Running a car wash can be a lucrative business if done right. To be successful, you’ll have to do more than just send cars down a conveyor belt where they’ll get scrubbed and rinsed. The car washes that generate substantial revenue offer more than the basics.
If you’re committed to creating a successful, lucrative car wash business, here are some ideas to get you started.
- Build your car wash to last
Your physical building is the foundation for your business and it’s important to build it correctly from the start, including your car wash bay walls. When your wall panels are strong, durable, and efficient, you’ll avoid preventable breakdowns and unnecessary repairs.
Avoid cutting corners to save money now when you’ll have to pay more later on. For instance, make sure you get the highest quality waterproof car wash wall panels for all washing stations, including manual, automatic, and self-serve.
It’s not enough to get basic FRP panels – you need PVC panels that will withstand high impacts and moisture damage. These panels are durable, but they also look great and require little maintenance.
- Get creative with your branding
Creativity goes a long way in any industry, including the car wash business. Think about how you can make your car wash more interesting for your customers. Don’t dismiss your ideas if they seem too far out. Many businesses have been founded on far out concepts.
For example, an entrepreneur named Frank Dorsa created the Classic Car Wash chain and built one location to resemble the Delta Queen. This particular location features a coffee shop on the water and plenty of ducks in the pond. There’s also a fancy gift shop called The Queen’s Chest that sells a variety of interesting items, including journals, clothing, candles, toys, and handmade jewelry created by one of the owners.
This is just one example of how creativity can make a car wash charming, but it’s not the only possibility. Keep thinking, you’ll come up with your unique idea.
- Offer clay rubs
There are a couple of reasons people take their car to the car wash. Sometimes it’s just a dirty car that brings them in, but other times it’s something worse like tree sap. People who are dealing with tree sap for the first time don’t always realize it won’t come off with soap.
Offering a clay rub service to your customers will help you generate more income because you’ll be able to help people with tree sap on their car. You’ll want to train your sales people to look for sap when people drive up so they can suggest it when appropriate.
Clay rubs aren’t just for sap, though. You can use a clay rub to clean windows before applying Rain-X or to clean extra dirty areas that soap won’t wash off.
- Offer a full detail service in tiers
Full detail services are a requirement to run a successful car wash. Detail services are where you’ll make the most money, provided you offer several tiers. For instance, some customers will want the inside of their car detailed, but won’t care about their trunk or tires. Others will want the whole enchilada.
- Have a gift shop on-site
Having a gift shop is like having self-serve upsells. Your customers will need something to do while they wait for their car and a gift shop is the perfect opportunity to make some extra sales.
The best way to build a gift shop is to put your cashier inside the gift shop right in the front of the store when people walk in. Once paid, customers can continue walking through the gift shop and exit through the back to the area where they can pick up their car.
- Offer two brands of water repellent
Most car washes offer water repellent, but it’s important to offer two brands. For example, offer Rain-X and Aquapel.
If you only offer one brand, people who are loyal to another brand might pass on the opportunity. However, when you offer both options, you’ll sell the service to people who prefer both brands.
- Offer coffee, snacks, and food
As long as you focus on high-quality options, you can earn more revenue by providing coffee, lunch, and snacks for your customers. It doesn’t need to be fancy. You can offer sandwiches, salads, and some basic espresso beverages.
Be creative and focus on quality
There aren’t too many unique ways to build a car wash, but you can rise above your competitors by focusing on quality. Much of the time, the business with outstanding service wins the customers.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS