How to Operate a Car Wash Business
Starting a car wash business requires research into your area's demographics. Make sure the income levels, amount of traffic coming by your car wash and interest in such a service all support this type of business. Ask your local Chamber of Commerce to help you research businesses similar to yours or conduct a local survey.
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Things You'll Need
- Building for car wash
- Business license
- Insurance coverage
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Employees
- Cleaning supplies
- Equipment for car wash
- Advertising budget
Instructions
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Investigate areas to rent or buy a car wash building. Make sure cars can easily pull onto your lot and exit in a similar fashion. Because traffic flow will be a major factor in gaining and serving clients, avoid acquiring a building in a cramped space or busy intersection. Clients may stop by spontaneously, so find a lot that invites easy access.
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Acquire a business license before you sign the building paperwork. Restrictions may apply to types of businesses you can place on your selected property. Talk with your insurance agent to make sure you can afford premiums on the property issues and coverage for your employees. Once you've taken care of preliminary paperwork and insurance, plan to get the operating equipment in place.
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Engage a plumber, electrician or local contractor to help renovate the building and install equipment. Consider hiring a small number of employees for your car wash to assist in these initial setup phase. Call the local newspaper to announce your start-up plans and host an opening day celebration. Hire plenty of part-time workers to be on call for your services. Keep in mind that your employees will ensure customer satisfaction and repeat business, so hire workers with good people skills.
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Keep prices in line with your competition. Train employees to sell extra services such as waxes or interior cleanings. Getting customers to pay for extra services will increase the bottom line quickly. Sell a variety of small items inside your car wash as well, and create gift cards for your customers to give to their friends for special occasions. Serve coffee and light snacks inside the car wash waiting area to make the wait a more pleasant experience.
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Listen to feedback from your customers. Talk with them to ascertain what they liked or disliked about your car wash. Offer to redo jobs that are not pleasing to customers, but be mindful of people who simply like to complain.
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Tips & Warnings
Find ways to make your employees feel special. Reward them for increasing sales in a given shift or given day. Treat them to gift cards for local stores or hand out quarterly bonuses to employees who reach certain goals.
Like any business, the car wash business may attract problem clients. If someone gets to be a problem, return their money and suggest they go elsewhere. These types of customers can hurt your employees' morale, and your employees are vital to running your business.
