Future of Car wash

[robert roman]

“I feel sorry for new owners here because you seem to pipe up the most making them second guess their decision to get into the industry.”

I pipe up because I usually have something of interest to say.

For example, most people who jump head first without looking usually land on their heads.

Besides nothing I said is untrue.

I’m all for growth. Why wouldn’t I? It’s when I made the most money.

However, new-to-industry that doesn’t get 2nd, 3rd or even 4th opinion is taking on too much risk.

What caused last fallout in carwash industry? Under qualified new-to-industry with bloated property appraisal constructs overbuilt carwash in over-crowded market.

Real estate market collapses, carwash goes upside down. It doesn’t seem like a lot of second guessing went on back then.

Carwash industry is about $19.6 billion business. It used to be $23.9 billion. However, industry and dirty cars aren’t going anywhere real soon.

Of course, there use to be several shoe shops in every U.S. city. However, throwaways and new heel design has dropped this to only a couple of thousand stores.

I’m not trying to be smug but I don’t believe jumping head first should be an industry best practice.

Maybe I’m wrong but it is how I’ve managed to make a living since 1999.

 

[JimmyJaffa]

In my opinion, car wash volume has gone up while income per car has gone down. There are far fewer full service car washes these days than exterior express (there have been hundreds or thousand new express built, while the tired old full service are torn down). There are still a lot of $3 car washes out there. We in the car wash industry are not doing what our predecessors did, we are using technology to wash cars "cheaper, better faster" (Benny Alford). Statistics will mess up your mind, just follow the presidential candidates choosing what they want to hear.

 

[Waxman]

I built a new wash about 10 years ago. 2 years into business, the economy tanked really hard and I was in a tight spot economically for a couple / few years. I am fine now; getting the note paid down pretty well, etc. I diversified into used car sales and recently bought an apartment building. All of that has helped improve cash flow and given me more of a cushion.

I don't know how happy I would be without my extra businesses ( detail shop, used car sales and apartments). I don't think the car wash only would sustain me and my family. I'm not saying it's a bad business to be in, but for me it can't be the only way I make money.

The best idea is to read all opinions you can and then do your best. You have to innovate, make regular improvements. This year we painted the wash and detail, added a new neon 'open' sign, improved landscaping etc. Customers said: ' is dave selling the place???' because we made so many nice and noticeable improvements.