Drive-Through Car Washes: What you Need to Know

Every car wash ultimately has the same goals of producing the perfect wash, resulting in loyal, happier customers, and making a great profit.

However, the perfect wash business does not come easily, and there are many factors that need to be met first.

We have talked about some of these previously, most notably car wash chemicals (check out our blog archive)!

But one significant aspect of having a great car wash is knowing the importance of training for your staff. For instance, it is very important for car wash staff to know exactly how to use the specific products, equipment, promote and upsell wash packages, and be able to tackle unique car and customer situations.

Training Geared for your Team

The perfect training regiment comes down to understanding your specific wash facility and ensuring your team knows exactly how to use their tools to their greatest potential. It also supports developing new skills to build the business, plus improving the wash experience for customers.

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Achieving the perfect wash

The car wash process may look simple from the outside, and as any and all experienced car wash owners or workers would know, it is complex and can change on many small factors.

Your wash quality can differ from many different aspects such as water quality, equipment types, chemicals, and much more. If one factor stops working well, the whole wash operation can suffer.

This is precisely the reason that your staff must know the ins and outs of their tools, to be sure the best car wash can be achieved. This can be achieved with regular training, equipment upkeep, and fine tuning.

Effective training is not an easy feat to accomplish, and can be a big time commitment, but you will want to be sure to do so to make your business a success. Hopefully, you have a strong supplier (like us!) who can help car wash operators in their training efforts, and take some of the burden off their shoulders.

The Car Washing Industry is a competitive one, and every advantage is key

Training your team in how to upsell wash packages, set customers onto a loyalty program, maintain equipment, manage a backroom safely, and other necessary skills will ensure you are making steps to improve your business, and get ahead of the competition. Every advantage your car wash can get should be taken within such a competitive industry.

Car Wash Training: How To Do So Effectively

The best way to train your staff is to make it a priority, not only for new hires, but to build skills across your team. Taking the time and ensuring it gets done will pay off down the road when wash results, customer satisfaction, and hopefully profits have improved.

There are numerous different types of training areas and techniques that can be used to help your team learn the ins and outs of the business.

A big asset for you here is your car wash supplier, who should act as your partner to help you get ready and best situated in using their products.

The Importance of Chemical Training

Managing carwash chemicals is a huge aspect of any car wash business. This is why you will need to understand the wash process that makes cleaning successful, and how to properly and safely harness chemistry for best results. Work with your chemistry manufacturer or distributor with their expertise on the product line.

They can teach you which chemistry combinations will perform optimally at your location, show cost-per-car analysis methods, and how to dilute, monitor and manage chemistry for the best car wash performance.  

Understanding and managing carwash chemicals and how to optimize them will have your team ensuring it is bringing out your wash's best results.

The Importance of Equipment Training

Whether a tunnel, in-bay automatic or self-serve, knowing how to best utilize, set up, and maintain your equipment will prove to be invaluable to your total car wash success as it can make a large difference in your end results. A car wash business utilizes a lot of different operational equipment ranging including water softeners, conveyor belts, payment systems, robust tunnel systems and dryers and much, much more. All are vital pieces that must be running smoothly.

Knowing how to do some repairs and regular maintenance is a much needed skill as you want to have as little downtime as possible, (also getting your business back running as fast as possible).

Having team members who understand general and tunnel equipment maintenance, including basic repairs, managing equipment performance optimization and the electrical components controller, preventative maintenance techniques, or a just general equipment overview are a few examples of important skills in a successful car wash. Reaching out for support from suppliers with up to date knowledge can be a great first step in gaining a thorough understanding of the systems in your wash.

Hands-On Experience

Offering your staff practical hands-on workshops, especially if new to the industry, is a great option for a car wash operator to build success for his business. It can be led by a visiting product representative, if related to a specific chemical line or piece of equipment. For more specific training to a particular car wash, often car wash owners can train their teams in any educational gaps they perceive. Training can even be led by a more experienced staff member during non-peak or off-hours, ensuring that your team is comfortable, competent and safe in handling large machinery or commercial chemicals. Distributing this practical knowledge will be essential especially if more experienced staff are not available, or move on to a new company.

