I’m a detailer myself.
It’s a very competitive field many people think they can do it, so you have to compete with those offering to work for very low prices.
I was still learning new things after two years full time, so it certainly takes skill to get it right.
Start up costs are probably higher than you might expect. My pressure washer, vacuum, extraction, and polishers add up to around $5,000 or more, and then there are chemicals, cloths, and other odds and ends you don’t realize you need until you’re on the job. I can guarantee that the cars new detailers attract are often in the woorst condition, yet clients want them to look mint for the lowest price.
I estimate my yearly operating costs are about $30,000 in total, not including start up costs.