How do you see the future of self serve wash business?

[MEP001]

I'll say what others haven't. Id call BS on 3 SS washes making $600,000! If they were doing that great, who would sell?
Stay @ 3xGross or under!

It's unlikely but possible, but we don't know where these are or if they're self-serve bays only or if there are also automatic bays. And if I had three washes I could walk away from right now for about $4 or $5 million, I'd do it.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I'll say what others haven't. Id call BS on 3 SS washes making $600,000! If they were doing that great, who would sell?
Stay @ 3xGross or under!

I was thinking the same unless they also include or more IBA that is a really high gross. for SS only. At an industry average of $1500 / mo/ bay and that average tending to drop with more bays that would mean each was a 10 Bay doing above industry average.

 

[OurTown]

Stay @ 3xGross or under!

Around here you would never buy a wash. They are all listed at above 4X.

 

[soonermajic]

Around here you would never buy a wash. They are all listed at above 4X.

I believe it. Just think a newby better not pay over 4x gross, cause they're already in peril...

 

[soonermajic]

I was thinking the same unless they also include or more IBA that is a really high gross. for SS only. At an industry average of $1500 / mo/ bay and that average tending to drop with more bays that would mean each was a 10 Bay doing above industry average.

Yeh, & does anybody do $1550/mo on SS bays? I highly doubt it? Especially for multiple bays. My SS bays do really good, but still under $1500/bay.

 

[Roz]

Location, location, location, then how do you stack up to the competition

 

[OurTown]

I was thinking the same unless they also include or more IBA that is a really high gross. for SS only. At an industry average of $1500 / mo/ bay and that average tending to drop with more bays that would mean each was a 10 Bay doing above industry average.

According to the 2021 Auto Laundry News self serve survey it is $1,847/month/bay.

 

[Kobe]

It's unlikely but possible, but we don't know where these are or if they're self-serve bays only or if there are also automatic bays. And if I had three washes I could walk away from right now for about $4 or $5 million, I'd do it.

They are 5 SS and 2 IBA. Busy busy street. I think 33K cars per day.

The #s I saw for one of them $77K from IBA and about $80-$90K from SS.

 

[Kobe]

Can I ask you guys what the average IBA makes per year or month? This seller's #s are $90K per year on IBA... one of the location is right across the street from an express wash.

 

[Roz]

According to the 2021 Auto Laundry News self serve survey it is $1,847/month/bay.

Where do they make up these numbers?
I know people who say they are way below them and I know people who say they are multiples higher for their specific wash. Really hard to generalize IMO.

 

[Roz]

Can I ask you guys what the average IBA makes per year or month? This seller's #s are $90K per year on IBA... one of the location is right across the street from an express wash.

Cannot generalize the numbers as it varies by location and the type of IBA. If you are a touch free and all the other washes around you are friction they can be much higher. If you run a poor wash experience they can be much lower. Evaluate the location and then make a decision. You are on an impossible mission trying to verify with high accuracy.

 

[Kobe]

Cannot generalize the numbers as it varies by location and the type of IBA. If you are a touch free and all the other washes around you are friction they can be much higher. If you run a poor wash experience they can be much lower. Evaluate the location and then make a decision. You are on an impossible mission trying to verify with high accuracy.

Great input. Just trying to gather information here. At this point, I can only go off generalize #s and compare them with the washes I'm buying. I have no clue what any other IBA's make besides the one that I'm looking to buy. So even general #s help when comparing.

 

[MEP001]

Where do they make up these numbers?

It's a survey...

 

[MEP001]

Just trying to gather information here.

If they can confirm those numbers somehow, you're on a good path. If they can't or won't, you may have to sit and watch and count cars on a busy day, or take a magnet to their timers and do an actual coin count.

 

[Kobe]

If they can confirm those numbers somehow, you're on a good path. If they can't or won't, you may have to sit and watch and count cars on a busy day, or take a magnet to their timers and do an actual coin count.

how many days would you suggest to count the cars? Also are Januarys typically a slower month?

 

[MEP001]

Also are Januarys typically a slower month?

Depends on the area. January/February are my slowest months. Some of the guys on this forum have their busiest days in the same months.

 

[soonermajic]

All these questions you're asking are different, in different parts / climates of US. You need to tell what State & area of State they're in.
I have 3 washes in Tx, & Okla, located 70 miles apart. 12 SS bays & 3 IBAs (1 friction 2 Touchless. All busy, about 37cpd IBAs & about $1300/mo on SS, but SS are $1.25 start.
I had another nice Touchless about 40 miles further, hooked up to BUSy Cstore w/ pay @ pump & get .10 off/gal w/ purchase of carwash. Best it did in 5 yrs was 9cpd avg!
YES....9 CPD!!!

 

[soonermajic]

Last wash I bought, #'s were really good. So I counted cars on 6 totally different days, some days for 4 hrs! Turns put they were not lying. But MANY cArWash guys will LiE!

Also, I bet almost no washes avg $1850/mo on SS bays. Unless everything is right, & pruce is $3 start, customers use lots of CC & it has just multiple unique situations.

 

[Waxman]

my wash only has two self service bays and they do far above the survey averages. I'm priced at three dollars to start for three minutes 12 seconds. My minimum credit card swipe is five dollars. I'm in the Northeast.

 

[soonermajic]

my wash only has two self service bays and they do far above the survey averages. I'm priced at three dollars to start for three minutes 12 seconds. My minimum credit card swipe is five dollars. I'm in the Northeast.

But, you are on the high end of the entire US. I would say you might have the highest prices in the US.! You are one lucky bug! Also, only having 2 SS bays skews it to a higher avg.