Other Training Areas  

There are many more aspects to a car wash than just chemicals or equipment. Training must be done for other areas such managing inventory, operational, finances, marketing and customer service, which are some broad areas that will need to be part of any business. More specifically, inventory management, effective budgeting, and people management are examples of skills that will acted in your business. Teaching your staff to upsell products to customers, educate them on premium wash packages, and encourage visitors to join a loyalty program can be of huge value to a car wash business as well, encouraging a more reliable income with higher profit margins.

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Turtle Wax Pro can help you Train

Your car wash supplier is a powerful asset that can help get your team up to speed quickly and easily on car wash methods, products, and more (we have a blog detailing the importance of your car wash supplier).

Here at Turtle Wax Pro, we have a strong focus in ensuring our clients and partners have training resources that will help their staff use our chemicals more effectively. Our biggest tool for car washing facilities is our exceptional Training tool, FREE and available online for all our customers:

TWP LEARN: Turtle Wax Pro's Online Learning Center

Turtle Wax Pro not only is premium car wash chemistry, with exceptional marketing and branding advantages, but also offers exclusive online training in subjects across the car wash industry.

This is because we understand the importance behind providing training to car wash staff: your car wash can thrive and employees can become actual car wash professionals.

Simple and Convenient Training

This tool is so easy for car washes to use for training their teams, as they can use any device at any time to complete online courses and quizzes. Participants will receive a solid education and certificates at the end of each of the training courses. This saves time for car washing operations as they don't need to build and execute fancy training seminars, and best of all, it's FREE for our customers and their staff.

Over 20 Hours of Video Content

From learning about the five factors of car wash, the chemistry of cleaning, to marketing with the Turtle Wax Pro brand, chemical setups, cost-per-car analysis, titration, advanced car wash knowledge and much more, TWP Learn has content plans for all skill levels.

How Training can Help your Car Wash Business

The importance of training your staff should not be understated, as it can be the difference between a good car wash and a great one. A well-trained team will know how to use their tools better than anyone else, meaning they can provide a higher quality finished product and happier customers, helping your business stand out from the rest!

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Contact Turtle Wax Pro for your Car Wash Success

Training is just one facet of the car wash world that we strive to help our clients with.

Turtle Wax Pro is one of the most recognized car wash brands in the world for a good reason, we have over 75 years of car care experience and decades in providing national carwash solutions (and international) to car wash industry operators and businesses.

Contact us if your business could use some better support whether that be with your chemicals, marketing, or training.

There are a variety of ways to clean cars, but one option in particular has been gaining a lot of traction in recent years.

It's the tunnel car wash!

Tunnel washes are automatic car wash systems stretched through a tunnel ranging from 60' to 250'+ where each section of the tunnel applies a different chemical or service.

Tunnels are popular because they are quick and efficient, allowing many vehicles to pass through at once.

Let's discuss the tunnel in detail and explore the benefits it offers to the car wash operator.

What are Tunnel Car Washes?

A tunnel car wash is an automated car wash that uses conveyor belts to move the vehicle through a series of cleaning stations.

Tunnels are typically much larger than other types of car washes, and can wash up to a dozen cars at a time.

Different Types of Tunnel Car Wash Systems

Soft Cloth vs Touchless

Soft Cloth (or friction) is the most common type of tunnel system. As the name suggests, it uses soft cloths instead of brushes to clean the vehicle.

The benefit of using these soft cloths is that they are less likely to damage the paintwork on the car of the customer, when compared to brushes and nylon bristles that were common years ago.

A touchless tunnel system uses high-pressure water and chemistry to clean the vehicle, without any physical contact during washing. This is a great option for people who are worried about their car being scratched or damaged by any of the tunnel components.

