side business question

Hmmm... I think both are doable. Commercial Cleaning you would have to work when people are off and thus most likely evenings or nights. Automotive Detailing seems like you would need to do it when people wanted. I think that would be my deciding factor, which ones schedule worked best for me.

Commercial Cleaning would be less stressful. People are crazy insane about their cars. Plus worse thing that could happen cleaning someones business is they don't like the job you did and hire someone else. Automotive if something goes wrong you end up in court or paying a lot of money to take out a scratch that was there before they dropped it off but they never noticed before. Might want insurance to mess with peoples autos... I would do the cleaning for this reason alone. Also no dealing with as many people once you have the accounts.

Just had a huge issue with permits and licenses in my business, so I changed what I do. If something becomes too much trouble for the money it provides, my view is move on to something new.

Last thought is which job has more competition where you are. Easier to get business with less compitition.

Just my thoughts...

If you like cars auto detailing might be more enjoyable!

I think they are both good ideas. You may get other auto businesses to refer work to you also.

There is competition in most any field, just make sure what you do is professional and you will soon have more work than the guys who just want easy money. Pride in ones work is rare and that will get one more work.


Example to me is:

Found in watching the techs in all the local LBS. They do stuff that should not be done and handle bikes pretty rough but most customers do not know the difference.

For example a carbon frame should never have a seatpost retainer tightened without using a torque wrench, yet I never see them use one. Actually nothing on a carbon frame should be tightened without using torque specs. One tech said, "I do them so often I can tell by feel how tight it is." Which is bull poo, as the mechanics on pro tour teams, who take the bikes apart after every stage of a race, still use a torque wrench to make sure everything is to spec. He is just short cutting and lazy or maybe actually thinks he rutinely twists 6N. That was a big one but small ones happen all the time.

Just today I saw a tech replace tube and he did not take the tyre off the rim which could be okay but he did not run anything inside the tyre to ensure that what caused the flat was not still in the rubber ready to flatten the new tube. It seems the fast way is what they go for regardless if unprofessional or not. Not that the tube thing is a huge issue, just an example of someone doing something so often they forget that to them it maybe is another flat change but to the owner the tyre is on their love and joy.

And this is why I maintain my own bike and they never get any repair business from me. Heck, I would buy a headset press for twice what t would cost me to have them press cups in my frame, just because I do not trust them. No pride in what they do is why...