Starting a career in vehicle repossession can be fulfilling. However, the most persistent repo agent myths can obscure your view of this line of work.

Here are a few misconceptions about this occupation.

1. Repo Agents Stop at Nothing

Repossession is a legal procedure, so you must follow the law when performing your duties. The steps you must observe vary from state to state. You may or may not do your job without a court order or with a sheriff.

Generally, you can only repossess an item without breaching the peace. It may constitute taking a vehicle out of a closed garage unpermitted, threatening or using physical force, or refusing to stop when a debtor resists repossession.

2. Repo Agents Only Handle Cars

Most repo agents seize cars because automobiles are everywhere. However, you may serve clients that finance other assets, so don’t expect to deal exclusively with ordinary sedans, hatchbacks and pickup trucks. 

Creditors may contact you to tow trucks, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and recreational vehicles. Transporting aircraft, watercraft or any conceivable rented item, like a piece of technology, to a specific location can also be part of the job.

3. Repo Agents Don’t Locate Assets

Skip tracing is within the purview of repo agents. In states that disallow creditors from using kill switches, they rely on these pros to determine asset whereabouts.

Being limited to public records when locating assets is one of the most erroneous repo agent myths. If your target isn’t in the owner’s registered address, you can leverage all available technologies, including GPS trackers and plate scanners, to pinpoint its exact location.

4. Repo Agents Don’t Communicate With Owners

If you become a repo agent, asset recovery will only be one of your responsibilities. You may need to reach out to debtors through various mediums for collection purposes on behalf of your clients. You may have the authority to negotiate payments to collect past-due amounts.

5. Repo Agents Profit From Asset Sales

Like real estate agents, repo agents can earn commissions. However, the commission rate doesn’t depend on how much the loan securities sell for at auctions.

If you work as an independent contractor, you may receive compensation ranging from $150 to $400 per repossessed vehicle — plus bonuses when you do exceptional work. Some companies may have you on staff and pay you an annual salary of up to $70,000.

6. Repo Agents Are Evil

Repo agents exist to enforce legally binding agreements, not cause undue harm. Secured loans are much riskier without feasible enforcement mechanisms. In other words, repo agents help keep auto financing interest rates low. 

Repo Agent Myths Dispelled

Seizing something valuable to a person or company can be a stressful gig. Still, somebody has to do it to encourage borrowers to behave accordingly and uphold the sanctity of contracts. You’ll find this career worthwhile if you love motoring and respecting the law.

The post Debunking 6 Myths About Repo Agents appeared first on Modded.

Different types of video games appeal to people for various reasons. Cozy or hardcore gamers want specific experiences, but they aren’t the only people who look for fun ways to spend their free time. If you loved SimCity or Cake Mania, you should check out the best tycoon games for people who love running virtual worlds. You’ll find new ways to achieve entrepreneurial success whether you play on a desktop or a mobile device.

What Is a Tycoon Game?

A tycoon game is a video game that lets players run their own world or business to achieve financial success. Sometimes, players pass through levels by earning specific amounts of money. Other times, a game will level you up according to stats like how many people live in your city or how many customers you serve.

What Is the Genre of Tycoon Games?

The tycoon game market is also known as the simulation game industry. This particular genre will reach an estimated value of $17.43 billion by 2027 because people love indulging their entrepreneurial curiosities without starting a business in real life. They’re also popular alternatives for people who don’t prefer games centered around violence, relationships or complicated storylines.

Best Tycoon Games of 2024

Whether you prefer playing video games on a desktop or mobile device, you’ll love the best tycoon games below. People can’t stop raving about them because they take new perspectives on the classic gaming genre while opening worlds you couldn’t explore otherwise.

1. Tropico 6

SimCity lovers, this one’s for you. Tropico 6 is a city-building tycoon game that elects you as mayor whenever you start a new game file. You’ll have to construct buildings and terraform the land while attracting immigrants to your city, exploiting resources and creating tourist attractions to raise city funding.

Unlike previous Tropico games, the latest version allows players to engage in international politics. It’s great for anyone who wants to manage a city while feeling like they’re part of a bigger world. You can influence global relations or even become a dictator, although every choice changes how your constituents view you at home.

As other game studios shut down faster each year, the Tropico brand seems to be here for many more editions to come. Its innovative additions make each update a unique experience that people can’t stop raving about.

2. Let’s Build a Zoo

You don’t have to abandon your love of cozy games to explore the best tycoon games of the year. Let’s Build a Zoo uses adorable pixel art to create a world aesthetically similar to Stardew Valley. Open your zoon by creating animal exhibits, restaurants, lounge areas and more. Once you have enough staff members to keep the place running, you’ll be off to a great start.

Notably, this tycoon game stands out because there’s a mortality factor involved. Your zoo animals can reproduce and die, so watch them closely. It’s easy to get distracted with the DNA-splicing feature that lets you create things like a duck merged with an elephant to attract more visitors and reach higher levels of success.

3. Two Point Hospital

If you’re ready to take a break from idle games that farm resources without you, like Fallout Shelter, the fast-paced Two Point Hospital might be your next favorite tycoon game. It reenvisions the classic Theme Hospital with more dramatic animations and a college campus with enough room to build a sprawling hospital that treats thousands of daily patients.

Keep up with the emergency situations happening in each wing of your hospital. Some people might arrive with broken bones while others walk through your doors with diseases your doctors have never seen before. While you try to help them all, you’ll have to battle the health care system’s complications and ensure your hospital has enough money to keep the lights on.

4. Planet Coaster

RollerCoaster Tycoon lovers rejoice — your next favorite game is here. Planet Coaster takes everything people loved about RollerCoaster Tycoon into outer space. The Sims-like graphics make it easy to experience your park alongside your guests. You’ll feel right at home whether you enjoy the career or free-play modes. 

Create your various theme park rides and make them the next big attraction tourists must see with decorations and special events. You’ll have to keep things fresh with constant updates, unlike previous coaster tycoons where guests stay relatively happy as long as you don’t take any rides away.

