Car Wrap Business: How To Start Making Money

If you’re into cars and customization, you’ve probably thought about car wrapping as a business.

I live in an area where car wrapping is blowing up and it seems like everyone is getting their car wrapped.

This is a lucrative business and can be a whole lot of fun if you have the right mindset getting started. 

The car wrapping business is projected to have a 22% annual growth through the next few years, which means now is a great time to get started in this creative field.

What is a Car Wrap?

A car wrap is a type of covering on a vehicle using custom vinyl wraps. You can provide partial wraps or full wraps in a vehicle wrap business.

People customize their car for fun and businesses do it to promote their company. You’ve probably seen an air HVAC or plumbing company with a car wrap on their truck or van.

In this guide, you’ll find out how to get started in the car wrap business, including how marketing strategies and how to make sure this is a successful venture. 

What is a Car Wrap Business?

A car wrap business is a company that applies vinyl wraps to vehicles. Vinyl wraps are thin sheets of material that can be printed with various colors and designs. Cars, vans, and trucks can be wrapped. 

Vehicle wrapping make basic looking cars look really, really sweet. 

Vinyl wraps are a popular way to change the appearance of a vehicle without having to paint it. Car wraps can even be used for advertising purposes printed with logos, texts, and graphics.

Car wraps are removable, which allows them to be easily replaced or removed if needed.

If you’re into cars and want to make your car truly stand out, car wraps are the way to go.

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Starting a Car Wrap Business

In this section on starting a car wrap business, we’ll go over the important information such as:

• Creating a business plan
• Acquiring equipment and supplies
• Finding a location to work in
• Getting adequate training
• Establishing partnerships
• Securing funding

To start a successful car wrap business, you’ll need supplies and equipment. This includes:

• Vinyl material
• Printer
• Lamination equipment
• Heat gun (stretches vinyl material)
• Squeegee (smooths out wrinkles and bubbles)
• Knife
• Garage or other place to work in
• and other tools

When you’re applying vinyl wrap to a vehicle, it’s important to use high quality materials or else you can risk damaging the paint exterior.

Plus, you want your customers to come back to you and have the confidence that you’re using the very best materials on their vehicle.

Vinyl wraps come in all kinds of colors and finishes, including matte, carbon fiber, and glossy. 

Besides looking cool, vinyl wraps are also used for protection and can help prevent scratches and other damage to the appearance of the vehicle. This makes car wraps have some practicality to it, so your customer has an extra reason to get their car wrapped. 

If you have a passion for cars, this is a lucrative and rewarding business to be in.

With the right supplies and training, you can create stunning car wraps that will transform the look of any vehicle.

Business Plan

Creating a business plan is necessary for any kind of business.

This is going to help you start you off on the right foot. You’ll have a clear direction in mind instead of feeling scattered and all over the place.

This plan should outline your:

• Business idea
• Market research
• Target market or target audience
• Financial plan
• Location of business
• Social media and online presence and how you’ll use it to promote your business
• Optional: How you’re going to eventually expand your business (maybe get into boat wraps!)
• Optional: Online advertising or having a company car, wrapping it, and using it as a method of car advertising 

Doing all of this is going to help you secure funding (if you find you need that), apply for a business license and get any necessary permits.

Equipment and Supplies

Once you have your business plan secure and in place, it’s time to get the necessary equipment and tools. It’s a good idea to invest in high quality equipment and high-quality vinyl wrap so it lasts long and provides better results. This will have a higher price tag, but your design team will thank you for it.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Printer
• Squeegee
• Wrapping equipment
• Vinyl wrapping
• Adhesives

Location

You’re going to have to do your business somewhere.

These locations could be:

• Commercial buildings
• Garages
• Anywhere big enough to accommodate cars

Factor in the cost of rent, utilities, and other expenses before choosing a location.

You may also want to place your car wrapping business somewhere in close proximity to a lot of people so you get more eyes on your business.

Training

If you don’t have the training already, you’ll need to get training. There are online step-by-step guides that teach you how to custom vehicle wrap, where to get vinyl material and how to provide a lower cost of partial vehicle wrap or full vehicle wrap.

