Oscar Platone

Looking to finance startup of mobile detailing business.  Since the pandemic hit, I have been mobile detailing cars as a side gig. Right now I do it from my SUV or  by going directly at the customers shop and it has been great so far. Right now, I have a full time job in the automotive industry here locally. I live in a demographically interesting location for this business, the Sarasota-Bradenton, FL metropolitan area. Per capita income is high and there's a lot of wealth in general. 

I plan to expand this activity and make it into a full-time business going into 2023.  Funding will be used to purchase a used van (about $12,000 in the used market) and some professional equipment and supplies ($5000) Around $3,000 will be needed to go get trained and certified  on value-added services such as ceramic coating. 
Jobs pay $150 to $175 dollars for a basic detail, to $250 and above for larger/dirtier vehicles. Add-on services such as ceramic coating, can cost $400 to $500 dollars. 

The rest of the budget will be allocated for operational expenses, marketing and as a buffer for emergencies. I will need to hire a part-time helper. I have experience in marketing and sales and I can get excellent pricing on getting the marketing and web-marketing done. My current marketing so far has been just calling contacts I have in town and showing up and do a good job. While doing it only on Saturdays and other days off, in the last year it generated $9,000. after all expenses

Current customers include a local classic car dealer, and a wrap shop. I do wrap removal when they have to install new ones, and we get referred to their customers when they get a wrap done on a car, because it has to be hand washed to preserve quality. Wrap shop is willing to wrap the van at cost ( I have worked with them so I know the prices in that industry), so we can get the whole van wrapped with graphics and phone number for about $1,300.  The sales proposition will be simple: I will be offering services as a one-shot and as a membership, for a discounted price (2 options here month-to-month or 12month contract...the contract will be a better deal).

Here locally, the weather allows us to work in every season, we can get to 2 cars per day right now. With a helper, depending on services booked, we can get up to 3 done in a day. The goal is to get to 2 cars per day, 6 days a week. Doable by a crew of 2.  Also, sometimes we get called to go clean and detail a boat. That pays about 30-40% more, but will need to increase labor hours with a helper or two, and a higher liability insurance cost. It is definitely an avenue, but I have not pursued fully because I need to be setup as a business. 

I might consider partial ownership to the party that are interested, or even just hold the title of the van until paid off. Long term vision is to grow and expand, but need to establish  a larger customer base right now. The white glove service is what people want. 

Thank you for your time and consideration, I am looking forward to hearing if there are any questions.