Mobile Business Playbook — Brantford, Ontario
A complete, printable-and-actionable guide to running a one-person mobile headlight restoration business — designed to make money on a retiree's schedule, without a shop or employees.
At a glance
Average ticket
$150
per driveway visit
Cost to deliver
~$20
materials + fuel
Profit per job
~$130
88% margin
Startup cost
~$2,500
all-in mobile kit
The model
No shop, no overhead, no staff. He drives to the customer's driveway, does the job, collects payment, and moves on. Every advantage stacks in his favour.
No rent, no utilities, no commercial insurance for a building. Fixed costs stay under $250/month total.
They don't have to drive anywhere or wait at a shop. Coming to their home is a genuine selling point — and justifies a premium price.
Book 2 jobs a Tuesday morning, take Thursdays off. Completely flexible. Works for retirement income without locking in fixed hours.
~$2,500 gets him fully equipped. At 2 jobs a week the startup cost is recovered in about 10 weeks.
As a retiree in Brantford, his personal network is warm leads. People trust a neighbour with their car far more than a faceless business.
Materials cost $4–10 per job. The service sells for $99–$199. That 88%+ margin means he's profitable before he finishes his second cup of coffee on the job.
How it works
Park, set up under the pop-up canopy, do the work, collect payment, drive away. The whole thing fits in about 60 minutes once practiced — often less.
Pull up, meet the customer, inspect the lenses. Confirm they're intact — no cracks, no internal fogging. Quote the right tier. Set up the canopy for dust and weather control.
5 minWash the lens surface. Carefully tape off all surrounding paint and trim with automotive masking tape — this is non-negotiable, protects the customer's car.
5 minWork through grits — typically 400/600 → 800 → 1500 → 2000/3000 — keeping the surface wet. This physically removes the dead, oxidized layer. More oxidation = start coarser.
15–25 minWipe the lens completely clean with isopropyl alcohol. The surface must be dust-free and bone dry — the ceramic/UV coating will only bond to a perfectly clean lens.
5 minLay down a thin, even coat of the UV-cured hard coat using an applicator. This replaces the factory UV protection — the same type of coating headlights have when brand new.
5 minCure under the UV lamp (works in shade — no sun needed). Remove masking, do a final wipe, and photograph before/after. Collect payment and ask for a Google review.
5–15 minWhat to buy
Everything fits in the back of a car or truck. Most items are one-time purchases — the only ongoing cost is consumables, which run $4–10 per job.
Pro UV-cured hard-coat system
The heart of the business — GlasWeld Headlight Rescue, Delta Kits Infinity, or similar. Each kit restores dozens of sets.
~$550–650 CAD
UV curing lamp (UV-LED handheld)
Cures in shade, indoors, or on cloudy days. Sunlight also works free — the lamp means you're never weather-dependent.
~$150–400 CAD
Dual-action polisher or drill + backing plate
Drives sanding discs. A DA polisher gives better control; a drill + plate works fine and may be one you already own.
~$150–250 CAD
Sandpaper assortment 400–3000 grit (bulk)
Wet/dry discs and sheets. Buy in volume to cut per-job cost significantly — grit is a major consumable.
~$60–80 CAD
Automotive masking tape + film roll
Protects every millimeter of surrounding paint and trim. Skip this and you risk scratching a door panel — don't skip this.
~$40–50 CAD
Microfiber towels + foam applicator pads
Lint-free application and wipe-down. Stock up — you'll use several per job and launder the towels.
~$50 CAD
Pop-up canopy / shade tent (10×10)
Essential for mobile driveway work — controls dust, keeps sun off during coating, handles light rain. Don't skip this.
~$150–200 CAD
Power: heavy extension cord (50 ft) + inverter
Ask customers to use their outlet first. When that's not possible, a 400W+ inverter or portable battery station runs the polisher and lamp.
~$120–200 CAD
Car door magnets (branded)
While parked in a driveway, the car is visible to neighbours. Magnets turn every job into free advertising. Worth every dollar.
~$50–80 CAD
Square or Tap to Pay on phone
Accept cards on the spot. Square is free to sign up; you only pay ~2.65% per transaction. Cash always welcome too.
Free (2.65% per swipe)
Foldable work caddy / tool bag
Keeps everything organized in the car. A rolling tool bag or divided caddy means he's set up and packed up in minutes.
