Car detailers are always in demand. How long has it been since your own car got a thorough clean? Sometimes, especially if we’re the only ones who use our car, we can go months without cleaning or vacuuming our car. You can capitalize on this need by offering car detailing services.
Like many freelancing gigs, it’s a good idea to offer a few different price points for your customers. Start with a basic vacuum and hand wash, and build up from there. Take a look at the kind of cars in your area, and add some specializations that are appropriate. For example, you could have a package that offers rim detailing to get out mud and grime that can build up in truck wheels. Or, you could offer a leather-interior shine and spruce up for cars with luxurious interiors. The possibilities are wide open, and that’s why we chose this for our Side Hustle Master List.
Concept | |
category | Autos/Transportation |
Takeaways | Advertise online; need proper cleaning products, may need to hire a team. |
complexity lowhigh  | Capital Required lowhigh |
skill required lowhigh | time required lowhigh |
return potential lowhigh |
 | learn more |
Necessary Equipment
When you start out, be sure to purchase the right equipment. Depending on the level of detailing you offer, this could include hose attachments for spraying the cars down, cleaners for the exterior and interior, shampoo for the carpet or cloth seats, and cleaners for removing gum and bugs. You might be a car enthusiast, but make sure you learn how to care for the different materials found inside them.
If you show expertise in caring for leather and cloth, you can build your value and charge good rates. It’s not uncommon to charge between $50 and $100 for a full detail job. Start on a few friends cars, take some good before and after photos, and then expand out to your neighborhood and community. Like anything, it takes time to get clients, but you can make it work with persistence. Take a look at the links below for more information.