Full Serve

A full service wash offers a complete package of extra services that includes everything from vacuuming the interior to washing and drying the exterior. At a full service wash, employee's will take the car from the customer and perform all the included services.

Flex Serve

A flex service wash allows the customer to choose which extra services they want, such as just an exterior washing or just a vacuum.

Express Exterior

An express exterior tunnel is exactly what it sounds like - a quick wash for the outside of your car.

A full service wash can offer the best customer experience. You deliver the car back to the customer nearly brand new with a full interior and exterior cleaning. Express washes are the quickest and most convenient. Flex service washes fall somewhere in the middle.

How do Touchless Car Washes Work?

Touchless car washes work by using a series of high-pressure nozzles to spray the vehicle with water and chemicals. The nozzles are controlled by a computer and can target specific areas of the car for a complete clean.

Touchless detergents are also designed to break down dirt and grime without the need for agitation and scrubbing which helps this process work so well.

However, the one downside is some tough dirt and grime may be too difficult to remove in a touchless wash.

Why Use a Tunnel Car Wash?

Now that we've discussed the different types of washes; let's take a look at some of the benefits of using them:

They're Fast and Convenient

If you're short on time, this is a great option as you simply ride through the tunnel. Each stage will take care of your car until its clean, shiny and dry!

They're Affordable

Tunnel systems are typically quite low-cost for customers, especially when you consider the speed and effectiveness.

They're Safe for Your Car

Tunnels are very safe for your vehicle as they are either touchless or use soft cloths to clean vehicles.

How do Tunnels Compare to Self Serve Car Washes?

Though tunnel and self serve are both viable options for you to clean cars, how do they compare?

Time

Tunnels can clean cars significantly quicker than a self-serve wash. Depending on the length of tunnel and speed of the conveyor, some washes can clean upwards of 100 cars per hour.

This is because the conveyor belts and sequence of equipment in a wash execute the whole process much more swiftly than one individual performing it alone.

Ease of Use

Tunnels are much easier to use than self serve as you don't have to do anything but drive your vehicle into the tunnel.

In a self serve wash, you have to apply the soap and rinse down the vehicle yourself.

Cost

Tunnel washes are typically more expensive than self serve washes. The increase in price is due to the fact that they offer a much higher level of convenience and efficiency.

You can expect your wash type to have a minor impact on the final result, although it may have a significant influence on certain additional aspects such as your time, effort and money.

Do Tunnel Car Washes Scratch Paint?

This is a common myth about tunnels, but the answer is no - they will not scratch your paint!

As we discussed earlier, most tunnels use either soft cloths or touchless high-pressure water to deliver clean vehicles.

Both of these methods are gentle enough that they will not damage or scratch your vehicle in any way.

Washing your vehicle will help maintain it

In reality, frequent usage of a car wash may help to protect your paintwork and clear coat by removing grime and dirt that might harm the finish if left for an extended period.

Is Owning a Tunnel Car Wash a Good Business?

Now that we've answered some common questions about tunnel washes, you might be wondering if owning one is a good business decision.

The answer is yes - owning a tunnel car wash can be a very profitable business! There are a few reasons for this:

Low Maintenance Costs On New Builds

Tunnel components are built to last and typically require very little maintenance. This means you'll save money on repairs and replacements over time. Make sure you combine this with chemistry that doesn't use harsh acids to help prolong the life of your equipment.

It also means less down time as you won't have to close the wash for maintenance as often. This obviously leads to higher revenue.

High Demand

There is always a high demand for car washes, especially in busy cities. This means that you will always have potential customers.

Demand for car washes has increased in recent years as people are becoming more aware of the importance of maintaining their vehicles.

This is good news for those considering opening a tunnel car wash business!

Ability to Serve

Tunnels work so efficiently that you will be able to clean many more cars per hour!

Unlike in-bay automatic and self serve options, there is less likely be a line for customers to wait in. This can translate into a larger amount of sales and a high customer satisfaction rate.

What Are Some Downsides to Owning a Tunnel System Wash?