5. Prison Architect

Take control of the prison system while learning more about how private incarceration facilities work in the real world with Prison Architect. You’ll build your prison and keep the world’s most dangerous criminals behind bars while managing a growing team of staff members. Depending on your preferences, you could also make your prison a rehabilitation center with features like educational classes and recreational clubs.

Don’t worry, the business side of the game will keep you busy. You’ll need to reserve some of your time for getting grants and federal money. You can also turn your prison into a for-profit system if you’re willing to risk keeping prisoners in line while they work various jobs. While this isn’t one of the games that works on underpowered graphics cards, it’s worth a try if you have a Steam account and want to explore the best tycoon games of the year.

6. RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch

Looking for something to play on your phone when you’re bored? RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch has your back. It takes what everyone loves about the game’s original version and puts it on Android and Apple devices. Download the game to build a theme park with customizable rides. It will continue making money when you need to put your phone away, so it’s fun to check in throughout the day and see how much money you can reinvest in your park.

Build Your Digital Empire

The best tycoon games are always changing because it’s such a popular video game genre. Try these options to see what everyone’s raving about. Whether you create a zoo, run a prison or open a theme park, you’ll launch a virtual business that challenges your problem-solving skills and engages your entrepreneurial spirit.

The post Be Your Own Boss: The Best Tycoon Games for Business Mogul Gamers appeared first on Modded.

The life of a lighthouse keeper sounds glamorous to many. It’s a job where you get to live in close connection with the sea and get plenty of time to appreciate its power. However, a lighthouse isn’t signaling to ships all day every day, so what are the keepers doing the rest of the time?

The Work Life of a Lighthouse Keeper

A lighthouse keeper’s primary job is to keep the lighthouse operating as powerfully and smoothly as possible. When the buildings used paraffin vapor, this job consisted of ensuring the lantern stayed lit and optimally bright and winding the rotator so the light gave off its unique identifying pattern. The advent of electricity does mean operators can work from more comfortable spots thanks to a monitor that indicates if the power is working, but they still need a sharp eye.

When they aren’t working directly with the light, lighthouse workers need to keep the structure clean. All the brass and windows required polishing so visibility inside and outside is constant. Touching up the lens was more critical when lighthouses used wicks that could dirty it, but it’s still an essential duty that can take up to a day to complete.

Other jobs might include painting the lighthouse, cleaning the living quarters and getting seaweed out of the boat landing. They also must look out for people in distress and log materials used and weather conditions every day.

What Level of Education is Required?

There are currently over 400,000 people working in the maritime industry in the U.S. alone. The maritime industry includes any position connected to the sea or major waterways, with roles ranging everywhere from professional fishermen to naval architects and nautical scientists. Maritime careers have a wide variety of requirements depending on the level of in-depth knowledge the position involves.

For lighthouse keepers, no direct formal education is typically required. Instead, the position relies largely on your willingness to work. Lighthouse keepers need to be at least 18 years old, be able to self-regulate their own workflow and manage their time wisely and be physically capable enough to fulfill their duties. However, a heavy passion for and knowledge of maritime navigation can be a huge benefit for any position within the maritime industry.

How Much Free Time Do Lighthouse Keepers Have?

Keepers work in small groups so they can rotate shifts. The hours in military time are:

• 0200 – 0600
• 0600 – 1000
• 1000 – 1400
• 1400 – 1800
• 1800 – 2200
• 2200 – 0200

Since they worked in groups of three, that meant one person would work for four hours, take the next eight off, then finish their work day with another four-hour shift. This was so no one person had to stay up all night maintaining the lantern. Ideally, a lighthouse keeper would then have 16 hours to sleep, eat, perform smaller work around the facility or do anything else they’d like.

However, things ramp up if there’s fog. They’ll start working double duty, spending the first four hours of their shift tending the fog signal and the next four tending the light. An eight-hour shift suddenly turns into 16 hours of constant upkeep of the alert horn and communication with the mainland.

What Lighthouse Keepers Do With Their Downtime

So long as they stay on top of their duties, lighthouse keepers can do practically anything they want when they’re off the clock. For example, while they do get deliveries of food and supplies, some choose to grow fresh vegetables they’d otherwise have limited access to. Naturally, that means that individual would need to dedicate a chunk of their free time to garden upkeep, which might feel more like part of the workday if stores are low.

Back in the day, doing so was more of a necessity, especially if the operators brought their families along. More mouths to feed and finite supplies necessitated living off the land now and then, including raising livestock and fishing.

Modern technology obviously brings about many more comforts and entertainment. The processes are a bit different — there’s a minimum of two keepers at the structure, each working nine-hour shifts. Most of their day consists of weather reporting, lighthouse maintenance and landscaping, which they’ll do during the week.

Other than that, they can do whatever they choose. One current staff member says in the two months he’s been at a lighthouse, he’s read six books and put 90 hours into three Mass Effect games. He also spends time researching boating, marine life, the Coast Guard and content for his YouTube channel.

The life of a lighthouse keeper also provides the chance for more creative pursuits. Back in the 1800s, assistant lighthouse keeper Marie Israel made picture frames with shells and sold them to supplement the living her and her husband’s — the head keeper — wages. One example of these that resides at the Cabrillo National Monument displays a watercolor one of Israel’s children painted. All in all, as long as all their chores were done, those who tend lighthouses have many options to occupy themselves.

Do Lighthouse Keepers Make a Lot of Money?

According to ZipRecruiter, a lighthouse keeper can make more than $24 an hour. Those living in California are in luck — current rates hover around $30 an hour. The lower average end of the pay scale sits just under $20, while the top average is close to $28. Because they have such a critical job, employers thankfully often pay these workers closer to what they’re worth.

Not to mention, staff have a fair amount of time to make a living in addition to their lighthouse work. Remember the Israel family who got crafty together to pass the time? While not every hobby needs monetization, doing so while lighthouse tending offers an excellent opportunity to make some bonus cash.

