Should I buy a detailing franchise or an independent detailing business?

Both routes put you in the same trade, but they hand you different things. A franchised detailer arrives with a way of working. An independent arrives with a reputation, a customer list and the habits of one owner. The choice is about which of those you can verify and which you can carry forward. It is not a ruling on which is the stronger business.

What a detailing banner may add

A brand can supply a booking system, approved products, training for new technicians and a recognizable name. Some also bring fleet or dealer relationships. Ask the seller exactly which of these transfer to you, and what the franchisor must approve. Your lawyer can explain what the franchise agreement means for a resale.

What an independent detailer keeps

An independent chooses its own products, prices, services and name. It does not answer to a franchisor, and it does not pay for the system. The trade-off is that everything sits with the owner and the team: client relationships, techniques and supplier accounts. Ask how much of that would stay if the owner stepped away.

Questions for either seller

Ask where jobs come from, whether any large clients have written agreements, and how bookings are tracked. Ask who does the work and whether those people plan to stay. Request financial statements and have your accountant read them. The due diligence page for detailing businesses lists the checks in more detail.

• Which systems, products and accounts transfer to you?
• Who must approve the sale, and how long does that take?
• Which customers book through the brand and which through the owner?
• What do the financial statements show about the costs of each?