Detailing the Hustle
Starting my own auto detailing business was an exciting adventure. Through my weekly vlog series, Detailing the Hustle, I shared the ups and downs of making my dream come true.
As I faced the challenges of starting a new venture, I learned that the journey is as important as the goal. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps I took to start my business. I’ll also share important lessons I learned along the way.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the business start-up process
- Key challenges faced during the launch phase
- Strategies for overcoming common obstacles
- Insights from the Detailing the Hustle vlog series
- Lessons learned from my entrepreneurial journey
My Journey in Detailing
Starting any business comes with risk, and while I urge you to start, some planning goes into it. I do not love detailing. The reason for starting a detailing business was more practical. There are two key details that led me to detailing. First, I run a fleet of rental cars and trucks. As a part of that, I need to clean the vehicles between trips. Second, I have employees who help with the rental cars.
Employees would help clean the cars and would ask for more work. When I didn’t have cars coming back, I had no cars for them to clean. To get around this, the easiest solution was to just offer to clean other people’s cars. I would be paid for the work done at a rate higher than I would pay the employee. I would profit, and the employee would get the additional work they asked for.
I also own the building, so setting up a detailing spot and hanging banners would be doable. All around, it was a natural fit and logical expansion.
Why I Started “Detailing the Hustle”
“Detailing the Hustle” came from talking to people about businesses. Many that I talked to quit or thought starting a business meant instant profit. Showing weekly updates of starting a business makes it less scary for those who have not yet pulled the plug, and is a warning for the others that think it a new business will immediately replace their job.
Realistic Expectations when Starting a Small Business
There’s no magical course that makes everything easy. The goal was to show what really happens when starting a new business with no following, no clients, and no magic. Just entrepreneurship insights that can be adapted to any business to show what to expect.
The Vision Behind My Auto Detailing Business
I do not have a love for cars. I am not interested in exotics or even Corvettes. I do run rental cars on Turo along with private rentals, and the cars will occasionally be trashed. Over time, I have learned how to clean cars. The cost of the equipment exceeds the cost of taking the car to the detailer. With 2 trips to detailers, I realized it was far cheaper and practical to do it myself.
Identifying a Gap in the Local Market
I found a big gap in the local market for practical detailing. This made my business plan clear and gave me direction. I have several minivans that get trashed due to kids. Catering to the everyday working mom is where I saw the need.
With a clear vision and a specific niche, I was set to start my entrepreneurial journey. I documented it all on “Detailing the Hustle.”
The Real Behind-the-Scenes of Starting a Business
Every successful business has a story of hard work and perseverance. Starting a company is more than just a good idea. It takes dedication, long hours, and juggling many tasks at once.
What the Cameras Don’t Always Capture
When I started “Detailing the Hustle,” I aimed to build an auto detailing business and create a vlog. The cameras caught the fun moments, but they missed the late nights and early mornings. These were spent editing videos or planning the business.
Balancing Vlogging and Business Building
One big challenge was balancing vlog content with business needs. It was tough, but I found a way to make it work, albeit poorly. Turns out, I am terrible at editing videos.
Week 1-4: From Idea to First Customer
My first month was all about turning my business idea into reality. It was a mix of learning and hard work. I learned that a strong start is key to success in my auto detailing business.
Initial Business Planning and Research
My first step was to plan and research thoroughly. This helped me understand the market and find potential customers.
Competitive Analysis of Local Detailing Services
I analyzed local auto detailing services to find out what made them stand out.
- Identified competitors’ pricing strategies
- Assessed the quality of their services
- Noted customer reviews and feedback
Securing Equipment and Supplies
With a clear plan, I bought the necessary equipment and supplies. This was crucial for providing top-notch services. I did go beyond what I would typically do for the rental cars.
Essential Tools for a Starting Detailer
I got a high-pressure washer, microfiber cloths, and detailing sprays. Quality equipment from the start saved me from costly mistakes and kept customers happy.
- High-pressure washer for efficient cleaning
- Microfiber cloths for streak-free finishes
- Detailing sprays for paint protection
My First Auto Detailing Job
My first job was a big moment. It taught me the value of detail and time management.
Lessons from the Initial Client Experience
My first client taught me a lot. I learned the importance of clear communication and setting realistic expectations. These lessons are now part of my business.
“The first client is not just a customer; they’re a stepping stone to refining your service and building a reputation.”
By the end of the fourth week, I had my first customer and a solid business foundation. The journey was tough, but the lessons helped shape my business into what it is today.
Advertising and Time
Any business has the immediate problem of getting paying customers. One major highlight from doing the blog was the amount of time it took to promote, compared to when I got a paying client. Success wasn’t immediate. However, there are other ways to handle this.
Typically, the path would be I detail my own car for fun and then branch out to friends and relatives. Word of mouth spreads, and I start getting customers without any promotion. That is great if it works out, but that is heavily reliant on friends and family having a social network of people either interested in the service you provide or at least in helping you by giving you a shot. My first client was technically a relationship opportunity.
Advertising Your Business on a Budget
Learning how to advertise is essential. Any business can be broken down into a lead and an offer. The offer is the product or service being sold, and the lead is the person buying it. It doesn’t matter how great the offer is if there are no leads. This is the big struggle with new businesses. Even if I mastered automotive detailing, that doesn’t help me get leads. Starting off, cash reserves aren’t high, and getting customers as cheaply as possible becomes the mission.
You heard the old saying where you can have it fast, cheap, and high-quality, but not all 3 at once. To get high-quality customers cheaply, it takes time. The first couple of weeks were pretty boring and were a struggle to make the videos. The advertising methods were cheap and would go on to be effective, but it made for boring content.
Fiverr for Small Business Marketing
There are instances where delegation is the best approach. As an expert detailer, marketing may be better off handed to someone who is a marketer more than a detailer. I used Fiverr a couple of times on Detailing the Hustle. It was a way to get those going when I didn’t personally have the time to work on things, and as a way to show that delegation isn’t always bad.
The results, however, weren’t always great. While it sometimes may be less scary to let someone else handle it, there is a benefit in being able to do it yourself. Learning how to do it initially gives you a skill to use for other business ventures. Learning the skill, though, does delay the process even more. There’s a fine line between relying on an expert versus slowing things down because you are caught up in all the details.
