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Car Wash Fundraisers: Boost your Business and the Local Community
business owner
car wash
advertising
marketing
In a world where building stronger community ties and social responsibility are increasingly valued, businesses can play a crucial role. Car wash businesses have a unique opportunity to serve their communities while also enhancing their business prospects.
Car wash fundraisers not only promote a spirit of giving back but can also serve as a strategic marketing move to grow your business.
The Power of Car Wash Fundraisers
A car wash fundraiser is more than just a charity event; it's a partnership between your business, the community, and often, a deserving cause. By leveraging your car wash services to raise funds, you are creating a win-win situation.
You're enabling community members to contribute to a cause while getting their cars cleaned, and your business gets the chance to showcase its services, attract potential customers, and strengthen its local reputation among the other car washes.
Fundraisers can be used for both stand alone car washes or even smaller ones attached to a gas station or convenience store.
Strengthening Community Bonds
One of the most effective ways to conduct a successful car wash fundraiser is by partnering with local schools and sports teams.
Such alliances offer mutual benefits. Schools and teams get a platform to raise money for their needs, and your business taps into a network of local families who could turn into loyal customers.
Furthermore, supporting local businesses boosts the local economy, fostering a sense of mutual support and resilience within the community.
Unique Fundraiser Ideas for Your Car Wash Business
Traditional Car Wash Fundraisers
This is the classic approach where community members bring their cars in for a free car wash and all or part of the donations go to the group or chosen cause. It's a time-tested and effective method.
Themed Car Wash Events
Adding a theme, like a holiday or local event, can attract more participants. Think about Halloween costume car wash or a Fourth of July patriotic car washes. This can bring an element of fun and novelty that can draw a crowd.
Competitive Events
Hosting a competition, such as the 'fastest car wash' or 'best-detailed car', can create excitement and draw a crowd. Be sure to offer attractive prizes to motivate participation.
Additional Services or Extras
Offering additional services for donations can increase the fundraising potential. For example, interior cleaning supplies, waxing, or tire shining can be added extras for those who wish to donate more.
Planning a Car Wash Fundraiser
Picking a Cause or Reason
It's essential to select a cause that resonates with your community. Whether it's raising funds for a local school, a sports team, or a local charity, having a clear and compelling cause will drive participation.
Set realistic goals for what you hope to achieve in terms of funds raised and community engagement.
Establishing Partnerships
Reach out to local businesses, schools, and organizations to partner in your fundraiser.
They can provide volunteers, promote your event to their networks, and contribute in-kind donations for raffle prizes or food and drinks for the event.
Develop a marketing strategy that utilizes both traditional and digital media. A fundraising flyer and related posters can be distributed locally, while social media and email newsletters can reach a broader audience.
Regular updates and countdowns can build anticipation leading up to the event.
Execution: Turning Plans into Action
Even though the aim of the day is to raise funds, maintaining your standard of service is critical.
Balancing efficiency and thoroughness in your next car wash fundraising process can leave a lasting positive impression and could turn fundraiser participants into regular customers.
Staffing and Role Assignments
Having a well-trained and enthusiastic team is crucial to the smooth operation of your fundraiser.
Employees and Volunteers
You should leverage your own staff in a fundraiser but it is also a great opportunity to get the community involved and let volunteers help.
Ensure they understand their roles and know the basics of how to wash cars and enjoy themselves in the process.
You should have enough help that you can fill up a parking lot or area, and be able to wash two or more cars at a time (more the merrier!). Ideally, visitors should not have to wait a very long time to have their cars washed.
Safety and Environmental Considerations
Ensure all safety protocols are strictly adhered to, both for the one washing cars, volunteers and the vehicles. Moreover, your car wash fundraiser should also be eco-friendly, minimizing water use and using environmentally friendly products.
Post Car Wash Fundraiser: Thank You and Follow-Up
Expressing Gratitude
After the event, it's essential to thank everyone who participated, volunteered, or partnered in your fundraiser.
This gesture of gratitude not only fosters goodwill but also helps to build long-term relationships within the community.
