Do you need a license for mobile detailing? In most places, yes. Almost every city or county requires a general business license to run any business, mobile detailing included. Most states don’t have a separate detailing license, but a few add their own rules, and California is one of them.
The rules change by city, county and state, so treat this as the general picture. It is worth checking with your local offices, or asking an accountant or lawyer, before you start.
General business license
This comes from your city or county. Some cities also want one if you work inside their limits, even if you’re based somewhere else. Working without one can mean fines, and it can make a business bank account or commercial insurance harder to get.
Registering your business
If you work under your own name as a sole proprietor, there may be little to register beyond the business license. If you use a brand name, you’ll usually need to file it as a DBA (“doing business as”). If you form an LLC, you register with the state. You may also need a federal EIN from the IRS, which is required if you have employees.
Sales tax or seller’s permit
You’ll need a seller’s permit if you sell products, such as air fresheners or protectants, on top of your service. Some states also charge sales tax on certain services. It is worth checking with your state’s tax agency.
Mobile business and water permits
Because you work out of a vehicle, some cities require a separate mobile business permit. Many also control where wash water goes, and some require a permit or water containment for mobile washing. It is worth asking your city about both.
California: car washing and polishing registration
California requires businesses that do car washing and polishing, which its law says includes detailing, to register every year with the state Labor Commissioner. The fee is $300 per location. The law is written around employers, meaning businesses that have other people doing the work, so if you work alone, it is worth confirming with the Labor Commissioner’s office whether it applies to you.
Insurance
Insurance isn’t a license, but you’ll want it before your first customer:
- General liability covers damage or injury you cause on a job.
- Garage keepers covers damage to a customer’s car while it’s in your care.
- Commercial auto covers the vehicle you work out of. Personal auto policies often exclude business use, so it is worth asking your insurer.
Overall
Overall, yes, in most places you need at least a general business license from your city or county to run a mobile detailing business. Depending on where you work, you may also need a DBA or LLC registration, a seller’s permit, a mobile business permit or a water permit, and in California a yearly registration with the Labor Commissioner. Insurance isn’t a license, but we would have general liability, garage keepers and commercial auto in place before your first customer. The rules change by city, county and state, so it is worth checking with your local offices before you start.