I'm starting a small detailing business this summer. I have a nice location to start. What equipment do I need and what supplies do you suggest? Keep in mind I'm not detailing show cars. I am on a budget getting started so what car washes do you recommend, waxes, tire cleaner? I just need quite a few tips. Thanks for any advice.

 

I'd check out Adams Polishes and their forum. If you look around on that forum, you can get a lot of info on detailing and their products. I've used a couple and will be using more - and I have to say they seem to be very high quality.

Also you may want to look into getting a small general liability insurance policy - just in case something goes wrong, you're covered.

If you don't think you can afford Adam's, I'd say Mother's or Meguiars would be great buys. A lot of it will come down to the detailer. Do you have an orbital polisher? That would be a good tool as well.

 

I do have an orbital. Its pretty good, its not the best though.
I probably do need to look into an insurance policy. Its just a summer job so it will have to be relatively cheap. I'm right next to across the road from a car wash, so is a power washer essential? I was planning on using Megs, Turtle Wax and Mothers. Is Turtle Wax bad?
Thank you for your advice.

 

don't sell yourself short though...you need to account for the time you'll put in and the products you will use...i'd check this out...

http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-99-ad...etail-kit.aspx

http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-516-a...riage-kit.aspx

this would last you a while, and depending on what people want done to their cars will determine how much you charge...and they'll pay for themselves and the product is so easy to use

for example, i offer packages, i.e. basic, new car prep(for new vehicles purchased), ultimate, diamond, & flawless(my name is involved with diamonds lol) and the time it can take is from 4hrs up to a few days depending what is requested and what needs to be done

and i'd be careful not to "over" do it...sometimes when somebody wants a basic detail i'll find extra things that are covered in my higher package and do them...i'd write out some sample packages, and go to a couple local detail shops and see what they charge so you can be competitive...that's all i can think of right now(still trying to wake up lol) but if you have any other questions, fell free to ask or pm me

Good luck

 

thats awesome that you're getting your own thing started, im hoping to have my own small detailing business in the near future, but like bo said, some insurance is definitely worth it

 

you'r definitely going to have to have a large stock of detailing supplies. As for polishers, I would get a pc 7424 xp. once you master the PC I would step up to a flex polisher or a true rotary. If you are serious about detailing you're going to need a PHD in rotary polishing. If you're thinking a DA polisher will work, well it will, but you'll spend more time on a car that will never come out 100% perfect than if you had a rotary. There is a whole bunch to it. As supplies go, you'll need around $1500 in products and equipment. If you do good work and care about your customers then you will realize $1500 bucks will make you $10,000 ( just an estimate). Personally, I like Adams polishes. They make very high quality products and they never EVER disappoint. definitely check out Adam's Polishes