New to this...

[cdreed06]

Hello, we are getting ready to jump in the car wash business and found this forum. Lots of great information here. I have learned a lot already. We look to be in business after the first of the year with an existing car wash, self service built in the 90s. We live in a relatively small town and the wash has been very successful for the previous owners. Looking forward to talking to you all and want to say thanks in advance because I am sure we will have a ton of questions.

 

[pitzerwm]

Welcome CD, be sure and check out the Library where you find many articles and other useful info.

 

[cdreed06]

Thank you! We will do that. I appreciate it.

 

[bigleo48]

I remember being at the point you are now (8 or 9 years ago). Finding this site was the single most important online find I have had and I still check this site daily. Bill runs a great site and there are many very experienced owner/operators here that can save you $ and help you run a better site.

The one thing I do now is ask questions even if I think I know the answer...you'd be amazed at what comes back that you may have never considered.

Good luck to you...Big

 

[cdreed06]

Hey I appreciate the welcome. Can't wait to get started!

 

[Kevin James]

Welcome. Just curious as to why you want to get into the car wash business? What’s the attraction?

 

[tobaccofarmer]

Trust me you will want out within 2 years! Have you had a professional industry expert look at your future property? Dont buy it until you do, and someone that DOESNT sell equipment or has anything to do with equipment. Almost every wash that hasnt been foreclosed on here is also for sale And not much interest in a outdated business model. I personally think people are getting lazier and lazier and doing anything themselves like wash their own car is too much work and they would rather let it be done by machine. Just what I see around here, maybe different elsewhere?

 

[cdreed06]

Hello Kevin and Tobacco... We really think this is going to work out for us, something we can do without being there 24/7. We will work at it several times a day but not all the time. We can do this and continue to do what we currently do. We are in a small town and people use this wash all the time, we have yet to see it empty for longer than a half hour or so. We do hope and pray that it will work out good for us.

 

[pitzerwm]

If it isn't a run down dump and you do take care of it, you will success, get rich, maybe

 

[Indiana Wash]

There are a ton of disgruntled people on here. I guess it is that way in every business. I think there are bad business people in every business. That is why there are so many foreclosures. Do your homework. Then do it again. Determine the worst case scenario and ask yourself if the worst case scenario is something you can live with. I bought my wash right before the bottom fell out of the economy. I have been living with the worst case scenario. It isn't that bad. My wash is not in danger of foreclosure and is not for sale.

 

[keniniowa]

There are a ton of disgruntled people on here. I guess it is that way in every business. I think there are bad business people in every business. That is why there are so many foreclosures. Do your homework. Then do it again. Determine the worst case scenario and ask yourself if the worst case scenario is something you can live with. I bought my wash right before the bottom fell out of the economy. I have been living with the worst case scenario. It isn't that bad. My wash is not in danger of foreclosure and is not for sale.

+1

I'm about to end my fifth year in the car wash business. Looking for another wash, not wanting to get out.

IMNSHO "professional industry experts" are responsible for a good share of the current state of the affairs.

 

[dogwasher]

Welcome!!
You will find this site very helpful. In the Chicago area the year 2008 and 2011 have been the wettest on record so yes some of us can get a bit grumpy regarding our weather and the economy. I myself am thinking that after 4 years of rain that 2012 will bring in some Sunshine!

 

[cdreed06]

Thank you everybody. I know the economy will turn around and I do think we will be in a even better position then. I appreciate the help.

 

[robert roman]

Depending on what “relatively small” means and the degree of insulation your trade area may presently enjoy, buying a going concern self-serve with an established customer base may work out for you.

Like Bill said, maybe even rich.

Arguably, the principal business operating risk you face is limited growth opportunity and the threat of future competition, anyone new providing like products and services.

My advice is not to become seduced into believing that a small-town market is immune to the notion that money is not a prerequisite for common sense in the carwash industry.

Good luck with your new business

 

[Tpoppa]

I bought my 1 and only wash after the bottom fell out. I got it for the price I wanted. I have a full time job, so I am a part timer in the wash business. My wash certainly isn't going to make me rich, but I have seen growth for each of the last 3 years, and just paid off my home with $$ from the wash.

Now that my home is paid off, my wash is for sale

 

[cdreed06]

Hey thanks folks. I think with the price we are going in with I am confident we can do better than "ok". Just can't wait to get started. I appreciate the help on here.

 

[Greg Pack]

My advice is not to become seduced into believing that a small-town market is immune to the notion that money is not a prerequisite for common sense in the carwash industry.

Robert, you're going to have to translate that statement for some of us operators.

 

[Greg Pack]

I will say the business has been good for me, but is getting more challenging to net what I did in years past.

Metro areas in the southeast are overrun with express washes. Good business people have indeed closed shop here. You might do everything right, but if someone else decides to actively pursue your customer base with a better model, you will take it on the chin. New investors have developed a clear preference for the express model, and an area overbuilt with express washes is worse than an area overbuilt with IBA/SS washes. Expresses 15 minutes on either side of me has skimmed some cream out of one of my washes. My gross is down at one place 20% from the highs. Some local (admittedly probably not the best)operators have experienced much worse,with revs off 50% or more.

From what I gather small markets ( too small for expresses) and other areas of the Country that have not had the express model steamroll in seem to see SS/IBAs holding up OK.

So depending upon your circumstance there still is potential for making money in this industry. My advice is basic: Don't pay too much, run a good wash and get it paid off as soon as possible.

Oh, yeah- I would recommend at least calling your areas planning/zoning to make sure a new car wash isn't coming into town.

 

[Kevin James]

There are a ton of disgruntled people on here. I guess it is that way in every business. I think there are bad business people in every business. That is why there are so many foreclosures. Do your homework. Then do it again. Determine the worst case scenario and ask yourself if the worst case scenario is something you can live with. I bought my wash right before the bottom fell out of the economy. I have been living with the worst case scenario. It isn't that bad. My wash is not in danger of foreclosure and is not for sale.

I think this is aimed at me because I’m outspoken. I’m not negative or a disgruntle car wash owner. I just tell people the truth and sometimes the truth hurts or stings a little. We are not car wash people we are a property Management Company. We buy and redevelop properties, carwashes just happen to be on ground that we buy for redevelopment and we do very well with what we do. It just so happens that a lot of car washes sit on ground that is too valuable to be used as a car wash, we’ve torn down 2 car washes and redeveloped the property into the higher income producing property. We do a tremendous amount of research before we invest in any proprieties we buy.

 

[pitzerwm]

To Indiana and Keven and everyone. We all have different slants on the same issue, when we allow/force ourselves to "take a look" that is how we all get smarter. There is ALWAYS at least a snippet of truth (new idea) in any position. That is what makes this Forum one of the most successful on the web, certainly in this industry.

The trick is not allow yourself to take offense if someone see it different and not to allow yourself to get personal because you disagree with someone else's "truth" or they disagree with yours. Not even me knows it all.