Can Lighthouse Keepers Leave?

You’ve probably heard the stereotype of the isolated lighthouse worker who goes crazy because they’ve been alone with the sea for too long. However, that was often due to the mercury they were exposed to on the job. While some did get stuck for much longer than they should’ve been, an entire fleet of lighthouse keepers will work for six weeks at a time, followed by two weeks of leave at home.

So, if this new career path is starting to sound interesting but you’re worried about it taking a toll on your mind, ease those fears. Once again, technology has come to the rescue with automated ways to turn the light and switch out burnt bulbs. So long as you don’t mind a bit of loneliness and the occasional rough storm, you’ll likely do well.

Living the Life of a Lighthouse Keeper

A lighthouse keeper’s day to day does look a bit different from the typical employee’s. However, the way their days break up and the nature of the work appeals to many. If the waves have been calling to you and the lifestyle sounds manageable, see if there are any lighthouses nearby.

The post The Life of a Lighthouse Keeper: What Do They Actually Do? appeared first on Modded.

Your career aspirations will take you on an incredible, lifelong journey. You’ll learn new skills, accomplish great things and maybe even make a difference in your industry. Make all of those achievements happen more quickly by getting a career mentor. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about finding and working with a mentor so you don’t miss any opportunities in your professional life.

What Is a Career Mentor?

A career mentor is a professional in your shared field who uses their knowledge and experience to teach you skills you might not learn on your own. They speed up the professional development process and boost the confidence of anyone they advise.

Working with a mentor won’t just polish your professional skills. Over 90% of people with career mentors feel happier at work than they did without their mentors. You’ll likely find greater job satisfaction with someone showing you how to thrive in your career.

Reasons Why Is Having a Mentor Important to Your Career

Career mentors are helpful because they provide these specific benefits for their mentees. You might appreciate adding these positive traits to your work life by finding someone you can admire as a professional role model.

1. They Turn Education Into Action

Any professional team member can graduate with the same degree from a college or university. How each graduate uses that degree will determine their overall career success. Doing that successfully takes time. You’ll learn the best business practices through trial and error, but you can skip the painful learning moments by fostering a relationship with a mentor.

Your mentor will tell you how they learned from their mistakes and what it looks like to do the things you learned in school. Your education will quickly become actionable without as much risk of making mistakes in your career.

2. They Demonstrate Networking Skills

Having a mentor is important to your career because they show their mentees how to network. Networking is a skill that’s difficult to learn in a classroom. Mentors have years of experience in finding networking opportunities, starting positive conversations and maintaining connections within your industry.

Networking also requires soft skills that foster better professional relationships through things like communication and active listening. You’ll practice these skills whenever you interact with your mentor, preparing you for future networking opportunities without your mentor by your side.

3. They Provide Constructive Feedback

Hearing that you’ve done something incorrectly is difficult to process when you put all your energy into your job. Getting the same feedback from a trusted mentor makes any comments more constructive. You’ll feel safe because you trust your mentor and know they see how hard you work. It will be easier to learn from mistakes and sharpen your skills much faster.

How to Find a Career Mentor

There are a few ways to find a career mentor, depending on your field. Check out these ideas to start reaching out to professionals who might be interested in the role.

1. Reflect on Your Current Professional Circle

Think about who you work with or previously worked with. Did you look up to any of your co-workers or former supervisors? If they have more years in your industry, they could become a mentor if you ask them about starting that kind of relationship.

2. Research Related Professional Organizations

When people wonder how to find a career mentor, they also start their journey with professional organizations within or outside their industry. The National Career Development Association and The Mentoring Club host recurring events for new professionals seeking mentors. You could also use a digital database like Mentor to find a local expert who could fit your desired mentorship role.

3. Connect With People Online

Professional networking sites like LinkedIn are excellent places to reach out to possible mentors. Send a friend invite to individuals to start chatting or browse upcoming networking events on the site’s public events calendar. It’s an easy way to find more resources and build your professional relationship roster to locate the right mentor for your field.

Questions to Ask a Mentor About Career Development

Once you have a few potential mentors in mind, you should get to know if they’re leadership material before starting anything long-term. Browse these questions to ask a mentor about career development to ensure your possible choices can teach as well as they lead.

What Goals Would You Set for My Professional Aspirations?

You might already know how you’d like to accomplish your career-related dreams, but a helpful mentor will provide a constructive alternative perspective. They should know how to set short and long-term goals that keep you on track while including realistic goalposts to measure your progress.

If you’re wondering why having a mentor is important to your career, gaining this skill is an essential part of being a mentee. You’ll learn how to create a broad vision for your success without needing years of experience to chart your goals. A great mentor will know how to form a rough path forward and what you can expect to learn along the way.

What’s Something You Wish You’d Known When Your Career Began?

This is one of the most important questions to ask a mentor about career development. You won’t make as much progress without the ability to reflect. Learning from past mistakes hones professional skills compared to ignoring the mistakes to feign perfection.

A mentor should embrace this crucial part of being human in the workplace by comfortably discussing their own mistakes. If they demonstrate how they unfailingly learn from good and bad outcomes, you know you’ll learn to do the same and become better from the effort.

What Experience Do You Have in Teaching Someone?

Mentors don’t always have prior experience teaching someone, but it may help them mentor you more successfully if they have. Ask if they’ve previously been a mentor, trained someone in your position or been a workplace leader who taught others in various settings. These opportunities make people better at communicating, empathizing and developing skills with someone who still has things to learn.

Experience More Success With a Career Mentor

Now that you know how to find a career mentor and which questions to ask about career development, consider starting your search today. You’ll learn from a trusted expert to expedite your success, no matter what you want from your lifelong career.

The post Unlock Your Full Potential: The Ultimate Guide to Finding and Working With a Career Mentor appeared first on Modded.

Many people rely on buses for their commute and wouldn’t get to work on time without drivers. These unsung heroes keep local economies going with their hard work and dedication. What’s it like driving a motorcoach? Here’s what to expect about being a bus driver. 