While there are many upsides to owning a tunnel car wash, there are also a few downsides that you should be aware of:

High Initial Investment

Tunnels can be quite expensive to set up. This is because they require specialized equipment and a lot of land.

If you're not prepared for the initial high costs, then owning a tunnel car wash might not be the right choice for you.

A good initial starting point for a simple tunnel could be around $400,000 plus the cost of the land. This can vary wildly up to several million dollars for larger tunnels.

Requires Specialized Training

Tunnels are very complex and require specialized training to operate.

This means that you will need to spend time and money on training yourself and your employees how to use the equipment correctly.

Make sure to check out the Turtle Wax Pro Learning Center to start your basic training!

Choosing Manufacturers like Turtle Wax Pro For Your Tunnel Wash

When it comes to establishing a tunnel car wash, there are several things to consider. But one of the more important choices is your manufacturers.

Your manufacturer will be the one giving you chemistry, among other services like training and carwash equipment. This will dictate the level of service you can provide.

Turtle Wax Pro is one of the leading providers in the professional car wash industry and has been supporting automatic car washes of all kinds, including tunnel systems for years.

We pride ourselves on having the most innovative and eco-friendly car wash chemicals in the industry. We offer a wide range of chemicals that aid car washes all over the world in achieving their goals.

Our soaps and other products are designed to work together to create the ultimate clean. Each product primes the next one by preparing the surface of the vehicle for the next product, resulting in the perfect wash.

Turtle Wax Pro is dedicated to helping your business achieve its goals, and deliver your customers the cleanest, driest, and shiniest cars.

That includes a full dedicated initial training session along with ongoing support for your car wash equipment.

We would be happy to discuss the details behind your tunnel, relating to everything from chemistry to equipment to marketing. If you're considering entering the wash industry, feel free to contact us anytime!

Before You Build An Express Wash

The car wash industry is adopting express tunnels as the next big thing. Customers love them for their speed and efficiency, and owners for the amount of traffic they can handle and revenue they can generate.

Tunnel car washing holds numerous benefits that other types of washes cannot compete with. If you're thinking of entering the car wash industry, a tunnel might be the best option for you!

Entering and competing in the wash industry can be difficult but tunnels can be very rewarding. With their increasing popularity, tunnels may even become the new industry standard.

One of the best ways to set yourself up for success is using a great supplier like Turtle Wax Pro. The science, and expertise we provide is a surefire approach to differentiate your wash from the competition.

If you have any questions about tunnels, we would be happy to answer them. Thanks for reading!

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The popularity of touchless car washes is on the rise. This has led many individuals to be curious about whether they are the future of vehicle cleaning.

There are several benefits to a touchless car wash for both customers and owners.

Touchless washes, as the name implies, never make direct contact with the car's surface. A major reassurance to certain car owners.

In addition, with the right chemistry, touch free washes can perform just as well as friction washes in most scenarios. This could make switching to a touchless car wash a no brainer.

In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of a touchless automatic car wash and help you decide if owning one is the right decision for you!

What is a Touchless Car Wash?

A touchless car wash is a type of automatic car wash where the vehicle is cleaned without any physical contact.

The car is washed using increased water pressure and detergents specifically designed to work without friction.

Touchless car washes are faster than traditional car washes, and they typically use less water. While the most common type of touchless car wash is an in bay automatic car wash, touchless tunnel car washes are also found in lower quantities.

How Does a Touchless Car Wash Work?

Most of the car wash process is the same between a traditional automatic car wash and a touchless car wash.

• The car is given a rinse or a presoak treatment to loosen any dirt or grime that is on the surface.
• After the pre-wash, high water pressure nozzles direct streams of water and detergent at the car. The detergent breaks down any remaining dirt, and the high-pressure water blasts it away.
• The final step is to rinse off all of the soap layers and dirt.
• Optionally, a surface protectant or ceramic coating can be applied to the vehicle's exterior.
• The excess moisture is then dried using high powered dryers, or left to air dry.

