how we started and built our business

I was inspired to create the blog by the amount of times I have been asked the same questions, how did you start? When did you start? Why did you decide on forming your own business? Let me start by saying this, owning and running a small business is a lot of work. The amount of lessons we have learned, the amount of tears that have fallen, the amount of obstacles we have faced is overwhelming. However, I will also say, the amount of laughs we have had, the amount of amazing humans we have met, the amount of triumphs we have shared, and the amount of growth we have had is almost just as breathtaking. 

Harry has had a passion for detailing since he was 1 3 years old, he would go outside in the middle of winter with a bucket and rag to clean his moms car and his neighbors cars. His attention to detail and his desire to learn and perfect his trade has been for as long as he can remember.
Harry and I met when he worked at Franks Chevrolet in Tarrytown NY detailing cars, we were dating for about 3 months and decided to move in together and then in 10 months we were married. To say that things happened fast between us is understatement. After about 3 years of marriage we decided it was time to have a baby, we tried for about 3 months and we were not successful, we decided maybe we should just wait. (here is the reason I need to inform you of all that) 
A month later Harry comes home from work and tells me that Franks Chevrolet was closing and that he wouldn’t have a job at the end of the month, unbeknown to him I was informing him I was pregnant. As quickly as we laughed we also grew scared after months of Harry trying to find a job with no luck. 

THE VAN
We took the good with that bad and I gave birth to a beautiful little boy, we decided Harry would stay home for a little while and I would work and we wouldn’t have to pay for daycare. About 3 months go by and Harry comes home one night with a van. The look of confusion on my face must have been priceless. I said, what are we doing with that? Harry replies I’m going to start a business. I said, with that? How? He asked me to simply trust him and believe in him. Of course I did, of course I was slightly upset and confused but I knew my husband and I knew he would never steer us into harm. Harry took the little assets that he had and sold them to purchase everything necessary for the van to start his mobile detailing business. We started our company as H & S Mobile Auto Detailing and landed a few accounts along with personal customers and from there the word spread quickly. 
In 2015 and 2 more kids later we were realizing that we needed to make some necessary changes. We were getting to the point in business that most businesses get into and that was either we needed to go bigger or close the doors.  Up until this point I had absolutely no interest in detailing cars or our business, I was busy raising kids and working on my own career choices. I decided at this point I was going to get involved and help my husband reach his dreams and goals. I have said time and time again I know if I give my husband the proper tools he would do incredible things with his business, so I decided to revamp the business a bit. 
I formed it into a S-Corp, changed the name and started to search for a location to open up a storefront! 

OUR STORE FRONT
I am a born and raised resident of Carmel NY. I knew the building that we are in very well, since 2015 I swore the day I was ready to open up my shop it was going to be at 96 Route 311 Carmel NY. I had no idea how and many times I wanted to approach the owner and ask but never did. One day I drove down route 311 and saw a for rent sign, I swung my car around and called the real estate agent, luckily I knew him and told him I needed him to take the sign off the building that I was going to take it over. Please understand by no means was I ready for this, nor was I ready for the next 7 months, however I was determined to accomplish this huge goal. I was unaware of what was needed to be done or the approvals that I needed but every day I was determined to figure it out, I learned so much through the entire process. It was a roller coaster of emotions and struggles and obstacles but with the right mindset and believing in yourself anything is possible. 
We are so grateful for the support we have received from such a great community. Im not sure what we plan on doing after this but I know it will be great. We thank you all for your continued support, reviews , referrals, and relationships we have built thus far.