~$40–60 CAD
Water spray bottles + small bucket
Wet sanding needs water. Bring your own — don't rely on the customer's garden hose being accessible.
~$15–20 CAD
True per-job cost: $4–10 in materials
This is why the margins are so high. The coating kit restores 40–65 sets — the bulk of the per-job cost is sandpaper, tape, and fuel. Model budgets $9 to stay conservative.
Wet/dry sandpaper sheets & discs
Use 2–4 sheets per job across the grits. Buy 400/800/1500/2000/3000 in packs of 50+.
~$1.50–3.00 per job
UV/ceramic coating (from kit)
A pro kit covers 40–65 sets. Per-job coating cost works out to well under $5.
~$1–4 per job
Automotive masking tape
1–2 metres per headlight pair. Buy in bulk rolls.
~$0.50–1.00 per job
Foam applicator pads + lint-free wipes
Use 2–3 applicators per job. Microfiber towels can be washed and reused.
~$0.50–1.00 per job
Isopropyl alcohol (91%+)
For the final de-grease before coating. A 1L bottle lasts many jobs.
~$0.30–0.60 per job
Fuel (model budgets $6/job)
Average ~20 min drive each way. Batch jobs by neighbourhood to cut this further.
~$5–8 per job
Don't skip the safety gear
UV lamps cause real eye and skin damage. Coating solvents need ventilation. These are non-negotiable — and the combined cost is about $110.
UV-rated safety glasses
Standard sunglasses don't block UV-A sufficiently. Get certified UV-rated glasses rated for lamp work.
~$20–35 CAD
Half-face respirator (organic vapour)
The UV coating and IPA produce vapours. Even working outside, wear a proper respirator — not a dust mask.
~$35–50 CAD
Nitrile gloves (box of 100)
Protects skin from solvents and coating chemicals. Nitrile (not latex) for solvent resistance.
~$20–25 CAD
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all products
Download and keep a printed copy of each product's SDS in the kit. Required by law when transporting chemicals.
Free — download from supplier
Solvent-soaked rag disposal (metal container)
Rags saturated with solvent can self-combust. Store in a sealed metal container between jobs and dispose of properly.
~$20–30 CAD
Profit calculator
Drag the sliders and tweak the prices — the numbers update live. These are pre-tax estimates; plan to set aside 25–30% for income tax.
Monthly profit (pre-tax)
$3,100
~$37,200 / year
Avg ticket
$150
Profit per job
$128
Revenue / month
$3,250
Margin
86%
Hours on jobs / wk
8 hrs
Break-even
2 jobs/mo
Monthly income ramp (12-month projection)
Ontario requirements
General information — confirm specifics with ServiceOntario, the CRA, a licensed insurance broker, and an accountant before acting.
Cost: $60 online via ServiceOntario (2026)
HST registration: free at canada.ca/cra
Budget: ~$700–1,200/yr — get a real broker quote
Accountant consultation recommended: ~$100–200/hr
City of Brantford: brantford.ca or call 519-759-4150
HHW drop-off: check City of Brantford waste schedule
Getting jobs
Because delivery cost is so low, the whole business lives or dies on demand. Here's where to focus — roughly in order of impact.
Google Business Profile
#1 priorityWhen someone types "headlight restoration Brantford" or "headlight restoration near me," this is what shows up. Fill it out completely, upload before/after photos, and collect reviews constantly. It's free and it's the single highest-leverage thing he can do.
Facebook Marketplace & local groups
High volumeBrantford buy/sell groups and community boards are where this service sells locally. Post with before/after photos, re-list every week or two. Facebook Marketplace is the modern classifieds — use it.
Personal network (warm leads)
As a retiree, his Brantford network — neighbours, Legion, church, community centre, golfing friends — is full of warm, trusting leads. These people will pay full price, leave reviews, and tell their friends. Start here.
Referral offer
Offer $15 off the next visit (or a free fog-light add-on) for any customer who refers someone who books. Word of mouth from a driveway job already gets neighbours' attention — a referral incentive converts their curiosity into action.
Car magnets + branded shirt
Every driveway he parks in front of is a free billboard. Neighbours notice. A simple door magnet and a logoed polo shirt are marketing that works while he works — no extra effort required.
