As an entrepreneur, when it comes to selecting a location for your new car wash business, you should aim for the absolute best site you can secure. A car wash is fundamentally a location-driven enterprise, so it’s crucial that you commit to acquiring a top-tier property.
Here are ten essential factors for choosing a car wash location.
10 Key Elements to Choosing the Best Car Wash Site
Traffic Flow
At the forefront of your considerations, analyze the traffic patterns within a one-mile, three-mile, and five-mile radius of your potential site. You need a consistent stream of vehicles to establish a customer base substantial enough to sustain your operation.
Additional traffic-related elements include peak hours, weekday versus weekend flow, and the types of vehicles frequenting the area.
Accessibility
What’s the ease of entry and exit for the property you’re eyeing? Is it situated on a corner lot with multiple access points, or will customers struggle to enter and leave? Opt for a location that allows for smooth ingress and egress to maximize customer convenience.
Lot Configuration
The optimal layout for an express car wash is roughly one acre. You’ll also require a minimum of 225 feet in one direction to accommodate at least a 125-foot wash tunnel. Ideally, position the longest side of the property along the main road for maximum exposure.
Expansion Potential
If you’re planning an express exterior model, ensure there’s room for vacuum stations, queuing lanes, and adequate turning radiuses. A flex-service wash will necessitate additional space for post-wash detailing and finishing areas.
Prominence
If your car wash is hidden from view, it’s forgotten by potential customers. Strive to construct your facility in front of other buildings, parallel to the primary thoroughfare.
Demographic Makeup
While traffic volume is significant, it’s not as critical as the area’s demographics, which is why we’ve placed it further down the list. We’ve observed car washes in high-traffic areas underperforming due to misaligned demographics.
Speed Limits
If the traffic is moving at 50 miles per hour or more, drivers typically can’t properly view your facility or signage. Target a location with speed limits under 45 MPH for optimal visibility.
Complementary Businesses
Situating your car wash near other retail establishments provides an added draw. When feasible, capitalize on the destination appeal of large retail stores by placing your wash on one of their outlying lots.
Competitive Landscape
Existing car washes within a three-mile radius are definite red flags to avoid. Visit all nearby washes that aren’t attached to service stations, convenience stores, or self-service operations within this radius and evaluate them as potential competitors.
Property Expenses
Factor in the cost of the property, whether for purchase or lease, as part of your total investment or ongoing operational expenses.
Site selection is not the time to be frugal, so never skimp when choosing a property. If the location is prime and projections indicate high-volume potential, it’s worth paying a premium. There’s simply no substitute for securing an exceptional site.
Site Selection Checklist
Conclusion
These are just a handful of the numerous factors to weigh when making a site selection. Other considerations range from local ordinances to environmental regulations and much more. For a comprehensive understanding, consult industry experts or download in-depth guides on car wash site selection.
If you need assistance, industry professionals are at your disposal. They can offer guidance on pinpointing the ideal “A” location, deciding between full-service, flex, or express business models, and strategies to maximize revenue generation.
Get in Touch
If you have any questions about setting up a car wash facility, don’t hesitate to contact our team for advice. We’re here to help.
Mattias – Car Wash Machines is a subsidiary of Balance Group. which is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the research and development and production of fully automatic car washing machine equipment. The company is located in Shanghai, China. The main automatic car washing machines mainly include: self service car wash machine, conveyor car wash equipment(Tunnel Car Wash Machine), fully automatic gantry car washing machines(Inbay Automatic Car Wash Machines), touchless car washing machines(Contactless Car Wash Machine), and bus truck washing machines. No need for manual duty, computer intelligent control, the car washing machine is divided into brush car wash machine and brushless car washing machine to meet different car washing needs such as gas stations and auto beauty shops.
