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Startup Series
Start Your Own Automobile Detailing Business
Fueled by people’s passion for cars, the automobile detailing industry has been on the fast track for more than a decade. With only a moderate investment, a flexible work schedule and the possibility for huge profit, now is a great time to jump in the driver’s seat and set out on the road to success. Packed with essential tools and tips, industry experts introduce you to the most popular detailing operations, then take you step by step from gathering your pit crew to learning the latest tools of the trade. In addition to getting a behind-the-wheel look at day-to-day operations, get immediate access to a wealth of information, including: • Easy-to-understand descriptions of the three types of detailing operations: mobile, express and site-based • A comprehensive resource listing of organizations, suppliers, government agencies and industry professionals • Practical work sheets to help calculate costs, keep track of expenditures and stay organized • Detailed instructions on marketing and generating new business including building your own website • A detailed look at the newest tools of the trade, latest software and office equipment
156 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2005
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 24, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 out of 5 stars
Published: 2005 | Pages: 174 | Publisher: Entrepreneur Press
The only book of its kind — and it earns that distinction.
For anyone seriously considering launching an automobile detailing business, Start Your Own Automobile Detailing Business by Eileen Figure Sandlin is the most practical, focused, and complete guide available on the subject. In a space where most business advice is either too generic or too technical, Sandlin — writing under the trusted Entrepreneur Press brand — threads the needle effectively, delivering a step-by-step manual that respects both the craft of detailing and the complexity of running a small business.
What the Book Gets Right
The book's greatest strength is its comprehensive coverage of the non-detailing side of detailing — the business infrastructure that most aspiring entrepreneurs underestimate. Sandlin walks readers through:
Naming your business — complete with a practical worksheet to guide the decision
Finding and evaluating a location — covered in a chapter aptly titled "A Garage for All Seasons," which many reviewers cite as the book's single most valuable section
Hiring employees — with clear guidance on when and how to scale
Marketing your services — from local outreach to building a repeat customer base
Financial planning and insurance — including the often-ignored maze of local, regional, and national regulations that can blindside a new business owner
Equipment and supplies — with a useful worksheet to build out your startup inventory
This is the kind of practical scaffolding that separates a book worth keeping on your desk from one that collects dust after a single read.
Who This Book Is Written For
Sandlin writes for the first-time entrepreneur with a passion for cars — not the seasoned detailing professional looking for advanced chemistry or technique tutorials. If you are already detailing at a high level and simply want a business framework, this book delivers exactly that without padding. If you are brand new to both detailing and business, you may want to supplement it with a detailing-technique resource alongside it.
One Honest Limitation
The book was published in 2005, which means its marketing and advertising chapters predate social media, mobile payment platforms, and the gig-economy model that now defines much of the mobile detailing industry. Readers in 2026 will need to mentally update those sections — strategies for Instagram, Google My Business, Square payment processing, and mobile-first booking platforms are not covered, simply because they did not yet exist when Sandlin wrote it.
The fundamentals, however — location strategy, pricing structure, insurance, hiring, and equipment — are as relevant today as they were twenty years ago. Good business principles do not expire.
The Bottom Line
For its 174 pages, Start Your Own Automobile Detailing Business delivers an exceptional return on investment. It is organized, practical, opinionated in the right ways, and does not waste your time. In a market flooded with generic small business guides, this one stays in its lane — and executes it well. Pair it with current resources on digital marketing and mobile business tools, and you have a complete foundation for launching a profitable detailing operation.
Recommended for: First-time entrepreneurs, military veterans transitioning into self-employment, anyone considering a low-overhead service business with high repeat-customer potential.
— Reviewed for Kiney Books Collective
Kiney Books | Houston, Texas
Published: 2005 | Pages: 174 | Publisher: Entrepreneur Press
The only book of its kind — and it earns that distinction.
For anyone seriously considering launching an automobile detailing business, Start Your Own Automobile Detailing Business by Eileen Figure Sandlin is the most practical, focused, and complete guide available on the subject. In a space where most business advice is either too generic or too technical, Sandlin — writing under the trusted Entrepreneur Press brand — threads the needle effectively, delivering a step-by-step manual that respects both the craft of detailing and the complexity of running a small business.
What the Book Gets Right
The book's greatest strength is its comprehensive coverage of the non-detailing side of detailing — the business infrastructure that most aspiring entrepreneurs underestimate. Sandlin walks readers through:
Naming your business — complete with a practical worksheet to guide the decision
Finding and evaluating a location — covered in a chapter aptly titled "A Garage for All Seasons," which many reviewers cite as the book's single most valuable section
Hiring employees — with clear guidance on when and how to scale
Marketing your services — from local outreach to building a repeat customer base
Financial planning and insurance — including the often-ignored maze of local, regional, and national regulations that can blindside a new business owner
Equipment and supplies — with a useful worksheet to build out your startup inventory
This is the kind of practical scaffolding that separates a book worth keeping on your desk from one that collects dust after a single read.
Who This Book Is Written For
Sandlin writes for the first-time entrepreneur with a passion for cars — not the seasoned detailing professional looking for advanced chemistry or technique tutorials. If you are already detailing at a high level and simply want a business framework, this book delivers exactly that without padding. If you are brand new to both detailing and business, you may want to supplement it with a detailing-technique resource alongside it.
One Honest Limitation
The book was published in 2005, which means its marketing and advertising chapters predate social media, mobile payment platforms, and the gig-economy model that now defines much of the mobile detailing industry. Readers in 2026 will need to mentally update those sections — strategies for Instagram, Google My Business, Square payment processing, and mobile-first booking platforms are not covered, simply because they did not yet exist when Sandlin wrote it.
The fundamentals, however — location strategy, pricing structure, insurance, hiring, and equipment — are as relevant today as they were twenty years ago. Good business principles do not expire.
The Bottom Line
For its 174 pages, Start Your Own Automobile Detailing Business delivers an exceptional return on investment. It is organized, practical, opinionated in the right ways, and does not waste your time. In a market flooded with generic small business guides, this one stays in its lane — and executes it well. Pair it with current resources on digital marketing and mobile business tools, and you have a complete foundation for launching a profitable detailing operation.
Recommended for: First-time entrepreneurs, military veterans transitioning into self-employment, anyone considering a low-overhead service business with high repeat-customer potential.
— Reviewed for Kiney Books Collective
Kiney Books | Houston, Texas
Displaying 1 of 1 review