So you have decided to start up your own auto detailing business. That's awesome! This is exactly what I decided to do not too long ago. Let me help you get started with auto detailing while minimizing the costs. You do not need a lot of fancy equipment. In fact you may not need any at all when you first start. The first thing you need to decide is will you be a standalone. A standalone means you have a set location. If you are not going the standalone route you will be a mobile detailer. In today's economy the mobile option seems like the best option. This is going to be a quick rundown of what you need to operate. Why is the mobile option more appealing because of the economic situation? Well there is little to no overhead aside from gas, and supplies. No hefty rent fee for your location or payroll for employees. It also gives you the versatility to go to the customer. It's a good niche, and this is important in being able to market yourself against the big standalone shops.
You need a shop-vac. Don't go cheap on the shop-vac or you will be replacing it very soon. Go to Lowe's or Home Depot and check out their selections. In my previous experience they have provided the best price even over discount stores such as Walmart. Now that you have your vac, you will need a wash mitt, a couple buckets, at least five microfibers, car wash, polishing compound, wax, interior and exterior protectant, and leather cleaner. Don't forget to get a couple spray bottles, some degreaser, and some detailing brushes. I recommend the chemicals that are provided by prowax A long hose, and extension cord as well as a spray nozzle. Did I mention glass cleaner? And to wrap things up you will want a very firm scrub brush for the cloth and carpets.
LOWES INTERIOR
That's about it to minimize your auto detailing start up costs. I would definitely look into getting more supplies asap, but this will get you started. This is the cheapest way to get started and with just the above items you could start detailing vehicles and turning a profit. We will go more in depth later on the multitude of other options. As you can guess you can have a lot more things in your detail caddy, but for starters this is all you need. The best part is it will keep your auto detailing start up costs to a minimum. I would also suggest getting a pack of Magic Erasers. Magic Erasers are awesome at cleaning up scuff marks in the interior. Magic erasers are very cheap and work wonders on cleaning scuff marks off of your interior.
This can all be bought for under 0 total.
Like I said before this was going to be the low cost option. There are many other machines, polishes, compounds, and various pads and chemicals to bolster the options you can provide to your customers. Unless you have the skill to perform these types of actions it's best to not waste your money. The cost is expensive and the results from improper technique can be absolutely disastrous.
Auto Detailing Start Up Costs
Robert Roundtree
Check out my blog with more articles at http://www.gainesvilledetailing.com
