£300 for 2 Hours of Work From the Back of a Van
In a r/sweatystartup thread about trash can cleaning, one comment quietly dropped a BOMB: "Mine was alloy wheel refurbishment. I charge £50-70 per wheel depending on size and damage amount and can usually finish one wheel in 20-40 mins. Often I'll charge £300 for all 4 and can have them done in 2 hours, all from the back of a Mercedes Sprinter."
That's an effective rate of £150/hour ($190/hour USD). And in the US, where curb rash and scuffed wheels are just as common, the same model works with pricing of $75-125 per wheel.
What Is Alloy Wheel Refurbishment?
It's simple: car wheels get scratched, scuffed, and damaged from curbing, road debris, and general wear. Alloy wheel refurbishment means:
- Sanding down scratches and curb rash
- Filling deeper gouges with specialized filler
- Priming and painting with color-matched paint
- Clear-coating for a factory-finish look
The result looks brand new. The alternative for the customer? Buying new wheels at $200-800+ EACH, or living with ugly scuffed rims. You're offering a repair at 25% the cost of replacement.
Why This Works as a Mobile Business
- You go to the customer. Set up in their driveway, office parking lot, or at a car dealership. No shop needed.
- Every car with alloy wheels is a potential customer. Walk through any parking lot — 30-40% of cars have visible wheel damage.
- Car dealerships are golden accounts. Used car lots need wheels refurbished before selling. One dealership relationship = steady weekly work.
- Insurance companies sometimes cover it. Especially on newer or leased vehicles. You can become a preferred vendor.
- Minimal equipment fits in a van. Everything you need fits in the back of a cargo van or SUV.
Equipment Needed
- Orbital sander: $50-100
- Sandpaper (various grits): $20-30
- Alloy wheel filler: $15-25
- Primer spray: $10-15
- Color-matched wheel paint: $15-30 (multiple colors for common finishes)
- Clear coat: $10-15
- Masking tape and paper: $10
- Portable heat gun or UV lamp: $30-50 (speeds up curing)
- Total startup: $160-300
How to Start
- Learn the skill. YouTube has dozens of detailed wheel refurbishment tutorials. Practice on your own wheels or a friend's car. You'll be competent after 5-10 wheels.
- Do 3-5 free jobs for friends/family. Take professional before/after photos of each one.
- Create a simple Instagram page. Post before/after photos. Name it something like "[City] Wheel Repair" for local SEO.
- Visit car dealerships. Walk in, show your before/after portfolio, and offer to do one set of wheels for free as a demo. Used car managers will LOVE you — they currently pay $100-200/wheel at a body shop.
- List on Google Business Profile. "Mobile alloy wheel repair [City]" — people search for this constantly.
- Post on local Facebook groups and Nextdoor. "Mobile wheel repair — I come to you! $75/wheel, $250 for all 4. Before/after photos in comments."
Income Potential
- 2 cars/day (part-time, weekends): $500-600/day = $4,000-4,800/month (weekends only)
- 3-4 cars/day (full-time): $750-1,200/day = $15,000-24,000/month
- Dealership accounts: One dealership can provide 5-10 cars/week at wholesale rates ($50/wheel)
Pro Tips
- Parking lot prospecting. Put flyers on cars with visible wheel damage in shopping center parking lots. "I noticed your wheels could use some love — here's my card."
- Lease return season is your goldmine. People returning leased cars get charged $150-300 per damaged wheel by the dealership. You offer to fix all 4 for $250 and save them hundreds.
- Offer a mobile convenience premium. People gladly pay an extra $25-50 for you to come to their office or home vs. them driving to a shop.
- Diamond-cut wheels require a lathe and are more complex. Start with standard painted alloys and expand later.
The Bottom Line
Mobile wheel refurbishment is one of those businesses hiding in plain sight. Every parking lot is full of potential customers. The skill is learnable from YouTube in a weekend. The startup cost is under $300. And the effective hourly rate is $100-190/hour once you're proficient. If you can sand, spray paint, and drive a van, you can build a $5,000-15,000/month business that runs on word-of-mouth and dealership relationships.