- Register as a sole proprietor or incorporate with BC Registries (~$40–$380)
- File your Richmond business licence ($150–$350/yr)
- Get general liability insurance
- Set your rates ($150–$400+ per vehicle, ceramic and paint correction from $600–$2,000+)
- Build a brand, website, and online booking
- Set up card payments and simple bookkeeping
- Launch a Google Business Profile focused on Richmond
Richmond's market has a shape of its own, and a mobile detailing business here works differently than it would one city over. Richmond garages hold some of the region's best metal — luxury imports, weekend cars, and multi-car households on big lots with room to work. Paint correction and ceramic work finds its natural market here.
Why Richmond specifically
Where the work is: Ask car-community clients for club referrals — enthusiast circles book in clusters. Neighbourhoods like Steveston, Terra Nova, Broadmoor each have their own client base — your Google Business Profile and local pages should name them.
What it costs to start in Richmond
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| BC business registration (sole prop) | ~$40 |
| Name request fee | ~$30 |
| Richmond business licence | $150–$350/yr |
| General liability insurance | $500–$1,200/yr |
| Equipment & supplies | $2,000–$6,000 (pressure washer, extractor, polisher, water/power setup) |
| Branding, website & booking setup | $0 DIY – $3,000+ agency |
Government fees change — confirm current amounts with BC Registries and the City of Richmond. Richmond's business licence fees run a little higher than neighbouring cities ($150–$350/yr depending on category) — Prontco prepares and files the application as part of every launch.
What you can earn
Expect to charge $150–$400+ per vehicle, ceramic and paint correction from $600–$2,000+ in this market. Solo operators who stay booked commonly reach $4,000–$9,000+ per month solo; the spread comes down to niche, area, and whether you look like a business worth premium rates. No certification required; water discharge rules vary by municipality.
Let's name it
Here's the worry that stalls more Richmond launches than money ever does. “What if I damage a customer's paint, or a ceramic job doesn't hold?” A pre-work condition report with photos, a waiver, and insurance make disputes short — Prontco launches include the paperwork done properly.
Talk it through on a free callMobile Detailing Pricing Calculator
Work out what to charge before you quote your first job in Richmond. Set the job size, condition and the hourly rate you need to earn, and get a defensible number in seconds.
Open the calculator →Your first clients in Richmond — the mobile detailing playbook
- Lead with paint correction and ceramic packages, not washes — Richmond buys the top of the menu.
- Offer multi-car household rates; big-lot homes often book 2–3 vehicles a visit.
- Ask car-community clients for club referrals — enthusiast circles book in clusters.
The shortcut
You can do all of this yourself over a few weeks of evenings. Or Prontco does the whole thing in about 10 business days — registration, your Richmond licence filing, brand, website with booking, payments, accounting setup, and 30 days of launch support. You own every account. From $997.
Related guides
How to start a mobile detailing business in BC · How to start a business in Richmond · The complete BC startup guide · Free calculators & checklists