For more info on ideal tunnel car wash setups you can check out our Turtle Wax Pro Learning Center!

As you can see, the biggest difference is the fact that pressure washing systems are used in replace of rotating brushes and other physical systems.

Is Touchless Car Washing the Future of the Car Wash Industry?

Touchless washes carry some unique benefits that a traditional automatic car wash cannot provide.

This leads some to believe that this style of washing vehicles is the future of the industry.

No Physical Contact

The fact that there is no physical contact to anyone's vehicle is the main advantage to using this type of wash.

Most vehicle owners are wary of automated washes because they fear their vehicles will not be properly cleaned without causing harm. However, with a touchless wash, there is no worry that the car will be scratched or damaged in any way.

This gives many people confidence to use an automated car wash when they otherwise would not.

Advances in Chemistry

The detergents and soaps used in touchless car washes are specially designed to work well without physical contact.

If a touchless car wash can produce the same level of clean as a friction one, then the need for friction washes depletes. As this technology continues to develop, it is likely that touchless car washes will become even more of a staple.

While a touchless car wash will never be able to achieve 100% of the results from a friction wash, it can come pretty close. The final product is a car that looks great to the naked eye and was cleaned without any risk of damage!

Benefits of Touchless Car Washes

There are many benefits to using touchless car washes. Let's go through them.

24/7/365 and Less Labor

Touchless car washes can be operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with little to no labor.

This means that you can generate revenue around the clock without having to pay employees!

In addition, touchless car washes are less labor intensive than friction car washes. This is because there are no brushes or other moving parts that need to be monitored and maintained.

Less Water Usage

Touchless car washes use less water for every car washed, compared to other car wash options.

This is good news for the environment and can save you money on your water bill!

Less Risk of Damage

There is also less risk of damage to vehicles with a touchless car wash.

Though friction washes are completely safe for vehicles, even the small risk of paint damage can be negated by not having to touch a vehicle's surface.

Lower Money Spent on Repairs

Another benefit of touchless automatic car washes is that they have lower maintenance costs.

This is because there are no spinning brushes, cloth strips or other moving parts that can break down over time. This means that a touchless wash will last longer and need less repairs than other automated car washes.

Disadvantages of Touchless Washes

Though there are many benefits to a touchless system, there are also some disadvantages that should be considered.

Potential Lack of Cleaning Power

Some tough marks, grime and bird droppings may not be removed as effectively with a touchless wash.

This is because there is no physical contact to help break down and remove dirt. This can be an issue for those who want their car to be absolutely spotless or are trying to wash an especially dirty vehicle.

Some customers may be slightly dissatisfied, but touchless does an excellent job of cleaning cars in general.

In order to clean effectively in this environment you'll need great chemicals. That's where Turtle Wax Pro can help. We offer a variety of products that can be used in touchless car washes to help you get the best clean possible.

Turtle Wax Pro has everything you need to make sure your automated car wash is operating at its best! We have a wide selection of cleaning solutions, soaps, detergents, waxes and polishes that are designed to work well in a touchless environment.

How does a Friction Based Automated Car Washes Compare to Touchless Systems?

A friction based automatic car wash uses spinning brushes or cloth strips to clean a vehicle's surface.

This can provide a more thorough cleaning than a touchless wash but can also be more labor intensive and water consumptive.

Touchless car washes, on the other hand, use high-pressure jets of water and detergent to clean a vehicle's surface.

This can be just as effective as a friction wash but doesn't run the risk of scratching the paint or clear coat during cleaning.

So, which is better? It really depends on your needs and preferences. If you want a thorough cleaning with no risk of damage, then touchless is the way to go. If you don't mind more maintenance and a little bit of risk in exchange for the best clean then you are better off with a friction wash.

Are Touchless Car Washes Safe?

Are touchless car washes safe? The whole idea behind touchless is safety.

With no brushes or other moving parts, there is less risk of breakdowns causing damage to your car. In addition, the high-pressure jets used in automatic car washes are less likely to cause scratches than traditional brushes.

