Starting out detailing professionally... do / did you have a second job?

I

imported_speedingpenguin

New member
As the time that I'm going to be starting to detail professionally draws nearer, I've been thinking more and more about how I'm going to support myself for the first weeks/months of building up business....

Right now I work at a carwash (ugh, its KILLING ME! :wall ), I'm required to work from 8-6 on weekends and I'm working pretty much every other day from 12-6, my boss is an ******* (:nixweiss what, its true) and I REALLLY doubt he'd be willing to keep me on just for weekends (plus, weekends I imagine are busy days for detailers), and theres no chance in hell that I'd be able to get even just one weekend day off, so I dont think I'm going to be able to stay there as well. I don't want to just quit my job and start doing the detailing thing as my only source of income, because I imagine the first weeks or even months might be kinda quiet as I gain new customers, and because of school, bills, and buying everything I need to get my business up and running, I can't really say I'd just live off my savings for a few weeks, because, well, there aint much money IN my savings, haha.

I'm pretty much looking for ideas or suggestions from you guys as to what kind of jobs I could try to get that would allow me to work just a few evenings a week and that pay decent. I'd like to avoid running a cash register at a gas station or grocery store, but open to any or all suggestions. Also, how long did it take for your business to get to the point where you were making a steady income? How did you get there? What days/times are usually most popular for detail appointments?

Thanks,

-Chris
 
I'm in the process of starting my own business (not detailing, but for the purpose of this thread, might as well be the same - it's a small, mobile service business that takes place during business hours, and will take the same amount of time to get going and about the same income level as detailing).



I hate my current job (quiting, already turned in 2 weeks :bounce ), but I stayed with it long enough to get some savings...



Of course, you're the only one that knows your financial situation, but generally speaking businesses don't make money right away. I've finally got 6 months of living expenses saved up, and I'm quitting all together.



So long as you're determined though, you can make it happen. I looked into getting a job at night waiting tables for a while (or delivering pizzas) - it's worth a shot. Could pay the bills while you detail during the day. :)



I've still got the idea on the back burner. If I don't make a profit within a few months, even though I've got 6 saved up, I'll get a night job to keep things going.



I don't know, maybe I'm too cautious. I suppose in business you've got to be a bit of a risk taker.



Either way, set up a plan and go for it. Stick it to the man. :) :2thumbs: :clap:



PS: This is probably a touchy subject, but one thing to keep in mind if you need money for startup costs: I just got an American Express Blue card, with 0% interest for 15 months. Could be very handy for financing supplies, etc. for start up. Basically an interest free loan.
 
i have been doing details 'professionally' for the last 8 months or so.....about 3 months into starting up the business i got a second job as a server at a resteraunt....is more than enough money now between the two to pay my bills, school, and have extra left over....



i basically just set my schedule accordingly each week to accomidate both...details i do Tuesdays- Fridays and some Saturdays and i work at my server job Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nites....works very well for me
 
Personally, I have a great situation with my full-time job, with 80 hours during the winter, and 64 hours during the summer (4 days a week). This gives me 2 days a week for detailing, plus evenings... And it is pretty easy to be booked solid all summer with 2 days a week!



With careful planning, 2 cars a day should not be a problem, so you should be making at LEAST $300/day of detailing to be making a good profit :)
 
I too am starting detailing this year (officially open April 1). Being only 20 and a full time college student, I am keeping my normal full time job. This will allow me to keep a steady income that I know what is going to bring in. I hope to be able to do 2-3 cars a week with detailing. Hopefully after a few months it will pick up some. Over the next couple years I'll gradually move into full time detailing (even then, I still plan on working a second job a day or two during the week).
 
Whitethunder46 said:
I too am starting detailing this year (officially open April 1). Being only 20 and a full time college student, I am keeping my normal full time job. This will allow me to keep a steady income that I know what is going to bring in. I hope to be able to do 2-3 cars a week with detailing. Hopefully after a few months it will pick up some. Over the next couple years I'll gradually move into full time detailing (even then, I still plan on working a second job a day or two during the week).
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I am in the same boat as you. 20yrs old, working full time, going to school full time, girlfriend full time - :soscared:. Plus starting my own detailing business; my biggest hurdle is to getting all my paperwork in order for the business and work and school. Sometimes iI wish I could just:bolt
 
just a little off topic... you guys that say "officially" starting to do professional detailing... what exactly does that mean... when is the line crossed between being a weekend detailer and making some side profit to having to call yourself professional, pay taxes, etc?

i'm curious because i've been looking into a bit more advertising this spring/summer and making actual business cards (as opposed to just flyers with a phone # and services) but i'm not sure of the legal issues which come into play... like taxes, registering a name, etc...



i should probably search really hard or make a new thread haha...



anyway... OP... i think what most of the people are saying is correct... although i'm not professional, i did spend last year's warm months detailing on avg. 3-4 cars a week and working 4-5 days as valet... the way i see it is you have 3 options...