Evaluating the Car Wash Fundraiser Success and Learning Lessons
Reflect on the event, identify what worked well and areas where improvements could be made for future fundraisers.
Analyzing these strengths and weaknesses in advance can be invaluable for planning future community events.
Utilizing the Connections Made for Business Growth
Leverage the new relationships and contacts made during the fundraiser to promote your business.
Perhaps offer a discount on future car washes or a referral program to encourage these newfound friends to become loyal customers.
Hosting a car wash fundraiser can have a profound impact on both your business and the community. Not only does it provide a platform for raising funds for a worthy cause, but it also showcases your business's services, builds valuable community relationships, and enhances your local reputation.
It is also a great way to get your name out there in the local market and generate more business. Marketing is often an uphill battle within the car wash industry, be creative and leverage your car wash supplier to gain an advantage where you can.
If you're wanting to gain more market share, get in touch with Turtle Wax Pro! We support our clients of all car wash types in their marketing efforts, on top of chemical, equipment, operations, training, and everything in between.
Advertising A Car Wash: How to Succeed in a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry
car wash
business owner
advertising
marketing
Mack Ewing
Director, Strategic Initiatives
Here at Turtle Wax Pro, we understand the difficulty in succeeding within the car wash industry, and especially in trying to stand out in the market.
The car wash space has many substitutes available to consumers, ranging from self serve to full automated washes. This creates the need for your wash to stand out in the eye of consumers.
Advertising can be a great way to increase business as your potential audience can be attracted and enticed towards your car wash over another!
By targeting consumers with specific and different forms of ads, businesses can attract new customers and grow their business in ways they could not done before.
Advertisements are not only for gaining new customers, they can be essential for building general brand awareness and improving loyalty for your existing users.
In this article, we'll be walking you through why advertising is important, how you can use advertising to strengthen your business, and how you can start creating impactful advertisements.
The Car Wash market is a multi-billion dollar industry.
There are over 25,000 car washes in the United States alone. The industry employs over 150,000 people and generates over $9 billion in annual revenue.
Even now, growth is still occurring at a rapid pace. In fact, the industry is expected to grow by 3% every year.
This growth is driven by the rise in vehicle ownership, increase in per capita income, and the need for car owners to maintain their vehicles.
With the right car wash advertising strategy, businesses can tap into this growing market and improve their bottom line.
The Car Wash Market
Despite the large size of the market, the car wash industry is very fragmented.
The top 50 companies account for less than 20% of the total market share. This leaves a large opportunity for small and medium sized businesses to increase their market share.
There are many different types of car washes, from self-service to full-service. There are also a variety of different services that you can offer, from express wash to detailing.
No matter what type of car wash you have, there are plenty of things you can do to increase business and market share.
The Car Wash Industry is a Tough Market
If you run a car wash, you know that competition is fierce.
Many car washes are going out of business because they can’t keep up with the competition and provide quality services at reasonable prices.
So how can you make sure that your car wash stays competitive?
Advertising is a way to help ensure that your wash stays competitive and has a consistent flow of customers.
Advertising allows your car wash business to attract new customers, customers from competing businesses and may even stop current customers from going elsewhere. .
Unfortunately, many local businesses are going out of business because they haven’t been able to keep up with the competition as there likely are many car wash options to choose from in any given area.
Standing out is difficult, but is a must to attract customers.
Quality services and reasonable prices are important for success in owning a car wash.
If you want your car wash to be successful, you need to offer quality services at reasonable prices.
Unfortunately, many car washes are going out of business because they can’t keep up with the competition and provide quality services at reasonable prices.
In a competitive market like the car wash market, there are many substitutions present. That means for customers to choose your wash, you must provide a great wash at a great price.
Advertising a Car Wash
The first step to increasing business is to make sure that customers are aware of your car wash. Advertising can be a great way to do this.
There are many different ways to advertise and utilizing a mix of methods is the best way to ensure results.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
First, businesses should consider what type of ad would be most effective for reaching their market.
