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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » Renting a space for detailng on a small budget?

May 8, 2011 10:17 a.m. thestig99 Reader

Since, collectively, GRM knows everything I'll throw this out here.

I've lately been doing some detailing on the side (side of my dealer reconditioning job) and I'd like to be doing more of it. I've mostly just been doing friends/family cars, but multiple people are asking for work, so....

Here's the problem. First, there is no money in dealer reconditioning. I work full time at $9/hr (and drive 45 miles each way to do it) so my budget is pretty small. I may have a co-worker or two that could be interested in splitting the cost, however.

In the meantime I'm working out of my parents' garage for friends' cars, which is okay but the only bay with light is about to be overtaken indefinitely) and sneaking into work on Saturdays for family cars.

So my thoughts are this. Can I just rent a decent, car sized, storage unit to work out of/store my tools and supplies? I realize this depends mostly on the owner, but does anyone on here have experience with something like this?

http://www.brianleedyphoto.com/Detailing-1
May 8, 2011 11:27 a.m. Karl La Follette Dork

Goto an existing window tint shop or stereo shop see if there is a nice spot for you . Watch the place and make a plan before you go in . Get some signage so you are instantly in bizness. I would hit all the social clubs moose / elks / eagles spread the word . Use some elses insurance and shop . buy a tent deal /////////////////////////////// or I would goto a plaza and demand free rent because they have no one in there anyways the strip mall owners need tenants and explain how you can make the place look exciting and busy .Go forth and make a shizzle load of money !
May 8, 2011 3:12 p.m. Donebrokeit Reader

Finding shop space is expensive and with good drainage /water supply this may be harder. Might want to look in to a mid size tent of some type they are cheaper than a shop and if you need to move later this will make it a lot easer.

Paul B

Side note: Might want to check with a local detail company as they will pay more than the dealer if you are good at what you do.
May 8, 2011 4:59 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

Rent is the wrong kind of thinking. So is anything that is zoned residential.

Make it portable, and you've got a winnar!

Buy 2 portable shade tents. Then, advertise detailing to employees of big companies with a lot of cars in the parking lot. Schedule a particular company on a particular day and do it once a month. Do the detailing while people work.

When you show up, setup one tent over the car you are working on, and the second one over the next car (to cool it down from the sun).

Water tank on a trailer, gas powered pressure washer, generator for your power tools.

Make sure you have good liability insurance ($1,000,000 isn't that expensive), a business license, and the permission of the company whose parking lot you are working in.

You should be able to schedule 10 a day without much trouble, and the opportunity for repeat business on a regular basis. Customers will appreciate the convenience, and companies will like the value it provides to their employees.
May 8, 2011 5:10 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

SVreX wrote: You should be able to schedule 10 a day without much trouble

Ten in one day? I had one of my cars detailed last fall; it was sort of a quickie job on a small car that was in pretty decent shape to start with, and it still took them several hours to do the work.

Also, the cars need to be washed first before the detailing work can begin; that may be tricky to do with a portable service unless there's a hose handy.
May 8, 2011 5:38 p.m. Hal Dork

SVreX wrote: Make it portable, and you've got a winnar!

From this forum it seems like lots of the Transit Connects in the UK are used as portable detailing vans.

Lots of discussion about equipment and seting up the vans.
May 8, 2011 6:19 p.m. mattmacklind SuperDork

stuart in mn wrote:

SVreX wrote: You should be able to schedule 10 a day without much trouble

Ten in one day? I had one of my cars detailed last fall; it was sort of a quickie job on a small car that was in pretty decent shape to start with, and it still took them several hours to do the work.

Also, the cars need to be washed first before the detailing work can begin; that may be tricky to do with a portable service unless there's a hose handy.

When I detail a car, including wheels, interior and glass, it can take me up to 4 or 5 hours. 10 in one 8 hour day is a little optimistic, even with partners. Wash yes, but not detail int he sense of the word in today's car detailing world. Check out one of the trade bulletin boards. The word forensic comes to mind to describe how thorough they are.
May 8, 2011 6:25 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

stuart in mn wrote:

SVreX wrote: You should be able to schedule 10 a day without much trouble

Ten in one day? I had one of my cars detailed last fall; it was sort of a quickie job on a small car that was in pretty decent shape to start with, and it still took them several hours to do the work.

Also, the cars need to be washed first before the detailing work can begin; that may be tricky to do with a portable service unless there's a hose handy.

Too much business is a problem most companies would love to have.

Ever hear of employees? If 10 can be sold, why can't 10 be completed?

I have organized the construction of 30 houses in 1 week. Complete. From slab to handing the keys over. Granted, it took 3000 people to accomplish, but we did it.