Daily Life Driving a Motorcoach

Being a bus driver isn’t your typical 9-to-5 job. These professionals work around the clock to ensure you get from point A to point B safely. Here’s what you can expect in their daily life. 

1. Wake Up Early

Driving a motorcoach entails more than just navigating your routes. You may need to wake up before dawn for early departures because people count on you for their trips.

2. Get to the Bus Depot

Most motorcoach drivers store their buses in depots, creating a central hub for these large machines. Here, the drivers file reports, deposit cash and get their schedules. Your itinerary could take you anywhere, making each day a new adventure.

3. Inspect the Bus

The most important part of your day might be the pre-trip inspection. You must ensure the bus is in working order before picking up riders. These tasks may include cleaning the interior, checking for tire damage and testing the doors. 

4. Check Traffic

You also need to check for things that are outside your control. For instance, there could be a traffic jam or an accident clogging up roads. These incidents mean you should change your route and report delays to your passengers.

5. Hit the Road

If you’re a school bus driver, you work in the morning and afternoon with a long break in between. However, driving a motorcoach means you’ll be on the road most of the day. 

Drivers often pass the time with radio and conversation, but you won’t be on the road forever. Federal law limits drivers to 10 hours daily if they had eight hours of rest before.

6. End the Day

When your shift is done, you’ll return to the bus depot and drop off your motorcoach. Charter bus drivers may find a hotel to rest for the night before heading to their next destination. Regardless, you’ll need a post-trip inspection to ensure your bus is in tip-top shape. 

Driving a Motorcoach as a Career

The job opportunities are steady as demand for transportation remains prominent. Driving a motorcoach can earn you over $20 per hour if you’re later in your career. You’ll typically make more money than school and city bus drivers. 

Your yearly pay could increase based on your location. Living in a large metro area like New York means you’ll earn a higher wage to accommodate the cost of living. Motorcoach drivers make about $27 per hour in The Big Apple. 

Making Memories on Motorcoaches

Driving is a significant part of a motorcoach operator’s day, but they also must be great with people. You’ll meet new faces every time you crank the engine, creating connections and seeing people from all walks of life.

The post A Day in the Life of a Motorcoach Driver appeared first on Modded.

Tesla is the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, but it has recently faced setbacks. Now, the automaker says it will cut about 10% of its workforce. 

What sparked the recent Tesla layoff? Automotive industry reporters have commented on the job cuts and indicated the causes. 

Here’s what we know about the most recent Tesla news.  

What Has Driven the Recent Tesla Layoff? 

The first quarter of 2024 has brought unwelcome news for Tesla employees and shareholders. End-of-quarter reports indicate the EV manufacturer saw an 8.5% decline in deliveries compared to 2023, producing just over 433,000 vehicles. Wall Street investors expected Tesla to deliver over 450,000 cars, so the automaker fell behind expectations. 

This news broke the first week of April, leading to a further decline in Tesla stock. Shares of the Texas-based EV manufacturer have fallen 33% since January, indicating the company’s growth has slowed. 

Following the first-quarter report, Tesla has planned to lay off a portion of its worldwide workforce. An April 15 memo from CEO Elon Musk explains what’s happening with the company. In the letter, Musk tells employees that Tesla will reduce its workforce by 10% to reduce costs and increase productivity. 

Tesla employees work at its headquarters in Austin, Texas, and its numerous factories nationwide. Additionally, the automaker has offices and factories in Germany, Canada and China. The company employed about 140,000 people as of late 2023, so expect about 14,000 impacted jobs worldwide in this round of layoffs.  

Price Cuts

What signs led to this layoff at Tesla? First, consider what the manufacturer said in January. Musk said 2024 deliveries would be lower than 2023 when it sold a record 1.8 million vehicles. 

2023 was a booming year for Tesla, as it saw a 40% increase compared to its 2022 numbers. 

The outlook was rosy until late 2023, when the renowned EV automaker started cutting prices. A backlog of Model Y SUVs led Tesla to cut the price tag by $5,000 or more to mitigate the surplus. Tesla may have overestimated vehicle demand and is looking to shore up losses in 2024. 

What’s Next for Tesla After the Layoff News?

As Musk said in the memo, Tesla is heading in a new direction as it searches for new opportunities in the automotive world. One area to keep an eye on is Tesla’s Redwood project. Reports show this Tesla model could debut in 2025 and introduce a more affordable EV for consumers. 

What would this model look like? If it comes to fruition, the Redwood project will produce a compact crossover and be Tesla’s first mass-produced vehicle. The Teslarati report also says the EV would cost around $25,000, becoming one of the most affordable electric machines on the market. This price tag would make it cheaper than the Chevrolet Bolt, opening the door for consumers who want to get their foot in the electric door. 

Robotaxi Anticipation

Redwood is only one part of Tesla’s reported plan for the next generation of vehicles. While the Y, 3, S and X models have succeeded, the company is pivoting in a new direction following the layoffs. Another project that could come to fruition is the robotaxi. 

This proposed EV would have no steering wheel or pedals, thus buying into the concept of autonomous vehicles. Robotaxi owners would send the car to pick up their groceries and run errands without a driver. 

Musk reportedly is all in with the robotaxi, pushing all his chips to the middle by spending billions on NVIDIA technology. The Tesla CEO wants to focus on the robotaxi instead of the Redwood project for the foreseeable future. When will consumers see the low-price EV in Tesla showrooms? Don’t expect these electric cars to roll off production lines in 2024. 

What Do the Layoffs Mean for the EV Market?

The recent Tesla layoffs are one symptom of a larger recent trend — the decreasing demand for EVs. 2020 through 2023 saw a jump from 300,000 units sold to 1.6 million in the United States. Consumers were eager to purchase EVs and lower their carbon footprint. However, the automotive industry predicts a slowdown will occur in 2024.

For example, General Motors (GM) CEO Mary Barra said the slowing pace of EV growth will mean the company’s brands will build to demand and reduce current production. Similarly, Ford will build fewer F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E units because the demand isn’t what the auto manufacturers thought it would be. 