1. save up enough money (like someone above me said) to last your 6-12 months (including detailing costs, food, living expenses, etc... and go into detailing with no other jobs/responsibilities

2. work 2 jobs.. detailing and other income

3. 1 & 2 haha



good luck with everything bro, i'm sure you'll figure it out... definitely come up with some sort of plan
 
lecchilo said:
just a little off topic... you guys that say "officially" starting to do professional detailing... what exactly does that mean... when is the line crossed between being a weekend detailer and making some side profit to having to call yourself professional, pay taxes, etc?

i'm curious because i've been looking into a bit more advertising this spring/summer and making actual business cards (as opposed to just flyers with a phone # and services) but i'm not sure of the legal issues which come into play... like taxes, registering a name, etc...



i should probably search really hard or make a new thread haha...



anyway... OP... i think what most of the people are saying is correct... although i'm not professional, i did spend last year's warm months detailing on avg. 3-4 cars a week and working 4-5 days as valet... the way i see it is you have 3 options...

1. save up enough money (like someone above me said) to last your 6-12 months (including detailing costs, food, living expenses, etc... and go into detailing with no other jobs/responsibilities

2. work 2 jobs.. detailing and other income

3. 1 & 2 haha



good luck with everything bro, i'm sure you'll figure it out... definitely come up with some sort of plan
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the difference for me was actaully having a business license, more/better equipment and being completely mobile out of a van...before was just out of my driveway now and then or going to someones house and using there water and such.



Now like i said i have a license, insured, have flyers, mailing lists, cards, and a website in the works. I went from doing just close family and friends daily drivers to now doing show cars and mcuh higher end cars/clientel..
 
Hmm....

Well, I certainly dont have enough money to last me more than a week or two, making 8 bucks an hour for 38 hours a week (though depending on weather, sometimes a LOT less), having to pay insurance, food, gas, girlfriend, and the things I need to get my business up and running, doesnt leave me with more than a few bucks in my bank account at the end of the week, so I definatly need to pick up a nightime job. I think I'm going to see if my boss can cut my hours back a little bit once i'm ready to go, probably stay at the carwash another month or so while I look for another job (I'm thinking maybe doing security at night), cut back on the little "partying" that I do so I can GET another job (....you know how it goes...), and just work the two jobs.....

As far as the credit card thing goes, I'd REALLLYyy like to avoid having to do that.... Not that I think I'd be dumb with it and get myself in to trouble, but I think it would just give me an excuse to buy more stuff that I dont really need....
 
All the money you make detailing on the side should go towards making the business bigger and more professional... Then you can be making even more money!
 
Yep, I'd love to turn this into a full time job that I can make a decent living off of for the next few years while I finish school and sorta find what I really wanna do in life. Who knows, maybe it'll grow to the point where I have people working for me, have a fixed location, etc

I'm so excited about all this, I can't wait to get started, just need to figure out the whole second job thing....
 
For me, "officially open" is just simply when I'm starting appointments. Weather has been cold recently (until this week), and I just want to make sure the weather is decent.



I have bus. cards, website, completely mobile with the exception of a water tank and generator, custom T-shirts (hat on the way), flyers, etc. I also have some window decals on the way.



I don't planned on being insured this year simple because it is a side business etc. etc. I'm looking into getting a bus. license but am not sure yet.
 
Whitethunder46 said:
For me, "officially open" is just simply when I'm starting appointments. Weather has been cold recently (until this week), and I just want to make sure the weather is decent.



I have bus. cards, website, completely mobile with the exception of a water tank and generator, custom T-shirts (hat on the way), flyers, etc. I also have some window decals on the way.



