If you want to start your own car detailing business, you must have the right equipment, the right training, and a solid marketing plan. Although you’ll learn most of these things “in the field,” it’s best to start with a solid training foundation.

Your first option is to work at a detail shop with the arrangement that the shop owner will train you as an owner. That is, not just show you how to detail cars, but show you how to get customers, order supplies, hire and fire…all of the things that only the shop owner does. It’s rare to find a willing shop owner. Only if you signed a contract committing to not compete within 30+ miles would someone agree. And even then, you’ll likely have to work for free to sweeten the deal.

Second, there are many well established car detailing schools across the country. RightLook, Detailing Success, Detail King, and The Total Pros all do a fine job of training detail business owners. They take beginners and show them how to detail professionally. This includes how to handle difficult challenges like carpet stain removal, odor removal, oxidation removal, water spot removal, food spill remediation, etc. But the technical training is only half as important as the make-or-break problem facing all new car detailing businesses: how to get customers!

If you enroll in a detailing school, be sure to opt for the sales and marketing training. You must know where to find the customers and how to sell to them. Most of the teachers are ex detail shop owners. They know how to spend their advertising money to get results, and how NOT to spend it (note: the phonebook is a poor investment; so is radio and newspaper advertising).

Expect to pay $700 – $3000 for training depending on the school you choose, the course you choose, and your travel costs.

Finally, there are solid and proven courses that train you at home. The best home training courses include videos. Some even include a starter website and go into detail about how to attract customers on the Internet. The Internet is perhaps the single most important resource for new detailing customers (outside of referrals), so be sure to spend many hours researching Internet marketing!

Ultimately, how you choose to learn how to launch your detailing business depends on the time and money you have available. If you are short on time and money, you can certainly learn a necessary foundation by studying at home and practicing on the cars of family and friends.

No matter how you choose to train, the most important lessons will always be learned in your first 6 months as a business owner, confronted with the infinite number of challenges a small business encounters.

Many people are attracted to car detailing jobs and careers for the potential of high earnings and for the freedom many experience form having their own business.

While car detailing jobs vary from location, geography and the experience you bring to the table, most require developing skills that truly allow you to improve the appearance of the car. This can mean an understanding of how to properly wash and dry, to advance use of chemicals, polishes and waxes.

Most agree the trade is similar to an artist or craftsman developing a skill or craft often requiring an apprentice period to learn the ins and outs of the skill as well as how the business of car and auto detailing works.

Many who are interested can begin their careers working with professional detailing services. These companies often provide outsourced detailing services to automobile dealerships. These companies provide “make ready” services whereby pre-owned and new cars are prep’d for the dealers lot.

The list of requirements can range from simply removing travel protection (such as plastics and paper mats) to full details that include vacuuming, washing, waxing, wheel protection, and engine compartment cleaning.

Advanced services provided to dealers can also include headlight restoration, ozone cleaning, interior steam cleaning, and dent and paint repair. It is also common for dealers to provide car detailing services as an added service to its customers. Most often these are done in conjunction with servicing, collision, or repair services. The amount and type of services are commonly worked out between the detailing service and the dealer.

While not the most glamorous, detailer jobs can also be found at upper-end car washes. While many of us prefer just to have our cars washed, wiped down and vacuumed, a high margin detail is usually a customer option. For some this may be a good start if you are interested in car detailing, though the pay may not be as lucrative as if you work with a professional detailing company that generally pays on a commission or performance basis.

A third alternative is to start a mobile detailing company. Costs of entry are not too high, but there is lots of competition. Another downside is you are often left to developing skills on your own – not to mention the time, cost and effort needed for promoting your service.

Bottom line, if you are looking for a car detailing job, choose a professional detail service where you can learn the ropes, get experience, and have an opportunity to learn from the ground up. While entry-level positions may only pay $15,000 – $18,000, senior detailers can as much as $80,000.

Car detailing is the extremely thorough cleaning, polishing and waxing of a car, both inside and out, to produce a show-quality level of detail. It is big in America where it is called auto detailing but it is catching on in the UK.

Car detailing is essential if you are planning to show your car. However, even if you are not taking your vehicle to a show it is still a worthwhile activity if you are planning to sell your car or if you just like it to look its best.

When the exterior of the car is being detailed, the paint, chrome, wheels, trim, windows and tyres are all thoroughly cleaned and shined. Everything needs to be cleaned, polished and protected. Car detailing products are available for all of the processes – from specialist detergents, waxes and cloths to detail clay.

For the exterior, mechanical polishers are also available for the process of correcting, to produce a top-quality polish. A very thin layer of clear coat will be removed to get rid of fine scratches and swirls.

Clay is used to clean dirt such as bugs and tar from the clear coat. These will not come off with weekly washing. The clay is gently moved across the car as it picks up all of the dirt, leaving a smooth finish.

The waxes are the one of the most expensive products in the detailing process but they protect the car and make the fantastic finish that you achieve with the polishing last a lot longer.

The interior detailing involves cleaning the dash, seats, windows and panels. If possible, the seats are removed to allow greater access. It is best to start with a thorough vacuum to remove the worst of the dirt and the finer cleaning is done with brushes, cotton buds and upholstery cleaners.

Engine detailing is also possible and involves the use of detergents and de-greasers to spruce up under the bonnet.

Detailing a car can be done by the owner or a specialist company can be used. Given the amount of time it will take to do it is obviously far cheaper if you can do it yourself.

Trusted products should be used and they can easily be found online. You will find car detailing forums where people can help you out and recommend techniques and products and if you find a great new product you can share it with the community.

Compared with the price of a car re-spray, detailing is good value for money and helps preserve the value of your car.

A good day’s detailing will leave your car with a stunning looking finish and in pristine condition. You will be able to see vivid reflections in all of the surfaces, the paint will be glass-smooth, the leather will have an even matt finish and the glaze and wax combination will have deepened and enriched the shine. Your car will never have looked so good…