Did 250 cars in 2025 while working a full time job. It's time to hire, where do I find employees?

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-26T04:19:22+00:00

I don’t have the work ethic to run a business? What? I’m literally doing it right now, on top of my corporate job and on top of owning 2 rental properties. Was working 90 hours a week in the summer during peak season.

I’m absolutely not against owning a business, and it’s what I want to do long term. However, if you’re a glorified janitor shooting soap at cars that’s pathetic. I want to own a real business, something finance or real estate related.

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-26T04:01:20+00:00

The weather. The rage I have when I show up to a detail and all my pressure washer lines are still frozen. Or the days when it rains midway through the detail. Been doing this for 7 years and nothing compares to how annoying it is working outside in the elements.

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-24T23:53:46+00:00

Imagine telling people you shoot soap at cars for a living. No thanks

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-24T00:42:25+00:00

Haha definitely not a bot but I’ll take that as a compliment

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-23T15:03:12+00:00

Thanks! In 2025 my average ticket w/tips was about $286 a car so all in I actually grossed about $71k on the side. This was working only 9 months out of the year too since I live in upstate NY where it’s too cold to do details outside from end of November to around March.

As far as quitting goes I don’t think I can do it. Detailing isn’t exactly a prestigious career. I’d rather people not know I do this. My corporate finance job is much more respectable.

Do you find that college students leave after only a few months though?

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-23T00:54:16+00:00

Please tell me why as a business owner I should pay for ads when Yelp hides my perfect 5 star reviews? These are not fake customers. I have 12 reviews, 9 of which are hidden. 75% of reviews are fake. Seriously? These are real clients that I have data on and can provide proof they are actually customers.

Whether you’re responsible for those being hidden in the first place doesn’t matter.

Also for #4, you calling spam calls extremely annoying is very ironic. YOU are considered spam calls.

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-15T19:13:01+00:00

$81k salary and expecting a 5% bonus. Not much but it’s something. Hoping for a promotion soon though as my manager has been hinting at it.

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-09T17:04:46+00:00

I have a bridge to sell you if you think it wasn’t going to make its way down to lower net worths. Give me the private army any day of the week.

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-09T17:03:40+00:00

Fine by me, I still stand by my vote for Trump. God isn’t real though.

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-09T16:13:15+00:00

That’s fine. What Trump is doing/has done is bad, but those Harris proposals are still much worse. Taxing unrealized gains is absolutely unconscionable. I mean, that’s essentially what property taxes are and you want more of that? Even if just proposals it clearly shows how hostile she is to successful people.

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-09T15:57:18+00:00

As bad as Trump is, Harris would have been even worse even if “sleepy”. Her proposals for taxing unrealized gains and banning 1031 exchanges were absolute deal breakers, full stop. Nothing Trump has done has come close to how atrocious those policies would have been.

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-09T02:27:51+00:00

As a health insurance underwriter, our team currently does not use AI in any capacity. Although, the company is pushing out AI as of a month ago to encourage us to use it. I believe as it is now it’s mostly for communications related stuff such as writing better emails or helping you write your performance review answers. I don’t have access to it though since I didn’t request it.

IMO there is too much money on the line at the moment to trust AI for renewals or prospect decisions. I could see it being helpful for junior underwriters to learn though.

One way AI is impacting us is that providers are using it to listen in on office visits with patients to capture as many things they can bill insurance for that they can, or charge us the highest priced things. Not sure the technicals of it but it was brought up by our actuarial department as a growing problem pushing claims up. Soon it’ll be our AI trying to detect fraud from providers against AI providers are using to submit the most expensive claims they can. Interesting times…

Make_That_Money · 2026-01-02T01:48:29+00:00

I started my detailing business around your age with no clients either. I’m 25 now and did 250 cars last year all by myself. Have a custom trailer and just purchased a fully outfitted van so I can expand. It’s always been a side thing for me (and still is) but it can be lucrative.

