Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaiah Barhoum.
Hi Isaiah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started Big’s Mobile as a high school student at Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood, Washington. After my senior football season, I had a lot of extra time on my hands! I was working at an auto detailing shop in the neighborhood, and I asked my manager if I could get more hours to make more money. Unfortunately, he told me no. So I let him know that I was going to start detailing on the side and he was okay with that.
I saved up $550, and I pulled out $500 to purchase basic auto detailing supplies, fliers, and a website; leaving $50 in my bank account. I immediately had to start spreading the word. I told friends in the lunch room, teachers, coaches, and family members. After a month or so, I was booked out two weeks in advance! Before the school year was over, I had to leave my job at the detailing shop and focus on Big’s full-time.
We had no logo or branding at the time, yet I was able to make about $9k that summer, which was big money at 18 years old! I shut down the business when I went to college at the University of Washington in Seattle, and I took an internship at Boeing the summer after freshman year. During that internship, an old football teammate, Paul, called me and asked if I was still running the business. He was looking for work and encouraged me to re-open Big’s. So I did! After that summer, Paul was able to save up enough money to go travel Europe and do what he loves. It was my first time witnessing that this “business” that I created (a website, some service packages, some supplies, etc.) was able to provide a friend of mine with an opportunity to really change his life in a meaningful way. It was amazing to me.
I fell in love with growing the business, bringing people on in all sorts of ways, and almost using it as a way to mentor other younger students at the University (providing internships, showing them hands on various aspects of the business, etc.). That said, I had a lot to learn myself. I had no processes, no great software tools, and no real management team. So as we grew, things fell through the cracks. Payments were missing, quality control was slipping, admin items weren’t getting done, etc. It got so bad that in 2017 we nearly went bankrupt! I had to pump the brakes on growth and focus on building some processes.
I made some basic excel tools, upgraded some software, and wrote out some policies. In 2018, I felt that we were ready for more. I was learning about “Franchising” in school, and I knew that this was the end target if I wanted to ever make big-time money with this business and have big-time growth. This is what we had to strive towards, so I applied for a franchise license that year. I had no idea how intense of an endeavor this was, but I found out quickly. I spent over six months personally drafting a Franchise Disclosure Document. A 200+ page document that outlines every single aspect of the business. It forced me to think through everything. “If this, then that” types of scenarios across all departments.
Although I thought that we had good processes set up, I went through dozens of submissions and revisions with the Department of Financial Institutions in Washington. All of them came back with red writing all over them (meaning tons of edits) every single time. I was almost building a friendship with my agent at the department because she was helping me think through so many aspects of the business. In a way, she mentored me.
After a while, I knew that I simply needed to stop filing and just keep focusing on building the business. So from 2017 until 2021, we have been focused on building internal structures. In 2021, we decided to focus again on expanding the business. We tripled revenues that year, largely due to the processes that were ready for scaling, and we’ve been growing steadily since. That said, we still are constantly improving and trying find ways to make the company better for everyone involved. From the employees to the customers to the suppliers, we want to make Big’s an enjoyable experience in every aspect.
In August 2022, we opened our first expansion in Los Angeles! Once we build processes on how to successfully launch, grow, and manage a location, we will then begin offering franchise or joint venture opportunities.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
– Figuring out various government rules, taxes, and other legal things across multiple states – balancing expansion with profitability
– Almost bankrupt in 2017
– Dealing with people / turnover
– Turning a traditionally temporary job into a career
– Adapting to the pandemic
– Making the business eco friendly
We’ve been impressed with Big’s Mobile Detailing, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our mission statement is that “We propel personal & professional development of all team members. Auto detailing is just our tool of choice.”
We try to differentiate ourselves by being people-centric. By focusing on the people in our company, we can trust that the way that the represent Big’s, and the quality of their work, will be second to none. Detailing is detailing, there is not too much differentiation between the tools and chemicals once you get to a certain degree of professional grade quality. So, the only way to differentiate yourself is to have the best people and create an environment for those people that is enjoyable, sustainable, financially lucrative, and as fulfilling as a job can be.
Another big way that we differentiate ourselves is by simplifying our services. This reduces room for error when it comes to quality controls.
We also use eco-friendly products and less than 2 gallons per vehicle with 0 water runoff. Traditional car washes use 115 gallons per vehicle, and other car detailers use dozens of gallons, which mixes with chemicals and all ends up in the drains, water system, rivers, and lakes. We put 0 water / chemical mix into the environment, and that’s something we’re very proud of.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
– Clearly outline what needs to be done, how it needs to be done, and who needs to do it – make things as simple as possible
– Be as detailed as possible
– Invest time and resources into training
– Get the right people on the team, then perfect who does what. Having a great team will allow you to focus on growth, constant improvement, and constant adaptation.
– Don’t expand too fast. Having working capital and the financial cushion is vital as well
– Consistently invest in self-education
– Always look for improvements
Pricing:
- $349 – Signature detail
- $279 – Interior detail
- $279 – Exterior detail
- $99 – Membership
- $799 – Detailer-4-A-Day
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bigsmobile.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigsmobile/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bigsmobiledetailing/reviews
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigsmobile
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIAUVyobKdDDw6Bse6LsgJg
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bigs-mobile-detailing-los-angeles
- Other: https://g.page/r/CT1zp7PKw355EAg/review
