College Student Finds Success with Car Detailing Side Hustle
The Search for a Better Option
Jack TerHaar, a senior at the University of Georgia, found himself tired of working late hours at local bars and missing out on his favorite Bulldogs games. He wanted to do something more with his time and have a flexible schedule. After researching various options, he settled on car detailing as a potentially lucrative side hustle with low overhead.
Building Detail Dawgs
TerHaar started by gathering information from a successful detailing business owner in his hometown and watching YouTube videos to learn about the materials he needed. He began detailing his friends’ cars and sharing his work on Instagram. However, to make enough money to pay off his tuition, TerHaar enrolled in an entrepreneurial accelerator program at his university.
With the guidance of his professors, TerHaar pushed himself to contact more potential clients and grew his business from a few jobs a month to 15 jobs a week. He expanded his reach beyond the UGA campus, distributing business cards at grocery stores, parking lots, real estate offices, and law offices. He even utilized Google Ads to drive traffic to his website. As a result, TerHaar now earns around $7,000 per month from his car detailing side hustle.
Making a Difference
Not content with just financial success, TerHaar decided to donate a portion of his revenue to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. This cause is close to his heart as his older sister suffers from the autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. Inspired by his parents’ previous charitable efforts, TerHaar wanted to show his support and raise awareness.
Lessons Learned
Through his experiences in the car detailing business, TerHaar has gained valuable lessons. He discovered the importance of mobility and transitioning from coin-operated car washes to a mobile service that comes to the customers. He also learned how to handle various challenges and encountered unexpected surprises, such as encountering fast food remnants in a client’s car. Despite the dirty work involved, TerHaar remains focused on his goal of building Detail Dawgs into a successful business.
Looking to the Future
TerHaar envisions a future where his car detailing business has grown to the point where he can step away from the physical work and focus on managing and scaling the business. He even contemplates expanding Detail Dawgs to other college towns, turning it into a six-figure enterprise.
For now, TerHaar is happy to have control over his financial destiny while pursuing his passion for car detailing. He no longer has to miss out on Bulldogs games or work until the early hours of the morning. With his entrepreneurial spirit, determination, and successful side hustle, TerHaar is well on his way to achieving his goals.
