If you don’t yet know how to open a car wash, this article will help you in this matter. Here we will try to look in detail at how much it costs to open a car wash, where to start and what you need.
Every motorist knows that car cleanliness is an important condition for its operation. Taking into account the growing number of vehicles on the roads, it is not difficult to guess that the car wash business is one of the most profitable and promising areas. But still, for its prosperity, it is better to arm yourself with a car wash business plan, with the help of which the number of errors will be minimized and profits will be significantly increased.
We will not consider the premises here, because... prices for its rental and construction are different in each city. Therefore, when considering the question of how much it costs to open a car wash, we would rather pay attention to the equipment for it.
Here are approximate prices for washing and cleaning equipment:
- Compressor – $200-250;
- Washing vacuum cleaner and dust extractor – from $400;
- Used water purification system – from $4,500 (although not all car washes will need it);
- Apparatus high pressure with heated water – from $1500;
- High pressure apparatus for supplying water to one post – from $500.
Usually all this equipment for car washes is foreign. The most commonly used brand is Karcher, because... It is this company that produces a huge amount of various special equipment for cleaning and washing.
Where to begin
How did you notice the cost items for basic technical equipment not that big. In order for us to open a car wash, we need to know where to start this business.
- Deciding on the type of future car wash. There are only two options to consider: the first is a car wash with high productivity and a minimal range of services; the second is a car wash with high quality and a wide range of services provided. It is in the second type that they provide such services as tire blackening, naturalization and interior polishing, dry cleaning, and engine washing.
- Deciding on the equipment. It was listed above, so here we will additionally look at other brands of equipment. In addition to Karcher, there are also Carebridge (UK), Comet (Italy), Ceccato, California Kleindiest (Germania) and Wesumat, Wedner, WAP and Islobal from Spain.
- Selecting a room. One of best options will happen if you decide to open a car wash in a garage located in the building of a large shopping center that has its own parking lot. Then your potential clients will be literally one step away from you. Gas stations and boxes located next to a busy highway are also suitable for this.
- We draw up a business plan. In it we consider all cost items related to the first two points, study the market in our city, competition, and calculate the approximate profit from our activities.
Example of a business plan
Do not forget that this is just an example of a car wash business plan from scratch, because... in your case, all the data may be different.
Review department
The main goal of the project is to open an enterprise providing manual car washing services. The enterprise is registered in the name of an individual entrepreneur and carries out its activities on his behalf.
The main condition for the success of this business depends on the location of the car wash, and this condition requires special attention. It is better to be located next to a parking lot, a car service center, on a busy road or highway, or near shopping or business centers.
Description of the car wash
This business plan provides for the use of two posts for washing cars, with daily, 24-hour operation, seven days a week. The list of services includes direct car wash, engine washing, dry, wet and dry cleaning interior, as well as body polishing. Car washing is carried out by one worker with specialized equipment.
For activities, they use rented premises, which are obtained upon concluding a long-term lease agreement. Building a car wash from scratch is very difficult; this requires special permits and approvals.
Description of company services
The car wash will provide a full range of services for washing, cleaning and dry cleaning of cars. Operating hours are 24/7, without days off or breaks.
Market analysis of these services
This line of business in the service market has quite a lot of competition, taking into account the increase in the number of cars. Drivers increasingly prefer professional car washing, choosing one from many. Therefore, when developing a business plan for a car wash, you need to take this condition into account and it would not be amiss to resort to marketing “tricks”. You can practice various promotions, discounts, bonuses for regular customers. For example, you can sell subscriptions at a discount, make the 10th wash free, offer free interior cleaning or other services with which you can win your share of the market. Therefore, before opening a car wash from scratch, you need to clearly know the competitive advantages of your enterprise.
Enterprise production plan
There should be two boxes in the car wash premises, directly for washing cars. The complex must have a room for electrical equipment and a room in which washing equipment is stored. Personnel must be provided with a separate room containing a toilet and shower. It is mandatory to have a room for clients.
Such a car wash is equipped with two hand washes, two vacuum cleaners, a water purification system, a car vacuum cleaner, a compressor, a foam kit, a speakerphone, video surveillance and a high-pressure machine. The staff consists of 11 people.
Car wash financial plan
When developing a business plan for a car wash, it is necessary to take into account the income and expenditure parts.
Expenses
To estimate the cost of expenses when opening a car wash, you need to divide them into 2 parts, one of which will be general capital expenses, and the other will be monthly expenses. General capital expenses usually amount to 830,000 rubles, monthly - 485,000 rubles.
Income
- The average daily check is 300 rubles;
- The number of cars serviced per day is 100.
Total income of the car wash: 900,000 rubles.
A car wash is a profitable and high-margin business. Let's look at the main points of drawing up a business plan for a car wash. How to organize work? How much money, time and effort will it take? How quickly will such a business pay off and start making real profits? How to avoid common mistakes? In this article we will look at how to open a car wash from scratch and how to draw up a business plan with calculations.
Advantages and disadvantages of opening a car wash
The popularity of car washes is explained by their extreme practicality. all year round. Autumn and spring bring with them slush and dirt, so during this period, visiting a car wash is included in the weekly schedule of almost every driver, just as in the summer, car owners try to maintain their vehicles. However, car washes are not idle even in winter - then reagents, salt and sand are washed off from them.
