Mobile detailer bookkeeping: card deposits against chemicals, parts, fuel and insurance
A mobile detailer is paid by Square, Stripe or Zelle; the costs are chemicals and polish, hand tools, parts, fuel, commercial auto insurance, job software and a city licence. The bank statement holds both, so the month's profit starts there.
Worked example: one October
The tool ships a synthetic statement for a one-van detailer (fixtures/detailing-checking.csv): three deposits and ten outgoing lines. Every line gets a suggested account with no rules taught; check each one.
| October 2026 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Square and Stripe deposits | $4,065.50 |
| Money in | $4,065.50 |
| Chemicals, polish, hand tools (supplies) | −$345.74 |
| Parts and fuel (vehicle) | −$220.38 |
| Jobber (software) | −$49.00 |
| Commercial auto (insurance) | −$212.00 |
| City licence (taxes and licenses) | −$75.00 |
| Facebook ads (advertising) | −$55.00 |
| Costs | −$957.12 |
| Profit | $3,108.38 |
The $500.00 Zelle to the owner is suggested as an owner draw (equity), not a cost, so it does not reduce profit. Mileage and the vehicle's business-use share are separate questions: ask an accountant.
Questions
Where do detailing chemicals and polish go?
Chemicals, polish, wax and hand tools are supplies and materials; parts and fuel for the work van go under vehicle and fuel. The tool suggests each from the payee, so check every line.
Is a Zelle to myself a cost?
No. A transfer to the owner is suggested as an owner draw (equity), so it does not reduce profit.
Open AI Bookkeeper and import your bank statement. Rules are written from company names; no real detailer's statement has been tried.