Stuck For A Job? Why Not Start Your Own Car Wash Business?

Starting your own car washing business might not sound particularly exciting or high-tech. But when it comes to business, a lack of interest in the field can work to your advantage. Many people who have made staggering amounts of money did so by getting into those very industries everybody else avoids. Take the man who started up his own waste disposal business. He saw that there was an opportunity to give companies a better service than what they were getting right now. So he decided to take up the challenge. He competed with established players by offering a standard of service many firms had not experienced before.  And before he knew it, he was making money and passionate about what he did.

The same can be true of car washing businesses. They face the same challenges that other startups face: where to locate, who to hire and how to get finance. Here’s what you need to know if you want to start your own car wash business.

Location Is Everything

Not every location is suitable for a car wash. There’s either an established player nearby. Or it’s in an area where the vast majority of people rely on public transport. This means that entrepreneurs who want to set up their own car washing businesses need to do a bit of scouting first. The best place for a car wash is a location that has a lot of nearby traffic. That’s because the majority of your business will come from so-called “passing trade.” You’ll also want to consider the price of your new premises. Often, you can find roadside commercial premises at bargain basement prices. Consult a letting agent to find out what are your best options when it comes to buying commercial property.

Use The Right Equipment

Today’s car wash market is complex. There are all sorts of different systems out there that work in slightly different ways. You need to consider which type of system would work best for you and your clients. Automatic, express and those with high impact nozzles all differ from each other. And each will be suitable in different markets. It’s a good idea to build up a working knowledge of how all the systems work before you commit to buy. Car washing systems can be frighteningly expensive pieces of equipment. And they each come with different servicing agreements and warranties.

Get Financing

Getting financing for a commercial car wash is probably the most challenging part of the whole process. Lenders will want to see that your car wash idea is viable and that you’ll be able to repay the loan. One of the things they’ll want to see is an expertly crafted business plan. There are already plenty of car washes in operation, so they’ll want to know why yours will succeed.

One thing that you can do is to differentiate your service from the competition. Perhaps you offer services besides the car wash. Or maybe you’ve got a special deal to do washes for customers of a retail store. Whatever it is, make sure that you emphasize these value-added elements on your lending proposal.

Main Image: commons.wikimedia.org