Keep in mind that when it comes to all of these safety conversations we are talking about the difference between a 99.5% expectation of safety with a 99.9% expectation of safety.

You are far more likely to scratch or damage your car hand washing it at home in the driveway than in a commercial car wash situation.

Should I Wash My Car At Home Or At A Commercial Car Wash?

An automated car wash is going to be much better than a hand car wash for many reasons.

Speed

In the time that it takes you to get your car washed at home, a commercial car wash can clean upwards of 60 to 100 cars. Why waste an hour at home with a hand wash and when you could go buy gas and get an automatic wash in less than 10 minutes. Much less time consuming.

Damage

The most important part of keeping your car looking like new is the car's finish. A hand car wash at home means you assume your own risks.

Hand washes also usually aren't done with the right soap which can lead to paint damage long term.

Effectiveness

Without fully understanding the process of how to wash a car you are much less likely to remove all the dirt, grime and remove contaminants that could be embedded in the clear coat.

A touchless car wash or any other automatic wash is designed to get your car clean every time, hundreds of times per day.

Your clean car or truck might look clean after a hand wash but take it to a commercial car wash and you'll see the difference.

Thinking about Opening an Automatic Car Wash? Use a Trusted Car Wash Supplier like Turtle Wax Pro

If you're thinking about opening a touchless car wash, be sure to use a trusted car wash chemistry provider like Turtle Wax Pro.

The chemistry your wash uses will make or break your success. Touchless washes, in particular, where the more powerful chemicals tackle all the washing jobs without assistance from physical agitators, are a challenge to get right.

Turtle Wax Pro is a leading provider of car care chemistry and we strive to help car care businesses succeed within the industry.

We work with many touch free washes, setting them up with the right chemistry needed to tackle any situation and stand out within the market.

If you have any thoughts about opening your own touchless car wash, get in touch with us today as Turtle Wax Pro can ensure you start off on the right foot!

If you have any questions about anything we discussed, reach out anytime. We are always excited to chat with people who are thinking about entering the car wash space. Happy car washing!

Are you looking for a business opportunity that is both profitable and exciting? If so, then you should consider opening a car wash business.

This industry is booming, and there are many different ways to get started. In this blog post, we will discuss steps that will help you get your car wash business up and running!

Let's state the obvious: What is a car wash?

A car wash is a business where people can go to have their cars cleaned.

This can be done either by hand or by machine, and there are many different types of car washes to choose from.

Is owning a Car Wash Business a good idea?

If you're thinking about starting a professional car wash business, know that it can be very lucrative.

The car wash industry is growing rapidly, with the injection of venture capital in professional car washes and new technology.

This means that now is a great time to get involved in car washing. Not only is the industry growing, but there are also many different ways to build a car wash business.

It can be a challenge at times, but opening a car wash can prove to have many avenues for success, making it a great investment opportunity.

Are car wash businesses profitable?

Car wash businesses can be very profitable. How profitable your car wash will be depends on many factors: the location, type of car wash, and how well you run the business.

However, with a little bit of planning from the help of some car wash experts, your car wash will net you $85,000 on average (US Census Bureau) over the course of a year.

Let's discuss the different types of car washes, as they each have unique advantages and disadvantages.

What are the different types of car washes?

There are several different types of car washes, and you'll want to learn about all the different options when choosing which one you would like to own.

Self Service Car Wash

This type of wash is exactly what it sounds like - customers serve themselves. Typically, a machine with various chemical choices and a pressure washer is used. They may have extras like vacuums and towels to help the drying process.

Self serve washes are great as they require very little staff. They are also quick, which is great for customers who are in a hurry. A self service car wash has the strongest advantage of being the cheapest to open.

Unfortunately, they can be quite messy and unorganized, customers often don't clean up properly. Plus, self serve washes have much cheaper wash packages meaning less room for profit on each car.

In Bay Automatic Car Wash

In this type of wash, the customer drives their vehicle into an empty bay. The vehicle is then cleaned by machines that move around the car.

