- Clean cars inch by inch to return them to factory-new condition . . . or better than that.
- Perform some jobs on a regular basis, others on a one-time basis for resale to a new buyer.
- Work closely with your client to understand expectations; every job is unique.
Some people’s cars are like a teenager’s room, carpeted with six months of newspapers and fast-food wrappers and possessed of an exotic but nonspecific odor. Other people like to maintain their cars in better-than-factory-fresh condition. The auto detailer uses hoses, sponges, vacuum cleaners, toothbrushes, toothpicks, and magnifying glasses to pick up every crumb, polish every surface, and renew every cosmetic feature of a car.
Auto Detailing Challenges
Your job is to run a beauty salon, not a plastic surgeon’s operating room. An auto detailer’s job description does not include removing dents or significant interior or exterior work; clients should be referred to an auto body shop or an automotive paint shop for that sort of preparatory work before the vehicle is brought in for detailing.
Do you go to the car, or does it come to you? You’ll need the same equipment either way, but if you travel to the job, you’ll need a vehicle—perhaps a truck or van—to carry supplies. (Your vehicle should become an example of your work; it should sparkle like a showroom demonstrator.)
If the cars come to you, your setup and cleanup will be easier, but you may bear some liability for the vehicle while it is on your property. Record existing damage to the car and the odometer reading on the contract, and have the client initial that section to protect you against certain claims.
Know the Territory
Detailing is, for most car owners, a luxury. Take a look around a neighborhood and appraise the value—and condition—of the cars you see. Before you accept a vehicle for detailing, make a close inspection in the presence of the owner and note any damage or special conditions. Look for tears in the upholstery, scratches or dents in the sheet metal, and missing parts. Think twice before accepting antique or collectible vehicles. You don’t want to be responsible for replacing African burl wood in a Rolls-Royce if you scratch it.
How to Get Started Auto Detailing
Post flyers in auto supply stores. Place ads in auto club and collector newsletters. Ask friends and relatives for referrals.
Up-front Expenses for Auto Detailing
You’ll need a few hundred dollars worth of detergents, vinyl and leather renewers, tire and wheel cleaners, polishes, and waxes. Necessary equipment includes clean, soft towels—many detailers use cloth diapers—for polishing and cleaning. Sponges and washing mitts are useful to clean the exterior. To apply wax and polish, many detailers use real or synthetic chamois cloths; final buffing can be done with a power orbital buffer, although purists prefer hand finishing.
You’ll need stiff-bristled brushes to clean tires and wheels; you’ll need small, soft brushes, including toothbrushes, to clean inside small enclosures. Spray bottles and cans are needed for glass cleaners, vinyl and leather renewers, and other chemicals. Interior cleaning begins with a powerful vacuum. Carpets can be cleaned with a steam cleaner or shampoo machine.
Cleaning the engine compartment is usually a job for a power washer, carefully applied to avoid damage to sensitive components of modern motors. Detailers use a degreasing solution and a brush to remove oil and grease, taking care to avoid getting the chemical on the paint surface. Rubber belts, hoses, and door gaskets can be renewed with a silicone dressing.
Charge for Auto Detailing
Proper detailing of a car that is already in reasonably good shape will take from several hours to a full day; a car that has major cleanliness issues may demand as much as two days. You can charge on an hourly basis or set a flat rate based on an underlying hourly rate. Plan on additional charges for difficult cases; conversely, offer discounts for repeat customers who bring cars to you regularly. Add extra charges for special polishes, cleaners, or paints. Estimated charges: $50 to $100 for ordinary jobs, $100 to $200 for difficult cases.
Legal and Insurance Issues
Special notes: In dealing with your client’s property, seek to limit your liability for damage or loss to the actual replacement value of items in your possession. You should protect yourself against claims for sentimental value or loss of use. An insurance agent can offer counsel about commercial vehicle insurance
Charge for Auto Detailing
Proper detailing of a car that is already in reasonably good shape will take from several hours to a full day; a car that has major cleanliness issues may demand as much as two days. You can charge on an hourly basis or set a flat rate based on an underlying hourly rate. Plan on additional charges for difficult cases; conversely, offer discounts for repeat customers who bring cars to you regularly. Add extra charges for special polishes, cleaners, or paints. Estimated charges: $50 to $100 for ordinary jobs, $100 to $200 for difficult cases.
Legal and Insurance Issues
Special notes: In dealing with your client’s property, seek to limit your liability for damage or loss to the actual replacement value of items in your possession. You should protect yourself against claims for sentimental value or loss of use. An insurance agent can offer counsel about commercial vehicle insurance
and liability coverage.