Cash Kid: [00:00:00] Hey everyone, welcome back to the Cash Kid Podcast. Today, we're highlighting the ultimate teen entrepreneur, a 17 year old who's running his own car detailing business and making serious money while still in high school. Not only is he handling multiple clients, but he's also managing a team of employees, proving that age is no barrier when it comes to entrepreneurship. Cash Kid: With big aspirations to plan to go to a business school. This senior is already on the fast track to success. We're excited to dive into his story, how he grew his business, and what the future holds for him. This is an episode you won't want to miss. So let's meet today's Cash Kid. If you aren't already, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube at Cash Kid Podcast. Cash Kid: Or sign up for our mailing list at cashkidpodcast. com. Stay tuned. The Cash Kid Podcast is underway. Cash Kid: Eli Slaton, welcome to the show. And first off, tell us a little bit about yourself. Eli Slaton: Thank you for having me. My name's Eli Slaton. Um, I'm 17 years old and [00:01:00] I'm a mobile car detailer in Birmingham, Alabama. I love working on cars. And so that's what I do for people. I help clean up their cars and get them how they like them. Cash Kid: How did you come up with the idea to start a car detailing business? Like, how did you get it off the ground? Eli Slaton:I've always loved cars. There's something about bringing a car back to life that's just satisfying. I noticed that many people didn't just want their cars washed, they wanted them detailed, really taken care of, inside and out. That's when I thought, Hey, I can do this as a business. I started small, just detailing cars for friends and family and in my community. I used what I had at first, basic supplies and a lot of hard work. But as I made money, I reinvested it into better tools and equipment, which helped me deliver even better results. Word started to spread and more people wanted my services. That's when I realized this could be something a little bigger than I [00:02:00] thought. I officially started my business, and then from there, it's just been consistent improvement and growth. Yeah, that's really interesting about how you took something that you weren't sure about, and then you ended up turning it into like a full grown business. Cash Kid: So, you've grown your business now from the point to where you're managing employees. What's it like being a teen and running a team? How do you keep everything so organized? Eli Slaton: Yeah, managing employees as a teenager is definitely an interesting experience. Uh, right now I have about 10 part time employees, and each one plays an important role in making sure our clients are happy. At first it was overwhelming, and I think about how to organize everything. Scheduling appointments, assigning tasks, and keeping track of details. It was kind of overwhelming. But, I quickly realized the importance of systems and communicating. I use scheduling apps and tools to stay organized, and I hold regular meetings with my team to make sure that we're on the [00:03:00] same page. I also try and lead by example. If I, if I want my team to go above and beyond for our clients, I need to show them what it looks like. It's not always easy, but it's rewarding to see my team come together and deliver high quality detailing services. Cash Kid: Yeah, I mean, you really have to keep them in line, but then you also have to manage them and get your entire business going. Eli Slaton: So, being a senior in high school while running a successful business might keep you busy. How do you balance school, work, and your personal life? Balancing school, business, and personal life has been one of the biggest challenges for me. Being a senior in high school means I have to focus on my classes, but running a successful business with over 300 clients now and a team of employees means I have a lot of responsibilities outside of school. What helps me most is staying organized. I use a business planner to map out my day and make sure I'm [00:04:00] prioritizing my important tasks. For example, I might use a couple hours in the morning to work on schoolwork, and then focus on detailing in the afternoon, and still make some time to relax and hang out with friends and family. Eli Slaton: It's really a balancing act, but when you care about what you're doing, you'll find a way to make it work. Cash Kid: That's really important because if you can't balance school and do your business, you might be doing too much because school is still very important. So what challenges have you faced as a young entrepreneur, especially when it comes to managing both clients and employees? How did you overcome those challenges? Eli Slaton: Yeah, starting a business as a teenager definitely comes with some challenges. Uh, for me, one of my hardest parts was gaining credibility as a young entrepreneur. Some, some clients ...