Have Other Automakers Laid Off Workers?

Price cuts and a mass layoff are not exclusive to Tesla. Other automakers building EVs have announced job cuts due to market conditions. For instance, Ford laid off about 700 employees last October in its Dearborn, Michigan, plant. These workers built the Ford F-150 Lightning, so cooling EV demand is one reason why Ford laid them off. Sales for the electric truck fell nearly 50% in 2023 compared to 2022, prompting the manufacturer to make changes. 

In December, GM announced a 1,300-employee layoff at plants producing Chevrolet and GMC EVs. The Orion and Lansing Grand River facilities produce the Bolt EV, Bolt EUV Crossover, Silverado EV and Sierra EV. However, the company said it would postpone its production of electric pickups into 2025. 

Understanding the Tesla Layoff News

The automotive industry has seen massive changes in the last few years. EV demand has risen and fallen sharply, affecting the nation’s largest automakers. Tesla is the most recent domino to fall, with dipping sales and demand the leading reasons for these cuts. 

Industry insiders and those interested in investing in these vehicles should monitor market conditions to see if the trend continues or reverses. This will shine a light on what to expect in the future.

The post Why Is Tesla Laying Off 10% of Its Workforce? appeared first on Modded.

Remember wondering how to start a car wash business when you were growing up? Whether it was with a club in high school, your group of friends, or even yourself, it was the first time you ever made some real dough. The work was simple, and you didn’t even have to go to a real job yet. Plus, it was basically like your own water park. Beats that childish lemonade stand any day.

Just because you’re an adult now doesn’t mean you can’t make a profit by washing cars. In fact, you can use what you’ve learned over the years to build your own car washing business. As long as you choose the right location, invest in some stellar marketing and provide unmatched service, you’ll be engaged in a fun and rewarding business like the old days.

The carwash business is as old as the car itself, and even if it seems simple, there’s a great deal to know before jumping in and getting your feet wet. Much of what we’ll explore here holds true to any business, but there are also some industry-specific items to look out for.

Is owning a car wash profitable? Absolutely! The car wash services market was worth $15.21 billion in 2022. Experts predict it will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.7% from 2023 to 2030.

If you run it properly, it can set you up for retirement and increase your wealth. Discover the essentials of this venture and learn practical car wash business ideas.

Research the Business

It’s time to get up to speed on the business because starting a car wash without any knowledge of car washes would be unwise. Look at some of the technologies used in car washes and today’s trends.

Some noticeable trends include the following:

• People tend to use car washes when the economy and car sales are doing well.
• Environmentally friendly products are making their way into the car wash market.
• Certain growing demographics around your area might want cars washed.

You should definitely go out to area car washes and decide what type of wash you want to start—self-service, automatic or waterless. Don’t be afraid to talk to the owners and employees to see things from their perspective.

Scope Out the Competition

When you’re making small talk, remember that these guys are your future competition. It’s time to collect data on their washes. How many customers do they get? How do they market their business? What will your wash have that theirs won’t?

One more thing factors into how well a car wash does:

Find a Spot and Make a Business Plan

With your game plan in mind, you’ll need a base of operations. Unless you plan to be mobile, that means finding a spot with suitable traffic patterns. Look for areas where traffic moves slowly and drivers can spot your advertising from a distance.

Consider the start up costs for a car wash and the ongoing expenses your business will incur. These will vary depending on your wash’s setup. For example, if you run an automatic wash that requires pressurized hot water, you’ll need to purchase water pumps, boilers and a fan drying system. Hand washes will have costs associated with more employees.

You can get some ideas of what works where by observing the competition in your area. Draw up a plan that includes an estimate of your monthly and yearly costs to know the capital needed to open your business.

Do Some Paperwork

Secure the required licenses and permits from their corresponding federal and state agencies to get started. Visit your local government’s relevant office to know how to get started. Every area has its own rules, so it’s crucial to understand all the information you receive.

You’ll also need the following tax requirements:

• Federal tax identification number
• Sales tax license
• Income tax withholding
• Unemployment insurance tax

Create a Business Plan

We all know that throwing money at problems doesn’t improve them. Treat your car wash similarly—draw out a detailed business plan. Every solid business plan template includes these sections:

1. Executive Summary
2. Mission, Goals, and Objectives
3. Background Information
4. Organizational Matters
5. Market Plan
6. Market Analysis
7. Market Potential
8. Marketing Strategies

Find a Way to Finance

How much does it cost to start a car wash? Starting up a car wash requires an initial capital of six to seven figures because it generally involves acquiring land and improving it. Understanding how to start a car wash business at home or on wheels can minimize your initial expenses.

Bootstrapping your way to profitability makes an inspiring story. However, unless your pockets are deep enough to finance your business, you’ll need others to help fund your venture.

Applying for bank financing, taking out a Small Business Association loan or finding angel investors are the primary ways to get funding. Whichever route you take, prove you’re in stellar financial standing to demonstrate your reliability and creditworthiness. Most lenders and investors expect you to use your money to cover some of the initial expenses to have skin in the game.

What if you have few resources? Any entrepreneurs wondering how to start a car wash business with no money consider crowdfunding and grants.

Crowdfunding is when you solicit donations from the public, allowing charitable individuals to contribute however much they want to help you reach your funding goal when they believe in your vision. Donations generally imply free money, but not in this case. Your donors are actually investors who may expect 100% of their money plus interest or a cut from your future profits. Misunderstanding this can get you in legal trouble down the road and negatively impact your car wash brand.

Regarding small-business grants, various government agencies provide a financial leg up to aspiring entrepreneurs to create more jobs, spur economic activity and generate higher tax revenues. Some write checks specifically for disadvantaged microentrepreneurs. Many private organizations have similar programs, too.

