as with many businesses, detailing has its tiers. Sure, you can tow a water tank around suburban neighborhoods, clean the bugs off minivans, and probably make an OK living. But as lgbalfa points out, there is a lot of competition in that segment. The higher end approach - and this might only work in affluent areas - is to do 100 point level detailing in your shop on Ferraris, Porsches and the like. You can charge more in this segment, though you probably have to deal with more demanding clients.

 

[minat]

I think these days the competition is a lot - here in New Jersey anyway. You can find more details interior detailing