Why I’m Starting The Book Detailer
Where Bookkeeping and Finance meet Car Detailing, and why it matters.
TL;DR: With a mix of accounting, finance, tech, and a love for systems, I’m building practical tools to help detailers understand their numbers and grow with confidence.
Four years ago, I walked away from a stable corporate job, the kind you don’t casually leave. I had been with the same employer for almost 14 years, surrounded by the smartest people, doing work I was proud of. It shaped me in ways I’m grateful for.
But over time, something shifted.
The world changed, my role changed, and honestly… so did I.
I started wanting something different. Something more hands-on, more creative, more connected to real people building real things.
Meanwhile, at home, something inspiring was happening.
My wife had built a strong one-woman business: a shopping concierge service for international clients buying designer goods. She had grown her Instagram account from zero to 10,000+ followers (at the time) with nothing but consistency, service, and an instinctive understanding of her niche.
Watching her do that sparked something in me.
So after a lot of spreadsheets, projections, and gut-checking, I decided to join her full-time.
Where My Love for Systems Started to Take Over
Once I stepped into entrepreneurship, I naturally gravitated toward the behind-the-scenes work:
the financials
the workflows
the operations
the tech stack
the “how do we make this run smoother?” questions
This is the stuff that energizes me.
I dove into the spreadsheets.
Then automations.
Then QuickBooks Online.
Then workflow optimization.
Then app integrations.
Then more spreadsheets.
At one point, I even prototyped a small SaaS to systematize our operating model, before the business grew too fast for me to keep building it. In hindsight, it was probably too early. I was still learning what our own business needed.
But that entire experience taught me something important:
No matter the industry, small businesses run better when their systems support them instead of draining them.
And that thought stayed with me.
So… Why Car Detailers?
More recently, I've taken a step back from our family business to focus on my own venture. Things are running smoothly and I'm not needed on the day-to-day operations.
I really feel like the knowledge I got from structuring the finances of our business could be helpful to other founders.
Then I went on to explore what other businesses I could help, specially with bookkeeping and finances, and one day, washing my own car, a thought came by: car detailing services! It was that aha moment!
Just to be fully transparent:
I’m not a detailer.
I’ve never detailed a car professionally.
I’m not pretending to be an industry insider.
What I am is someone who’s passionate about operations, workflows, technology, and financial clarity; And as I started learning more about this line of business, I noticed that many detailers (especially new solopreneurs) could really benefit from a little extra edge when it comes to their finances as they get up to speed.
I saw:
incredible craftsmanship
huge work ethic
genuine ambition
and a lack of simple, practical financial tools behind the scenes
Some are side-hustling.
Some are jumping in full time.
Some are growing faster than their books.
All of them are balancing cash flow, equipment costs, supplies, pricing, and customer management, often on their own.
And I realized:
I don’t need to be a detailer to help build systems for detailers.
I just need to bring what I do know, and learn the rest alongside you.
That’s the purpose of this publication.
What This Substack Will Be
This isn’t a place where I preach expertise.
This is a place where I:
research
learn
share
test
build
document
and create tools that others can use
Think of it as a lab:
A space where I apply my background in accounting, finance, tech, and operations to the detailing world. Openly, imperfectly, and with curiosity.
I’ll be creating:
templates
workflows
simple frameworks
financial setups
app comparisons
system recommendations
and real examples you can put to use
Some posts will be technical.
Some will be stories.
Some will be experiments.
All will be rooted in the belief that detailers deserve clean, coherent systems to support their craft.
Because at the end of the day:
Good systems give you control.
Clean books give you clarity.
And clarity gives you confidence to grow.
If You Want to Follow the Journey…
This first post is the foundation. The “why” behind The Book Detailer.
From here, I’ll be diving deeper into:
the bookkeeping and finance setup for new detailers
workflow structures
integrations that actually make sense
simple automations
the best tech combinations
common mistakes (and how to fix them)
how to create a financial picture you can trust
I’m learning as I go, and I’m sharing everything openly.
If you’re a detailer who wants more control, more clarity, or just better systems, I’m glad you’re here.
Let’s figure this out together.
And let’s make these books shine.
— Tobias
The Book Detailer