Auto Detailing Business

Starting a Auto Detailing Business.

A business that refers to the complete care and maintenance of a vehicle, right from washing the exteriors, to removing scratches, getting rid of mud and tar, buffing, waxing, wheel cleaning, interior washing, removing stains from carpets and upholstery, and paint touch up.

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On an average, a new car costs about $20000 - $25000 today. The increasing costs of buying a new vehicle have led to an increase in the buying cycle of cars (the number of years that people are keeping their old vehicles), which is now about 6-7 years. This in turn has fueled the demand for car detailing as people want to keep their old cars looking shiny and new. You can take advantage of this growing industry by starting your own business today.

Essential equipment for Starting a Auto Detailing Business:

A truck (for a mobile business)
Car detailing tools
Detailing supplies (polish, wax, stain removers, buffers, cleaning cloths, paint etc)
Large watering hose

A truck is required only if you want to have a Mobile Auto Detailing Business. If you have a space for your, you need not buy the truck.

Start-up costs:

$500 - $2500 - Depending on whether you will be requiring a truck or not, your start up costs will vary accordingly.

Financing sources for Starting a Auto Detailing Business:

If your start-up costs are on the lower side, you can finance your business through cash advances on your credit card or from personal savings. If they are on the higher end, you can get finance from:

Banks
Car loan companies
Government grants for small businesses

Advertising and marketing:

Distributing fliers
Truck signs
Personal recommendations and word-of-mouth publicity
Ads in car magazines
Door hangers

Target Market:

Car owners
Auto dealers
Auto showrooms
Second hand and used car sellers
Members of car clubs

Recommended training, experience, or skills:

A love of cars
Auto Detailing training courses (can be done online or through vocational schools)
Reading books on car detailing
Ability to do hard physical work

Pricing guidelines and income potential:

Pricing is dependant on the type of work required. Complete detailing packages are typically priced at $300 - $500, whereas individual car detailing jobs are priced at $15 - $35 per job, both not including the cost of materials. An Auto Detailing Business can net you anywhere from $35000 - $50000 in the first year, with their being no upper limit.

Success tips for Starting a Auto Detailing Business:

Make your business unique by offering additional detailing services such as removal of musty odors from air vents, detailing bumpers and moldings, re-dying spoilt carpets, and fine tuning engines.
In addition to complete detailing packages, also offer your clients quarterly or annual maintenance contracts at reduced rates.
Conduct car detailing workshops for car club members. Car club members are practically obsessed with their cars and its looks. When they see the amount of work that goes into keeping their prized possessions looking new, they are likely to hire you to do the job instead of trying it themselves.