Mobile car detailing service
Drive to homes, workplaces and small fleets to deep clean car interiors and exteriors.
- C$2k-8k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A mobile car cleaning service. You travel to the customer's driveway or workplace and do interior vacuuming and shampooing, hand washing, waxing and light paint polishing. In winter, many mobile detailers focus on interior cleaning and salt removal.
Your first three steps
- Price local detailers' packages, then set your own packages and a travel area
- Put together a starter kit (vacuum, extractor, pressure washer or waterless products, polisher) and practise on friends' and family's cars
- Take before-and-after photos, set up a simple booking page and local social media posts, and offer a few discounted first details to collect reviews
Who pays
Busy households, office workers who book a clean while they are at work, small businesses with a few vehicles, and used car sellers who want a vehicle ready to list.
How it makes money
Fixed-price packages (basic wash, interior clean, full detail) with add-ons like pet hair removal, odour treatment or wax. Repeat monthly clients and small fleet contracts give steadier income.
Skills that help
- Attention to detail
- Knowing which products suit different surfaces
- Reliable scheduling and customer service
Watch out for
- Commercial general liability insurance, and ask your insurer about cover for customers' vehicles in your care
- Check your auto insurance covers business use of your own vehicle
- Check municipal bylaws on water use and wash water draining into storm drains, and whether you need a business licence
- Chemical safety: check WHMIS training and safe product handling requirements in your province
- Cold winters can limit outdoor work, so plan for slower months or offer indoor options
- Risk of damaging paint or interiors, so test products first and photograph existing damage
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: mobile car detailing service
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a mobile car detailing business?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $8,000 CAD, depending on your equipment, products, vehicle setup and insurance. Your own costs will vary with the services you offer.
How much can a mobile car detailer earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,000 CAD, depending on your prices, the number of jobs you book and the season. Cold winters can limit outdoor work, so plan for slower months.
What rules should I check before starting mobile car detailing?
Check municipal bylaws on water use and wash water draining into storm drains, and whether you need a business licence. Also check WHMIS training requirements in your province, plus liability insurance and whether your auto policy covers business use.
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Photo: JLMedia on Pixabay