Huntingdon County teen growing successful auto detailing shop
To make some cash to pay for gas, Zayden Clark started detailing cars. Here’s how he’s grown his dream from his parents’ driveway to a shop in Mount Union… at just 18.
Zayden Clark started detailing cars in his parents’ driveway when he was just 16 years old. Now he’s the owner of Mount Union-based Clark’s Services, LLC, a successful business that started with auto detailing and has grown into other services.
As a new driver, Clark knew he had to find a way to pay for gas and insurance. “In the middle of Covid, I had a hard time finding someone to hire me. I started detailing cars in my parents’ driveway which was perfect. I didn’t have my license yet, and this way people brought their vehicles to me, and I could just work from home,” he shared.
Clark’s ingenuity grew his business rapidly. “After about a month, I continued to get customers. When my Facebook page reached 300-400 likes and business was steady, I knew I was on to something, and I could continue this business,” he said.
With the help of his community and his Startup Alleghenies coach, things really took off. “We are a close-knit community. We go out of our way here to support local businesses and have a lot of resources available like HCBI and Startup Alleghenies,” he noted.
Clark is pictured with his Mount Union shop prior to officially relocating. Photo provided.
“I had no idea how to make my driveway business legit. My coach, Christa McGeary, was a huge help in the legal side of the business. She helped me to obtain my LLC and EIN. I was a minor which added another layer of complexity,” Clark said.
McGeary added, “Zayden put the pedal to the metal literally. As a teen, he has a drive and a passion that has him owning a successful business at a very young age. It can be tricky starting a business as a minor, but we were able to get him set up and running full speed ahead.”
Clark said he was trying to create a business with a large customer base. He explained, “Everyone has a car! We don’t live in a big city where walking is a common mode of transportation. People drive where they need to go, and their cars get dirty, and need to be cleaned. “
He takes pride in his work and he gets excited when he knows he has a challenging day ahead of him. He said, “I have pride and happiness in what I do. It is so satisfying and rewarding to see a customer’s reaction when they bring me a dirty car and I return it clean.”
As a high school student, Clark saved his money and put it into growing his business. “In my junior and senior year, I saved money so that I could get a shop in Mount Union to detail vehicles. I just graduated in the spring and a lot has changed since I started. I have expanded and now in the downtime, I also offer landscaping which includes mulch, mulch beds and stones. In the colder months I do residential cleaning when the detailing business slows down,” he said.
Clark offered this advice to other young entrepreneurs— “Don’t be afraid to take that first leap toward your goal, and persistence is key, even when it seems like it isn’t paying off.”
Startup Alleghenies helps startup and emerging small businesses succeed by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. To access personal, one-on-one support from a coach in your county, including guidance, resources, tools and networking opportunities, sign up at startupalleghenies.com.