Buy Equipment

Your equipment needs will vary depending on the type of car wash you have. Here’s some equipment that most car washes have:

• Washing system—a pressure washer, compressors, pumps and conveyor
• Cleaning solutions, wax, protectants and presoaks
• Water system—water heaters, boilers
• Vacuums
• Towels

Get Adequate Insurance

The car wash business is an extension of the automotive industry. This venture exposes workers and customers to various hazards that may cause bodily injury and property damage.

Choosing the right insurance policy for your business is necessary to protect your best interests. You must have policies to:

• Safeguard your enterprise from conceivable liabilities.
• Pay for your staff’s medical bills and wages in case of a work-related accident.
• Cover the costs of repairing or replacing your assets in the event of a natural disaster, fire, theft or vandalism. 
• Avoid financial loss when temporarily stopping operations due to unforeseen events or incidents.

Having extra protection is helpful when you face an expensive lawsuit. An umbrella insurance policy supplements your general liability coverage and extends its limits.

Furthermore, consider cyber threats when insuring your car wash. Hackers can compromise your system, steal your sensitive data and defraud you.

The worst cyber attack of them all is ransomware. In 2023, the FBI received over 2,800 complaints from victims who reportedly lost nearly $60 million — 74% higher than in 2022.

Paying for a cyber liability insurance premium can impact your cash flow. Still, it’s worth the cost if you consider the alternative, which is a massive loss that can drive your business to bankruptcy or insolvency.

Market Your Car Wash and Start Hiring

Once your car wash is ready, it’s time to market your business in any way possible. Here are a few ways to get started:

• Make a website and keep it updated.
• Establish a social media presence on Facebook and Twitter.
• Create flyers and post them around town.
• Make sure your car wash has a big, clear, eye-catching sign.
• Host or sponsor local events.
• Do charitable work—like offering free car washes for a cause.
• Produce helpful resources for public consumption—such as a podcast and a YouTube channel churning out content about your field.

Sustainability is an enduring marketing trend. Presenting yourself as an eco-friendly car wash business can appeal to customers wanting to be part of solutions to environmental issues. Some of the sustainable practices you can observe include:

• Using water mindfully.
• Tracking electricity and water consumption.
• Using organic, harmless products.
• Minimizing waste.
• Going paperless.
• Supporting circularity—like procuring used goods or maintaining equipment routinely.
• Segregating and recycling trash on site.
• Using renewable energy
• Spearheading green initiatives that positively impact the local communities you serve—such as river and ocean cleanup drives and tree-planting activities.

Moreover, put a premium on testimonials. Favorable online reviews can help you build credibility and trustworthiness in the eyes of potential customers on Google and social networking platforms.

Consider collaborating with an influencer to get your name out there and highlight your car wash’s notable features. Using influencer marketing to sponsor content is more palatable to consumers than traditional intrusive advertisements.

Ultimately, word-of-mouth is the best form of marketing. Hire the right people to deliver quality work and provide excellent customer service. Meeting or exceeding people’s expectations translates into repeat business to get a steady revenue stream and referrals to increase your customer base.

Evaluate and Reinvest

The trick to staying successful and keeping your business churning is to observe what’s working and what’s not. Remember that most businesses will make the vast majority of their revenue from a small number of services. Configure your wash to feed business to those services, then add smaller offerings to collect extra revenue.

Look at the statistics of your business and find places to save money. Transform into a more affordable brand of microfiber towels and save $100 monthly in material costs, or reinvest time during slow hours into training new staff.

Those little things add up, and, pretty soon, you’ll move the cars through like a pro.

From here on out, it’s a matter of keeping your car wash running. Never get too comfortable—constantly think of creative car wash business ideas to stay ahead of the competition—but be sure to have fun and enjoy your new business!

Originally posted 4/7/2016 – Updated 4/8/2024

The post How to Start a Car Wash Business appeared first on Modded.

William James once said, “It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.”  When you need motivation, these inspirational quotes for men can help you get by. 

Motivational Quotes to Get Men Started

Working toward success requires setting SMART goals, eating healthy, being open to learning and caring for your mental health. Most importantly, you must motivate yourself with daily encouragement to build belief in yourself. 

These motivational quotes for men will help you hit the ground running: 

1. “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” — David Brinkley

2. “You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” — George Lorimer

3. “The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity.” — Amelia Earhart

4. “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” — Theodore Roosevelt

5. “Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.” — Pablo Picasso

6. “The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it.” — Epicurus 

7. “I will not lose, for even in defeat, there’s a valuable lesson learned, so it evens up for me.” — Jay-Z

8. “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” — Ayn Rand

9. “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” — Henry Ford

10. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius

11. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle

12. “Never let success get to your head, and never let failure get to your heart.” — Drake

13. “For the great doesn’t happen through impulse alone, and is a succession of little things that are brought together.” — Vincent Van Gogh

Encouraging Quotes to Keep Men Going

When it seems all you see are failures and challenges, it helps to hear or repeat something encouraging to keep you going. These encouraging quotes will help you build perseverance: 

14. “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” — Winston Churchill

15. “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” — Mary Anne Radmacher

16. “If you can’t yet do great things, do small things in a great way.” — Napoleon Hill

17. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” — George Eliot

18. “When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love.” — Marcus Aurelius

19. “Mondays offer new beginnings 52 times a year!” — David Dweck

20. “The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind the scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” — Steve Furtick

21. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been given a no, only to find that a better, brighter, bigger yes was right around the corner.” — Arlan Hamilton

22. “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes — understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” — Ariana Huffington

23. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe

24. “Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.” — Drew Houston

Uplifting Quotes to Help Men In Need

You must persevere to overcome obstacles. You may need positive words that uplift you, help you focus on the positive and keep you pushing forward. It may help you to turn these uplifting quotes for men into positive affirmations that reconfirm your belief in your abilities, which you can use in meditation practice or before hard tasks. 