The type of car wash will dictate exactly what type of ad to use. For example, a self service car wash may have a different marketing strategy than a full service car wash.
Second, businesses should make sure that their ads are creative and attention-grabbing.
Attractive visuals, key words, free services (or discounted) will all be attention grabbing to your audience.
Finally, businesses should track the results of their car wash advertising campaigns to ensure that they are effective.
Trial and error is sometimes the only way to succeed.
An important thing to remember when it comes to advertising car washes is that not all methods will work for every business. If you want more customers, it is important to experiment with different types of ads and see what works best for your company.
Car Wash Marketing Ideas
There are a variety of different ways to advertise your car wash.
You can use print ads, radio spots, social media campaigns, and outdoor signage, just to name a few.
By using a variety of car wash marketing techniques, you can reach a wider audience and bring in more customers who will appreciate the convenience and quality of your car wash service.
Print Ads
One way to advertise your car wash is through print ads. You can place ads in newspapers, magazines, or even direct mailers. Make sure to include your car wash’s name, address, and phone number so customers can easily find you.
Distributing flyers in the local area is also a great way to promote your car wash.
You can also include a coupon or special offer in your print ad to entice new business to try out your services. For example, you could offer a discount for first-time customers or a free car wash with the purchase of a detailing package.
Radio Spots
Another way to reach customers is through radio spots. You can buy airtime on local radio stations and create ads that will play during drive time.
Like print ads, make sure to include your car wash’s name, address, and phone number in your radio spot so customers can easily find you. You can also include a sales promotion within it, to cause more listeners to act.
Social Media Campaigns
In today’s world, social media is a powerful marketing tool. You can use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to reach customers. Other social media sites such as LinkedIn and TikTok could prove to be useful car wash marketing tools as well.
Social media accounts are crucial for car washes because they provide a way to connect with customers and promote deals or discounts.
When creating social media posts, be sure to use attractive visuals and persuasive copy. You want to grab people’s attention and make them want to learn more about your car wash.
Make sure to include a call-to-action in your posts, such as “Visit our website to learn more” or showcasing particular services that customers will love to have done to their vehicles.
Outdoor Signage
Another way to reach potential customers is through outdoor signage. You can place banners, signs, and flags around your car wash to grab people’s attention.
Make sure your signage is visible and legible from a distance. You want people to be able to see it and read it easily so they know what your business is and what services you offer.
You can also use outdoor signage to promote special services such as your for top of the line package.
Many companies (including Turtle Wax Pro) have outdoor signages that are very appealing to the eye and showcase a premium nature to them, which cause customers to try them out.
By using a variety of advertising techniques, you can reach a wider audience and bring in more customers to your car wash which will aid in succeeding even in the most competitive market.
What do you Write in a Car Wash Advertisement?
Here are a few ideas of what you can include in your car wash ad:
Your business name
Your logo
A tagline or slogan
Attractive visuals
Information about your location
Unique Aspects
What services you offer
Specials or promotions you are running
A call to action note that entices consumers
Having a variety of these ideas can help your ad stand out from your competitors and help drive sales.
How to Create a Tagline or Slogan for a Car Wash?
Your tagline or slogan should be easily recognizable, so customers can remember it and associate it with your brand.
It should be reflective of what your company does or what you want your company to be known for. Whether it be affordable rates or the best cleaning job in town.
Also, your tagline or slogan should be reflective of your company’s values. (ex: environmentally focused)
What makes your Business Different?
The aspects that make your car wash different than the one down the road should be included in your advertisements.
You may be a local business, the only one using a specific brand of products, touchless as opposed to using brushes, an established brand, or vastly more experienced.
Small businesses have the opportunity to focus on community service or being more personal with their customers. Thus, many consumers choose to support small businesses over other options.
These are all examples of characteristics that make your car wash business stand out and are potential reasons why customers will choose you over another.
Unique Advertising Ideas for your Car Wash Business
The car wash marketing strategies mentioned before are significant in bringing awareness to your wash. But you might already have the basics covered, or maybe you want to try something different to set your business apart.
