limey
New member
I am considering adding express interior detailing at my SS and IBA location. Any thoughts on doing this?
Express Interior Detailing
- Thread starter limey
- Start date
robert roman
Bob Roman
Adding another profit center to a carwash is usually a good decision if it is physically possible and financially feasible.
Would express interior detail service be physically possible given size, shape and other characteristics of the site?
For example, minimum requirement for express detail bay is 18’ wide by 25’ deep
Reason is the smaller the bay, the harder it is to work around the vehicle with doors opened, the slower you go.
Reflective walls and bright lights are needed for meticulous cleaning.
Customers must come out of vehicle.
So, is there a comfortable place for them to wait or something to occupy their time or a clean bathroom so they can relieve themselves and wash their hands?
And so forth.
Purpose of feasibility is to determine if program would generate sufficient gross sales to justify improvements (investment) and provide adequate profit and return.
Consider market viability.
Full-service benchmark captures about 10 percent of wash volume as express detail. Flex-serve benchmark captures about 30 percent.
In bay benchmark is sales volume 11,000 X 0.3 = 3,300 or about 5 cars per day.
Consider technical feasibility.
Express detail implies 20 to 30 minute service time, start-to-finish, no appointment necessary, first-come first-served.
Delivering this on a consistent basis requires a team of two people. So, even a part-time program would have overhead of $30,000 (includes payroll).
$30,000 / $30 average price (excludes wash) = 1,000 cars or about 3 cars per day.
Conceptual profit = 5 cars – 3 cars = 2 cars
Figure unit variable cost of between $2.50 and $5.00.
With this information (plus improvements), you could calculate net operating income and return on investment.
Would express interior detail service be physically possible given size, shape and other characteristics of the site?
For example, minimum requirement for express detail bay is 18’ wide by 25’ deep
Reason is the smaller the bay, the harder it is to work around the vehicle with doors opened, the slower you go.
Reflective walls and bright lights are needed for meticulous cleaning.
Customers must come out of vehicle.
So, is there a comfortable place for them to wait or something to occupy their time or a clean bathroom so they can relieve themselves and wash their hands?
And so forth.
Purpose of feasibility is to determine if program would generate sufficient gross sales to justify improvements (investment) and provide adequate profit and return.
Consider market viability.
Full-service benchmark captures about 10 percent of wash volume as express detail. Flex-serve benchmark captures about 30 percent.
In bay benchmark is sales volume 11,000 X 0.3 = 3,300 or about 5 cars per day.
Consider technical feasibility.
Express detail implies 20 to 30 minute service time, start-to-finish, no appointment necessary, first-come first-served.
Delivering this on a consistent basis requires a team of two people. So, even a part-time program would have overhead of $30,000 (includes payroll).
$30,000 / $30 average price (excludes wash) = 1,000 cars or about 3 cars per day.
Conceptual profit = 5 cars – 3 cars = 2 cars
Figure unit variable cost of between $2.50 and $5.00.
With this information (plus improvements), you could calculate net operating income and return on investment.
To be perfectly frank interior express cleaning can be a real pain in the a$$. In addition to a needing a designated place it requires additional equipment and employees. Why do you think the EE concept has become so popular? Reduced pricing for customers and it is a cheaper and easier format for the operator and involves fewer employees and problems. If interior cleaning was such a desired service the EE concept would not be so popular. Most of the customers that would use express interior cleaning have trashed the inside of their vehicle and view it as an opportunity to avoid doing it themselves. I really doubt it will be that profitable or worth the trouble.
robert roman
Bob Roman
“I really doubt it will be that profitable or worth the trouble.”
If you apply analysis against benchmark, and did the math, express detail (exterior and interior) is very profitable.
Issue with express is it makes the wash an occupational business, not absentee.
This is principal reason why exterior express concept has become so popular.
Many exterior express are owned by investors, not hands-on operators.
The “reduced pricing for customers” comes mostly at the expense of self-service, in-bays and gas sites, not full-service and especially not flex-serve washes.
All conveyor numbers have gone up, self-serve and in-bays at gas sites have gone down.
This is indisputable.
You can make a lot of money detailing. However, it takes a real commitment because it’s a contact sport.
If you apply analysis against benchmark, and did the math, express detail (exterior and interior) is very profitable.
Issue with express is it makes the wash an occupational business, not absentee.
This is principal reason why exterior express concept has become so popular.
Many exterior express are owned by investors, not hands-on operators.
The “reduced pricing for customers” comes mostly at the expense of self-service, in-bays and gas sites, not full-service and especially not flex-serve washes.
All conveyor numbers have gone up, self-serve and in-bays at gas sites have gone down.
This is indisputable.
You can make a lot of money detailing. However, it takes a real commitment because it’s a contact sport.
limey
New member
Thank you guys