In bay car washes have a few advantages over self serve ones. They're much more organized and customers can't make much of a mess. In bay car washes also have wash packages that cost more. This is due to the ability to offer packages that are more complex. There is now more potential to make a profit on each car.

This type of car wash is typically found at a gas station or other location where there is room to park the cars, but not enough room to fit a tunnel car wash.

In bay washes have the advantage of still being fully automated, providing customers with high convenience and low effort. It can only serve one customer at a time however, sometimes creating lines and limiting potential revenue.

Tunnel Car Wash

In a tunnel car wash, the customer drives their car onto a conveyor belt that moves the vehicle through a long tunnel.

This type of wash is much larger than an in-bay wash and can accommodate more cars.

Tunnel washes can be extremely lucrative but also are extremely expensive to open in the first place. Most tunnels will require a multi-million dollar initial investment.

Tunnel washes typically offer the best wash packages and have the ability to upsell customers on waxes, polishes, and other services. They also have high customer satisfaction as they provide a complete cleaning of the vehicle.

It is also important to ensure that there is a market in that area for such a large wash, as a tunnel's greatest advantage is being able to serve multiple vehicles at once. There longest tunnels can service 1200-1500 cars per day leading to daily revenue of over $20,000.

Washing Equipment

To start a car wash, you'll need to decide which type of car wash you want to open and what car wash equipment is right for you.

Brushes

Some car washes will use a brush style system. This uses long bristled brushes that spin and help to loosen the dirt and grime on the car.

These do a great job at cleaning vehicles, sometimes a little too well.

There have been cases of the brushes scratching paint off of cars, so be sure to research this type of system before you choose it for your business.

Soft Cloth

This type of system uses long, soft cloths that wrap around the vehicle and clean it as it moves through the wash.

This is a safer option and is used by most car washes today.

Touchless Car Wash

Touchless car washes use high-pressure water jets and no brushes or cloths to clean the vehicle.

This is a newer option that is becoming more popular as it has no chance to damage the customer's vehicle.

Full Service Car Wash

Full service washes offer a complete service that washes, dries, and vacuums the inside and outside of your vehicle. This is the best chance to offer exceptional customer service.

Full service car washes are great because they offer customers convenience and a thorough cleaning.

They do require more staff than other types of washes, which can make them more expensive to run.

What type of car wash is the most profitable?

The answer to this question is not straightforward as it depends on various conditions.

The income your car wash business can generate will depend on a variety of factors, including location and business plan.

A full service car wash business could be more profitable than other types of car washes because they provide more services and can charge more for them.

An automated car wash business could also be the most profitable as it needs less dedicated staff and can run 24 hours, meaning more potential customers.

Start your car wash business plan

Here are some steps and aspects you'll want to consider when creating your business plan for a car wash.

1) Business Name:

As with any business, you will need to pick a name for it to be run as, and this will be the first thing you put into your business plan.

For your own car wash business, we recommend you to pick an easy to remember, snappy name as customers will be more likely to return if they can remember it.

2) Target Market:

When you’re planning to start a car wash, it’s important to think about who your target market is.

Are you aiming for the high-end market with luxury cars? Or are you more interested in catering to the budget-minded customer with economy cars?

Your target market will help determine the type of car wash you open, as well as the location and services you offer.

3) Location:

Your location is critical for the success of your car wash. You'll want to make sure that it is easily accessible and in a high traffic area.

The location can also be what area of the world, as some cities or regions are higher car traffic areas, and what weather they experience will differ as well.

4) Wash Type:

The type of wash you decide to open will play a large role in your start up costs, as well as the potential income you can generate.

The various forms of automatic car washes carry unique benefits that make them advantageous to some, but a self service car wash has its market, so decide carefully!

5) Competition:

You will also want to do some market research into the competition before finalizing your decision to open a car wash there.

A little competition is healthy, but too many local businesses, other car washes and big name corporations could make it difficult for your business to thrive.

