A car wash business can take on a variety of formations but what type of car wash is best for you? Everyone is familiar with the standard coin-operated car wash business. The type of coin-operated car wash that is brought to most people’s minds is the exterior-conveyor wash. With this type of car wash, the car is placed on a motorized track and dragged through a tunnel. There is also the in-bay automatic, or rollover, car wash. With this type of car wash, the car owner parks in the bay as the machine “rolls over” the car and cleans it.
Many coin-operated car washes are also self-service. With these car washes, the car owner pays to utilize special brush and hose combinations that dispense soap and water to wash and rinse the car. Many of these coin-operated car washes are also full service, which means they supply equipment for cleaning the interior of the car or provide workers to perform this service. Less people, however, are aware of the money making potential of a mobile car wash business. No matter which car washing opportunity a person decides to pursue, it is possible to make a comfortable living while working out of the home and operating a car wash.
Americans are proud of their cars. Along with that pride comes the desire to keep the car looking good. Therefore, car washing is a service that is always in demand. Similarly, it is a service people are willing to pay for because it is just too much trouble to do it themselves. At the same time, certain parts of the country are more likely to support a successful car wash than others. This is largely due to the effect weather has on the customers’ desire to have their cars washed.
The exact outlook and earning potential for a car wash business also largely depends on the type of car wash that is opened. To help decide the type of car wash to open, the entrepreneur must consider three important factors: how much money he or she is willing to invest, how much time he or she can spend running the business, and how much money he or she hopes to earn from the business.
For the most part, a full service car wash requires the largest investment of time and money. The exterior-conveyor car wash is the next highest investment, followed by the in-bay automatic car wash, and then the self-service car wash. The mobile car wash, on the other hand, is by far the cheapest car wash business to open. In general, the more services the car wash provides, the greater the profit.
Another factor affecting the amount of money a car wash business earns is the location. Car washes in a business area or high-income area will perform better than those in a low-income neighborhood. In addition, the type of car wash best suited to certain areas may vary. For example, a full service car wash may be better placed in an affluent area, while a self-service car wash may be better for an area with moderate income.
After all factors are taken into consideration, a full service car wash can earn anywhere from $400,000 to $750,000 per year. An exterior-conveyor car wash can bring in anywhere from $100,000 to $375,000 per year, while an in-bay automatic car wash that combines self service bays earns about $50,000 to $100,000 per year. A self-service car wash with four bays can earn anywhere from $40,000 to $80,000. Mobile car washes, on the other hand, can earn about $50,000 per year.
An entrepreneur interested in starting a car wash business other than a mobile car wash will most likely need to get a bank loan in order to get the business started. In this case, he or she will need to write up a business proposal. The business proposal should include information such as to who will own the company, where the company will be located, and how much money is necessary to get the business started. It also should highlight any expertise the owner has in the field of car washing or in business in general. Finally, the proposal needs to include a breakdown of the individual costs associated with starting the business. This includes insurance, equipment, building materials, building labor, and advertising expenses.
Starting a mobile car wash service does not require these steps because it can be started for less than $100. In fact, all that is really needed is a bucket, water, and soap. Wax and other specialized cleaning supplies, such as tire cleaner and window cleaner should also be added to the supplies in order to guarantee the best cleaning. Many mobile car wash owners also purchase a canopy under which they can park the cars as they are washed. This is because a shaded area is ideal for washing a car.
There are a couple different approaches a mobile car wash business may pursue. Some set up a canopy somewhere, such as in the parking lot of a mall, and provide hand washed car services in that area. Throughout the week, they may move to different areas. Most choose to set up a regular routine. In that way, customers know where to find them every day of the week. Many customers prefer using a mobile car wash service because there is no risk of the car being damaged by car wash machinery. In addition, they can drop their car off and have it washed while they go shopping or perform other necessary tasks.
Other mobile car wash services actually go to different locations to wash people’s cars. For example, an executive who parks his or her car in the parking garage may hire a mobile car wash service to come pick the car up once per week and wash it. In this case, the mobile car wash owner may actually drive the car to the location of his or her car wash business – which can be at his or her home. The car wash owner than washes the car and returns it to the parking garage. This service is particularly attractive to busy professionals who do not have the time to take their car to the car wash or to wash their cars themselves.