This month we are introducing Marcus Brown, owner of Professional Detail Service, a six-year old auto detailing business. Marcus built up his business from scratch and it is now a successful and thriving company servicing customers in South Orange County, CA.

What gig work do you do? What made you decide to do this? How long have you been doing it?

I own an Auto Detail Service. My son was my inspiration. When he was 12, he would always ask for money, so I taught him the law of averages: some people will be rewarded in life and some won’t, but over time it’s a 50/50 split on who wins.

I will be a business owner 6yrs on the 15th of this month, so this is a bit of an anniversary for me. One thing I learned growing up in Compton, that you should keep your car clean to always project a positive image.

What training or education did you have? How did this inform your career path and/or your side-Gig?

I think one of the best decisions I made was taking a business management class right when I started. I also took classes in auto detailing where I became certified auto detailer. It was where I learned how to build up my passion into a professional business from the ground up. It was very much a hands-on training.

I attended school on my days off from my regular job and detailed cars for friends and family to learn – it was a win-win. My father also taught me to always put forth my best in everything I do, not just for superficial reasons. If you provide the best you have to offer to a client, they see that, and it makes a big difference.

What is the best part about gig work?

Being able to enjoy working outdoors in the sun is a big plus for me. I also have free time to spend with my son. I enjoy meeting new people through my work, and that is very rewarding in itself. Of course, having satisfied customers is the icing on the cake, and I work hard for that as well.

What was the hardest part about starting with gig work? How would you advise others about this?

Studying your industry and your own business is hard but critical. Of course, you also have to learn the ins and outs of being a business owner, not just the work itself. Another important thing is to keep business and personal things apart. Learn about taxes, how to save, and how to re-invest more into the business.

How have you leveraged social media and the web to grow your gig work?

In my business new clients want to see what my business can do for them, so I post before and after videos online.  

Many people start doing gig work to reach financial freedom. Has it been profitable?

Yes, but it does take work. As long as I don't have to start selling my work equipment, you can be sure that things are OK, lol.

How do you balance your gig work with your personal life (family, vacations, leisure-time, etc.)?

It’s about timing. I am an auto detailer; so something that not many people realize is that the work is more seasonal than most people think. The winters, when it rains, the business slows down a bit, so that is when I have more time off. I have to plan my personal time around the work. Spring is usually a very busy time for me.

How has your business adapted to the sudden changes of the past couple of months?

Truth-be-told, it has been hard. Like many other service businesses, Covid has been life-changing, so now I am trying to build up my client lists again.

What is your goal in the next 5-10 years?

To employ 8 to 10 honest and reliable people and build a business that can last, not just for me, but for my employees as well.

Contact:

You can reach Marcus Brown via email and you can find out more info (and see before and after photos of his work) via his ProfessionalDetailServiceCA.com website.