Detailing for profit w/out garage?

[04accord]

Hi Guys,

So, i've been thinking ahead to this coming spring/summer and I am very motivated to make a small detailing 'business,' along with my part time job. (College Student) I'm going to be offering normal services, washes, clay, 1 step polishes, etc. The issue is that I don't have a garage to work out of where I live. Have space, shade from trees over driveway, and hose access at my home. Is there a way to make this work? Im mostly worried about doing any polishing outdoors. Another option would be to use my grandparents garage, but they don't have access to water.

[CarolinasFinestDetailing]

Mobile. Go to them. Get a canopy.

[OTSDetail]

Get a canopy for sure. I detail from home and still have a canopy for when its super hot and sunny. Plus its good for mobile

[SKorch630]

If you don't have space to work in, absolutely go mobile. You can get a pretty decent setup for a relatively low price. Obviously that depends on what you want to have in your mobile shop. There's a ton of mobile detailers here that have listed their setups. Check them out!

[Mike Phillips]

The majority of detail work I've done in my life was when I was mobile.

You'll put the most money in your pocket by being mobile because you have a LOT less overhead.

Mot of the guys I know that have made a career detailing cars are mobile. So there's nothing wrong with being mobile.

I've had three shops in my life and while it's great to have a shop because all your tools, equipment products and supplies are in one place having a shop tends to force you to do production work because you'll detailing anything that pulls into the parking lot or take any job that calls on the phone as it's a numbers game as you need cars to pay for the overhead.


Keep reading this forum and asking questions, you'll get it all figured out.

[dmund]

IM detailing from my garage,thinking about maybe being mobile,shop rent here is high,since you detail from home is it possible to ask a neighbour if he can help you out and in return you could offer to do a basic wash on his car,and should they want a more detailed work offer a small discount just a thought...have fun keep detailing....AUTO ONE DETAILING....on facebook

[04accord]

thanks for the input guys. I don't have to pay rent at either possible 'set' locations. What Im really wondering is if its feasible to be polishing a car without a garage. I guess mobile is always an option if the answer to that is no.

[FUNX650]

What Im really wondering is if its feasible
to be polishing a car without a garage.

I guess mobile is always an option
if the answer to that is no.

The way I look at it is this:
If a person can't polish a car, without it being
inside a garage...why would they think that
being mobile somehow would become a viable
option for car-polishing purposes?

Wouldn't the car-polishing still have to be
performed while the car's sitting outdoors?


Bob

[Mantilgh]

Polishing outdoors is not a problem most of the time.

You might not want to do it at certain times in the spring when pollen levels are really high, or during harvest times if you live near a large agricultural area.

It is the sun that you will fight the most often with.

[04accord]

not sure if i can post this, but I saw this. 10 ft. x 17 ft. Portable Garage

not sure if there would be enough room on the sides to work and whether or not this is better or worse than a canopy with no sides.