25. “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” — Stephen R. Covey

26. “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.” — Paulo Coelho

27. “Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose a challenge instead of competence.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

28. “Do the best you can. No one can do more than that.” — John Wooden

29. “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” — Warren Buffet

30. “The battles that count aren’t the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself — the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us — that’s where it’s at.” — Jesse Owens

31. “Do not wait for the perfect time and place to enter, for you are already onstage.” — Unknown

32. “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” — Wayne Dyer

33. “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” — Henry Ford

34. “Everything you’ve ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.” — George Addair

35. “The best way out is always through.” — Robert Frost

Empowering Quotes to Build Men’s Confidence

These empowering quotes for men will reawaken the fighting spirit in you and empower you to conquer every day and do your best — even if it looks different every day: 

36. “Small is not just a stepping stone. Small is a great destination itself.” — Jason Fried

37. “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” — Steve Jobs

38. “He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.” — Confucius

39. “You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.” — Tina Fey

40. “The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs, one step at a time.” — Joe Girard

41. “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein

42. “Live out of your imagination, not your history.” — Stephen Covey

43. “The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.” — Arthur C. Clarke

44. “There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed.” — Ray Goforth

45. “He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.” — Nietzsche

Find Inspiration From The Men Who Came Before You 

Inspirational quotes can be that boost you need to keep you motivated and pushing toward your goals. Whether you need motivation, encouragement, upliftment or empowerment, this advice from people who have been on difficult journeys will spur you on.

The post 45 Inspirational Quotes for Men appeared first on Modded.

Blacksmithing is the process of fabricating metal objects through forging. The term translates to black metal skilled worker. Black metal refers to iron, which develops a dark fire stain when heated. It’s how people visually distinguish iron from yellowish gold, reddish brown copper and grayish silver, tin, mercury and lead — the other few known metals in the past.

Blacksmiths have been around since the 15th century B.C. These artisans are less popular than they used to be. Still, being a smithy in this day and age can be fulfilling and rewarding. Discover how to start blacksmithing and determine whether it’s worth your while.

Is Blacksmithing a Dying Trade?

Blacksmithing is a dying trade — but not dead. The Industrial Revolution was a significant blow to the profession. Machines began handling ironwork to mass-manufacture metal products, reducing the role of blacksmiths in the community.

Modern-day blacksmiths exist. Most work in machinery, transportation equipment, primary metal and fabricated metal product manufacturing industries. Shows like Forged in Fire, Milwaukee Blacksmith and The Forge have revitalized the public’s interest in the trade.

Do Blacksmiths Make Money?

Modern-day blacksmiths make money as employees and self-employed professionals.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics categorizes industrial smithies as metal and plastic machine workers — such as foundry mold and core makers, forging machine setters and pourers and casters. Their median annual wages ranged from $60,800 to $37,050 in 2022.

Moreover, artisanal blacksmiths work for businesses that sell custom metal products, including estate gates, window grilles, fire escapes, stair railings, candelabras and sculptures.

On the other hand, craft smithies are usually hobbyists who forge metal for fun. More experienced ones sell their creations and live off commissions. Farriers — horseshoe makers — are also self-employed.

What Are the Basic Blacksmithing Skills?

Bending, drawing, upsetting, shrinking and punching are the basic blacksmithing skills.

• Bending. It involves manipulating the shape of a piece. You can do it by strategically heating metal sections in the forge, holding down on the anvil horn, and striking it with a hammer until it reaches your desired curve.
• Drawing. It’s the ability to make the material longer and thinner — uniformly or not. You can achieve this by hammering its both sides on the anvil to extend its length.
• Upsetting. It’s about making a metal bar thicker, shorter and narrower — the opposite of drawing.
• Shrinking. It’s the process of compressing metal between the anvil’s flat surface and the hammer’s flat head.
• Punching. It’s how you make holes in hot metal. It involves softly hammering a punching tool to the intended spot until there’s resistance from the anvil.

Once you learn the fundamentals, you can increase your mastery of blacksmithing by learning other essential techniques to carry out advanced processes. These include forge welding, hitting, cutting, quenching, shaping, tapering, dishing and collaring.

Can You Be a Blacksmith Without a Degree?

Yes, you can be a blacksmith without a degree. You can learn on the job or self-study through free resources. Still, going to school and majoring in metal fabrication, ironworking, welding, industrial technology or applied sciences can give you a leg up in mastering this trade.

How to Start Blacksmithing

Once you learn how to start blacksmithing, you’ll see how easy it is to get started. The most crucial part is familiarizing yourself with the craft. This way, you can debunk any misconceptions and determine how worthwhile it is as a career. Find out what tools and supplies you need and where to source them. Check how much space you need to ply your trade and any permits you must secure to build your workshop.

Once you’re ready to commit to it, follow these steps.

Find a Mentor

Mentorship can be instrumental in streamlining your journey to blacksmithing. An experienced and honest adviser can point you in the right direction, help you set realistic goals, and hold you accountable. Being a mentor can be an honor and a massive ask. Be ready to match your guru’s schedule to make mentorship work.

Attend an Introductory Class

An hour of a blacksmithing 101 class can be worth more than hundreds of hours of YouTube videos. It can teach you the ins and outs of starting a fire in a forge, metallurgy rudiments, safe and effective hammering techniques, workshop construction and more. A structured learning environment will help you grasp new concepts and get answers to pressing questions quickly.

Invest in Proper Equipment

Smithies are only as competent as their tools. Acquire the basics — the forge, hammers, anvil, vises and tongs — and deepen your arsenal over time. As your blacksmithing chops improve, you can create additional items — like chisels, slitters and center punches — to expand your toolset.

Buying everything you need can set you back four figures. However, you can purchase used items to save money.

Set Up Your Forge

Decide on your forge fuel. The most common options are coal and propane. Each has pros and cons, but the most logical choice is the one you can locally source to minimize expenses and replenish your supply when needed.

Regarding the actual forge, you can buy a plug-and-play model or build one from scratch. Choosing the latter comes with more risks since one vital design error renders the unit extra hazardous.

Apply What You Learn

Keep practicing until you hone your basic skills. Trust the process and tackle more complicated projects — such as Damascus steel blades and Acanthus leaves — only when you’re technically proficient enough to pull it off without injuring yourself.