If that’s the case, here are some unique advertising ideas for your car wash business:
Sponsor a Local Sports Team or Another Popular Local Attraction
One way to get your car wash’s name out there is by sponsoring a local school sports team or another popular attraction in your area.
This could be anything from Little League to the local school. By having your name on their jerseys or arena, you’ll be getting great exposure to both new customers and existing customers.
Have a Grand Opening Event or Anniversary Event
Another way to advertise your business is by hosting a grand opening event (for a new business) or anniversary event. This is an exciting way to get new customers in the door and try out your car wash for the first time.
At special events, you can offer special pricing, freebies, free food, or other activities to bring in larger crowds. You can also use special events like these as an opportunity to introduce any new services or products you might be offering.
Get Involved in the Community
One way to endear your business to your target audience is by getting involved in the community. This could be anything from sponsoring a charity event to hosting a food drive.
By giving back to the community, you’ll not only be helping others, but you’ll also be gaining some good publicity for your business. This is a great way to build brand awareness and loyalty among possible customers and your customer base.
Offer Free Washes
Not many people can turn down something free. By giving away a free wash for their first wash, you encourage customers to try out your service.
This way they can compare your car wash to the one they typically use, and if your service is of good quality, consumers will continue for paid washes.
A rewards program is a great way to encourage current customers to continue using your wash. By offering a discount coupon or freebies after a certain number of visits, you’ll be sure to see customers coming back.
Having a loyalty program is also a great way to upsell customers on other services or products you might offer.
You can promote your loyalty club on your business website, on social media, or through in-store signage. This is a great way to increase your number of returning customers and build customer loyalty.
Thinking outside the box can separate you from the rest of the competition, and get your car wash business out in a way no one else can.
Working with an experienced company like Transchem and Turtle Wax Pro
Implementing a strong marketing strategy to ultimately increase business for you car wash can be difficult.
Transchem and Turtle Wax Pro are not only car wash suppliers, we are companies dedicated in helping your business succeed.
We understand that just owning a car wash is only a small fraction behind operating a car wash, marketing it is a must.
We have decades of experience helping car washes of all types and sizes, and thus, can provide a superior level of guidance that can help your car wash business gain market share and increase customers.
It's obvious how important advertising is to suceeding in the car wash market. By utilizing some of the advertising ideas mentioned, you can increase brand awareness to your car wash and bring in more traffic.
Advertising is an incredible powerful tool that can skyrocket the success of your business. If you believe that your car wash business could improve it's advertising, don't hesitate to get in contact with us! We at Transchem and Turtle Wax Pro can provide some guidance on how to seperate yourself from the rest of the market.
1
Mar
Car Wash Marketing
•
0 min read
Car Wash Signage: How to Best Use it for Success
advertising
marketing
signage
Anyone familiar with car washes will know that there is a big emphasis on signage. Colorful arches, banners and neon-lit-up signs are all commonly seen at car washes.
These all play a special role in getting customers to look at your car wash business which turns into more customers.
What do we mean by Car Wash Signage?
Car wash signs are any kind of visual display that advertises or promotes your car wash business. This could be anything from a large sign outside the entrance to smaller signs, flags, or menu boards near your service bays and equipment.
How to Best Use Car Wash Signs?
The point of a car wash sign is to grab the attention of customers and make your car wash look more attractive!
Car Wash Theme
To best achieve that goal, you will want to be sure that your car wash signs are eye-catching and that they match the theme and brand of your car wash. Your vehicle wash may have a strict theme it follows such as having a mascot which you may want your signs to display or it may just be a certain set of colours.
Either way, you will want to be sure that your signs match the rest of your car wash in design.
Attractive Design
Your car wash signs should also be attractive and readable. The design of the message on the sign should be easy to read while still being visually appealing.
It's important that potential customers can quickly understand what your business is offering, so make sure important information such as deals or services stands out clearly.
High Visibility
Position them at the entrance of your community car wash or near any active service bays. You may even consider placing signs along the road leading up to your business so passing cars can see them.
