Polishing Paint

After buying the buffer, pads, towels, compounds, ect, wouldn't it be a break even to get it professionally done? Kinda like when I had my gutters done. @$500 for materials, probably turn out ok, and I have to do it. Instead the pro did it for $420 with better materials, it came out perfect, and I didn't have to do it. I think my friends shop used to charge a couple hundred bucks.