Mobile boat washing and detailing

Recreational boat owners, cottage owners with boats, and small fishing or sailing clubs.

Priced by boat length per wash or detail, with extras such as waxing, vinyl and canvas care, and spring commissioning or fall pack-up cleans. Repeat monthly or seasonal clients keep work steady.

• Careful, detail-focused work
• Knowing marine surfaces like gelcoat, vinyl and teak
• Customer service and reliability

• Commercial general liability insurance, ideally covering work on other people's boats
• Some marinas require approved contractors or proof of insurance, so check before you turn up
• Rules on wash water, runoff and certain cleaning chemicals near water vary, check with your municipality and provincial environment ministry
• The season is short in much of Canada, so plan winter income such as indoor storage cleans
• Register your business and check whether you need a GST/HST number once revenue passes the threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your equipment, cleaning products and how you travel to jobs. Also consider commercial general liability insurance that covers work on other people's boats.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many boats you detail and your hours. The season is short in much of Canada, so plan winter income such as indoor storage cleans.

Check whether marinas require approved contractors or proof of insurance, and rules on wash water, runoff and certain cleaning chemicals near water with your municipality and provincial environment ministry. Also check GST/HST registration once revenue passes the threshold.