Mobile vs. Fixed Location: Which Detailing Model Wins?

The Two Paths in Detailing

Every detailer faces this fork in the road: go mobile or get a shop. Both can be profitable. Both have trade-offs. And the "right" answer depends entirely on your goals, your market, and how you want to spend your days.

Let's break down what each path actually looks like.

The Mobile Detailing Model

Startup costs: $5,000-25,000 depending on your vehicle and equipment. A basic setup in a truck or van can launch for under $10K. A fully kitted-out mobile rig with water tanks, generators, and professional extraction equipment pushes higher.

Ongoing costs:

• Vehicle payment, insurance, maintenance
• Fuel (often $400-800+/month depending on service area)
• Water (if you're hauling it)
• No rent or utilities

Revenue potential: Most mobile detailers charge a premium for convenience—sometimes 20-30% above shop rates. A skilled mobile detailer can gross $75K-150K+ annually solo.

The reality of the work:

• You're driving 1-4 hours per day between jobs
• Weather affects your schedule (rain, extreme heat, cold)
• You're working in driveways, parking lots, and office parks
• Every location is different—sun angle, water access, surfaces
• You're hauling equipment in and out constantly

Who it's for:

• Solo operators who want low overhead
• Detailers who want flexibility and variety
• Those serving corporate clients or high-end residential
• Markets where commercial space is expensive
• Detailers who don't want to be tied to one location

The Fixed Location Model

Startup costs: $30,000-150,000+ depending on whether you're building out raw space or taking over an existing shop. Lease deposits, equipment, build-out, signage—it adds up fast.

Ongoing costs:

• Rent ($1,500-5,000+/month depending on location and size)
• Utilities (water, power, internet)
• Insurance (premises liability on top of business insurance)
• Employees (once you scale beyond yourself)

Revenue potential: Shops can do more volume and higher-ticket services. Paint correction bays, PPF installation, ceramic coating curing rooms. Shops handling coatings and PPF can gross $300K-800K+ annually.

The reality of the work:

• Customers come to you—no drive time
• Controlled environment (lighting, climate, cleanliness)
• Can run multiple bays and employees simultaneously
• Fixed schedule, predictable workflow
• You're tied to one location

Who it's for:

• Detailers scaling beyond solo operation
• Anyone doing high-end correction, coatings, or PPF
• Markets where customers expect brick-and-mortar
• Detailers who want to build a sellable business asset
• Those who want employees and systems

The Hybrid Model

Many successful detailers run both: a fixed location for premium services (coatings, correction, PPF) and mobile operations for maintenance washes and regular details.

This captures two markets:

1. High-ticket, skilled work done in controlled conditions
2. Convenience-driven regular maintenance brought to the customer

Some shops send mobile units to maintenance wash customers on-site, then bring them into the shop annually for coating maintenance or additional services. The mobile arm feeds the fixed location.

Real Numbers: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Solo Mobile Detailer:

• 3-4 full details per day at $200 average = $600-800/day
• Minus fuel, wear, products = $450-650 net
• 5 days/week, 48 weeks = $108K-156K gross
• Net after expenses: $70K-100K

Solo Shop Operator:

• 3-4 details per day (no drive time = more capacity) at $200 average
• Minus rent ($2K/mo), utilities, products
• Higher ticket services (coatings, correction) raise average
• Can potentially hit higher volume during busy seasons
• Net after expenses: $80K-120K+ depending on mix

Shop with Employees:

• 2-3 bays running simultaneously
• Each detailer produces $400-800/day in revenue
• Owner takes margin on employee production
• Higher gross, but more complexity
• Net to owner: highly variable, $100K-300K+ for well-run shops

Questions to Ask Yourself

Mobile is probably better if:

• You want to stay solo
• You're in an expensive real estate market
• Your target customers value convenience
• You hate the idea of being in one place all day
• You're just starting and want low risk

Fixed location is probably better if:

• You want to build a team eventually
• You're doing or want to do coatings/PPF
• Your market has affordable commercial space
• You want a business that has resale value
• You need a controlled environment for quality

Hybrid is probably better if:

• You've maxed out what you can do solo
• You have capital to invest in a location
• Your mobile customers keep asking for more services
• You want to capture both convenience and premium segments

The Lifestyle Factor

This is the part that doesn't show up in the financials but matters enormously:

Mobile: You're in a different place every day. Could be a beautiful estate in the hills, could be a random parking lot. You're outside in the elements. You're on your own. That's freedom to some and exhausting to others.

Fixed: You're in the same building every day. Same drive, same four walls. But you're climate-controlled, your tools are always where you left them, and at 6pm you lock the door and go home. That's boring to some and comfortable to others.

Neither is objectively better. The right model is the one that fits how you want to work.