Producing simple but flawless creations — like bottle openers, hooks and tongs — is a terrific confidence booster.

Complete Advanced Courses

After mastering the basics, learn techniques to work more efficiently.
Enhancing your hammer control and forging prowess is the key to crafting more intricate designs while spending fewer resources.

Build Your Network

Use the blacksmithing community to advance your knowledge of the craft, discover new career opportunities, and find clients. Attending conferences and joining local smithy associations can get your foot in the door. Share best practices with fellow blacksmiths online and strive to be a reliable contributor to the hive mind.

The Heat Is On

Learning how to start blacksmithing is exciting, but your enthusiasm may die quickly when progress is slow. Still, forget ahead! It can be a lucrative career at best and a fun hobby at worst. You need an iron will to succeed in this trade, so be patient and never stop learning.

The post Forged in Fire: How to Start Blacksmithing appeared first on Modded.

Traveling is fun —but sometimes, it’s a necessity for work. Company trips can take you to a big city, a rural retreat or an international destination. Regardless, you need to be ready with the business travel essentials. What should be on your packing list for a business trip? Here are the 12 things you need.

1. KAOBAN Passport Wallet

International trips require a passport, so you must have yours ready. This KAOBAN passport wallet makes organization easy because you can put your passport, driver’s license and credit cards in one place. You’ll have each form of ID ready to go at check-in — plus, there’s even a compartment for your vaccine card.

Get it from Amazon

2. SwissGear Sion Expandable Carry-On Spinner Luggage

Packing for a trip can be challenging because you want to feel prepared without overdoing it. You must also comply with the weight limit for carry-ons, depending on the airline. For example, Frontier Airlines says carry-ons must be 35 pounds or less.

Make life easier with expandable spinner luggage from SwissGear. This bag is lightweight, scuff-resistant and ergonomically designed for men’s business travel essentials. It’s easy to push, pull and carry whenever needed.

Get it from SwissGear

3. GDEOUP Travel Neck Pillow

Plane trips can be long and uncomfortable. However, they’re faster and more efficient than the mishaps you get from road trips, so they’re best for business trips. Make your airplane ride more comfortable with the GDEOUP Travel Neck Pillow. This pillow has memory foam and an ergonomic design to make rest much easier. Take it on planes, buses, trains or even long car rides for enhanced rest.

Get it from Amazon

4. MZOO Sleep Eye Mask

Sleep should be a priority to ensure you feel rested during your work duties, so make your environment as conducive as possible. Add the MZOO Sleep Eye Mask to your work trip packing list — it has memory foam and top-quality fiber fabric without pressuring your eyes. Use it for sleeping, yoga or meditation while on your business trip.

Get it from Amazon

5. Flents Foam Ear Plugs

Some people enjoy the natural sounds of plane rides, whereas others need silence to fall asleep. Ear plugs get the job done by completely blocking outside noise from infiltrating your ears, but they can be uncomfortable. Try these Flents Foam Earplugs for long-lasting, soft protection with a noise reduction rate of 33 decibels.

Get it from Amazon

6. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Sleep is a popular hobby on planes, but you’ll need to find something to do super long flights. How would you spend an 18-hour flight from New York City to Singapore? Get a pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones to catch up on your favorite shows or listen to music without being bothered. These are essential travel accessories for men because they immerse you in another world with excellent noise-cancellation technology.

Get it from Bose

7. Anker 533 Wireless Power Bank PowerCore 10k

Phones, computers and tablets should be on your business travel essentials list, but this checklist should also include the Anker 533 Wireless Power Bank. Your gadgets are your lifeline, so you’ll need a portable charger to ensure they have enough battery. This Anker device has high-speed charging for your phone and tablet — up to 18W of power.

Get it from Anker

8. MATEIN Mlassic Travel Laptop Backpack

Charging your electronics is crucial, as is protecting them while on the go. This MATEIN Mlassic Travel Laptop Backpack is ideal for most laptops and Macbooks, with room for 16-inch devices. The backpack is lightweight and durable with ventilated padding, reducing sweat in warmer climates. Plus, the anti-theft pocket protects your most valuable items from thieves.

Get it from MATEIN

9. MINGTONG Travel Adapter

One thing you may forget when making your packing list for a business trip is electrical outlets in other countries. The U.S., U.K., European Union (EU) and other areas require different plugs, so you need to be mindful. Bring a MINGTONG Travel Adapter to ensure you can charge your electronics — this device has USB ports and a surge protector to protect all your devices.

Get it from Amazon

10. Cremo Original Shave Cream

Travel accessories for men should include things that make you look your best. First impressions mean a lot for your associates, so shave to improve your hygiene and looks before big meetings. Cremo Original Shave Cream fulfills this need by ensuring a close shave without leaving nicks and razor burn. Plus, you’ll smell fresh after shaving.

Get it from Amazon

11. Clarks Men’s Tilden Cap Oxford

Meetings and conferences will put you on your feet all day, making comfortable shoes a priority for men’s business travel essentials. Get a pair that looks classy while supporting your feet, such as the Men’s Tilden Cap Oxford from Clarks. These shoes have premium leather and stretch gore panels to fit easily. Additionally, they have a thermoplastic rubber outsole to make your feet comfortable.

Get it from Amazon

12. Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Business trips mean you have a lot going on, so it may be easy to forget your hydration. Drinking water is essential for staying sharp all day, so bring an Owala FreeSip bottle wherever you go. This convenient bottle has triple-layer insulation to keep your beverage hot or cold all day, and the FreeSip spout makes it easy to drink when you open the bottle. The size is customizable, so pick the most convenient fit for your bag.

Get it from Owala

Making Your Work Trip Packing List

Work travel is exciting because you’ll see new places and make lifelong connections wherever you go. Before departing, make a packing list for your business trip and check it twice. These 12 travel accessories for men will ensure you’re ready to rock and roll.

The post Equip: Top 12 Men’s Business Travel Essentials appeared first on Modded.