Variety of Signs
Signs come in all shapes and sizes so you can get creative and create yours!
Using different types of car wash signs can also help draw potential customers in. From flags to banners, your car wash is sure to stand out with the right mix of signage.
Remind the Customer About Memberships
You can use car wash sign real estate to promote your monthly membership packages. This can be crucial for getting customers to join loyalty programs. You could even attract them to sign up for an account while they wait from inside their vehicle using cleverly placed QR codes. Car wash memberships are one of the best ways to increase sales for your business.
Different Types of Car Wash Signs
There are many different types of car wash signs, so we will focus on the main ones.
Arches
Arches are great for adding a visual experience to your car wash. They should be colourful, and pleasing to look at, and they will be something that your customers will remember about you.
Menu Boards
Menu boards are essential tools for car washes as they display what services you offer and your prices. These should be easy to read and make sure that they stand out from the rest of your signs.
They also should be pleasing to look at, they will be one of the most viewed car wash signs for your business.
Small Signs
Smaller car wash signs can be placed around your car wash, near your vacuums, in the line where the cars sit and wait, or even at the entrance of the lot.
They should display some key information about your brand, services or a promotion offer, such as a free upgrade with the purchase of two basic washes. This way customers may see it and choose to purchase it.
Road Signs
This will be the first car wash sign people see when they approach your business. It should be eye-catching yet simple enough for people to understand quickly.
Road signs are perfect for drawing attention to your car wash from a distance. This way you can promote your car wash to those driving by.
These should be placed along the road leading up to your car wash, and they should include photos and information on what services you offer and how to find them.
Be Creative!
As a site owner, when choosing material for your car wash signs or designing them, try and be creative. Add lights, reflective strips, buzzwords, or anything else that can help grab the attention of people just passing by.
Where to find Car Wash Signage?
Signage can be made through a variety of different methods such as a local sign shop but we would recommend leveraging help from your own company or car wash supplier.
At Turtle Wax Pro, we emphasize the importance of signage and marketing. That is why we work with all of our operators for feedback on how they can improve their marketing and support them on different signage options and design efforts.
Car Wash Marketing
Signage is all part of the marketing and advertising of your car wash. But it does not have to stop there. A site owner will want to try and implement more marketing efforts, to gain access to more customers and a presence in the market. Some other forms of advertising you will want to think about using are social media, print ads, and radio.
With over 75 years in professional car care, Turtle Wax is the industry leader in cleaning cars and making them look their best. Added to our experience in supporting car wash businesses of all types, we understand just how important of a role signage can play in the success of any car wash facility.
It is an aspect of maintenance you will want to be sure is done right and to do so, you will want to ensure your car wash supplier can help.
11
Jan
Car Wash Investments
•
0 min read
Franchising a Car Wash: What you Need to Know
business owner
car wash
franchise
investing
The car wash industry is a great opportunity to own and operate a profitable business. But there are many factors that go into running a successful car wash business and that can make the task of starting one daunting.
Opening a new car wash franchise location is an option to consider for potential car wash owners to mitigate some of that difficulty and risk instead of starting a wash from scratch.
In this article, we will discuss some pros and cons behind franchising a car wash with the goal of helping you decide if it is the right choice for you.
How to Start a Car Wash Business
There are different ways to open car washing businesses, and we'll briefly cover a few of them here.
From Scratch
Starting a car wash business from scratch involves doing everything from the ground up:
Finding a suitable location and building, getting the permits and legalities sorted, finding a car wash supplier, etc.
All of these variables can be difficult to manage and sometimes carry a high amount of risk.
Buying an existing car wash is another option. In this method you can find a car wash already in operation and buy it from the current owners (if willing).
This can be a great way to enter the market quickly with an established business, but it also means you won't have as much flexibility over the operation or potential for growth of the business.
You may have to overcome some mistakes and challenges from the previous owners, but having the business foundation already set can be of very good value, and can make financing easier!
