*Maybe* starting a new business

Shane55113 · 05-02-2006

Hey guys some of you may have seen my job rant in the off topic section and i got to thinking why should i go and look for a job when i can just create one for myself.
I have been thinking of starting a Detailing business with my long time friend. We would be sinking allot of $ into buying professional grade products. And i was wondering if any one has an opinion on this? I have a whole promotions campaign planned out in my head, that would utilize allot of the resources that are available to me. I've been learning about how to run a business from school and from my dad who started a business from the ground up 3 years ago and i've been there since the beginning. Let me know what you think. I'm going to be doing allot of research to figure out the basics.

Pimpin Dsmstyle · 05-02-2006

Research the dictionary before you move on with a business!

CDeutsch · 05-02-2006

That might be a tuff market to get into. Do you have lots of experience working for a reputable detail shop? If you don't, then you have to come up with a good reason why someone should trust you with their car.

Shane55113 · 05-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDeutsch

That might be a tuff market to get into. Do you have lots of experience working for a reputable detail shop? If you don't, then you have to come up with a good reason why someone should trust you with their car.

Very good point, but as I stated I have resources, I have a couple rich friends that own very nice cars and i am sure they would be glad to get a couple free details in exchange for pictures. The cars include : '05 Lambo, '04 porche turbo (suv), '93 300ZX TT, '05 Audi S4, '06 brabus,'05 mercedes S500. Throw that all into a web page along with a solid mission statement and some other miscellaneous things that I have thought up. As i said i have a promotions campaign planned out. Luckily my mom works for an advertising agency so i have access to all of those resources also. Its not like we'd be doing shoddy work, we'd be using professional equipment and product, not the junk that you buy at target.

Shane55113 · 05-03-2006

Do you honestly think that my grammar and spelling are going to effect my business? If so, please show me a detail shop that employes english majors. i get it i have bad spelling and grammar. Ok now if you don't have any thing helpful to input please don't say anything at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pimpin Dsmstyle

Research the dictionary before you move on with a business!

INTRIGUED · 05-03-2006

Any type of business could go well all you need is a go plan and and lo-cal and anything could happen. Get a good strong client list and word of mouth travels. If you feel strongly about it anything could happen. Good luck!

clean2g · 05-03-2006

I tried detailing for a while but the amount of work I did took too long because it's all about the technique, and I was one person. I would go to the customers house and do everything there. It's a good side business but not sure if it's the best full time thing. I used only professional products, stuff only available by order. If I could recommend one product, I'd have to say Zaino Bros car polish and their product line in general, that shit's the bomb.. still use it on my 2g. Best way to advertise for this type of business is word of mouth when starting out at least, and set up a booth or something at the local car shows/events. And the professional products arent cheap either so if you're really serious about it, start crunching some numbers and figure out your costs and whatnot. It's all about planning and organization, and too much of either of those is never enough because the businesses that fail, usually fail within the first 1-2 years they're open for business due to lack of the before mentioned. Good luck.

**Goat Blower** · 05-03-2006

You need experience, nobody is going to let you buff their lambo with no experience. I owned a boat and car detailing business on Lake Minnetonka for six years. It's a heavily saturated market and getting new clients is tough. You need dealerships and they usually have a buddy that owns a shop, or their own in-house. The guy I have do my details can barely pay the bills sometimes and he just lost his biggest account to a nephew of the client's used car sales manager. He did pick up Carousel Porsche in their place though.

It's a good business, but it'll take you a good three years to make any money. And if you burn through someone's paint and you don't have insurance, be prepared to get sued heavily.

And lastly, a good website isn't going to do much good. Word of mouth is the best, a visible location on a major thoroughfare is second, and a yellow pages listing is almost required.

**Kracka** · 05-03-2006

Don't expect to just start a business and imediately turn a profit. The average is 3 years for a new small business to just break-even. Nobody will trust their fancy cars with some guy working out of his garage so like Steve said, you are going to need some nice real estate. Add an insurance premium on top of that and you're going to need a fairly substatial business loan. Only proceed forward on this if you are in it for the long haul, steer cleer if this is just a temporary get rich quick scheme.

