How to Start a Car Wash Business

If you’ve been thinking about opening a carwash business, you may be wondering what’s involved. A smart businessperson finds out what it takes to start a car wash business before investing too much time and money.

There are a lot of things involved in starting any new business venture, and a carwash business is no exception. So, before you head out and buy a whole bunch of expensive equipment, be sure that you’ve followed these simple steps:

1. Find the Right Location. It doesn’t matter whether you are buying a home or setting up shop, the #1 rule of real estate is “location … location … location.” This is especially true when scouting out a good lot to start a car wash. When selecting a lot, be sure to consider:

• The size and shape of the lot. A drive-through building design is best, so be sure that your lot can accommodate one. Also, be sure that your lot is large enough to handle extra-wide/long bays that can accommodate just about any vehicle.
• Access. It’s always best to offer access from both directions in order to make it as easy as possible for customers to get into your bays.
• The cost. You may find what you consider an ideal lot for your new carwash business, but if it will cost you more than 15% of your estimated gross monthly income, it costs too much!

2. Build the Right Sized Bays. Proper bay sizing is essential to success. When designing your cleaning bays for your carwash business, be sure that they measure:

• 16 feet wide and 28 feet long for cars and 17-18 feet wide and 28 feet long for trucks (bay)
• 10-15 feet wide and 238 feet long (pump room)
• 10-14 feet high (bay height), depending on the vehicles you want to service

3. Put Your Buildings on the Right Spot. Although you will have to adhere closely to local building codes and restrictions when erecting your bays, here are some simple rules to follow to ensure proper placement:

• Face your buildings south to reduce build-up in colder weather
• Make sure you have good drying and vacuuming areas that are away from traffic
• Be sure that your bays are placed in a way that makes them easy to enter and exit

4. Choose a Bay Design
One of the biggest decisions you will have to make to start a car wash is whether or not you will offer inside or outside bays. Some carwash business owners think that offering open bays for trucks will help bring in business, while keeping costs down. Unfortunately, this strategy usually means less business in the long run. Outside bays usually bring in about 40% less traffic, making inside bays much more profitable.

5. Picking Your Options
There are some washing options that are essential if you are going to get the business you need; and there are some options that really aren’t all that necessary, and simply cost you money in the long run. So what options should you consider when you start a car wash? Here are a few of the most popular – and profitable:

• Hot wash (especially in the winter) and cold wash/rinse in the summer
• Spot-free rinse. Not only so customers love it, it’ll increase your revenue by requiring a second cycle be purchased
• Ttire cleaner
• Pre-soak systems help to increase customer satisfaction and income stream

Once you have made up your mind to start a car wash, and you’ve followed the tips above, the odds are good that your new business venture will result in success. Be sure to do your homework and be prepared for anything and profits are sure to follow.

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