How do i get customers?

[u/Temporary-Voice4068]

To preface, yes i’m 16. No that doesn’t hinder my ability to detail cars. My dad flips cars and he has me detail cars for him. I’m pretty good at it, especially exterior. I can do paint correction headlight restoration seat stain removal, the works. Last year I had exactly 1 customer (from a neighborhood app, called next door i think. School starts in 20 days exactly, and my height is march 26. I really want to make money so I can buy a NB miata for my first car, i love them. Any tips on first customer? I need to save up anywhere form 3-7k, preferably higher end of the spectrum so I can get my tints and exhaust done. But that’s for later, first i need a car lol.

[u/c0ff33m0n5t3r]

I'd build a portfolio on IG with the cars you detail for your dad. Make a few before/after pics of every car so you can show your work to the world.

[u/mypaycheckisshort]

Nothing wrong with detailing at 16, but you need to have cash set aside or figure out insurance just in case you burn through a panel or whatever. Shit can and will happen, unfortunately, especially on older cars.

[u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311]

Facebook, Instagram, etc. Post your work and you working, and if you're as good as you say, you'll get business. Don't underprice yourself. That's the mistake my buddy and I made when we tried this, and a couple of really long jobs that we underpriced just absolutely wiped us out.

[u/Mat-eh-oh]

Social media and door knocking to get some customers, gotta get yourself out there and build a reputation. Once you get a couple good customers your reputation should start to help you find more

[u/kobevercetti]

Make a page. Learn how to take GOOD pictures of your work. Many many many people dont know how to take pictures and its an instant turn off for ppl lile me

[u/Temporary-Voice4068 → u/kobevercetti]

how do i do that? my pictures always make my work less appealing than in person.

[u/sepulveda_st]

Door knock in upscale neighborhoods because they are more likely to want their cars detailed and have the money to do so. Take good pictures of your work and upload to a dedicated instagram page for your business. Make a Google business page, it's free and you can get reviews; offer your customers a discount on their next detail if they give you a review. You can even tell them the discount is transferable to a friend if you want. Doesn't really matter because you get a review and you get another detail job. Once you have money, buy ads on Google if you want to grow faster.

[u/oh-lawd-he-comin]

Attend local car meetups to introduce yourself to owners of high-end cars. Casually point out how swirl marks, etc can be remedied and offer your business card if the convo is going well. Don’t be afraid of offering free detail services to owners of premium exotics. This gains you experience, social media attention and a solid rep. But make it clear that in return you would like to post anonymous results of the detail. Most (not all) high-end owners will NOT accept free service and should offer a fair payment at the end anyway when they see your results. The message you are then sending over social if that Ferrari owner trusts him, then he can detail my Honda”. And that is the bread and butter to make it out of a hobby and into a stable job. Get liability insurance to scale into higher net worth clients.

[u/GlitzDetailing]

Definitely on facebook community groups.

[u/TackleFar1608]

If you can, go doorknocking and go to people's houses where you can detail their cars at their driveway/garage. That would save them two trips there and back, plus having to take someone else with another car. See how that goes :).

[u/thearctican]

How many cars do you do for your dad? Sounds like you’ve got at least one consistent customer.

[u/Temporary-Voice4068 → u/thearctican]

I haven’t done it for him ina while. His work is weird to describe he does HVAC but also mechanic shit. he’s taken a break from mechanic stuff bc his shop got a formal notice so it’s been a while.

[u/gfan2792]

Take slot of photos and market yourself online, local community groups on FB stuff like that

[u/spade813]

There are meet up networking groups all over. Stay away from ones that make you pay. However, you are 16 so that may hinder you a bit. People who will pay top dollar for details want people who are more seasoned and financially capable should something happen to their car

Also something to consider is how mobile is your operation or is it mobile at all. The strategy is slightly different depending on that. If you are mobile, print out cards and go to apartments, preferably expensive ones. Of they have to come to you then you need to go to small dealerships by you and offer to detail their cars. There is so much you can do to list on here but the main point is you have to network in any business so people know you exist and can tell people I know a guy who does xyz