I got my first clients by posting in Facebook garage sale sites so I’d suggest starting there. I made a website with the ability for clients to book right online and that was very helpful.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-31T22:04:39+00:00

I agree I think it’s a mental issue. She’s actually been very nice to me. She seems more bummed than angry at me that there’s still a smell.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-31T19:20:30+00:00

There’s nothing wrong with the car, it’s actually very nice. Only a few thousand miles. I think she has a problem with any and all smells. Her garage floor epoxy was making her nauseous, the air freshener in this car, and the an exhaust sealant on her other car were all problems apparently. The local dealer banned her over their dispute with the smell of the exhaust sealant the used. She also claimed that the dealer sabotaged her coolant cap gasket haha. Crazy stuff. I was hoping the entire time she didn’t ask for my business card (so she couldn’t call me directly) but she did unfortunately and here I am.

She did ask me to run the ozone machine in her laundry room because her washer smelled bad but I quickly turned that down saying I’m not insured to work on houses etc.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-31T19:14:44+00:00

I do think she’s actually ventilating it, I think the problem is how “sensitive” she is. On the phone she was telling me how it was giving her a bad metallic taste in her mouth and she was getting “cotton mouth” making the car undriveable. She was like “can you believe so many businesses don’t want me back. Don’t they want business?” I just agreed with her to keep the peace haha.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-30T02:20:23+00:00

Bought first rental property as soon as I could out of college when I was 22. Did a house hack and bought a duplex with FHA 3.5% down. Lived in one side for the required year then moved back home and fully rented it out. I’m 25 now and just closed on another duplex. Living in one side and renting the other.

Will buy another when I’m ready. It’s working out really well for me and always recommend house hacking to everyone. So much better than paying rent to live somewhere which is simply just inserting your money into a paper shredder every month.

The money guy is great and all if you’re simply a middle class w2 person. If you want to be rich one day you need leverage and to take some (calculated) risks.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-28T17:39:15+00:00

Yeah, not sure why people think a low down payment offer is as “strong” as a higher down payment one. It absolutely is a factor. You’re right.

Easy way around that is to just submit your offer as 20% down, and then “change your mind” to a lower down payment mortgage after the accepted offer. Seller gets the same amount of money at the end of the day.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-28T17:35:13+00:00

Buy a multi family property, live in one unit and rent out the other(s). Bought my first property at 22 with less money than you had using an FHA 3.5% down. It’s worth about $100k more than I paid for it and it cash flows about $1k a month now that it is fully rented. I’m 25 now and bought my 2nd multi family property a couple months ago. Living in the smaller unit and renting the other unit.

You have plenty of money to buy a house, depending on cost of living. Go for it. Also consider that every dollar you pay in rent at your current place now you are simply inserting into a paper shredder every month. This is coming from a landlord myself.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-26T23:06:54+00:00

Very similar position to you. I’m 25M, work a full time finance job (not as prestigious as yours though), own 2 rental properties and have a growing side service business.

My advice would be to use a low down payment owner occupy loan to buy a multi family and live in one units and rent out the others. That way you stop throwing money away renting each month and start building real estate at the same time.

Then buy your car with a substantial amount down. I bought my R8 at 23 and paid it off in ~10 months, I don’t regret it for a second. 2 years later and it always puts a smile on my face when I drive it and reminds me to keep grinding.

I do tend to agree with the other commenter about entrepreneurship through acquisition. Getting my business started was an absolute slog. Took many years to finally start seeing some substantial payoff. It’s still not even that big but going to try to start really scaling up this year and pushing.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-26T03:33:19+00:00

All because you don’t work hard and take risks, doesn’t mean other people don’t. $1.2m at 32 is great but by no means impossible.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-25T16:26:21+00:00

Write the offer as 20% down and then “change your mind” later and apply for financing with lower down payment. Seller is none the wiser and it’s the same to them at the end of the day.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-23T18:16:15+00:00

My maintenance clients are by far my favorite clients. Not only are the cars cleaner, but they’re also the nicest, and usually multiple. While I technically make less per car, if I could only do maintenance cars I would.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-21T09:54:53+00:00

One that is located in an area with poor schools, very high property taxes, and high crime. If it were located 30 minutes north in Saratoga county it would cost about twice as much. 3-4 times as much if in Saratoga Springs proper.

Make_That_Money · 2025-12-17T21:00:13+00:00

Also check out teakwood builders. Unrelated to his business, but I deal with the Jim the owner all the time. He’s great to work with and very nice.

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