Franchising a Car Wash
A third option is franchising a car washing business.
Car wash franchises can provide a great way to get your foot in the door of the car wash industry, plus you will be gaining business experience and guidance from an established business.
By franchising, you are essentially entering into an agreement with an existing car wash brand and using their business model, branding, and technology to quickly enter the market, but you will have other expenses such as franchise fees to consider.
That said, navigating challenging details such as finding a car wash supplier, getting your chemicals and equipment combination right, and training become much easier when you are learning from an existing successful car wash.
Pros and Cons of Car Wash Franchises
A car wash franchise offers a few unique benefits that makes it an attractive option to some investors.
Pros
Operations & Support
Franchising a car wash comes with operations and support from the franchisor. Their existing car washes already have a day-to-day operations strategy and car cleaning processes that lead to results, and is something that will be adopted to the new wash as well.
This support should help you navigate challenges that may arise as you start your business and give you access to proven methods of running a successful car wash.
Branding & Marketing
Another benefit of franchising is the ability to leverage an existing brand identity for marketing purposes.
Since the franchisor already has an existing brand identity and customer base, you can tap into their marketing channels to quickly generate leads for your car wash.
Turnkey Solution
Franchising a business also eliminates many of the up-front challenges and costs associated with starting from scratch.
With franchising, many of the details are taken care of, guiding you through the process of getting started, and you can have a turnkey solution ready to go with the help of the franchisor and their established methods.
Cons
Lack of Flexibility
Since franchising is buying into an existing car washing company, you will have to follow their rules when it comes to business.
This can lead to a lack of creative control and flexibility for the new business owner.
Costs
Franchising also comes with high costs associated with it due to royalty payments, start-up fees, etc.
This is something that needs to be taken into account when evaluating the option.
Should you Franchise a Car Wash?
Car wash franchises offer an attractive option for entrepreneurs looking to get their foot in the door of the industry quickly and with minimum risk.
At the same time, franchising comes with additional costs and less control than starting from scratch. Carefully reviewing the many pros and cons and researching various franchise options, and how they meet or don't meet your needs is critical before making your decision.
Regardless of the option you choose, getting a car wash business off the ground successfully requires research, planning and hard work. But going through a franchise may make the path to success a little easier than other avenues.
How to Choose your Car Wash Franchise
Once you have decided to pursue a car washing franchise, the next step is to pick the right one.
There are many factors to consider when selecting your car wash franchise. Of course, the franchise and the franchise owners may not deem everyone acceptable as there is usually a process to screening franchise buyers.
Existing Clientele
It is important to research the existing customer base of a potential franchisor.
A successful car wash franchise should have solid customer base of car owners and positive reputation in the area where you plan to open your business.
Quality of Services
The quality of the car wash is one of the most important factors you should be considering.
A stellar car wash is what all your future customers will be expecting when coming to your business, thus, you will want to be sure that the franchise you are considering provides a quality car wash.
You can be sure the best car wash franchises utilize quality car wash equipment and chemistry, and have trained their staff well.
Price & Fees
The price and fees associated with a potential franchise should also be evaluated when considering car wash franchise opportunities. Different franchises will have varying amounts of initial and reoccurring costs that you will need to be prepared for. The initial franchise fee and royalty fees are usually set standards by the franchise and you may need to look around before finding the ideal range for you.
Values and Similar Goals
You will want to consider the people-side of the business as well. This entails personal/business values, necessary skills, business goals and expectations. If something does not align, it may be an important sign to look at another franchise opportunity.
Different Types of Car Washes to Franchise
Even when franchising, you will want to consider what type of car wash do you want to operate. That may even help you narrow down which franchise you will like to pursue.
Mobile Car Wash Franchise
Mobile car wash franchises provide services to residential and commercial customers at their own home or desired location.
This eliminates the need for a physical location, allowing you to operate your business anywhere at any time with fewer overhead costs.
This type of business uses more manual labor than automatic options.
