Low overhead, high demand, and you can start for under $2,000. The complete guide to equipment, pricing, finding fleet clients, and building a repeat customer base.
Mobile detailing eliminates the biggest overhead of a traditional auto detailing shop: rent. You go to the customer — and they love the convenience.
Your vehicle is your shop. Zero commercial lease, zero utilities, zero storefront overhead.
Supplies for a full detail cost $15–$30. You charge $150–$300. That's 85%+ gross margin.
Before/after photos of car transformations go viral. Instagram and TikTok drive serious leads for free.
Car owners who detail once typically become quarterly customers. Fleet accounts = monthly recurring revenue.
Generator, water tank, pressure washer, polisher, vacuum, chemicals — every item with approximate prices and brand recommendations.
Basic wash ($50–$100), full interior/exterior detail ($150–$300), paint correction, ceramic coating ($500–$2,000) — exact pricing and what's included in each service tier.
Understand the difference between service tiers and how to upsell customers from a basic wash to a full detail with paint correction.
How to operate without a water hookup, what size tank you need, and how to set up a fully self-contained mobile unit.
How to land recurring commercial contracts with dealerships, rental car companies, Uber/Lyft driver pools, and corporate fleets.
Before/after photo strategy, Instagram Reels approach, how to use TikTok for detailing content, and Google Business setup.
Week-by-week milestones from buying your first supplies to running a full-time detailing business with recurring clients.
| Service | Time | Your Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Basic exterior wash + dry | 45–90 min | $50–$100 |
| Interior vacuum + wipe-down | 1–1.5 hrs | $75–$125 |
| Full interior + exterior detail | 2.5–4 hrs | $150–$300 |
| Full detail (SUV / truck) | 3–5 hrs | $200–$375 |
| Paint correction (single stage) | 4–6 hrs | $300–$600 |
| Ceramic coating (entry level) | 6–10 hrs | $500–$1,000 |
| Ceramic coating (premium, multi-year) | 8–14 hrs | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Fleet vehicle (per car, bulk) | 1–2 hrs ea. | $75–$150/car |
Purchase your starter kit ($500–$800). Practice on 3–5 vehicles from friends and family. Take before/after photos. Set up Google Business, Instagram, and TikTok. Book your first 5 paying customers.
Target: First $500–$1,000Post before/after content consistently. Ask every customer for a Google review. Build a reminder system for quarterly rebooking. Visit 2–3 local car dealerships to pitch a fleet contract.
Target: $2,000–$4,000/monthAdd ceramic coating to your menu after practicing on donor cars. Lock in 1–2 fleet or commercial accounts. Build a recurring client base of 15–20 regular customers.
Target: $4,000–$7,000/monthComplete equipment list, pricing guide, fleet account strategy, social media playbook, and 90-day action plan. Everything in one PDF.
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