Mobile Detailing Business Equipment Checklist
2026 Edition
📅 Last updated: March 07, 2026
A complete, actionable checklist to make sure you don't miss any critical steps. Based on advice from successful business owners who've been through it.
Skip the manual work. Let AI run your business.
Bizzby gives you a full AI team — marketing, sales, bookings, invoicing, client management — for $199/mo. One human VA costs $3,000-$4,000/mo and does a fraction of the work.
Use this execution order to launch with clear pricing, reliable delivery, and consistent lead flow in your first 30 days.
Define Your Mobile Detailing Packages
Mobile detailing clients pay premium prices for convenience. You come to them — at home, at their office, or wherever their car sits.
- Exterior wash and wax — hand wash, clay bar, and wax. $75-$150 per vehicle. Your quick-turn, gateway service.
- Interior deep clean — vacuum, shampoo, leather conditioning, and deodorize. $100-$200 per vehicle. High demand for family cars.
- Full detail (interior + exterior) — your premium service. $200-$400 per vehicle. Takes 3-5 hours. Highest margin.
- Paint correction and ceramic coating — multi-step polish and protective coating. $400-$1,500 per vehicle. Premium service, premium clients.
- Fleet and dealership accounts — detail 5-30 vehicles per visit at $50-$100 each. Steady B2B revenue stream.
Build Your Mobile Detailing Rig
Start lean, but buy equipment that lets you finish jobs safely and profitably.
- fully stocked service van ($8K-$35K)
- mobile POS + invoicing setup ($0-$150/mo)
- core tools and diagnostic devices ($1K-$8K)
- consumables and replacement parts inventory ($500-$3,000)
- route scheduling + dispatch software ($30-$250/mo)
Price Detailing by Vehicle Size and Service Level
Price by the vehicle and package, not by the hour. SUVs and trucks should always be 20-30% more than sedans.
- Exterior wash/wax: $75-$125 (sedan), $100-$150 (SUV/truck). Quick turnaround service. 3-4 per day.
- Interior deep clean: $100-$175 (sedan), $150-$225 (SUV/truck). Shampooing and leather conditioning included.
- Full detail: $200-$350 (sedan), $300-$450 (SUV/truck). Your signature service. Aim for 1-2 per day.
- Ceramic coating: $400-$1,500 depending on vehicle size and coating brand. Materials cost $50-$200. Excellent margins.
- Fleet rate: $50-$100 per vehicle for 10+ vehicles at one location. Volume compensates for lower per-unit pricing.
Get Detailing Clients
Car owners who pay for detailing are everywhere. They are busy professionals, car enthusiasts, and fleet managers.
- Office parking lot prospecting — leave flyers on dirty cars in corporate parking lots. Then pitch the building manager for fleet deals.
- Google Business Profile — rank for "mobile detailing near me." Add before/after photos and pricing packages.
- Instagram and TikTok — post satisfying transformation videos. Detailing content gets millions of views. Show the dirt coming off.
- Dealership and body shop partnerships — dealers need cars detailed before delivery. One dealership can fill 2-3 days per week.
- Referral cards — "$20 off your next detail for every friend you refer." Hand one to every customer after every job.
Add Rigs and Build a Detail Team
Solo detailers max out at 2-3 full details per day. Adding rigs and detailers is how you break through $100K+.
- Hire your first detailer: $15-$20/hour. Train them on your exact process. Shadow for 10+ jobs before solo work.
- Add a second mobile rig: outfit another vehicle. Two rigs doubles daily capacity. You manage and sell.
- Lock in dealership contracts: 5-10 vehicles per week per dealer at $50-$100 each. Predictable recurring revenue.
- Add paint protection film (PPF): PPF installation pays $500-$2,000+ per vehicle. Higher-skill add-on with massive margins.
- Launch a membership program: monthly detailing at $99-$199/month. 50 members = $5,000-$10,000/month guaranteed.
You don't need a fortune to get started. Here's what to expect at different investment levels.
| Item | Budget Start | Professional Setup |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure washer (electric 1.5-2 GPM) | $200 | $400-$800 |
| Water tank (50-100 gallon) | $100-$150 | $250-$500 |
| Portable generator (2000W+) | $300 | $600-$1,200 |
| Dual-action polisher | $80-$150 | $300-$600 |
| Wet/dry shop vacuum | $80 | $150-$300 |
| Detail chemicals starter kit | $150-$300 | $400-$800 |
| Microfiber towels + foam cannon | $80-$150 | $150-$300 |
| General liability insurance | $500 | $800-$1,500/yr |
| Business registration (LLC + EIN) | $50-$150 | $150-$500 |
| Vehicle (truck or SUV) | $0 (existing) | $5,000-$20,000 |
| Business operations (Bizzby) | $199/mo (Starter) | $499/mo (Scale) |
| Total | ~$1,700-$2,500 | ~$9,000-$28,000 |
Income scales with average ticket size, daily job count, and how fast you build a recurring client base. Upselling ceramic coating and paint correction is the fastest path to higher margins.
Price by vehicle size and service tier. Upselling interior deep cleans and ceramic coatings is where margins get serious.
Bizzby replaces the need for a receptionist, marketing team, bookkeeper, and office manager. Here's what each plan includes.
🚀 Starter — $199/mo
Everything you need to run a one-person business professionally. AI handles scheduling, invoicing, client communication, review requests, and basic marketing. You focus on the work.
- AI receptionist (24/7 call & text handling)
- Online booking & scheduling
- Automated invoicing & payments
- Review generation & management
- Basic email marketing
- Client CRM
⚡ Scale — $499/mo
Everything in Starter, plus advanced marketing, team management, and growth tools. Built for businesses ready to scale from solo to team.
- Everything in Starter
- Advanced marketing campaigns
- Team scheduling & dispatching
- Multi-location support
- Advanced analytics & reporting
- Priority support
- Custom integrations
Execute this in order and you will launch with pricing discipline, operational control, and early revenue momentum.
Week 1-2: Foundation
- Buy a pressure washer, water tank, generator, and vacuum
- Stock detailing supplies: wash soap, clay bar, polish, wax, interior cleaner
- Outfit your vehicle with tank, hose reel, and organized supply storage
- Register LLC, get EIN, and open business checking
- Get general liability and commercial auto insurance
- Create pricing packages for exterior, interior, full detail, and ceramic coating
- Set up Google Business Profile with before/after photos
Week 3-4: Launch
- Detail 3-5 friends' cars for free to build your portfolio
- Post before/after transformation videos on Instagram and TikTok
- Walk 3 office parking lots and distribute flyers to dirty cars
- Visit 3 car dealerships and pitch your detailing services
- Complete your first 10 paid details
- Ask every customer for a Google review with a photo of their clean car
- Sign your first fleet or recurring client
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