Do I need a licence to start a mobile detailing business in Vancouver?

You'll need a BC business registration plus a Vancouver municipal business licence ($100–$250/yr). No certification required; water discharge rules vary by municipality. We prepare and file the applications; the city grants approval.

How much does it cost to start in Vancouver?

A lean solo start typically runs registration (~$40–$70), the Vancouver licence ($100–$250/yr), insurance, and equipment ($2,000–$6,000 (pressure washer, extractor, polisher, water/power setup)). The brand, website and booking system is the variable — Prontco's full launch starts at $997.

What do mobile detailing businesses charge in Vancouver?

Common rates are $150–$400+ per vehicle, ceramic and paint correction from $600–$2,000+. With a steady calendar, $4,000–$9,000+ per month solo is a realistic solo range — results vary with niche and area.

What's the fastest way to get mobile detailing clients in Vancouver?

Pitch parkade detail days to strata councils and building managers — one visit, multiple bookings, zero drive time between cars. Target office towers with executive parking for while-you-work details.

Can I run it from home?

Usually yes — Vancouver permits home-based service businesses with a home-occupation licence since clients don't visit your home. We handle the application as part of every launch.

Start a Mobile Detailing Business in Vancouver, BC

The short version — launching in Vancouver

Register as a sole proprietor or incorporate with BC Registries (~$40–$380)
File your Vancouver business licence ($100–$250/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 Vancouver

Every city rewards a different kind of mobile detailing business — here's what Vancouver specifically pays for. Vancouver is condo country — underground parkades full of nice cars owned by people with no hose, no driveway, and no time. Mobile service isn't a convenience here; it's the only option, and it prices accordingly.

Why Vancouver specifically

Where the work is: Market ceramic coating to lease-return and new-EV owners — Vancouver's EV density is a premium niche. Neighbourhoods like Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, the West End each have their own client base — your Google Business Profile and local pages should name them.

Startup costs in Vancouver

Item	Typical range
BC business registration (sole prop)	~$40
Name request fee	~$30
Vancouver business licence	$100–$250/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 Vancouver. Vancouver's business licence is filed through the City's online portal; home-based businesses are broadly permitted for service trades since clients don't visit your home.

Realistic earnings

Mobile Detailing rates in Metro Vancouver commonly run $150–$400+ per vehicle, ceramic and paint correction from $600–$2,000+. A solo operator with a steady calendar can realistically build toward $4,000–$9,000+ per month solo — results vary with your niche, your area, and how established you look. No certification required; water discharge rules vary by municipality.

The fear that stops most people

Let's name it

In a market this competitive, hesitation costs you jobs — so let's kill the big one. “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 call

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Mobile Detailing Pricing Calculator

Work out what to charge before you quote your first job in Vancouver. Set the job size, condition and the hourly rate you need to earn, and get a defensible number in seconds.

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Your first clients in Vancouver — the mobile detailing playbook

Pitch parkade detail days to strata councils and building managers — one visit, multiple bookings, zero drive time between cars.
Target office towers with executive parking for while-you-work details.
Market ceramic coating to lease-return and new-EV owners — Vancouver's EV density is a premium niche.

The shortcut

Every step above is DIY-able if you have the evenings to spare. The alternative: Prontco builds it all in roughly 10 business days — Vancouver licence filed, brand and website live, booking and payments connected, books set up — then stays with you for 30 days of launch support. From $997, and you own everything.

Book a free launch call See pricing

How to Start a Mobile Detailing Business in Vancouver, BC