Build the basics
Starter
Start with a wash and a basic interior clean.
- Rinseless wash and dry
- Wheels, tires and glass
- Vacuum and wipe interior surfaces
For people starting a detailing business
Start a detailing business without guessing the numbers.
Detail Compass helps you plan the kit you actually need, price the work from your real costs, and see how many jobs it takes to pay the setup back.
- Free to use
- No account needed
- Save your setup on this device
Shop startup packages
One equipment list. A plan to use it.
Start with the work you can deliver. Each tier connects your shopping list to a free business-plan sheet.
Add services
Business
Add a pressure washer, spray protection and more towels.
- Everything in Starter
- Spray paint protection
- Pressure-assisted washing
Plan extraction
Professional
Plan fabric extraction with the tools and drying steps it needs.
- Everything in Business
- Extraction on suitable fabric
- More clean towels and machine-care supplies
Your first five steps
Five steps from idea to first paid detail
Work through them in order. Each step opens the tool or guide that answers it.
- Step 1
Choose one service
List the work you can do well. Check local rules before taking a paid job.
Business guide - Step 2
Plan your equipment
Use your budget to see what to buy now and what can wait.
Setup Builder - Step 3
Price your first job
Cover your time, materials, travel, and a share of your monthly bills.
Pricing Calculator - Step 4
Check your setup payback
See what is left to repay your setup after costs and your own pay.
Break-even Calculator - Step 5
Prepare for the customer
Agree on the work and price. Use a checklist to inspect, clean, and return the car.
First paid job guide
Free tools
Calculators that answer one question each
Start with the question you need to answer. Your setup budget and job costs can move between the business tools.
Work out the money
- Pricing CalculatorPrice a job from your time and costs. Then make a menu or customer quote.
- Break-even CalculatorSee how many jobs can repay your setup after job costs, monthly bills, and your pay.
- Cost-per-detail CalculatorFind the cost of each cleaner per job from its bottle price, mix ratio, and amount used.
Set up and run the work
- Setup BuilderFind what to buy now, buy later, and skip. Use your budget and the equipment you already own.
- Water Tank PlannerPlan water between refills and compare tank capacity, loaded weight, and your vehicle's payload limit.
- Checklist BuilderFollow the steps for your own car or a customer job. Save or print your checklist.
- Dilution CalculatorMix ratios and percentages without guessing, in ounces or metric units.
Edited guides
Read the process before you charge for it
Car detailing business plan: a practical template
A fill-in car detailing business plan for a first-time solo detailer: services, direct costs, payment fees, monthly overhead, owner hours, break-even, and a 30-day start.
The safe maintenance wash
Wash in six steps. Keep wheel tools off paint, use clean towels, and check the result.
Build your first detailing kit
Choose tools for a wash and interior clean. Plan storage and cleanup before adding machines.
Clean a car interior, step by step
Remove dry dirt first. Clean each surface with care, then check glass, seats, and controls.
Remove stuck-on dirt from car paint
Identify iron, tar, and other deposits left after a wash. Choose a suitable method and know when to stop.
Choose practical paint protection
Compare wax, sealant, ceramic spray, coating, and film by preparation and care.
Prepare for your first paid detail
Agree on the work and price. Inspect the car, follow a checklist, and record the result.
Plan a careful one-step polish
Check the paint, test a small area, and use clear stop points before removing more material.
More help
Find a guide for your goal
Learn the basics, plan paid work, or check the needs of a mobile setup.
Start here
Learn the safe order of operations, assemble a lean kit, and complete your first full detail.
Personal detailing
Build skills for your own cars without turning the garage into an expensive chemical warehouse.
Start a detailing business
Choose a service, check local rules, plan your costs, and prepare for your first customer.
Build a mobile setup
Stage water, power, storage, and equipment around the work you can actually sell.
Not sure what to buy first?
Answer a few questions about your goals, budget, water, power, and the gear you already own. See what to buy now, buy later, and skip.