I was just curious if anyone would be interested in opening up a detailing shop in the Fairfax County area in VA?

I have been thinking about it for years and have never really done anything about it. It looks as though there are a lot of people on the Org. that are interested in detailing and I was curious how many of those people live in or near Fairfax, VA?

If you are in or near here, please let me know and we can talk further about this. I am just in the thinking stage right now, but maybe some of us could get together and make this happen?

Thanks everyone. Have a great day!

 

Since you are thinking about opening a shop, you might want to check out the Professional Detailers forum on Autopia to help you get ideas on how to get things off the ground.

 

PrinzII: Oh cool! Thanks for the tip. I will check it out and see what they have.

Thanks again!

 

No problem.

 

isn't a detailing shop very intensive on labor... how much do detailers charge? must be quite a bit to make back the money from the labor aspect.

 

High on labour, low on overhead, little barrier to entry and quick to set up and operate.

Bob

 

The only way you might incur overhead is if you are opening a storefront.

 

Alright, I am hoping to find other who are interested in starting a detailing shop. Who live in VA?

 

Do not forget liability insurance!!! A friends 22-year old son, who is a great detailer opened up a small shop. He was charging only $100 a car [sedan] and $125 for SUV's and did a "soap to nuts" job. He even applied windshiled wax and raindance. He was easily worth double.

One day he worked on a woman's car who claimed he damaged the rims while cleaning them. Of course he did not have insurance and in the end it cost him $2300.

He does now and has raised his rates accordingly.

He averages 15 vehicles a week. He is always tired!!!

 

I'm in Herndon, VA. Tons of people would stop me and ask who detailed my car. I hate that question. I like doing it myself but I hate doing it on other people's car. There seems to be a market for high quality detailing. Anyway, if you open one, let me know so I can point people your way.

 

Another aspect is vendors. You are going to have to find vendors for different things like polishes, waxes, etc.

 

Hey, I'm in Fairfax too. I love detailing my car, and am constantly asked about it whereever i go, but i never enjoyed workin on other peoples though. Anywayz if u open up that shop, let the org kno, i kno plenty of people who i could send your way.

 

Sweet! Thanks Guy. That would be greatly appreciated. I will definately let you all know if this happens.

 

If you are looking for vendors for supplies, let me know. I'll be glad to help on that end.

 

Thanks PrinzII, I appreciate that as well. Can I just say that detailers are the coolest and nicest people in the world!! I mean check this out. Everyone is so helpeful.

Thanks again everyone.

 

Hey, I'm in the DC area and have been detailing cars for about 2 years now. I'm attending college right now in Southern MD, but this sounds interesting. I'm not in the position to start a buisness as of now, even though it would be awesome, but I would certainly love to work part-time or something along those lines when I'm out of school for whatever reason. PM me if you have any questions!

 

I wanted to start a buisness this summer, I figured about 2 cars a week.

I was going to charge about 150 a car, which i thought fair for 8 hours + work.

The problem was, everyone who would ask me to detail the car, would either have to have me drive out to them, or not be able to drop their car off at my parents house. Detailing a car in someones tiny garage, or trying to do it in the sweltering heat is impossible. Forget the fact the products won't dry...


I would like to detail up to 2 cars a week small time onthe side, only use premium products, and make enough to get me all the detailing stuff i need... That's pretty much my idea.

Also, i'm going to start a photo portfolio, to show people my work and throw it up on a page. I also had this interesting idea of just getting beautiful pictures of all the cars i do, and making cool stuff in photoshop with it : ]

 

95maxrider: Thats cool. Maybe whenyou get out of school, you and I can team up and start a full time thing? Any thoughts?

As I sit here at my desk staring at my computer screen, I dream of the days when I am making money buffin and polishing cars all day long!!!........AAAHhhhhhhhhhhhh.

 

Well, I just started my second year....so it might be a while. However, I'm down to at least work during breaks and times when I'm out of school. That's pretty much all I can do for now.....but doing more does interest me.

 

Cool. Well to be honest with you, it may take me a few years to do my research and really get this thing going, but if I do get it up and running soon, I will definately keep you in mind and see if your interested at that time. Obviously, I will need some good help and people who want to and love to detail cars.

What a freekin dream job that would be.....

 

im seriousley into it i detail cars part time cuz i work full time.and have a stedy clientel,
also have many,many,many detail producs.new to the forum and can only use or check e mail during work week days cuz my comp at home is busted.i also am thinking about opening a detail shop.if you like contact me at 703-915-3204 thats my cell#,
ask for zack thats my name...peace

 

1) If y'all do open a place... I'll probably come by from time to time to get some detailing work done my car...

2) I'm not that exerienced in detailing just yet... but if ya need hands... I might be looking for a part time job in the near future....

 

zax 20th ae: Hey, that sounds great! I will try and catch up with you within the next few days. As far as your computer issue goes, I may be able to help you out there. I can probably get you a pentium III Dell for free! I think you will just need to buy a sound card for it. Email me and let me know if you want it and we can work out a time to meet up and I can get it to you.

LOL Just so you don't think that it's hot or anything, my company just bought out another company so I have been able to get these for free because theya re just going to toss them if no one wants them. Nothing sneaky going on here.

Let me know Zack. Later

 

before you start doing this... i suggest you take about 3-4 cars & detail them in one day or so....

it is very time consuming & you must really love this job....