Auto-spa/detailing business.

lexluther

Hi Folks. I Have been involved in the Auto Businees In one way or another for a long time now.
I Have lost my job with a Van Courier back in march and i still cant find a job.
I have recently trained to repair windscreens and i also purchased a delltakit this would be an add on for my auto-spa/detailing business idea.
I would like a static business ideally in a shopping mall car pk.
My service would include a basic hand car wash up to full auto-detailing i.e paint restoration, interior repairs for viny&leather, windscreen repairs i.e stone chips/cracks.
i would love some advice from you guys on starting a business like this on my own and would anybody be interested in investing financially or otherwise in this business idea.

kind regards.

TomMc

Sorry to hear you lost your job and I wish you well getting back into employment soon. It's commendable that you want to take the initiative yourself, unlike many people who have a sense of entitlement and want someone else to take all the risks employing them. However starting a business of which you have no experience of isn't wise at the moment. Do you have the capital to fund it or will someone else invest in you without a viable business plan and a strong demand for your services. I'd say it is better to go and work for someone in much the same field and gain the necessary skills first. You can say that nobody is employing at the moment, but that is because demand is so low. Many businesses are hemorrhaging cash at the moment, hoping to ride things out. You could lose a fortune very quickly.

The first bit of advice I would give you is not to be duped into buying into any franchise operation. They are run on the most part by marketing men, who will promise much and deliver very little. In the current economic climate, the demand isn't there for non-essential services to support the kind of financial commitment they inflict on you. They are often charlatans, much like most bankers and many estate agents.

Every time I go into my local shopping centre car park, the valet bays are empty, even on weekends and that is at the cheap and cheerful end of the market. The rents are high too for the parking spaces occupied. They must be losing money, despite having a slave labour force. Where valeting is concerned mobile is best, but it will take years to build up a business properly and a client base. Word of mouth, not advertising is where it is at. And you would need to be very fit to do it day in, day out. If you were a van driver in the past, I'd say it is so far out of your comfort zone (no disrespect meant) you will get disillusioned very quickly. It is a dead end job in the sense you get very little back for an awful lot of effort. Imagine it was your own business, where you have to pay for all sorts of insurance and countless other overheads before you have even one paying customer.

I'd maybe consider something along the lines of mobile smart repair, forget valeting altogether. It takes years of experience and a fully fitted out premises, before you could do detailing professionally. May be do a course, train in PDR, if it takes your fancy. But it will be some time before you have the skills to earn any money from it. In the meantime, do you have the means to support yourself while you learn. When you do, there is lots of competition out there and only so much demand. If you were very good at what you do you will make a living but no more.

R3al

I agree with TomMC, valeting is a mature market at this stage and you would be lucky to find a good location shopping centre carpark that doesnt already have a similar service.

lexluther

Hi TomMc, Thankyou for your advice i do feel everything you say is correct. im currently on benefits and im just finding life difficult to say the least. I amm a get up and go person and im just not used to been unemployed.(like so many others)

I was thinking of Smart Repair, which i know of one guy, scratchmagic.ie is doing quiet well. i have recently spent over a thousand euro on a windscreen repair course and kit but yet to make a penny back from it.
i was even contemplating moving to the U.K where i feel the Auto-detailing/smart repair business is alot better than here for obvious reasons.(huge population and there love of cars.)
Maybe i could go mobile with a smart repair van as i have panelbeating/painting experience.hmmmm!

more confused than ever.:(

Best Regards.

Seperate

lexluther wrote: »

I was thinking of Smart Repair, which i know of one guy, scratchmagic.ie is doing quiet well.

The pictures on his website would have me running a mile.

I've seen quite a few 'SMART' repairs in my time, and 99% of them have been awful. There is a market for someone to be good at it in my opinion.