What is Detailing?

Detailing can mean many different things to different people depending on where you live and what your local market’s economic climate is. In upper-middle class to high-end markets, your prospective client base will be familiar with detailing for the most part.

In middle income or lower-end markets, detailing can mean a quick wash-and-wax job or, get this, some people within some markets even think detailing is customizing cars for dealerships. They believe detailers provide pinstriping or add-on items – a far cry from what detailing really is.

Modern-day detailing is a combination of science, technique, proper products, and passion for what you do. Vehicles are more complex than ever and the days of being a champ at washing dear ol’ Mom’s car, then going out and starting a professional detailing company are gone. If you treat your detailing business like a joke, you will be a joke.

Detailing has become a serious trade and a true artform when performed at the highest levels. It is a highly-competitive business, and if you are going to play the detailing game, you better be ready to play the game right!



The detailing industry as a whole can be divided into three groups, next week we will take a close look at exactly what those are.