Make-A-Wish: ‘Dreams really do come true’
Powering forward with solar energy
May 12, 2025
WAUPACA – Young Entrepreneur Nick Jakubowski said he started Detail 712, LLC out of a passion for cleaning.
With an eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, Jakubowski said he’s dedicated himself to ensuring that the cars he works on look as pristine as the day they were driven off the lot.
“At Detail 712, LLC, I understand that your vehicle is more than just a mode of transportation – it’s an investment, an extension of your lifestyle and something you take pride in,” he said.
Jakubowski said that’s why he goes above and beyond to deliver professional, reliable and personalized detailing services.
“I’m passionate about bringing out the best in every vehicle I work on,” he said.
A natural habit turned part-time profession
Jakubowski said he has been a car enthusiast for as long as he can remember.
Coupled with his desire for cleanliness, he said he remembers getting his first car and his friends commenting pretty regularly about how clean it was.
Jakubowski said little did he know then that habit would eventually transition into a career.
He said he first started learning about auto detailing while working part-time at a local dealership – while at the same time working a full-time job.
However, as he continued to improve his craft and started seeing videos on social media of detailers like him making $100-plus per hour for their work, Jakubowski said he started researching what it would take to start a detailing business.
Armed with an idea and his detailing expertise, Jakubowski said he started buying his own equipment and posting on Facebook about detailing cars.
“I never thought about cleaning cars as a profession,” he said.
The first few social media posts, Jakubowski said, were accompanied by several affirming comments on how nice his work looked – which he said further inspired him.
Over the next year and a half, as he’s gotten busier – detailing on average 10 cars a month out of his garage – Jakubowski said he’s looking into either building a shop on his property or buying or renting one somewhere locally.
“I have numerous details booked for the coming couple of weeks,” he said. “I’m doing this on top of my full-time job right now, too.”
Jakubowski said the long-term plan is to take the leap and run the business full-time.
Work ethic
Jakubowski said he has been a hard worker his entire life – one to go above and beyond.
Because detailing “is my passion,” he said “I’m not trying to get the most vehicles in and out of my shop.”
“A vehicle doesn’t leave until I’m satisfied with how it looks,” he said.
Jakubowski said this way of working allows him to focus on quality over quantity, and for him, that’s important.
In 2024, Jakubowski said he detailed 70 vehicles.
2025, he said, is shaping up to be even better – with 30 bookings already confirmed.
If things keep tracking as they are, Jakubowski said he may be close to doubling his numbers from last year.
Getting his name out there
Jakubowski said he has again relied on social media to “get my name out there” – already growing Detail 712’s page to more than 1,000 followers.
Though he wouldn’t describe himself as a “social media guru,” Jakubowski said he has been impressed with the consistent growth he has seen just by sharing what he’s up to.
Jakubowski said he also credits the shop’s organic growth to word-of-mouth advertising – as he’s gained new clients every month based on the good reviews of others.
And as Detail 712 continues to grow – with eventual plans of moving into a larger location – Jakubowski said the plan is to expand his services as well.
“Because I live by the Chain O’ Lakes, I’ve had multiple people ask if I detail boats, motorcycles, do paint protection film, window tinting – all that stuff,” he said. “Right now, I’m limited by the space I have. But I know I can grow (my services with more space).”
Room for growth as an entrepreneur
Jakubowski said he intentionally hasn’t “planned too much, too soon” in order to get his feet under him as an entrepreneur – “it’s definitely a learning process.”
“I didn’t have a set path of entrepreneurship, or being my own boss per se,” he said. “It’s been a passion that turned into something that is now generating money. It’s giving me new opportunities with every detail job.”
Over the past year and a half, Jakubowski said he has been investing time and money into his craft, equipment and workspace.
This, he said, has included transforming his shop – a.k.a. his garage – into a professional workspace.
Complete with a black and lime green floor with hexagon lighting – Jakubowski said he has essentially created the garage of his dreams.
Services offered
Jakubowski said Detail 712 specializes in high-quality auto detailing services, including ceramic coating, interior and exterior detailing and more.
For the interior, he said he offers two packages, which focus on a thorough vacuuming, steaming cleaning and sanitizing all touchable areas, along with a UV protectant for plastics and leathers to prevent fading and cracking.
Jakubowski said it helps with the longevity of a vehicle.
“Think about the feeling you got when you drove your vehicle off the lot – you’ll get that again,” he said.
Detail 712’s exterior deluxe packages, Jakubowski said, focus on large and small areas, such as door jambs, a deep clean of the wheels, bug and tar removal and even a wax or ceramic finish.
More in-depth ceramic coating options offered through Detail 712, he said, include two-, six- and 10-year protection.
Jakubowski said Detail 712 is fully insured and has recently begun offering pick-up and drop-off services.
“I aim to provide you with a service experience that’s as polished as your car will be when I’m finished,” he said.
To learn more about Detail 712 and the services available, visit detail712auto.com.