Two accounts can change the whole business
One used-car lot doing 6 cars a month at $70 each is $420/month in near-effortless, repeat revenue. Walk in with a printed before/after sheet and a price card. Target 1–2 accounts in the first 90 days.
Used-car lots & dealers
Best B2BThey recondition inventory constantly — foggy headlights kill curb appeal and slow sales. Offer a per-car wholesale rate ($60–80) for batches. Lower price, but steady volume, no marketing cost, and multiple cars per visit.
Mechanics & quick-lube shops
They don't want to do this work but customers ask for it at oil changes. Offer a referral arrangement or wholesale rate — they send the customer, he does the job at their lot or at the customer's home.
Detailers & body shops
Detailers who don't offer headlight restoration as a service will happily subcontract it. Become their headlight person — they handle the customer relationship, you handle the headlights.
Small fleets
Taxi/rideshare operators, landscaping companies, trades fleets — they have multiple vehicles and care about appearance and safety. One fleet contact can mean 10+ cars a year.
| Season | Angle | Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Salt residue, prep for summer road trips | |
| Summer | Road trip season, curb appeal | |
| Fall | "Dark months coming — see better at night" safety pitch | |
| Winter | Slower retail; double down on dealer/lot B2B |
Launch checklist
Click each item to check it off. Progress saves in this browser session. Most of this can be done in 2–3 weeks.
Pick and search a business name at ontario.ca/businessregistry
Register the sole proprietorship online (~$60 at ServiceOntario)
Open a separate business bank account
Get an insurance quote — CGL + care/custody — and bind the policy
Confirm with City of Brantford re: mobile business licence (519-759-4150)
Set up Square (free) or Tap to Pay for card payments
Tell your personal auto insurer you're using the vehicle for business
Order UV hard-coat system, UV lamp, polisher/drill, sandpaper, masking supplies
Order pop-up canopy, extension cord/inverter, safety glasses, respirator, gloves
Download and print SDS sheets for every chemical product
Do 10–15 practice restorations (free or at-cost) on family and friends' cars
Time yourself — get a standard job comfortably under 60 minutes
Shoot clean, well-lit BEFORE and AFTER photos of every practice car
Create Google Business Profile — add all photos, hours, service area (free)
Build a one-page website (Carrd $19/yr or Wix free) with prices and booking contact
Create Facebook page + post in Brantford community & buy/sell groups
List on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace with before/after photos
Order business cards, 2 yard signs, and car door magnets
Ask first happy customers for a Google review immediately after the job
Print a one-page before/after sheet + wholesale price card for dealer visits
Walk in to 3–5 Brantford used-car lots; introduce yourself and do a demo if they'll let you
Visit 3 quick-lube/mechanic shops and propose a referral arrangement
Follow up all B2B contacts within one week — most first-timers say yes on the second call
Set a goal: 1–2 recurring B2B accounts within 90 days
Track every job (date, price, source) in a simple spreadsheet to see what's working
The roadmap
A realistic ramp for a part-time, one-person mobile operation starting from scratch in Brantford. Adjust pace to match the energy he actually wants to put in.
Risk management
Most risks in this business are manageable with a bit of prep. None of them are business-killers if handled in advance.
The most common failure mode. Mitigation: treat marketing as the actual job for the first 3 months, not an afterthought. Prioritize Google reviews, Facebook posts, and B2B cold calls over any other activity.
Mask thoroughly — every millimeter of paint and trim, every time. Work carefully with the polisher near edges. This is why you carry care/custody insurance. Inspect and photograph before starting every job.
The canopy handles light rain and keeps sun off during coating. Heavy rain — reschedule. Having a UV lamp means cloud cover and shade are never a problem for curing. Always have 1–2 backup slots in the week.
Internal fogging (from bulb heat), deep cracks, or badly peeling OEM coating from the inside can't be fixed by sanding the outside. Inspect before starting, decline if necessary, and set honest expectations upfront.
Using a cheap product or skipping the de-grease step is the usual cause. Use a reputable UV-cured hard coat, prep properly every time, and offer a clear warranty period (e.g. 1 year on the coating). Honour it graciously — it's a cheap way to keep a customer for life.
Track cumulative revenue every month. The calculator on this page warns when annual pace approaches $30k. Register for HST on time — late registration means back-paying HST out of already-collected revenue.