The Mobile Detailing Business Kit ($29, Excel + Google Sheets + PDF) has the Job Pricing & Profit Calculator, Job Costing + Monthly Profit Tracker, Invoice Tracker, Chemical Cost Calculator and 61 AI prompts. Code RINSE20 takes 20% off through Nov 23, 2026.
Get the Kit, $29 Just the pricing calculator, $14
Step 1: Know your hourly rate
Use the labor rate from how to price mobile detailing: your target yearly pay ÷ billable hours, plus overhead per hour. Correction work needs a rate that also covers polishers, pads and lighting.
Step 2: Estimate hours by step and size
- Prep (every job): wash, decontamination, clay, paint depth readings, taping.
- 1-step (enhancement polish): one polish to remove light swirls and add gloss.
- 2-step: a compounding step for deeper defects, then polish.
- Coating: panel wipe, application, curing time.
Time your own first few cars per size and keep a log. Your numbers become your price sheet.
Step 3: Add product cost per vehicle
Coating cost per car = bottle price ÷ cars per bottle. Add pads (cost ÷ jobs they last), compound, polish, panel wipe and towels.
Step 4: Price coating tiers by durability and prep
Most shops sell 2–3 tiers (for example 1-year, 3-year, 5-year rated products) with the correction level built in. Only advertise durability the manufacturer states, and explain maintenance requirements in writing.
Worked example (hypothetical)
Every number in the example below is made up to show the math. It is not an industry average or a recommendation. Use your own costs.
Mid-size SUV, 1-step polish + 3-year coating.
Hours: prep 2.5 + polish 5 + coating 2 = 9.5 hrs × $65/hr (example) = $617.50
Product: coating $80 ÷ 4 cars = $20; pads, compound, polish, wipe and towels $25 = $45
Cost: $662.50. Target margin 25%: $662.50 ÷ 0.75 = $883, round to $879 or $899.
A 2-step on the same SUV adds about 4 hrs (example): + $260 labor before margin.
Protect the job
- Take a deposit when booking (multi-hour jobs block a whole day).
- Inspect and photograph the paint before quoting the final price; quote “starting at” online.
- Put what correction can’t fix (deep scratches through clear coat, rock chips) in writing.
Build these into your menu with the price list guide, and see how high-ticket jobs move income in how much detailers make.
Get the whole detailing toolkit
Kit: Mobile Detailing Business Kit
Five tools in one download: the Job Pricing & Profit Calculator, Invoice + Payment Tracker, Job Costing + Monthly Profit Tracker, Chemical Cost Per Car Calculator and the Car Wash & Detailing AI Prompt Pack (61 prompts), plus a 1-page Start Here guide.
Excel + Google Sheets + PDF. $29 for the kit ($59 if bought separately); check the listing for current price. Prompts written with AI assistance and reviewed by a person.
Code RINSE20: 20% off at Payhip checkout through Nov 23, 2026.
Get the kit on Payhip