6) Employees:

You'll need to decide how many employees you'll need and what their roles will be.

This will depend on how large of an operation you plan to open.

7) Applications/Loyalty Program:

You may want to offer some type of applications or loyalty programs to customers.

This could include a rewards program for return customers to eventually redeem a free car wash.

You can also offer coupons or discounts for a free wash to help attract new vehicle owners.

Digital Mosaic is a fantastic provider of technology solutions for the car wash industry. They provide clients with a way to effortlessly institute turn-key subscription and loyalty programs, brand their operations with a custom branded app, and improve their marketing efforts by paying close attention to customer data and analytics.

8) Ins and Outs:

Experience and knowledge is an invaluable aspect to any business venture, and the car wash industry is no different.

It would be smart to speak to successful car wash owners or suppliers as part of your market research. Knowing their views, strengths, and weaknesses can make you a more profitable business.

9) Car Wash Suppliers:

You'll need to find suppliers for all of the equipment and chemicals you'll need to run your car wash business.

We recommend finding multiple suppliers and distributors, like Turtle Wax Pro, and discussing your needs with each of them to learn more about the costs involved.

Suppliers can offer more than just chemicals as they can help with improving your wash, market positioning, brand recognition, etc.

We have a blog detailing everything you'll need to know regarding picking the right supplier to help you open a car wash.

How To Open A Car Wash, The Business Framework

We will also run through some of the legal needs and paperwork aspects to opening and running a car wash business. You will need to contact appropriate local authorities in your area, this will just give you an idea of where to start.

Registering your Car Wash Business

The first step is to register your business with the local authorities and the IRS.

You will need to obtain business licenses and a federal tax identification number, as you will need to pay business taxes.

Permits and Zoning

Be sure to check with your local government about any permits or zoning regulations that may apply to your car wash business.

These are documents and policies that you would need to open and run your car wash, legally.

Car Wash Business Insurance

It's important to get business insurance for your car wash to protect you from any potential liabilities.

You'll want to have a discussion with your local insurance agent so they can help choosing a policy that fits you best.

Workers compensation insurance is also required in some areas, so be sure to check with your state's laws.

Business Banking

You'll need to open a business bank account and get a line of credit or loan for your car wash venture.

It is also important for a business bank account to be in place, so that your business and personal finances can stay separate.

As small business owners, you'll need to make sure your business's financial operations are in order.

Start Up Expenses

The costs involved to get your business off the ground will depend on a number of previously mentioned factors, like the kind of car wash you want and how many employees you plan to have.

Opening a car wash can differ greatly in initial expenses, a small self service car wash will be much cheaper than a tunnel wash for example.

Be sure to review your financial options to decide what is your best course of action.

Ongoing Expenses

Now that we've gone over some of the one time start up costs, it's important to understand those initial costs are not the only ones that go into opening a car wash.  

You'll need to factor in the cost of running your car wash on a day to day basis.

This includes costs such as water and electricity, chemicals, supplies, employee wages and other business expenses.

Marketing

Marketing can be a make it or break it factor for your new car wash business. You need to get the word out to car owners!

Small businesses and small business owners sometimes find marketing a difficult task but if you want to find success within the car wash industry, you will want some type of marketing strategy.

Your marketing strategy can include advertisements, signage, events and so much more.

Small Businesses Marketing Help

Fortunately, we have a blog created outlining how you can market your car wash to make the concept easier and more approachable.

You can also rely on your car wash supplier for marketing help, at Turtle Wax Pro, this an aspect we aim to help all of our operators with, as we understand the challenge of finding and keeping customers coming back.

If you're in the market to open a new car wash, get in touch with Turtle Wax Pro

We would love to hear your idea and see how we can help you get started in the industry.

Turtle Wax Pro provides everything from industry leading car wash chemistry, to business and marketing support.

We have been in the car care business for over 75 years and know a thing or two about how to start a car wash and washing cars.

Reach out today for more information on how we can help you with your new car wash business venture!