Self-Serve Car Wash Franchise
This type of car wash involves wash bays that offer application wands for customers to apply product and rinsing to their own vehicles. The car wash equipment, and start up costs are often cheaper than other systems, but customers will also generally pay less to wash their vehicles as well.
In-bay Automatic Car Wash Franchise
In this type of car wash, everything is done by machines. Cars drive into an available bay, and machines start cleaning around the parked vehicle.
Expect minimal employee involvement in the cleaning process but they will need to help behind the scenes such as loading chemicals, customer service, and ensuring operations run smoothly.
Automatic washes can come in both friction and touchless varieties and are both lucrative options to invest into.
Tunnel Car Wash Franchise
Tunnel car washes involve cars driving through a 'tunnel' of automatic car wash systems, cleaning multiple vehicles at once.
Tunnel car washes can handle the most traffic of any car wash option but usually need a substantial investment compared to other options, due to extensive equipment setups and more land to build the tunnels.
Full Service Car Wash Franchise
Full service car washes are car wash businesses that will not only clean the exterior of vehicles but other car wash services as well, such as detailing services and interior cleaning.
This type of car wash will charge consumers the most but they also are the most time consuming and will need many employees as most of the process will be manual.
Truck Wash Franchise
Truck washes or fleet washes are similar to car washes, only they generally service larger vehicles such as pickup trucks and buses. The chemical and equipment selection for truck washes can be different than for regular vehicles.
These can also be a very lucrative business, with less competitors (but also less customers on the road than standard vehicles).
Considering Joining a Car Wash Franchise?
Turtle Wax Pro and our parent company Transchem Group support car wash businesses of all types around the world. There are many benefits as well as cons to a franchise to consider, but they ultimately can be an opportunity for you and the franchise owners to make high profits!
If you would like to look at options for getting started in the car wash industry, Transchem Group offers consulting services. If you're considering the car wash franchise route, but aren't sure it's right for you, we can support in finding a great choice for your business goals!
30
Sep
Car Wash Investments
•
0 min read
Buying a Car Wash: Things you Need to Know
business owner
car wash
investing
Want to buy a car wash? Buying any existing business can be a complex decision, and that is no different for a car wash business.
In this post, be walking through some basic, yet important considerations about this industry that should help inform your decision of buying an existing car wash. While these factors aren't an exhaustive list, they will be helpful to consider when purchasing a car wash business.
What are the main types of car washes?
Self-Serve
A self-serve car wash is usually the least expensive option. Generally, customers pay via coin or credit card to use a self-serve system. It comes with an applicator wand that will apply chemical applications and rinsing, and they pay for the amount of time it is used.
In-Bay Automatic
Automatic washes are compact systems where customers can drive into the bay, and a piece of machinery will move around the vehicle and apply soap and rinsing, but does not come in contact with the car. That is why it can be referred to as a touchless wash. Dryers will be enabled to dry the car as it departs the bay.
Tunnel
Similarly, another type of automated system is the tunnel wash, where customers drive, or are led via conveyor, through a tunnel with different wash stages along the trip. Arches apply chemistry and rinsing applications and rotating brushes apply gentle friction to help remove dirt and sediment, and dryers operate at the exit. This wash operation takes the most space, and is generally a more luxurious experience.
What is the best car wash business?
The best car wash business is one that meets the specific needs of its customers, and the goals of its owners. That means there is no 'best' car wash type, as they all can be lucrative!
Any one of those 3 type of car washes can be great investments and find lots of success within the industry. But they all operate differently, and have their own advantages.
Self-Service
Self-service washes are typically the cheapest to buy and for customers to use, as they use less machines and need customers to wash their own cars. Customers like that they have control over the wash.
In-Bay Automatics
In-Bay Automatic washes are expensive initially due to the heavy equipment needed for them to operate. Because these systems don't directly touch the car, they (perhaps a little more than other systems) rely on optimized chemistry and water quality for premium cleaning, through spray and rinse applications. The washes take up minimal space and can wash a single vehicle at a time per bay.
