100% new to all of this. I want to start an automatic car wash. Can you help me. I am in need of help from A to Z. Please help. Thank you

[Lester]

As it says. I am new and want to start my own car wash business. Sorry to say I am totally stupid to all of this. I need to know from step one to open the door. Could someone mentor me in this please. I am willing to learn. Thank you all in advance. I have been reading some of the other post. Very informative. I am glad there are people out there willing to help the beginner. Again thank you so much.
Lester

 

[Rfreeman]

Lester,

If I was you there is so much I wouldn't even know where to start. I would suggest to go to a site and see if you can work for free or get a paid job to start "learning the ropes". What you are looking for is too much to type but you can't beat hands on experience. What area of the country are you in? Maybe you can find a member here that would be willing to take you under their wing.

 

[Lester]

Lester,

If I was you there is so much I wouldn't even know where to start. I would suggest to go to a site and see if you can work for free or get a paid job to start "learning the ropes". What you are looking for is too much to type but you can't beat hands on experience. What area of the country are you in? Maybe you can find a member here that would be willing to take you under their wing.

I live in York,Pa. I really do appreciate your honesty. Thank you.

 

[Axxlrod]

Do you have at least $500K cash on hand to invest?

If you don't you're wasting your time.

 

[washnshine]

Lester,

As the previous posters indicated, this is a huge undertaking. Certainly not saying it can’t or shouldn’t be done, but it’s almost impossible for one individual to guide you along the way. What I would do is:

1. Work at a well run, respected car wash for at least a year. Do all you can there - beyond what they ask. If they are replacing equipment and you are not part of the team selected to do that - volunteer to help and make sure you are in on all things beyond the day to say stuff.

2. Attend regional/national conventions (when they have them again)

3. Visit other washes - other than the one you work at. Talk to other owners. Observe.

4. Begin to acquire knowledge in: plumbing, electrical, bookkeeping/business. You will get some of this working at a wash but local colleges or tech. schools will be able to supplement what you don’t have/don’t get.

There is so much to do - what I listed is just a start. There is a great deal of value in the “apprenticeship/internship” aspect of what needs to be learned and that should not be overlooked and is a great place to start.

Your initial question was kind of like going up to a surgeon and saying: “I want to be a doctor. Can you guide me through step by step what I need to do from start to finish”.

Not saying I’m a surgeon - for sure! But the process is far more involved than it may appear and there probably is not one single person that will be able to help you alone, but rather, an accumulation of knowledge from many, many sources.

Good luck!

 

[OurTown]

Do you have at least $500K cash on hand to invest?

If you don't you're wasting your time.

I don't agree with that and know it to not be true. The OP did not say what type of wash and that would definitely play into cost. The more you know about any business the less money out of pocket it would take to purchase one.

 

[OurTown]

I mostly retract my previous statement because after I posted that I saw that Lester was asking about a Tommy's wash in another thread.

 

[MC3033]

If your doing a ground up express build I’m guessing your going need at least a million cash today. Banks are a bit more conservative and are going want at least 20% down + money in the bank (likely going need more then that).

I would try to attend a few investor seminars from the manufacturers. Just remember they are really there to get you to buy something. I think the idea of trying to work at a wash for awhile is great. I would also try to network with owners of current washes and consultants to learn what is really required to be in this business. Most people think they can be a passive investor but few who try that see success (you would need a very good site that allows you to pay a very good manager)

 

[Waxman]

Your first move is to get a job at the type of car wash you want to own / operate. There you will learn the ropes; maintenance, repairs, employee management, customer relations, chemical ordering, mechanics, plumbing, wiring, lot maintenance, etc.

Good car wash owners are hands-on. They can do it all or most everything. If they don't know how, they learn over time.

Better to get paid to learn! Besides, the bank is going to need confidence in you as an investor, and what better way to learn than get a job at a wash first?

Heck, I went and trained last weekend on a new IBA that I plan to install soon and I've had my own wash for 15 years!!!

 

[jfmoran]

As it says. I am new and want to start my own car wash business. Sorry to say I am totally stupid to all of this. I need to know from step one to open the door. Could someone mentor me in this please. I am willing to learn. Thank you all in advance. I have been reading some of the other post. Very informative. I am glad there are people out there willing to help the beginner. Again thank you so much.
Lester

Hey Lester,

If you are still in need of help, I would be happy to talk to you and provide guidance. I also live in Chester County, PA. Full disclosure, I work for a distributor and have over 20 years experience managing car washes, with the last 6 years running some high volume express exteriors. Feel free to reach out if I can be of any assistance.