Car Wash Consultant questions

[Hurricane350]

Just a couple quick questions..

How much does a consultant cost? I'm guessing this will be based on project cost so assume a 1.5m cost. Also, does anyone have any recommendations in the Massachusetts area? I would prefer not to have to fly out a consultant and put them up for weeks/months at a time during construction.

Eric

 

[Earl Weiss]

IMO if you wait until the start of construction you have waited too long.

 

[robert roman]

Cost depends on time and effort. For example, new project development involves five phases.

1) Select advisors – carwash consultant, equipment supplier, realtor (if land is being purchased), attorney, lender, architect and civil engineer, insurance agent, general contractor.

2) Select property and develop site layout. 3) Obtain entitlements and planning. 4) Construction. 5) Site commissioning.

Each “advisor” mentioned is usually not involved in each phase of the process.

Phase 1 carwash consultant helps developer select other advisors. Phase 2 consultant assists with sales assessment and site selection. Phase 3 consultant prepares feasibility study, business plan.

Unless the developer specifically requests on-site consultation, phases one through three can be completed remotely.

Phone consultation is $100 an hour. Single site analysis is $1,800 and up. Concept study or project planning is $2,500 and up. Feasibility study for bank loan is $2,500 to $3,500. Most developers create their own business plan.

If “hand-holding” throughout is desired, estimate consultant expense as between one and two percent of total project cost plus travel expenses.

Hope this helps.

 

[rph9168]

Be careful when choosing a consultant. How much they charge does not mean they are worth what they are asking. Be sure to get references and check them thoroughly. Obviously they are not going to give you any that might be very critical but if you ask the right questions you can get decent answers. Finally make sure everything is in writing as far as what the consultant will be responsible for and the cost. You might also consider talking to several distributors in your area that have done successful projects similar to what you want to build.

 

[Waxman]

I definitely made a few poor choices when building a car wash. It would've been nice if a consultant had told me to add radiant heat to my IBA entry pad, line walls with plastic inside car wash, use better, lighter, more expensive doors, add supplemental heat to mechanical room as well as IBA bay, and also heat a 6' apron on cold side of my wash.

 

[Hurricane350]

Thank you for all your replies and especially RR with the phase breakdown. That being said, does anyone have any recommendations, particularly in Massachusetts area? So far I have found:

Brink Results - FL
Car Wash Consultants Inc - IA
McKenna Assoc - CA
Harvey Miller - CA

I do like Harvey's long list of clients, I just I could find someone more local

 

[jfmoran]

For what it's worth, the owners of Brink Results are formerly from MA, they used to be based out of Salem.

Thank you for all your replies and especially RR with the phase breakdown. That being said, does anyone have any recommendations, particularly in Massachusetts area? So far I have found:

Brink Results - FL
Car Wash Consultants Inc - IA
McKenna Assoc - CA
Harvey Miller - CA

I do like Harvey's long list of clients, I just I could find someone more local

 

[Moots]

Cost depends on time and effort. For example, new project development involves five phases.

....Single site analysis is $1,800 and up.

Hope this helps.

Robert,
I'm pretty much brand new to the industry...Actually, just contemplating investing in my first wash. Assuming someone has most of the pieces in place conceptually....Lot, style of wash, equipment, etc. etc. But was just looking for confirmation and a second opinion before pulling the trigger on an investment...Is this what your $1,800 single site analysis is intended to provide?

If so, exactly how involved is that, how much information do you provide and do you use some scale to grade or rate your confidence for that style wash in that location?

TIA

 

[robert roman]

Yes, pro forma site analysis is designed to provide information to help make a Go/No-Go decision.

Report is divided into real estate site analysis, pro forma financial analysis and highest and best use analysis.

Real estate analysis includes evaluation of local economy (Moody’s Analytic and Fitch ratings), climate assessment, trade area, household statistics, market potential (rating), segmentation (rating), competitive analysis, and index of retail saturation (rating).

Pro forma analysis includes sales volume projections, revenue model, expense assumptions, and financial projections (P&L).

To be considered the highest and best use, use must be legally permissible, physically possible, financially feasible and maximally productive. This is tested.

Findings, conclusion and recommendations are discussed with follow-up conference call.

Report averages 25 to 30 pages.

If preliminary design and layout work and cost magnitude are required, the fee would be slightly higher.