Starting a self serve carwash

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imported_wagsjr

New member
Looking for some input on the start up for a self spray car wash minus the land price. Basically the cost for like 4 coin operated bays. I could also run my detail gig there too. I have found the ideal location to put it in.
 
I am starting to research the others in the area to see what they make. Also seeing which type is the best. Being in Northeast PA the winters are brutal. A lot of detail shops are hurting in the winter around here. As soon as a semi warm day comes around the car washes are packed. Especially from the road salt.
 
So what will you do then to make money on those days of winter (which are more prevalent than warm/sunny winter days) where people aren't going near the car wash? Do you plan to build/open before this winter season?
 
I do have a good full time job. I am hopiing when I retire I can run my detail shop and have some other good invesments in place. I will be in my young 40's when I retire. I detail part time as time allows right now.
 
Wagsjr,

If you put one up don't expect to make much money unless you are going to teach people HOW to use the equipment. There are many things to consider such as what type of equipment to buy. Ginsan is what I recommend. It's pretty easy to fix when things break. I manage a 8 bay wash with a dog wash. I've taught about 1000 people how to wash their car's correctly. One main thing to remember is THINGS BREAK always keep spare supplies such as spray guns, foam brushes, and hoses.



Derrick
 
I detail at my house as time allows but the money is nothing spectacular. And to hire trusting good help no way. I dont know how some guys could make a living. To pump out 3 good solid details and then pay your help for the day. Props to u guys that do it. Maybe its just my area. I can keep a few lined up but noone really seems to care. I have about 80000 people in the immediate surrounding area and there are like 4 shops and 5 self serve washes. People just dont care.
 
S. M. OKUN



Steve has 30 years experience. He is a respected professional consultant to the car wash industry. Probably will cost a few bucks, but he knows the ropes.

Check it out.



Jim
 
My father-in-law is a small business loan provider . One of his customers spent about a million to build a self serve car wash with 2 laser washes. (he had an existing self serve but it was old and outdated -and losing business to the laser washes in the area so he rebuilt)



By the end of fiscal year one, the customer was already in the black.



He owns 2 other car washes as well.



Just goes to show you how there is money to be made.
 
MX823 said:
My father-in-law is a small business loan provider . One of his customers spent about a million to build a self serve car wash with 2 laser washes. (he had an existing self serve but it was old and outdated -and losing business to the laser washes in the area so he rebuilt)



By the end of fiscal year one, the customer was already in the black.



He owns 2 other car washes as well.



Just goes to show you how there is money to be made.
Click to expand...



When you say the customer was "already in the black", are you implying that he had recouped his entire $1 million investment within the first fiscal year?



For simplicity sake, let's assume the average "laser" wash costs $10. He would need to sell 100,000 laser washes in the first year to cover his investment. That works out to 273 washs PER DAY!!!! That would be one busy car wash. Sorry, but I don't care what kind of location you've got and how great your car wash is...273 washes/day is not possible. Besides, that's not even factoring in the costs of running the business, including maintenance/employees/water bills/soap/ect.



Maybe you just meant that, after the first year, he was no longer LOSING money and finally bringing in enough to cover the bills...
 
mattgg11 said:
When you say the customer was "already in the black", are you implying that he had recouped his entire $1 million investment within the first fiscal year?



For simplicity sake, let's assume the average "laser" wash costs $10. He would need to sell 100,000 laser washes in the first year to cover his investment. That works out to 273 washs PER DAY!!!! That would be one busy car wash. Sorry, but I don't care what kind of location you've got and how great your car wash is...273 washes/day is not possible. Besides, that's not even factoring in the costs of running the business, including maintenance/employees/water bills/soap/ect.



Maybe you just meant that, after the first year, he was no longer LOSING money and finally bringing in enough to cover the bills...
Click to expand...



Let's see the numbers.



10 hours a day(600minutes) divided by 5 minutes a wash= 120 cars washed times 2 Lazers Washes= 240 cars a day. And that's only for 10 hours a day, if it's open 24/7 it can make even more money.



There are some single machine automatics that can wash 500 cars a day so 300 car a day for two automatics is more than possible.



Derrick
 
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