Should I buy a detailing business or start one?

Detailing is one of the easier trades to begin on your own, and that is exactly why the choice is not obvious. A buyer pays for what already exists, so the question is what exists here that you could not build yourself in a reasonable time. Look at the seller’s business with that question in mind, and be honest about the answer.

What a bought business can give you

Repeat clients, standing arrangements with dealerships or fleets, trained staff, a bay or van already set up, supplier terms and a history of reviews all take time to build. Ask which of these the seller can actually hand over, and in writing where possible. Things that depend on the seller personally may not move with the sale.

When starting may be simpler

If customers come mostly because of the owner’s skill, if there are no employees and the equipment is modest, a purchase may leave you holding little more than a name.

Weigh the time and the risk

A start-up costs time before it earns a steady living. A purchase costs money up front and brings the seller’s history with it, including leases, contracts and past complaints. Our guide to buying an auto detailing business sets out the steps. Your lender can tell you how it treats each route.

• List what you would still have to build after closing.
• Ask the seller which relationships will move with the sale.
• Test the work yourself before deciding whether you want the job.