There are many entrepreneurial minds and those who think about what business they could start, the question of how much it costs to set up a car wash is usually one of the most frequent. But, of course, facing this kind of questions, it is easy to generate a lot of doubts related to which we do not know how to answer.
We have good news for you. In Mattias Car Wash we are a business group specialized in the operation of car wash facilities. For more than 20 years we have been helping people to take the first step with their own High Pressure Box, Automatic Bridge Wash or Carwash. And no, we’re not trying to convince you of anything.
But, as you can imagine, one of the questions we get asked most often is just how much it costs to set up a car wash. So we bring you this publication, from which you will be able to pull the thread and solve your first doubts.
SETTING UP A CAR WASH BUSINESS
One of the most important facts about the car wash sector is that Spain is one of the largest European producers of cars. This means that the car wash business is always active and has new opportunities.
On the other hand, as you may have seen, we are distributors of car wash installations. We say this because we think it is important for you to know that we are not going to sell you the bike (never better said).
Normally, if you look for how to set up a car wash, you will only come out with more doubts and questions. That’s why our intention is to give you practical information when setting up a car wash business.
So if you are fed up with wondering how much it costs to set up a car wash, we want to provide you with enough content so that you, from your own criteria, can discern the answer. Let’s go by parts.
HOW TO SET UP A CAR WASH?
This is usually the first doubt when we want to start informing ourselves. The first thing is that you are willing to run a business well. There is no universal answer to whether it is profitable to set up a car wash business. But this is true for any type of business.
If you have said to yourself I am willing to start my own car wash, you will first need to contact car wash franchises. To see what kind of profitability they assure you or what investment you need to make from the beginning.
From pure experience and because the current state of the consumer market demands it, the most important thing is the resources that are made available to you. It’s like how much it costs to write a book and how to sell it. It’s one thing to write and win a prize, and another to pay to publish your work and have to sell the book yourself.
It’s a bit of a simple example, but mentally it helps to get an idea of how to set up a car wash. When it comes to opening a car wash business, it will depend on the type of car wash we want to open, the land or property, the service model, the financing or profitability.
But in the face of this, the most important thing is that you do not pay to set up a car wash, you are assured of a great profitability, but once you take the step you find yourself alone and without knowing how to start the day to day business. That is to say, technical service and advice is fundamental in any type of business.
As they say, it is normal not to be born taught, and when we ask ourselves, for example, how much it costs to set up a car wash, we will be grateful if someone accompanies us during the process. And this, for us, is the value that makes the difference and gives stability.
IS IT PROFITABLE TO SET UP A CAR WASH BUSINESS?
As we have been saying, another of the big doubts related to the profitability of a car wash center is the profitability of a car wash. But for this, you must ask yourself some questions to know the dynamics of the possible business. Will you take care of it? Do you have previous knowledge? Will you hire other employees?
If we try to describe a little bit the type of business that a car wash represents, we could highlight the importance of dealing with the customer. Proximity is very important and car washes that are attended in person and close to the customer generate a greater number of revenues. It allows us to empathize, create loyal relationships and establish a bond of satisfaction.
On the other hand, there is the value of differentiation or competitive advantage. To sum it up, what makes you different? Simply offering the same thing doesn’t stand out. Why go to your car wash? You need a value proposition, something that when a potential customer sees you, it’s easy for them to identify you.
For example, in our case, our drop logo represents in the customer’s mind years of experience, a very close treatment, fair prices and, above all, recognition. This is very easy to explain. If they were to say to you now, tell me 1 soft drink, we would probably say cocacola. And if not, it will be at least among our first 3 mental choices. This is called being on the short-list.
Therefore, the profitability of a car wash business lies mainly in these two factors: quality service and differentiation.
BUSINESS PLAN: CAR WASH
One way to solve the doubts when setting up a business would be to offer some first lines to make a car wash business plan. We recommend that, in case you do not want to develop a business plan now, you should take a couple of factors into consideration.
- Business idea: in this case, it would be to consider the options between a train, a bridge and a car wash. Think about what you want your business to be, with what scope, area, size and investment.
- Market research: although it may sound technical, we are talking about analyzing the sector, knowing your brands, the competition and the state of the market. It will help you to configure the landscape on which you act and put you in the shoes of your potential business. Define your clientele, type of service, values and highlights.
- Competitiveness and essence: it is relevant that you define what kind of result you want to offer to your potential client. What makes you different or what helps you create a relationship. In other words, what are you here to do in the car wash industry and how are you going to get the most out of what you have to offer. Think about what values you want them to follow, what kind of treatment you want to give and how you are going to communicate it.
These first lines will help you understand the possible scope of your project. We are not saying this to overwhelm you, on the contrary. It is important to consider it, in order to optimize resources and do things strategically from the beginning, without leaving things up in the air.
This is where the importance of the resources you have at your disposal comes in. That is to say, it is one thing to pay to set up your business and quite another to run it. That is why we told you that the best business opportunity is the one that assures you that it will advise you and give you support in your day to day.
SETTING UP A CAR WASH BY BUSINESS TYPE
At this point, it is important that in order to conceptualize your possible business, you know how to distinguish the differences between the different types of car washes. As well as what infrastructure you will need to have.
Within the types of car wash centers, we find the following:
- Car wash trains: We understand as car wash trains the complete infrastructure for the automatic car wash. It is located inside an interior structure, protected, with entrance and exit to the outside. It offers several integrated services, from different washing modes to extras such as lacquer or wax. In this case, it is a static machine, in which a chain moves the car during the washing process.
- Car wash bridges: Similar to the car wash train, but the difference of the bridge is that it can be mounted directly outside and does not require the construction of a building dedicated to its function. That is to say, the machinery does not require an internal space with entrance and exit to the outside. Instead, it is an automatic washing structure that can be placed directly outside. As for the washing bridge, it is a machine that moves in order to carry out the car wash.
- Self-service car wash: These are outdoor structures that provide the user with the necessary accessories to carry out the manual washing of the vehicle. The clearest example is the pressurized water nozzles that we use to wash our car inside a car wash box.
In addition, it is important to take into account the operating structures that make up this type of service.
- Water treatment: We don’t need to tell you about the importance of water. In our case, Water Recovery is carried out by products designed in the recovery and reuse of water in the car wash industry. Con-Serv Manufacturing, its designs allow us to have technological products focused on this function, both for water treatment and purification.
- Trucks and buses: The size of certain vehicles requires infrastructures adapted to their dimensions. We are referring to trucks and buses that want to have washing services. In our case, in collaboration with Lavantia Transporte, we have dedicated equipment to cover this range. Otherwise, it is not possible to offer this type of washing.
- Auxiliary machinery: Beyond the infrastructures in which the car wash is carried out, the auxiliary machinery plays an important role when it comes to offering a quality service. They are all those accessories that complement the service, such as service machines, such as multifunction machines: carpet tools, paper dispensers or sprays for specific surfaces. But we also talk about money/token changing machines, vacuum cleaner columns, vending machines, tents or carpet cleaners, among others.
Here comes the end of our answers to how much it costs to set up a car wash. We believe that the most sensible thing to do is to give you information and help you to evaluate the cost of a car wash.
