Just as the title reads I have a question about what approach I should take in starting up a business this summer. First I'll give you all a little background about me: I'm currently 17 and I have been detailing cars as a hobby for a little less than a year. I have actually polished only two vehicles but have washed/waxed many more. Any who, my friend and I have been talking for a couple months about starting a detailing business this summer. My friend really has no experience detailing but I've pointed him in the direction of this site and autopia so he may start learning. Here's my question: Since I have very little experience polishing should I: A. For now run a high-end wash and wax service, while at the same time practicing my polishing on family and friends cars (but just charging enough to cover the use of products/chemicals used)? B. Go in full steam ahead offering everything from a simple wash to a 3-step correction? Right now I own a pc7424 and have been using optimum compound and polish. I'm about to order some samples of 105/205 to see if I like it. All help is appreciated
i would stick with option A for now and gradually move to option B at a later date in time. The last thing you want to do is burn through some clear or do any sort of damage to a clients car. Get a little more practice in on friends and family members vehicles or even look for a scrap panel that you can practice on and move forward from that point. Correcting with a PC will take you a very long time and when you go full force you might want to consider a Rotary polisher to aid you in the heavier correction and us the PC for waxing or finishing touches on black cars etc . . . .
hehehe Im on the same boat as you, but I have a full time job already, and I have way more than what you have mention, but go with option A, if you're doing paint corrections on customers ride, you should have insurance to cover your butt. but good luck to you.
Thanks for the reply. But about getting a rotary, should I go right into buying a rotary or maybe take a step up to the flex first and then buy a rotary?
that all depends on you. I have never used a flex so i can't comment on that. Some people only use Flex DA's to correct and don't use a Rotary. Whatever you feel comfortable with is what you should use but the PC will not be time efficient when comes to correcting. I would at the very least get a Flex. Only down side to the flex is you are stuck with the one size pad and that is why i never picked one up.
+1. Definitely want all the experience you can get before you step up to corrections. Developing contacts through impressing customers with your thoroughness and what not when wash/waxing will pay off in the long run when you get some more experience with paint correction. I have yet to move up to a Flex or rotary yet, should pull the trigger before doing more stuff to my car >.>.
Option A definetly Learn the KBM methodology for paint correction witha PC it will save the cost / risk of a rotary and will correct just as well
