Anyone in the Car Wash business???

Black1

Black1

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I have been looking into building a Car Wash in my area. (Possably a Tunnel Wash and a "Self-Serve, Automatic").... Anyone have any experience in this field? :dontknow: I have an investor lined up, and have some distributors that I am talking to.... But, any advise would be good! ;) :)
 
I've never been in the business, but if you could get away with it (from a zoning standpoint), I always thought the best business plan going would be one of those glass wall full serve washes only have a bunch of bikini clad and/or topless (even better) women running around behind the glass wall doing the washing, drying, etc. Throw in the ability to serve beer, maybe a show shine guy, and you wouldn't be able to keep up with the steady business...that's been my fantasy business plan for years.
 
the car washes here in valencia make BUKU bucks! high dollar cars are in there alllll day and they look prefectly clean going in. it's like people here just want to was their cars just because.

~mike~
 
Annu Kumar said:
How Much Capital required? And where are you?
Click to expand...

I figure about $750,000 for initial start-up (2 Bay "Touchless", 3 Bays "Self-Serve", and a Full Service "Tunnel" wash). I am located in eastern-central FL....
 
AWDisuzu said:
the car washes here in valencia make BUKU bucks! high dollar cars are in there alllll day and they look prefectly clean going in. it's like people here just want to was their cars just because.

~mike~
Click to expand...

A clean car is a HAPPY car! :D :p ;)
 
Jake
Never done a car wash .Thought of doing a self-serv type one at the end of the road going to the lake mostly to get the boat traffic . Whatyour thinking is a lot differant and the big question is not what equipment to buy although you need to research that . The big thing is finding help and even more important help that will not steal you or your customers blind . Lot of cash and movement around a car wash . Good help will make you bad help will break you .
Have A Kind Day
Mike
 
around here we hire illegals...they're just glad to have work... they are a dime to a dozen...they wont risk losing a job like that for some change.
maybe different in a smaller town, dont know much about that.
 
bucke77 said:
around here we hire illegals...they're just glad to have work... they are a dime to a dozen...they wont risk losing a job like that for some change.
maybe different in a smaller town, dont know much about that.
Click to expand...

Ex illegal here. Will work for tail lights.:D
 
I Think John Stuttle owns one. Try PM'ing him. He's also on the NFF site as well. Hope this helps.

Will
 
jake, i would like the opportunity to invest with you as well...i can give $7.50 and would i own 1/100,000 of the company?
 
Three different worlds as I see it:

1. Coin operated, low initial investment, low over head, broad appeal, few employee issues, cash business.

2. Self service automatic: touch free, not very efficient; with contact efficient, but lots of maintenance issues, credit card capability, lots of programming possibilities...i.e. different quality opportunities so a price span that broadens the market, some size limitations, not boat or recreational vehicle friendly.

3. Full service...huge initial investment, lots of employee issues, tough to pull customers from established businesses.

Then I think...location, location, location....

HotrodMike mentioned a place that would be used by boaters...great concept that usually works...even better if you have a very popular ramp adjacent to salt water...those of us who fish salt want to clean our boats and vehicles used to unload and load saltwater vessels, immediately.

Those are just a few points...for a significant retainer or a percent of the business, I can do a full business plan for you:D

Roy
 
GREAT points, Roy and Mike..... thanks! :rock:

They do offer solutions in the "touch-free" automatics for RVs and Buses. Here is a link to one company....

http://www.belangerinc.com/products/vmax.htm

One of the sites we are looking at is close to the local school-bus garage and the county seat (City, State, and Fed. fleet vehicles). So, a XL bay is something we are considering. :) Oh, it's also right off a busy exit on I-95 as well, almost exactly between Miami and Daytona.

Did I mention that the ONLY carwash within 25 miles of here is a OLD nylon brush automatic bay at a gas station? ;) The city of Viera, FL is also the fastest growing town on the East coast of FL (as of 2006).
 
There is a place here in Annapolis that has a great business model. It is a full service wash with the standard menu pricing starting at about $15, going up to $28 for a full size truck SUV. The unique thing is they offer VIP service for $37 a month (for my truck; cars are about $32) and you can wash your car as many times as you want. Plus the free coffe and newspaper. They are doing about 900 to 1200 cars on a busy day and on slow days they are knocking down 450 to 500. You do the math..Plus having guarenteed income from the VIP makes cash flow predictable. They are opening a second location in the next few months.
 
Here's what I see in this situation Jake !! 1.In OUR area there are more than enough self service carwashes !2.In my opinion to really make it work you're going to need to provide additional services ie:Window Tinting,Car DETAILING,etc !!3.Location,you're going to need to be in an area where people TAKE care of their cars !!Waves Car Wash provides HAND WASHING (Nice,but SLOW as chitt)People want to get in and out Quickly 4.Sundays,depending on season is another great way to increase your profit margin !!
A shame I couldn't take you down to Naples and show you The "AUTO SPA"functions,great carwash,great people running it,and great people working it too !!Just my .02 from a consumer point of view !!:dontknow: I know a lot of guyz here wouldn't dream of taking their trucks through one,but I have Numerous times,with NO REGRETS !!!
 
I know what your saying, Dennis. There are quite a few in your area of Melbourne. Most of them SUCK. :( Same way here.... I think a well-run "Full Service" carwash would be the way to go. I have a few friends in the business up North, but that is a completely different animal. The "Touchless" washes and "Self-Serve" washes are VERY popular up there... Mainly in the winter time, just to get the salt off your car.

There have been quite a few advances in Chemicals and the Industry in general over the last 10 years, or so... The newer touchless washes are actually quite effective (with the right equipment, and process). I know that you garage your truck, but if you didn't... You would have this slimy, filmy shit on the truck every morning (swamp air, if you will :D ;) Actually, I think it from the "reclaimed" water used in irrigation systems. :rolleyes: ) This is my main issue. :dontknow: The new chemicals and processes are quite effective at removing this film..... among other things. Plus, some people just want to vacuum out there car (say, if they live in one of the "High-End" apartments/condos that are so common around here). ............ A nice Self-Serve facility, IMO, is still a good asset to look at.

With a Full-Service Facility, Window Tinting and Detailing is a given... You can't pass up that "Value Added" service. It's a great money-maker... and the cost of adding the resources is minimal. :rock: I would even consider a "Quick-Lube" service as well, if there wasn't a Walmart, Goodyear, and several others close-by. ;)

The Auto Spa is a great example. There are actually quite a few locations in FL. I'm not sure, but it may be a franchise.... There is one right on South Beach, in Lauderdale. My best friend used to manage it. Nothing but Ferrari's, Bentley's, and Porsche's. :D :rock:
 
i can't help you much. I pay 12 euro ( = 10 $ ) at the car wash for a GOLDEN treatment. ( think with some wax in it... )

as for location : be sure of a good water supply ! :D
 
I have a few car washes and could help you out with a few of the details. The International carwash Association (ICA)just held their annual convention in Vegas. They had a good presentation for people wanting to get into the carwash business. TO get into just self service washes plan on spending 500k to 800K. If you want to add a couple of rollover carwashes to the SS bays you are looking around 1.5 million. A tunnel operation will run about 1.5 to 4.0 million depending on how big you go. These are the numbers quoted at the show and are pretty acurate from what I have seen. If you want to do more research go to autocareforum.com and you can learn all you want. The ICA and the western carwash association also have good websites for the interested investor.
 
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