Renny Doyle - How to Start a Home-based Car Detailing Business

Renny Doyle has been a Master Detailer for over thirty years and his list of clientele is filled with business leaders and celebrities alike. Renny had humble beginnings within the detail industry and has built his businesses based on the sound business, marketing, and sales principles that have supported his growth and success within the detailing industry.

Renny is the Detailer of Air Force One and has worked on, and cosmetically restored, both automobiles and aircraft at the collector and museum levels for the past decade. As part of those projects, he and his wife Diane run www.detailersofairforceone.com and www.detailingsuccess.com.

In addition, Renny coaches, trains, and mentors new and experienced detailers from across the globe within a one-on-one coaching environment at his detailing studio in Southern California and via his website and blog, www.detailingsuccess.com.

Renny is the editor of Auto Detailing Magazine and the producer of www.AutoDetailingTV.com.

Renny and his wife are the proud parents of four wonderful children, and their family resides in a resort community just outside of Los Angeles, California.

I am a blessed man to do in life what many do as a hobby. Getting to this point was not an easy process nor was the road without bumps. I could have never arrived where I am today without the love, support, and help of many.

The good Lord above has gifted me with the ideal group of family, friends, clients, and coworkers, and a great network of amazing professionals. I will start with the publishing team for this book. Tracee Williams, development/project editor with Globe Pequot Press, thank you for all the help, instruction, support, and input. You turned this crusty detailer into a writer and I appreciate all your hard work.

Going way back, I want to thank my buddy Vonhotrod and his dad for getting me into the car-show gig back in the 80s. Von, you and your dad took a passion and started it on fire! To my many clients over the years, especially Dave Morris who is now like family. Bill Bartel, the late Art Scholl, Evan Elliott, and Aeroshell (Jerry and Paul), thank you for not only believing in me, but for building me up and allowing me the chance to work on some amazing aircraft and cars over the years. You guys laid the foundation of success for me. Walt and Monique, you got me here and I could not have two better friends or mentors. You two are family and I love you both dearly. Mr. Johnson, you are far more than a teacher, you are a life saver. When few had belief in me, you did.

To all my detailing buddies, especially those who contributed to this book, I thank you for the mentorship and friendship over the years. To the Detailing Mafia, you all make my life and my work far more enjoyable.

Dad, I thank you for giving me the car-crazy bug. This passed-along gene is not just a trait that I love, its my lifestyle and I am sure it came directly from you. Life has given me three brothers who were always open to sharing and loving, and you three are not only brothers, but buddies. Rick, we have had a ton of adventure and fun, and I sure love you, bro! Randy, my brother, the most important gift you have given me is your special love and support. You have always been there for me. For a big brother to treat a little brother with such care and love has helped me be the man I am today. Big brother, I love you for being so uniquely you. Jerry, you are an adrenaline pill of life. Have we had fun or what? Just think, we are only at the halfway point and still alive to talk about it. Heres to many more dive-and-ski trips, bro.

While you may not be here with us directly, Nana, thank you for helping Mom raise me. You were the best friend a guy could ask for, and to have you as a grandma was far more than an honor. As you said to me many times, UNA vita damore!

Mom, we never had much money when I was growing up, but what we lacked in money we had in love. How you put up with me I will never understand but you were a friend, a dad, and the best mom a guy could have, all wrapped into one. I love you for showing me that true wealth has nothing to do with money and everything to do with the people we call family and friends. I love you, Mom.

My wife, Diane, you are a giving woman and thank you for joining me on this ride. It hasnt always been a smooth one and I appreciate your love and support, and for understanding the long hours and the time away from you. You are my dream girl, Di, and I love the life we have, baby. My car-crazy daughter Ryan, for being my car-show buddy. You and I share a car bug and bond that will never end. Devin, my son, you gave up many sporting events to join me at car and aircraft events when I am sure you would have rather been with your buddies. You are an ideal son, Dev! Dalaney Ruth, your life has never known me not detailing. You have been a champion about going to events, and I love you for it. I am thankful to have a daughter as cool as you, Dalaney. Daryn Vacco Doyle, you are one crazy kid and we have many years of cruising ahead of us.

I love you all and thank each of you for being so wonderful while I was writing this book. You are my world and I thank God for giving me the gift of youmy family and friends.

Your head may be spinning now, so I was thinking that having some direction and action steps would give you a little more direction in the early stages of your establishing or expanding your detailing business. Here are some basic steps to start working on now, TODAY:

Write out a plan, even if its brief.

Make a financial plan.

Evaluate your market and the detailers within the market.

Think about your detailing education and how you are going to be a top performer. I love the site www.detailingsuccess.com (maybe due to the fact that its mine).

Secure your company name. Think creatively and think long-term goals. Naming the business after you will limit your ability to sell the business, so think local!

Think branding. I love the site www.mycroburst.com as a place to get creative logos designed.

Name your brand. An example of this was our slogan in our Sun Valley location, Sun Valleys First Choice In Auto & Corporate Jet Detailing Services.

Get your domain locked in. I am very picky about domains and I name my location within the domain. An example of this would be sunvalleyautodetailing.com or bostondetailing.com. The search engines love these domains and you will show up within searches faster and higher if you build your site right. I buy my domains at www.godaddy.com.

Start setting up your social media sites such as a business page on Facebook and your channel on YouTube.

Get all of your support and marketing materials together and designed. Again, first impressions are everything so make your cards incredible.

Are you going mobile or with a fixed location? Start building your system and/or looking at locations for your shop. I remind you, think about your budget and keep in mind that you are going to need some money in the bank to support your business in the opening months. Its going to take time to start making profits and you need to think ahead.

Get your products ordered. This is going to be a big step and make sure to check out www.detailingsuccess.com. You can join the Detail Mafia group as an associate member and gain access to the leading products that our team of worldwide pros are using, plus have access to our weekly Tuesday night online webinars. We have industry leaders as guest speakers and these events rock.