Tunnels
Tunnel washes are larger and generally much more costly than other options, but can wash multiple cars at once, bringing in more profits. Generally speaking, the longer the tunnel, the better quality of wash, and the greater volume of cars. Customers often pay the same or more than In-Bay Automatic washes for this experience.
Other Factors of Consideration
Now that we have gone over the different types of car washes, it's time to start thinking about how to buy one. When you're ready to purchase a car wash, there are several things you need to take into account such as price, location and what type of facility would best suit your needs.
Price
The price of a car wash will vary depending on the size, age, type of facility and location. The type and condition of the wash, it's prior success, and the extras it comes with can affect the price greatly.
Be sure to plan for all the operating expenses, and budget accordingly for fixing weaknesses you may have to to address upon buying.
The type of wash you end up purchasing may be determined by the sellers' price and the capital available to you. Larger operations like tunnel car washes for sale are generally selling for more money, and can have larger expenses and that limits who can invest.
A Feasibility Study can be a helpful tool determining if a property for sale will be a good car wash business investment.
Location
You'll want to find a location that is easily accessible to your target market, preferably in a high-traffic area. A bad location can stifle business growth, driving a car wash into the dirt. On the other hand, a great location, or even just a good location can be the biggest reason customers keep coming.
Also, look at local competition and be aware of what is working and not working with your competitors (try a SWOT analysis) to determine how to set yourself apart from other businesses and build your own customer base.
Equipment
When looking at car washes, it is important to take a close look at the equipment, if it comes included. Make sure that it is in good condition and well-maintained. If it isn't up to par, you will need to factor time and costs to replace or repair it.
Size
The size of a car wash is also something that you should consider. A larger facility with more bays or a long tunnel will be able to accommodate more customers, but it will also come at a higher price, and cost more to operate.
A small car wash will discourage more customers from queueing up or waiting for their turn. Likewise, one too large may struggle to have the volume to warrant its operating costs.
Other Elements to Consider
These factors just scratch the surface for those wanting to purchase a car wash. There are many more aspects to buying and owning a car wash such as your business license, local operating bylaws, and reaching your target market for your business. Ensure you connect with local authorities and experts and follow the local regulations correctly.
We recommend that whatever wash site has interested you, you make a detailed car wash Business Plan before moving further in the process. Because before buying an existing car wash, you want to ensure you can make money with your purchase.
Next we'll go over some additional elements you'll want to consider in your business plan for buying a car wash and operating it.
What's next for car wash businesses?
Operating a car wash business can be a very rewarding, lucrative experience, but it's important to go into it with your eyes open and be prepared. Here are a few investment considerations you will want to think about.
Car Wash Chemicals
One of the most important things to consider when operating a car wash is the chemicals you'll use. There are many different types of chemistry on the market and it's important to choose ones that will be gentle on each customer's vehicle, but tough on dirt and grime.
If you're buying an existing facility, you will want to examine all equipment and ensure that they are in top condition as this will play an important role in your business' success.
Training your staff how to safely and effectively use this equipment (and aforementioned chemistry) is also essential.
Marketing Efforts
You'll also want to make sure that you have a solid marketing strategy in place to attract customers.
There are many ways to market a car wash, from a website and on-site signage, to training employees how to upsell wash packages, and you can read about more it in a previous Turtle Wax Pro blog.
With Turtle Wax Pro, powerful marketing opportunities are a benefit that comes with our chemistry. Harnessing the power of the known and loved Turtle Wax brand at your business can really help your company stand out from its competition.
Mobile Apps and Loyalty Programs
Convenient apps can be used to help your customers buy and start your wash, and earn points.
Mosaic is our recommended digital solution for car washes to market directly to their customers' mobile phones, as well as harness a powerful loyalty program, and offer innovative ease-of-use for customers and staff.
If you're thinking about buying a car wash, contact Turtle Wax Pro!
With a history of over 75 years of providing excellence in car care, we are familiar with the ins and outs of the car wash industry!
If you're considering buying a car wash business, reach out with your questions and discover why Turtle Wax Pro is the chemistry that will get your business started on the right foot!