Glanz Mobile Detailing
“Maintenance plans every three weeks turned a hobby into a job.”
LWLuca Weber · Glanz Mobile Detailing · Since 2023
12-mo revenue$130,620+49% vs last yearSumUp
How to start a mobile car detailing business in the US
0 of 15 doneStart with: Pick your services and packages
Dirty water from washing cars must not run into storm drains. Most cities ban it, and some ask for a permit or a water-catching mat. Check your city’s rules before your first job.
Washes, full details or paint care. What you sell decides the kit you buy and who you sell to.
Light paperwork. Most of it can be done online in a few days.
Start with a solid rig for the packages you sell. Upgrade when the work pays for it.
Before-and-after photos sell this trade. Repeat plans keep it going.
Fill your days with fleets and plans, then add a second rig.
Open for business15 steps to go
Stage 1Decide what you’ll offer
0/3- Write three packages with a clear list of what each includes
- Leave paint correction and coatings until you have practised on your own cars
- Decide if you will take fleets, dealers or only private cars
- List 10 local detailers and their package prices
- Note the areas with big homes, driveways and nice cars
- Ask two car dealers who does their detailing now
- Run the odds calculator with your budget
- Decide: weekends first, or full-time from day one
Stage 2Set up the company
0/3- Register the LLC with your Secretary of State
- Apply for the EIN on irs.gov only: it is free there
- Open a business bank account
- Get your city or county business licence
- Ask the city if mobile car washing needs its own permit
- Ask whether your state charges sales tax on detailing
- Get general liability cover
- Add garage keepers (care, custody and control) cover
- Move your van or truck to a commercial auto policy
Stage 3Kit and rig
0/3- Buy a water tank sized for 2 to 3 cars between refills
- Get a quiet generator or a battery power pack
- Buy microfibre towels in bulk and wash them separately
- Buy a water containment mat and a pump or wet vacuum
- Use water-based, biodegradable products
- Find a legal place to empty the dirty water
- Pick booking software with reminders and card on file
- Take a deposit for full details
- Send a before-and-after photo with every invoice
Stage 4Price and win customers
0/3- Add up product, fuel and travel for a typical job
- Charge more for trucks, SUVs and pet hair
- Set a minimum price for travel
- Claim your Google Business Profile
- Post before-and-after photos every week
- Ask every happy customer for a review the same day
- Offer a plan at the end of every full detail
- Bill plans by card automatically
- Group plan customers by area to cut driving
Stage 5Run and grow
0/3- Offer a free first car to three dealers
- Write a one-page price list for fleets
- Ask for monthly invoicing with 30-day terms at most
- Read the warnings from detailing owners
- Check your prices against your real costs every quarter
- Write a checklist for each package
- Ride along for the first two weeks
- Get workers’ comp before they start
No steps match.
Open for business, with numbers to prove it.
Owners who started one
Kerbside Detailing Leeds
“Most of my week is the same forty cars on a three-week plan.”
EGEllis Grant · Kerbside Detailing Leeds · Since 2023
12-mo revenue$120,790+35% vs last yearSumUp
Questions people ask
Do you need a licence to start a mobile detailing business?
Usually just a general business licence from your city or county. Some cities also ask for a permit for mobile washing, and most have rules on where your dirty water can go.
How much does it cost to start a mobile detailing business?
Most people start with a few thousand dollars for a pressure washer, water tank, polisher, vacuum, products and insurance, using a van or truck they already own.
Can I wash cars at the customer’s home?
Yes, but the dirty water must not go into the street or storm drain. Use a containment mat and pump, and empty the water where your city allows.