I don't planned on being insured this year simple because it is a side business etc. etc. I'm looking into getting a bus. license but am not sure yet.
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do you deal with any taxes, permits, etc.?

that's the situation I'm in right now... I have bus. cards, flyers, website (free site to show pics/process but working on real one... bought domain), and some flyers... but I am scared because I'm not reporting any of the money I make (even if it's not much) on taxes... don't want to deal with the govn't later
 
lecchilo said:
do you deal with any taxes, permits, etc.?

that's the situation I'm in right now... I have bus. cards, flyers, website (free site to show pics/process but working on real one... bought domain), and some flyers... but I am scared because I'm not reporting any of the money I make (even if it's not much) on taxes... don't want to deal with the govn't later
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I have talked to many many other detailers who started off slow. Basically, I'm worrying about it this year. I've also heard that since I'm young and in college, there is some special tax thing, blah blah. Basically, the taxes would be dirt cheap anyways and it's not a huge deal. I only plan on bringing in $1000 a month at the absolute most.



Depending on how well this year goes, next yeear will be the big one whether I move to full time and hardcore business or keep it on the side.
 
I worked nights as a waiter at Denny's since I had been a manager for them. I didn't have to be trained, got to start and make money right away. After almost a year, I was making enough detailing to quit waiting tables. A year later, I was making more than I ever had as a Denny's (or Jack in the Box) manager.



It was brutal though, I had custody of my two sons, who were 4 and 6 at the time. Plus, their mom had moved out of state and all I was getting was $200 a month in child support. In the end, it was more than worth it. :)
 
I offically licensed/insured my mobile business in 2004 and I still have my 50 hour/week full-time salary position with a company. I detail after work and always on the weekend. I pull down anywhere from $500.00-800.00 over and beyond my salary a week. I havent made the jump yet, for two reasons...health coverage (my son has lukemia, so I have a great package with my salary job), and two the winter time. Here in MD, we still get about three months of cold, harsh weather.



Its long hours, but the company supports itself and my truck payment. My wife is a stay-at-home mommy with our son. She use to work nights as a bar tender (great cash money), but since our son got sick (he is in full remisson bythe way and doing great), she has been at home.



My schedule is crazy, but one day it will pay off.:heelclick
 
I started detailing in November of last year. I don't know how "official" it is/was but I am very fortunate to be booked almsot every weekend. That's the only time I detail. Every once in a while I have a car during the week... but not to often.



I also work a full time job as an office manager for a production company as well as umpire softball three nights a week March through October. I also play softball two nights a week. So I stay really busy most of the year. Winter means time to relax and heal from softball.



I am also engaged to be married in September also. So my plate is kinda full. The weekend detailing is all I really want to do right now as my fiance is a chiropractor and we both can't be in business for ourselves due to health benefits reasons. It's smarter for me to keep my day job and use the benefits.
 
I started out about a year ago and have a full time job, but the cars are stacking up more then what I can do right now and after I get married next month I will quit and start detailing full time.:woot2:



Right now I have roughly 3-5 cars a week and a waiting list about 3 weeks out. (not trying to toot my horn, just a busy time right now)
 
I have been detailing off and on for 15 years, but I also have been a manager of car lots too. I just recently had a dealership and mechanical shop and I just am tired of it and the money is getting harder to make with a lot of overhead. After just having a newborn and buying a new house with a mortgage higher than some people make in a month, I realized I need to do something different in my life and use my skill and find what I have a passion for.....Detailing!

Funny part is I have always enjoyed detailing and used it as therapy from the stressfull dealership. Instead of being in the office, I was always out in the garage taking the worst cars and making it look better than brand new. I have been doing this for the past 15 years and doing custom show cars for people, and having tons of people say,"you are excellent and you should do this professionally on your own". Funny part is that I was pushed into the business and I am glad I did it. This time I am staying full time and going full throttle!



People always said, find what your good at and do it...Well I am so glad I took advice from people and I am doing what I love the most and have such a strong passion for!



Thanks everyone for all the support and product knowledge and sharing ideas back and forth! Thanks!
 
bdaly84 said:
I offically licensed/insured my mobile business in 2004 and I still have my 50 hour/week full-time salary position with a company. I detail after work and always on the weekend. I pull down anywhere from $500.00-800.00 over and beyond my salary a week. I havent made the jump yet, for two reasons...health coverage (my son has lukemia, so I have a great package with my salary job), and two the winter time. Here in MD, we still get about three months of cold, harsh weather.



Its long hours, but the company supports itself and my truck payment. My wife is a stay-at-home mommy with our son. She use to work nights as a bar tender (great cash money), but since our son got sick (he is in full remisson bythe way and doing great), she has been at home.



My schedule is crazy, but one day it will pay off.:heelclick
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:up :bow Congratz for you. That's really a good ideal setup considering going Fulltime isn't as simple as it one might think.



Just wondering how any of your part-time Detailers are licensed / have insured your business?
 
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