Automotive Detailing

[eburg_Dub]

you saw my post? Yeah, he looks like he does amazing work, I will be talking to him more, that's the kind of stuff I want to do, in the garage.

I'm starting to remember all my dad had taught me becasue some of the things you guys are saying is ringing bells. I have experience, I pretty much grew up doing and helping with it and I went to school for it.

ANYONE around the southeast part of Pa, stop by and i'll detail it!

do my truck i haven't washed it since last year

[Nick F40]

GREAT! Perfect Yeah! Sure! Hey you can bring it to me Friday, I'll wash it, then you can follow us to the NNL East!

i'll be willing to do your truck if you want to.

[locoengr]

Alot of good advice being given here. The only thing that I can add is..."It's alot easier to sign a check on the back than the front!" Just my 2 cents...

Bruce in Fargo

Edited April 14, 2009 by locoengr

[Nick F40]

I mean, I know that there is a lot involved, I was talking to a 17 year old over at the Meguiars online and him and his friend are doing it together and they say ther'yre doing well.

[Helipilot16]

Take a little advice from someone who has "been there and done that". Starting your own business is very tempting because you would be your own boss, work your own hours, and set your own prices. It isn't that simple. There are many things you have to plan for. One of the worst is dealing with recalcitrant customers. Anyone who has been in business for any amount of time has been sued in small claims court. There is no justice in these "justice" courts. If you're in business you're assumed to be a cheating liar.

I worked for myself for many years. I found that having yourself for a boss means you're working for a real taskmaster. Long hours are the norm. Disappointments are many. Anyone who can succeed in a small business is one who has paid his dues and gets my admiration.

[Harry P.]

When I first began working on a freelance basis (being "self employed") I figured it would be fantastic, because I wouldn't have a boss to answer to.

A friend of mine who was a self-employed photographer told me something I'll never forget: when you're self-employed (or own your own business), everyone (that is to say, all of your clients) is your boss!

[FujimiLover]

Kind of hard to fire your selfe isn't it?

[Nick F40]

yeah! No I was thinking, maybe start small, get a good base going and get my name out, in a good way and later maybe move up to mobile detailing, or would be really sweet, a garage. Maybe hiring some people, who knows.

[FujimiLover]

I had dreams of opening up a performance/hobby shop. It would be a big full scale high-end performance shop with a combination of hobby shop catering to cars only. RC cars, die-cast cars, and model kit's. Even include resin body kit's as options for scale models just like your real car. Idea is you could build a model car of how you want your real car to look, and the shop would build the real car for you. Or, you could just build a model of your dream car. Something along those lines.

I ocasionally watch Unique Whips and if I were you, I'd watch that show and see how tough it is. How much detailing are you talking about? Just wash/wax outside, detail the inside? Or are you going to offer accesories as well?

I dont' think I've ever seen a performance shop offering scale models that could be hopped-up as well.

[Corvette.Jeff]

Does anyone enjoy doing it? Have pictures? Have their own business? I am thinking of maybe having a business at home or mobile in detailing. I belong to a couple sites, Detailing World and Meguiar's Online, is there any other good references or sites? What all is needed and what types of cars to detail etc. I just need input.

I personally dont let other people clean my car(but of course im pretty anal about how my car is cleaned ) i use alot of armor all on the inside, i use armor all on hte wheels/tires to

[Nick F40]

Now that sounds cool, I would definetly like to start that, that would be something I could see myself doing. I have wathed the show and the washing and detailing isn't really much more than what I do at school or home. It has to be top notch and it's good work but even so, I think I could maybe work for Will. If I would ahve one, I would love a Mobile one, just detailing, maybe have accessories down the road.

My cousin used to have a shop with his buddy, detailing and putting some aftermarket parts on cars, mainly VW/Audi, like exhausts, turbos, body kits etc. But then the other guy shafted my cousin and that was it. They would order the parts for people and put them on, that was it really. I love painting and detailing.

[FujimiLover]

Has anybody mated a performance shop with a hobby shop? I'm not talking about dealerships offering die-cast models of only their make's, model's. I mean really, a combination performance/hobby?

[Helipilot16]

Has anybody mated a performance shop with a hobby shop? I'm not talking about dealerships offering die-cast models of only their make's, model's. I mean really, a combination performance/hobby?

The latest rage seems to be 1/24 scale dragstrips. Do a Google search.