Start a Mobile Detailing Business — Costs & Pricing (2026)
Mobile detailing is the lowest-cost entry into the detailing business — no shop lease, and customers pay for the convenience. Here's the startup math and the pricing that survives.
Quick answer: Mobile detailing startup: $2k–8k basic (used van/trailer, water tank, generator, supplies) up to $15k+ kitted. Pricing: standard bands + $25–50 mobile fee. First 90 days: 1 core menu, 2 add-ons, every job photographed, every customer asked for a review and a rebooking.
Startup costs
- Vehicle: existing SUV/minivan works to start ($0) → dedicated van/trailer $5k–15k
- Water tank + pump: $200–600
- Generator (if no customer power): $400–1,000
- Pressure washer + foam cannon: $300–800
- Vacuum + extractor: $300–1,500
- Chemicals + towels startup: $300–600
- Insurance (monthly): $100–300
Pricing from day one
Same math as every detailer: floor rate = (expenses + income goal) ÷ billable hours. Mobile adds real costs (fuel, water, van wear) so the mobile fee is not optional — +$25–50 covers it. Solo detailers at 2 mobile details/day, 5 days/week gross $6k–10k/month at market bands. The business calculator prices your specific numbers.
First 90 days
- Days 1–30: one core menu (wash, interior, full), friends' cars for photos, Google Business Profile live
- Days 31–60: every job gets before/after photos posted; ask every customer for a Google review + rebooking
- Days 61–90: raise prices if booked 2+ weeks out; add one add-on upsell to every quote; consider a simple website with your price list
The economics that matter
Supplies run $8–15/car. Mobile fuel + water ~$5/job. Insurance and van payment are fixed. The detailers who fail priced from competition fear ('everyone charges $99') instead of from their floor rate — then couldn't survive the slow season. Price to survive January, not to win July.