Home Business Center: How to start a home business

Start an Car Detailing, Auto Repair or Car Wash Business 1-2-3



Ways to Start an Auto Detailing Business

The auto detailing industry offers lots of lucrative opportunities for enterprising entrepreneurs, and start-up costs are minimal. This makes auto detailing a terrific business if you're an entrepreneur on a shoestring budget.

There are three types of detailing operations: Mobile, express and site-based. Mobile businesses are quicker and easier to launch, and also the most cost effective way to enter the business. You also have the option of working as an Express Detailer at a car wash or auto dealer. This can give you a consistent flow of customer traffic without having to spend a lot of effort advertising.

There are also other customer goldmines, such as hotels with concierge service, limousine companies, car shows, RV dealerships, auto repair shops, car leasing companies, gas stations - not to mention boat and airplane owners....

Home Business ExpertT I P : How to Grow Profits by 25% While Taking an Extra Day Off Each Week

Car Detailing Pro Bob Keppel has a proven step-by-step sytem that shows how to detail cars FAST. After years of using frustrating business mistakes, he discovered fast and easy marketing secrets that virtually no one was using.
Get His Guide Risk-Free >> Car Detailing Business




Automotive Business Start-Up Checklist:

  1. Car mechanics typically receive ASE certified educational training, according to the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence. How to Start a Auto Repair Business

  2. Obtain the necessary business licenses. Check with your local government office to find out which licenses and permits you need for your automotive business and how to apply.

  3. If you plan to operate your automotive business out of your home, check with your local government office about zoning ordinances and possible land use restrictions

  4. Set up a business bank account with your local bank. Make sure that the bank is FDIC is insured. It is important to keep your auto business and personal finances separate, and often your banker can help with small business loans or financing.

  5. Arrange a meeting with an accountant to discuss tax strategies and ways to maximize your business tax deductions. You can get referrals from other business owners you know or sometimes your banker.

  6. File your fictitious business name with the county clerk, or if you want to form a corporation, find out how to incorporate your business

  7. Meet with an insurance agent to discuss insurance you may need for your automotive business. The IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) is a good place to start. You can also get free quotes online for business insurance

  8. Set up your business phone system. Whether you use a toll-free 800 phone number, a multi-line phone system, VoIP or simply add an additional phone number to your existing service, you'll want a designated line to establish a professional business image.

  9. Order business cards. One of the cheapest ways I know of to advertise a business. See how you can design your own professional business cards online, plus simple tips for increasing your sales

  10. Get a website. Save money by creating your own website with simple online design programs, or outsource the job to an affordable website designer. Whether you sell car products online - or you use a website to display information about your auto service company, it's important to take advantage of this low-cost marketing resource that can help you get more customers.

How to Start Your Own Car Wash 4 star rating

This jam-packed guide will walk you through the four different types of car washes you can start--full-service, self-service, automatic rollover and exterior conveyorized--and provide the pros and cons of each so you can determine which is your best choice.

You'll also discover the start-up costs of each, as well as the equipment you'll need, the administrative tasks involved in the daily operations, the personnel you'll need to staff your business, and what it's like to run a car wash on a day-to-day basis.

Start a Car Wash Business You'll also find innovative ways to promote your car wash business so that you've got a line of cars just waiting to get in, and how to write a business plan that'll get you the financing to go big. Start here >> Open a Car Wash Business

Car Repair Business4 star rating

Expert Paul Anderson put together a complete business start-up guide for auto repair companies. It includes everything from start-up procedures, management and bookkeeping, shop layout designs, what to charge clients and how to find customers. You can download it here

Free Sample Car Repair Business Plan

Business Idea: Mobile Mechanic

Automotive Business Plans (downloadable):


Automotive Business Resources:

Find Customers for Your Automotive Business

Order business cards. Often overlooked, business cards can be a very efficient and low cost advertising method. See how you can design your own professional business cards online >> Free Business Cards. See also: 30-50% off Postcards, Brochures and more Design your own marketing materials online using professional templates. Designs provided, printing done for you.

Get Free Publicity - Besides advertising in your local yellow pages and placing ads in newspapers and neighborhood mailers, you can save money by sending a press release or "letter" to your local paper announcing the grand opening of your new business.

If you can offer a special discount or hold an event and tie it in with your grand opening, publications will find this more newsworthy and are more likely to publish news about your storage company. Your press release can be short and simple, and you can find press release samples you can follow on this page: How to Write a Simple Press Release

Offer coupons in neighborhood mailers or local newspapers to attract new customers to try out your service. You can use mailing services or design your own coupons using online coupon creators.

Local Search - More and more people are looking for local businesses online (instead of the traditional yellow pages) - and you don't want to miss out on this market. Local Search sources that are affordable and receive substantial traffic include: Google Local, CitySearch, Yelp and Super Pages.

promotional productsGive Out Promotional Items. ThisPromoWorks has lots of cool items that you can customize with your logo - hand them out to prospective customers, and they'll think you're cool too! This is an easy way to invite a client to do business with you.

Gimmicks like magnets, small calendars and pens are a inexpensive marketing tools - and useful to people who receive them. You can find many of these "ads" around someone's house or office months - even years after they've received them. Your business gets recognition again and again. Design Your Own Promotional Items at ThisPromoWorks.

50% OFF custom printed keychains. Available in a variety of designs, shapes and sizes

Automotive Business Associations

  • Automotive Recyclers Association
    Since 1943, this non-profit trade association has represented an industry dedicated to the efficient removal and reuse of automotive parts, and the safe disposal of inoperable motor vehicles.
  • Capa.org
    The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) is a non-profit organization established in 1987 to develop and oversee a test program guaranteeing the suitability and quality of automotive parts.
  • International Carwash Association
    The International Car Wash Association is an industry-driven membership association that's primary mission is to serve the needs of the car wash and detailing industry's professionals and to represent their interests.

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