Mobile Detailing Earnings: How Much Can You Make?

When you launch a Mobile Detailing Business is a service that travels to customers’ locations to clean, polish, and protect vehicles, the biggest question on everyone's mind is the paycheck. Is it a side‑hustle that tops out at a few hundred bucks a month, or can it rival a full‑time garage job? Below we break down every revenue stream, cost bucket, and profit lever so you can picture your own bottom line before buying your first pressure washer.

Revenue Drivers: What You Charge and How Often

The two variables that decide gross income are Average Service Price is the typical amount a customer pays per detailing visit, ranging from basic washes to premium packages and Job Volume is the number of appointments you complete in a given period. In Australia, a basic exterior clean runs $30‑$45, a full interior‑exterior combo sits around $120‑$180, and high‑end ceramic coating jobs can fetch $400‑$800.

• Basic wash: $30‑$45
• Standard interior‑exterior: $120‑$180
• Premium add‑ons (headlight restoration, engine cleaning): $50‑$120 each
• Ceramic coating (single‑car): $400‑$800

How many jobs you can squeeze into a day depends on service complexity and travel time. A solo operator usually handles 4‑6 basic washes or 2‑3 full combos per day. A two‑person crew can double that capacity, especially if they use a van with water tanks and a portable generator.

Mobile detailing earnings can therefore be projected with a simple formula:

Monthly Gross = (Average Price) × (Jobs per Day) × (Working Days per Month)

For example, a solo player doing 4 basic washes ($35 avg) five days a week earns roughly $2,800 gross per month.

Typical Cost Structure: Where Your Money Goes

Running a mobile unit isn’t just gasoline and soap. Below are the main expense categories, each defined once with schema markup.

Startup Cost is the one‑time outlay to buy a vehicle, equipment, and branding materials usually ranges from $8,000‑$15,000 in Adelaide. A decent van ($5,000‑$8,000), a quality pressure washer ($1,200‑$2,000), portable water tank ($500‑$800), and a set of polishing tools ($700‑$1,200) make up the bulk.

Recurring Expenses is ongoing costs such as fuel, consumables, insurance, and marketing and typically consume 30‑45% of revenue.

• Fuel & vehicle maintenance: $200‑$400 per month
• Cleaning chemicals & disposables: $150‑$300 per month
• Business insurance (public liability, vehicle): $100‑$250 per month
• Marketing (Google Ads, flyers, local SEO): $100‑$250 per month
• Phone & scheduling software: $30‑$60 per month

Remember to set aside a portion for Equipment Replacement is future purchases needed when tools wear out or technology improves. A good rule is 2‑3% of gross revenue each quarter.

Profit Scenarios: Low, Average, and High

To see how profit can swing, compare three realistic operating levels. The table uses the average price points listed earlier and a 22‑day work month.

The high‑end scenario assumes you schedule a few premium coating jobs each month while still handling a couple of regular combos. Even the low‑end model leaves a comfortable cash flow after taxes, proving that a mobile setup can scale quickly.

Factors That Can Boost or Drag Your Income

Beyond price and volume, several external variables shape earnings:

• Location density: Operating in high‑traffic suburbs or near office parks generates more walk‑ins and repeat customers.
• Seasonality: Australian summer (Dec‑Feb) spikes demand for exterior washes; winter sees a shift toward interior detailing.
• Customer acquisition method: Investing in targeted Google Local ads often yields a lower cost‑per‑lead than printed flyers.
• Brand reputation: Online reviews on Google and Facebook can lift average price by 10‑15%.
• Equipment upgrades: A high‑pressure, eco‑friendly washer reduces water use, letting you charge a sustainability premium.

Tracking each factor in a simple spreadsheet helps you spot trends and adjust pricing before you lose momentum.

Step‑by‑Step Calculator: Estimate Your Own Profit

1. List every service you plan to offer and assign a realistic price based on local competition.
2. Estimate how many of each service you can complete per day (consider travel time).
3. Multiply service price by daily volume, then by the number of working days you expect per month.
4. Add up all monthly expenses (fuel, supplies, insurance, marketing, equipment depreciation).
5. Subtract total expenses from gross revenue to reveal net profit. Divide net profit by gross revenue for your margin.

Plugging in your numbers gives a personalized profit picture, and you can test “what‑if” scenarios-like adding a second employee or raising prices after 6 months of solid reviews.

Common Pitfalls & Pro Tips to Maximize Profit

Even with a solid calculator, many newbies stumble on the same issues:

• Undervaluing time: Charging $30 for a wash sounds cheap, but if you spend 45minutes on it, you’re effectively making $20/hr. Raise the base price or bundle services.
• Ignoring insurance: A single slip‑and‑fall claim can bankrupt a solo operator. Keep public liability coverage above $2million.
• Skipping repeat business programs: Offer a loyalty card (e.g., 5 washes, 1 free) to lock in regular customers.
• Over‑stocking consumables: Order chemicals in bulk only after you’ve verified usage rates; excess inventory ties up cash.
• Neglecting bookkeeping: Use simple accounting software (Xero or QuickBooks) to separate personal and business expenses, which simplifies tax time and reveals hidden profit leaks.

By tightening these areas, many detailers boost their net margin from the low‑40s to the low‑60s percent range.