u/ericko_au

So I started doing mobile work part time recently (Not as a proper business yet, just pitching my name to people.. Planning to go serious with a registered business name and whatnot in the next few months!). Had my first awkward moment last week on a black Tesla. Customer pointed at a scratch on the bumper after I finished and blamed me for it. It was 100% already there but a dumb mistake on my end for not taking any pictures before starting.

I'm curious for those already in the business for some time, what's your workflow? Photos of every panel before you start? Some kind of intake form they sign? Do you make them sign anything at all?

Feels like I'm taking the detailing itself really seriously but winging the business side..

Looking to start my own mobile detailing as a side gig in the next few months. The actual cleaning part I'm fine with, I'm a car guy and have done mates' cars for years.

What I'm anxious about is all the business stuff. Setting the right prices that is fair with being a new business. Writing quotes that don't look like a 12 year old made them. Handling things right like when a customer says "that scratch was already there".

If you run mobile detailing or any kind of mobile trade, what tripped you up most in the first 6 months of starting? Getting customers? Pricing? Customers ghosting? Quoting? Something else entirely? Cheers.