looking to start a small business... any input appreciated

tamadrumr88 · Post by **tamadrumr88** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:12 am

lately theres too much BS going on at my detailing job at subaru and ive been forced to look into a new career. my brother and i work at the same dealer (just at different buildings) so were pretty much both considering a new job. we've looked at a few options together and we were throwing around the idea of renting out a garage with space for 1-2 cars and a small "living" area.

im quite the detailer and i think if we could get enough "clients" that the detailing alone would be able to support the rent, and possibly have a few bucks left over. my dads restoring a '69 Plymouth GTX 440 so weve got lots of spare parts including window glass that my brother could try his hand at tinting for awhile before offering it first to friends, and possibly the public if he was able to do it good enough.

im sure we could also offer occasional work on cars, just little side projects for people that are afraid to tackle some projects on their own (intake, t/b, shifter... just little stuff. for example, i have a friend that's also a car enthusiast, though he has never mounted rims on his car (he always pays a shop/dealer to do it

))

* does anyone have thoughts on this? good/bad idea? at the moment my brother and i are only 18 so we still leave at home while attending high school, and the local community college for the next 2 years following that.

* how much should i expect to pay rent for the mentioned garage?

* any other ideas on what to do/make to get extra work?

ACHEAPSHOT · Post by **ACHEAPSHOT** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:28 am

I think that is a fabulous idea man. Thumbs up to you for thinking of it, and good luck!

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:42 am

Starting a buisness starts with an idea, but beyond that - WHEW. There is a lot involved with starting up a business, and your best bet would be to go and ask someone who owns their own - like a small 'from home' business. I have a friend of the family who has owned his own business for 10+ years now; he cleans up after construction jobs. When a company builds an apartment complex/office building/retail store he goes in afterwards and does the detailing work to prepare it for opening. He also has lots of clients that he deals with in apartments - for re-rents, etc... and all of it is run out of his home. It is a lot of work, and took a long time to get where he is now, and he works non-stop.

My point? RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! You will need things like insurance to protect you form being sued if you jack up someone's paint; you will need money to start to purchase supplies, which could mean a small business loan; you will have to find a way to pay for overhead, upkeep, supplies, standard bills like phone, electric, gas; you will need to come up with a business plan, etc... there is a lot involved, but it is possible - I mean, it is the 'American Dream!' to work for yourself, own your own business, and be self-sufficient.

Anyway, good luck, do some work, and see what you can come up with.

tamadrumr88 · Post by **tamadrumr88** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:16 pm

^^^ im not looking to go that full-scale with things yet. its just a "side job" type thing. to break even, as far as rent and for paying insurance on my own car, id only need like 2 car details per month, since im going halves on the rent with my brother.

most everything ill need to detail i already have spares anyway.... vacuum, random orbital buffer

.... all ill really need to buy is the cleaning supplies as they run out; wax & glaze, pads, etc

i just thought of another service to offer for friends.... oil changes, for a few bucks over the cost of the oil/filter

most of the garages we're looking into only have electric, but ill need running water atleast to wash the car prior to detailing. ive seen 490sq.ft. single-door garages for $225/month and then theres a 690sq.ft with full utilities for $300/month - may be worth it in the long run to go for the bigger place with water/electric.... we dont need phone or cable really. its not like im living out of there, this is only so i can have a place to work on my own car, store parts, and detail.... and ofcourse chill

sllywhtboy · Post by **sllywhtboy** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:21 pm

most cities have ordinances about taking up "residence" in a "commercial" or "industrial" zoned property.

no reason you can't work out of your home garage and take the car-detailing TO the customer. do it in their driveway.

tamadrumr88 · Post by **tamadrumr88** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:41 pm

sllywhtboy wrote:most cities have ordinances about taking up "residence" in a "commercial" or "industrial" zoned property.

no reason you can't work out of your home garage and take the car-detailing TO the customer. do it in their driveway.

heres the deal: we have a 3 car garage (2 of which are 2 cars deep) but my dad's a nazi and we cant ever put a single car in there. hes got his '69 plymouth gtx in there and my parents harleys... so no, i cant use my own garage

my mom suggested something along the lines of an abandoned gas station. theres one not 2 miles down the road from me that some middle-eastern family owned prior to 9-11 but they went out of business.... anyone care to guess why? i just dont know who to contact to get in touch with the owners about renting the property out

hmm, i thought i about that at one point but that seems to make more sense now then when i thought about it before... i guess i just liked the idea more because i could have like half of a house to myself, and have a place to chill on the weekends without having to worrying about local smokey or the 'rents.

you think id be able to charge more for a mobile detail too?

* hey nick, on a side note.... that longtube, cat, and resonator i bought off that guy on DNO.... i used that for all of 3 months and the cat broke apart internally

dvampyrelestat · Post by **dvampyrelestat** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:19 pm

Good luck with the venture.

Lehigh University has a Small Business Development Center and offers courses and counselling to start up businesses.

sllywhtboy · Post by **sllywhtboy** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 12:23 am

tamadrumr88 wrote:* hey nick, on a side note.... that longtube, cat, and resonator i bought off that guy on DNO.... i used that for all of 3 months and the cat broke apart internally

cat died in 3 mos because of the part failure, or because of the computer you put in it?

AFXNC02RDM 2002 SOHC, max. perf, cal. for headers, no downstream O2 sensor* $390.00 + $150.00 Fits 2002 only

Race computer specifications:- 7800 rpm redline (maximum possible!)- Totally new spark and fuel maps- Automatic speed control may be set up to 120 mph (if so equipped)- No mph cutout whatsoever- Able to use aftermarket coil and/or ignition system and not turn checkengine light on. Great for drag-race type "staging" systems.- Does not go excessively rich at top-end to "save" the catalytic converter,resulting in vastly improved maximum vehicle speed.- Significantly de-sensitized detonation sensor for use with noisy valvegear, header, etc.- calibrated for use with header and no catalytic converter. Does not readthe downstream O2 sensor, which may be disconnected w/o turning on checkengine light. May melt down a catalytic converter if used!- Best results obtained with uprated cam

tamadrumr88 wrote:you think id be able to charge more for a mobile detail too?

check out the prices of competitors in both types of businesses. people are already paying for the service, they might pay more if it's brought to them.

one of the local neon guys works for a detailing & quick paint & body repair company that does a bunch of business for dealers. dings in the lot, etc. he drives around in a box truck of sorts with all the supplies he needs for said-services.

LaidNeon · Post by **LaidNeon** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 12:39 am

PAY YOUR TAXES ON TIME

dinetuner · Post by **dinetuner** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 12:48 am

CrucialNeon wrote:PAY YOUR TAXES ON TIME

x2 lol trust me... 28k down the hole.. coulda been used for neon mods

OB · Post by OB » Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:05 am

^^youve been 28k in the hole and youre only 17? wtf?

btw, tama i think its an awesome idea, go for it! i wanna open a shop after schools out and i get my shit together.

tamadrumr88 · Post by **tamadrumr88** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:43 am

hey nick, aka: sllywhtboy..... i dont have that af/x-race ecu because that ecu is fucked up.... throws codes like a SOB and it dies/sputters/stalls even when in gear... i only had it in for like a week, it was just too dangerous to drive like that. so i sent it back.... the first time it took 4 months to get the ecu, now this is on 6 months since i had to return it and they say theyre going to reprogram it and see what happens

when i was running the af/x-race ecu i had no cat. since i sent it back i put in that cat that that guy sold me and within 3 months its busted