If you live in an area with enough companies with a lot of cars in the parking lots, I see no reason why 20 per day couldn't be accomplished, with a different company every working day of an entire month, rotating through all of them monthly.

Don't start a business if you aren't prepared to think a little bigger. If 10 per day sounds impossible, keep your $9 per hour job.

The detail shop near me has 3 bays plus outside space with about 15 employees working full time. I guarantee they are not doing only 10 per day.
May 8, 2011 6:31 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

mattmacklind wrote:

10 in one 8 hour day is a little optimistic, even with partners.

I mean no disrespect, but I'll bet you've never owned a business. 10 per day is a very small goal for a well run small business. Less than than is only a hobby.
May 8, 2011 6:55 p.m. CarKid1989 Dork

im curious to hear more about this because i have been doing the same thing. Have about a dozen cars lined up to be done in the next month or two and have already done a couple (including a lawnmower). Im just good at cleaning stuff i guess. Would like to make it more then just a little on the side thing but have not thought it all out.

Two cars i recently detailed

Currently im working on ways to cut time off how long it takes to detail a car. Im meticulous but maybe to a fault (in terms of money making/business)
May 9, 2011 5:49 a.m. thestig99 Reader

I'm not looking for this to be my primary source of income, just some extra cash on the side. At least for now. If it were to grow into something I could support myself with I would certainly not be disappointed, however

I like the tent idea,why didn't I think of that? Any recommendations?
May 9, 2011 8:53 a.m. Derick Freese Dork

Have you thought about just doing headlight restorations? One of my friends does a couple a week on the side and charges $50 for most cars. It takes him less than an hour, and he can do it without having to invest a lot of time. I'd go with that for now and use the money from that to move up in size. Since you're just doing this on the side, it should be a nice bit of income for the amount of time invested.
May 9, 2011 10:10 a.m. Mental SuperDork

SVreX wrote: ...Buy 2 portable shade tents. Then, advertise detailing to employees of big companies with a lot of cars in the parking lot. Schedule a particular company on a particular day and do it once a month. Do the detailing while people work.

This.

Especially a company that prides itself on offering employees perks, like a google kind of place. Offer a "discount" for that particular company. Once you get that established, even just one or 2 days a month, then they will line up to get in your appiontment books. Spring time for the single folks, big date holidays for the married ones. Once you have that you can tweek the business model to another company.

Not just compnaies, but also office parks, moreso if they all have a similair interest like a medical office park.
May 9, 2011 1:02 p.m. bludroptop SuperDork

I had a buddy who was successful running a one-man detail business out of the back of a Toyota pickup, but ultimately he pretty much stopped doing cars at all, because the big money is in boats and private aircraft. Just some food for thought.
May 15, 2011 10:15 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

thestig99 wrote:

I'm not looking for this to be my primary source of income, just some extra cash on the side. At least for now. If it were to grow into something I could support myself with I would certainly not be disappointed, however

I like the tent idea,why didn't I think of that? Any recommendations?

I think that's great, but I'd still start it with a model that could grow. As professional as possible. If you only have a few customers, that is fine. But don't offer a service that is less than you would offer if the company was bigger. If you do, you won't have the potential to grow.
May 15, 2011 10:50 p.m. gamby SuperDork

SVreX wrote:

mattmacklind wrote:

10 in one 8 hour day is a little optimistic, even with partners.

I mean no disrespect, but I'll bet you've never owned a business. 10 per day is a very small goal for a well run small business. Less than than is only a hobby.

Well, in terms of high-end details, they take MUCH longer than that. If you go on autopia.com (the biggest detailing site on the web) there are people who put 20 hours into a car.

Personally, I take 4-6 depending on how many steps are done. I like to do work that is way above the "illegal with a rotary" $100 quickie specials that are out there.

I'm mobile and part-time. Tough to be year-round in New England and I don't want to rent a garage space that sits dormant for 6 months of the year. I will say, mobile is a HUGE selling point, because people really prefer not to drop their cars off if they don't have to.
May 16, 2011 4:51 a.m. SVreX SuperDork

OK, so if it takes 4-6 hours, 10 per day will take 5-6 people. That's pretty simple math.

My point is that if you approach a large company with 200 cars in the parking lot and get a 5% interest, you will need to do 10 per day. If you will never be capable of hitting that number, don't approach a large company. You will let them down, be perceived as unprofessional, and not be welcome to come back.

"Can't" is NOT in the vocabulary of an entrepreneur.
May 16, 2011 8:48 a.m. Tom F New Reader

There is always the option of doing on location detailing. That's what I do on the side.

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