I have recently heard many people use the term “consultant” recently in regards to detailing and assisting people with their business. Many people do need the help and having a mentor of sorts can be a huge help in getting started, or even in determining if detailing is the business for you. Some of these people I know, and respect their skill and knowledge. Some people I cant say that I know them and therefore, I can’t comment on what they can or cannot offer.

I also hear the term “franchise” being used frequently now in terms of getting a detail business started or starting an “eco friendly” car wash business. Again, some people I have spoken to seem to have a good model and it very well may work as a franchise. Some people I think are grasping at straws just throwing the term “detailing franchise” out there as a quick way to get someone else’s money and offer a plan that may or may not work. Setting up franchises is very hard work. There are many legal things to consider and it’s not easy to set one up. The plan must be solid and easily be able to be replicated over and over to be successful. Just because your business is successful, does not mean it can be “franchised”. Also, just because you may know a thing or 2 about detailing, does not mean you are a “consultant”. I hope any new people investigating the business understand these important facts.

Now before you yell and scream at me after reading these next paragraphs, and say “who the hell do you think you are”, hear me out. Sure it bugs me sometimes to see people who have far less experience, knowledge and qualifications as I do, call themselves a “detail trainer” or “detail consultant”. I have as big of an ego as anybody. It’s the same when I read how people “test” different products. We (David and I) put in hundreds of hours of testing, talking and tweaking every single sample that I receive.  And considering so many different variables in testing stuff, that it blows my mind the time and effort involved and how scientific we get in our testing. Sure, I read how some guys test something and offer a report on it, and it may help many people in an evaluation, but its still on a different level……Well, that still makes me sound like an asshole doesn’t it? Wait, let me read that section again…….Ok, I am an asshole. An egotistical asshole at that! Now that we have gotten that out of the way, and we all agree that I am a jerk, but a knowledgeable jerk, lets move on. It’s the same with being a detailing “consultant” or a “planner” or “advisor”. Even if you are doing it for free, or very little money, it can affect someone’s life, so please take it seriously or don’t get involved. And of course DO IT RIGHT!

There are various levels of help and assistance that a detailer, a prospective detailer, a novice, an enthusiast, or whatever level you are on, can obtain out here on the internet. I have written technical articles for over 12 years in different magazines. I have spoken at industry events and done training sessions at these events. I post articles on this site, my own and other sites where people ask if they can use my stuff. Now I have this blog where I still hope the information is helpful. Generally I enjoy helping people if I can. And I know many others out there in the forums offer their assistance at no charge for people who request the help. Of course I also have a DVD and I offer training classes that people do have to pay for. This is where the line breaks. People that are very serious about opening a detailing business and will actually pay for assistance to get it off to the right start, and want or need to find a qualified individual to help them. The old saying is “you get what you pay for”. Its true and sometimes people in any industry go through many “pretenders” that charge them for a service that is marginal at best. I have paid for poor service and advice in many areas where I originally thought the person or company I was dealing with was extremely qualified. Its not that their service was horrible, but I didn’t get as much as I wanted or needed.

This is my point. Anybody can call themselves a “consultant” or “detail trainer” or “counselor” or “mentor” or “advisor” in any profession, not just detailing...….you get my point. And some people may have actually done it once or twice or a few times, either for free or have gotten paid. My hats off to you if you have even helped one person get going. But please be careful about charging people lots of money for sub par services. Make sure they are trained correctly, have good equipment and products, but not more than what they may need. Don’t give then fluff just to make some money. In a poor economy, there seems to be many shady and unscrupulous people that emerge sometimes to take advantage of people……..Now again, I am not targeting anyone specifically, but make sure what you provide will really help people. Even if you do it for free, get it right. Don’t steer somebody in the wrong direction. This is their life and if they ask you for help and you are willing to provide it, then do it right.

Now I may have come off like an asshole here, but so be it. It’s my blog and hopefully good reading. So now as I step off my soap box, I do want to remind everyone that if you do need training or consulting, or planning or whatever, please check me out. I am about to offer a new plan and services for people who may need assistance but cant come to a training class and may need more one on one assistance. I hope people that know me, know of me, and have hopefully heard that I do good work will see that what I offer is worth it. So here is my shameless lead into my new service. Yes, I can offer people detailing planning, coaching, advisement, consulting or whatever the term we want to use. I think I can do it as well or better than anyone else….There’s my ego poking through again….but if I didn’t have an ego, I probably wouldn’t be any good would I?? So check out my new service on my site if you need that kind of help.

Oops, is this a blatant advertisement??? Can I do this Dan? Well, again, it’s my blog and it looks like I just did it. I sure like having a blog on Auto detailing Network….Oops another blatant advertisement. Thanks for reading and please visit us at www.kleencarauto.com