If you Could, Would you?

[trlblazer3]

As a part-time detailer, with each happy client I get the stronger urge to push towards my ultimate goal of owning a shop and doing detailing full-time. Which got me thinking -to everyone here, if you were able to detail for a living, would you? Is it a hobby and/or extra income to you or could you see yourself detailing for a living? If you would choose to detail for a living, what would be your motivation? Love of detailing? Money? Being your own boss? I thought it would be an interesting topic to discuss.

I know I definitely would do it full-time, and as soon as I can get into the position to be able to take that opportunity I will. With each vehicle I do, I realize how passionate I am about it. I find myself looking at each vehicle I see as a blank canvas, just waiting to become a masterpiece. The love of the job is my motivation, and the thought of growing a successful business that I created would be such an amazing feat for me personally. I have a long way to go (I'm only 26 years old), and it would be very hard to give up the great job I have, but I would in a hearbeat to chase my dream. I am reassured every day by my girlfriend (soon to be fiance...sssshhhh) that I have her full support if I decide that's what I want to do. She even has volunteered to help out in any way possible. Here's to dreaming!

Brian

[SPiN]

if i could do it from a shop yeah. I once tried the mobile detailing thing and couldn't do it, so much props for you guys who do.

One thing is having a nice shop with a lift, AC, Shade, etc. But the mobile detailing in the sun,etc etc is just to out of hand.

South florida has a lot of potentional, specially since 1 out of every 25 cars on the street is a $50k+ car and 1 out of every 100 car on the streets is an exotic.

[Surfer]

It would depend, I do it just for hobby and I don't do others except mine/immediate family and friends sometimes. I have my own successful business so financially wouldn't make sense as income would be a fraction in comparison. Thats something you'll have to consider if you live in a high cost area. Know your competitors as well, for example as Bamboo on here would know, there are two main car wash shops here literally across from one another that get majority of the business and neither do a nice job.

I would study and analyze your market and then go from there and see if its viable. For me, between racing/boats/home/cars/investing etc, there is noway I could support that detailing at least in my area which is high cost.

I'll be 26 as well, which is why I'm busting my behind with my company, heck I haven't been out with friends really in 3 months. If your going to do anything, nows the time while younger.

[Z06-Goose]

I do it as a hobby, and I'm also very passionate about doing it to the point I can be obsessed about it. Every car I detail is an opportunity to make somebody happy, and show you really care through your work. People do really appreciate that aspect of the service
Would I do it for a living?
Absolutely. I think the main driving force is to be a profitable business; you've gotta make a comfortable living
In order to do that -and this would be my way of thinking- is to provide a full-service carwash. You need to have either some 4-5 self-service bays, or a tunnel type wash, and have an adjacent place to do full detail for people who want personal attention to their pride and joy

Let's face it, if you're just thinking about having a business to just do paint correction and such, that's a one-man deal. You would have to have an exclusive high-profile clientele for you to make a living off of it
Having a carwash as I mentioned above, will provide you with a lucrative steady income that would allow you to dedicate yourself to the art of detailing your customer's cars as you've envisioned

[supercharged]

Question, if you are planning to do it full time, what's your expected annual income from it??? I know it really depends on area you live in, but just to see...
Sure not every detailer get paid as well as Paul Dalton, but he details all the luxury exotic cars...

[trlblazer3]

Originally Posted by Z06-Goose

I do it as a hobby, and I'm also very passionate about doing it to the point I can be obsessed about it. Every car I detail is an opportunity to make somebody happy, and show you really care through your work. People do really appreciate that aspect of the service
Would I do it for a living?
Absolutely. I think the main driving force is to be a profitable business; you've gotta make a comfortable living
In order to do that -and this would be my way of thinking- is to provide a full-service carwash. You need to have either some 4-5 self-service bays, or a tunnel type wash, and have an adjacent place to do full detail for people who want personal attention to their pride and joy

Let's face it, if you're just thinking about having a business to just do paint correction and such, that's a one-man deal. You would have to have an exclusive high-profile clientele for you to make a living off of it
Having a carwash as I mentioned above, will provide you with a lucrative steady income that would allow you to dedicate yourself to the art of detailing your customer's cars as you've envisioned

You hit it pretty much on the head with your post. I think even having 3-4 self service bays, and having an enclosed bay to do professional details would be an awesome setup.

[trlblazer3]

Originally Posted by supercharged

Question, if you are planning to do it full time, what's your expected annual income from it??? I know it really depends on area you live in, but just to see...
Sure not every detailer get paid as well as Paul Dalton, but he details all the luxury exotic cars...

If I could pull $45k yearly income I would be extremely happy. The area I am in doesn't really have too many detail shops around, however that does change the closer you get to Philadelphia (I'm about 25 miles NW of Philadelphia). The area I live in is growing pretty steadily, and a lot of families are moving out to the suburbs and bringing their higher-end vehicles with them. And I've also seen some of the detail shops in the area, the prices they charge, and the quality they put out, and I could be competitive with them, although it would be a hard sell at first for sure.

[Showroom Shine]

I would love to quit my job and feel as secure with my own shop. I live in Ohio so the weather would be a problem,but I think with a nice shop, prime location ,and ONR I could do it. It's scary to leave a job where you can make 80k a year,and go on your own. I do like the fact that I'm mobile and don't have alot of the fixed location overhead! Still waiting on the right time and spot!

[Z06-Goose]

Like I've said, the wash bays is a big boost to your business, it has low overhead expenses, all you have to do is buy your chemicals and supply once a month or so, along with the water bill
...and no matter what the weather is like where you live, it's always making money for you
I live in a cold climate, and as soon as the weather gets nice (45* and up lol!) people just flock those local car washes in the area

I have a friend that has 3 self-service car washes, and he's selling one of them. I estimate the one car wash by my house, the guy on a busy day, makes at least 800 bucks easy, and that might be an under-estimate. He also have a touchless automatic bay in addition to the self service bays

[Gary Sword]

Right now I just detail my own cars which I really enjoy. I have a lot of people that want me to detail their cars but I always decline. I don't want to become something I associate with work. I don't think I could ever make as much money at it as I do in the type of work I do now. If it's something you want to do I would say go for it and make it happen.