CVD · 05-03-2006

Not to add too much fuel to the fire here, but just about any small business consultant will tell you that starting a business with a friend is a horrible idea.

Jana · 05-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by CVD

Not to add too much fuel to the fire here, but just about any small business consultant will tell you that starting a business with a friend is a horrible idea.

Agreed. 'Nuff said.

NOT THE BLUE LAMPSHADE · 05-04-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by CVD

Not to add too much fuel to the fire here, but just about any small business consultant will tell you that starting a business with a friend is a horrible idea.

Yea man, my dad went into business for remodeling homes with his then good buddy. Long story short, it failed it's first or just after it because my dad's "buddy" was stealing money and using it to pay off his $9,000 credit card debit, gave his mom $5000 for part of a new car, and he also funneled business into his business he already had goin and stole all of my dad's clients. And then my dad sued him into bankruptcy, he lost his house, and his car, and now at 52 lives with his mom. It takes HUGE trust to go in to business with someone who will have a huge control or access to money and shit, don't make it a freeride for your partner.

sleepy2lazy · 05-03-2006

If you plan on starting a small business, how will you fund the business? What sources? Small Business Loans? Getting loans are somewhat hard to do nowdays as well. I somewhat work in an SBA industry, so if you need a loan, i can get you in contact with some people.

IMO, a detailing business can be somewhat of a hard business here in MN unless your reputation is very good. Unless ..... your like that guy in the video, 5k a wash!

tpunx99GSX · 05-03-2006

One of my good buddies created a business with his friend, and guess what it was a detail shop as well. It was in Burnsville, MN. It was going fine, but then the friend started slacking off and tony found himself doing all of the work then closed the shop due to not enough business in the winter.
There are three main things that you need to think of:
1. Surviving the winter
2. Getting a business plan and pitching it to investors
3. Getting a list of Dealerships that would be willing to have you detail their cars.
Dealerships are the greatest resource you have, use them.

other then that i would say be sure to have a backup plan, because filing for bankruptcy at a young age is not a good way to start your life in the business world. There are two kinds of people in this world, Dreamers and Doers, which one are you? Dreamers think of all of these great ideas but have no plans of how to actually make it work, sure they try now and then but in the end its usually the same scenario. Doers make sure they plan very carefully for the long run, they make sure they can survive in the business and then the do it, go full boar and dont stop until they have reached the goal. ok my rant is over.

Shane55113 · 05-04-2006

Thank you all for your opinions/experience, i value them all. In a business class I took in college i found out that allot of businesses now-a-days are partnerships instead of one person, tpunx99gsx you are right in what you said. Its not like i can just get a loan right now, even if i had a flawless business plan to present to a bank they wouldn't let me because i don't have a degree of any kind. I will do some more research and maybe i will maybe i wont, Gotta take chances in life don't ya?

tpunx99GSX · 05-04-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane55113

Gotta take chances in life don't ya?

Taking chances is fine, but not when its gonna make your life miserable. Believe me ive been there its not a fun road to go down.

HiImBrian · 05-04-2006

starting a business is unbelievably hard but its so worth it at the end if it sucseeds. ive always wanted to start a business. i would reccomend trying to work up slowly. like own a business before you start a new one. just get your feet wet first

TalonTSI95 · 05-04-2006

you dont need a degree to get a business loan, if i was you, i would try and find a private investor instead of a bank. The investor is going to save you about 75 cents on the dollar compared to the bank. go to your local libary pick up a book on how to write a business plan and i'd say go for it man. i think people who want to create there own wealth and future is great. dont waist your time working for other people and making other people rich.

And in response to whomever it was about needing proper grammar. Some of the wealthest people i know can hardly spell, or write a paper. If you have the ability to talk with people and just have what it takes to deal with people you will do great. the business world is all about networking.

**JET** · 05-04-2006

I would really recommend starting it off as a side business. That is how I started mine. Use the money you get back (and some of your own) to buy the tools for the business. Mine took off pretty quickly and I could have went full time by now, but my full time job has also taken off. Building up your client base is really the way to go. Word of mouth advertising is key for a young business. It takes a lot of time, talent, money and determination to get it going though. In the long run it may be well worth it though. If the side business fails you aren't out as much as you would have been if you went at it full throttle. Walk before you run