Types of training may include:

• Attending workshops
• Enrolling in courses
• Working with professionals in the field
• Getting hands on experience either by working or interning 

I did a quick search and find that some car wrapping companies have paid internships, so you get paid while getting on the job training.

You can even partner with car wrap businesses to gain experience and knowledge before starting your own business. This is incredibly helpful.

Partnerships

One of the most powerful things you can do when running a business is networking.

Other businesses can not only help get the word out about your business, but word of mouth is also a big thing.

You may find a lot of potential clients come to you because someone who got their car wrapped by your business and had a great experience.

Reach out to commercial companies 

There are so many companies out there that want promotional content on their vehicles on the road.

This is because their vehicles are almost always on the road providing service to the city.

They want people to see their company name and how they can help potential customers. I’ve seen hundreds of companies in my city get entire vehicles wrapped. Businesses use car graphics as one of their forms of advertising on their fleet vehicles. This can often be the best way for small business owners attract new customers.

Commercial companies you can reach out to:

• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Roofers
• Mobile pet groomers
• Handyman
• Pest control
• Landscapers

You’ve likely seen all kinds of companies on the road with advertisements displayed all over their vehicle.

Funding

An important part of running a business is securing funding. You have the option of applying for a bank loan or funding from investors. 

You also need to open a business bank account and establish a financial plan to manage your expenses properly.

Once you know how to establish partnerships and funding, you can start your car wrap business successfully.

Car Wrapping Techniques and Styles

Car wrapping has become quite popular in the past few years. This is the process of covering a vehicle with vinyl wraps to change its appearance.

Car enthusiasts love car wrapping to give their cars a unique look. 

Below are the most popular car wrapping techniques and styles.

Color Options

Vinyl wraps are available in tons of colors and even come in matte, satin, or glossy. These colors can take an average, boring car into something truly unique that makes peoples heads turn. You can get the perfect look and use a creative color with a full vinyl wrap.

Carbon Fiber Wraps

If you have a client who wants a sporty or aggressive look, they’ll probably like carbon fiber wraps. 

These wraps look like real carbon fiber and even have the benefits of being lightweight, durable, and offer protection on the exterior of the vehicle from scratches and chips.

Custom Car Wraps

Besides offering cool colors and different textures, car wraps can also be personalized and customized.

You can create a completely unique wrap for your clients that include words, pictures, or different sayings.

Promotional Wraps

You’ve probably seen many businesses on the road with their commercial vehicles with a car wrap. Businesses do this to advertise their company as their vehicles are on the road.

It’s an easy way to attract new customers and create a huge billboard for a wide audience.

Aesthetic Wraps

One of the most popular wraps are aesthetic wraps. These are used to add graphics, stripes and other elements to a vehicle. 

These wraps create a one-of-a-kind look that no one else will have on the road.

Related: 25 Games That Pay Real Money Via PayPal

Pros and Cons of a Car Wrap Business

Running a business has its pros and cons. So while you may love car wrapping, you also have to be willing to run a business or hire someone to do the business side of things.

Pros

• Flexible: Running a business as a car wrapper means you have the ability to create your own schedule. You can work 10 hours a week or 60 hours a week – it’s completely up to you.
• Brand awareness: Car wrapping is highly effective for promoting businesses. You can reach out to companies in your area that have commercial vehicles but don’t use vinyl wraps, and sell them on how beneficial it is.
• Resale value: A car that is wrapped can increase the sale of the vehicle.
• Customization: With car wrapping there are endless possibilities for customization options, so you can really let your creative juices flow.

Cons

• Initial startup costs: Starting a car wrap business has initial startup costs which will be one of the biggest challenges, such as training, equipment, place to do business, etc. 
• Finding a supplier: You need to find a reliable manufacturer who creates high quality custom wraps, which can be difficult in the beginning. 
• Maintenance: Car wraps require regular maintenance to prevent damage to the edges, foot, hood, roof, and other areas. This can be time-consuming and costly to customers. 

Before starting a car wrap business, it’s important to consider the pros and cons since you’ll be investing a lot of time and money into starting this business. 

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