Let's start with the advantages and disadvantages of this business. The main target audience of a car wash is people of middle and high incomes who want to save their time and keep their car clean.
Opening a car wash from scratch: business registration
To register with a tax car wash, an individual entrepreneur or LLC is created. The table below summarizes and analyzes the main benefits as well as necessary list documents for each form of business. When registering under OKVED, select the main activity: 50.20.3 “Providing other types of services for maintenance vehicles", this group includes washing, polishing, applying protective and decorative coatings to the body, interior cleaning, towing and other similar types. Additionally, you can register OKVED 52.1 “Retail trade in non-specialized stores.”
| Form of business organization | Benefits of use | Documents for registration |
| IP ( individual entrepreneur) | Used to open a car wash with a staff of up to 50 people |
|
| OOO ( limited liability company) | Used to open a network of car washes, attract additional financing, scale, and capital construction. |
According to the law, the authorized capital of an LLC cannot be less than 10,000 rubles! |
Business profitability
A car wash is considered a very profitable enterprise that can generate considerable income. Experts estimate its profitability to be about 40-100%, but in reality this means full payback within one year and quarter (12-16 months), or, in the case of more expensive options, one or two years.
Answers to questions about opening a car wash (Nikolai Yarkeev)
The video provides detailed answers to typical questions about opening a car wash.
How to open a car wash: business plan
A business plan is one of the most important stages in planning the opening of an enterprise. Very often, further success depends on a well-thought-out business plan. We offer a universal version of this strategy that will help answer the question “how to open a car wash?” from the financial and material part.
Key points:
- business;
- business strategy;
- car wash market;
- marketing features.
Actual financial costs depend on many factors, including:
- preparation of documentation;
- land costs;
- location of the land plot;
- construction itself;
- costs of materials, equipment;
- expenses for repairing the car wash and operating the equipment.
Paperwork
This point should be taken extremely seriously so as not to run into problems at the very beginning of the journey.
The list of documents required to obtain a sanitary and epidemiological certificate can be found at No. 19 of Rospotrebnadzor order No. 776 of November 21, 2005.
You will also need the following documents:
- land lease agreement (obtain from the Moscow Land Office);
- conclusions from such city services as the Fire Service, State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision, MP "Mosvodostok", Moskompriroda;
- permission from the district government where it is planned to build a car wash;
- construction plan agreed with Moskomarkhitektura.
In addition, during inspections you may be asked to:
- land lease agreement;
- agreement on waste removal and site cleaning;
- documentation on registration of cash register equipment;
- situational plan with designated boundaries of the site.
In addition, before starting work, you should notify the Department of Communications and Transport of the Moscow Government about your plans.
Car wash place
Besides the question “how to open a car wash?” No less important is the question “where to open a car wash?” The most advantageous location of a car wash will be its proximity to gas stations, car parks, and technical stations, thus allowing the driver to comprehensively resolve all issues related to his transport.
It is also recommended to locate such enterprises at suburban entrances and exits, on busy highways, but too much traffic can have a very negative impact.
Note: it would be a good idea to personally visit three to five car washes and evaluate the following parameters: the number of clients per day, where the car wash is located, what throughput the nearest highway.
How to evaluate the client flow of competitors?
We offer one simple way to evaluate customer traffic, which will allow you to calculate possible income depending on the choice of location. In the car wash business, the key factor for success is location, and for a location, the main parameter is throughput, how many cars pass near the car wash.
To assess the customer flow (traffic) of competitive car washes, you must spend 1 day. You take three measurements: morning, afternoon and evening. For example, a car wash is open from 9-00 to 21-00 (12 hours). Take two measurements in the morning, afternoon and evening (i.e. 6 in total). The first measurement was how many cars pass within 15 minutes from 9-00 to 9-15, from 13-00 to 13-15, 18-00 to 18-15, and also how many cars enter the car wash. Next, we multiply by 4 and divide by 3, this gives the average amount of traffic on the road and the average number of customers in a car wash per hour. You can calculate the average percentage of cars that stop by (for example, it will be 2%, which means that 2 cars out of 100 stop by to wash).
To find daily traffic, multiply the average value per hour by 12 (12 hours of work). In this simple way you can calculate the traffic of your competitors. This value can then be used to calculate the car wash’s daily income. To do this, you need to multiply the number of clients per day by the average check of the establishment.
For example, we have 200 cars every day. The average wash bill is 500 rubles. This means the cafe’s gross income per day will be 100,000 rubles.
Required premises
The room should be quite spacious, but calculate the space so that it is enough for all clients, but there are no extra jobs for which there are not enough clients. Ideally, you can rent such premises at an ATP, which has a number of advantages. Thus, you will have fewer problems with documentation (you will not have to obtain a significant part of permits and other things), and this option will automatically link to your enterprise some of the clients who have previously used the services of this ATP. Don't forget to set aside part of the room for storage.
Water purification system for car washes (important point)
At first glance, it may seem that this is one of the most unnecessary points that must be observed to open a successful car wash, and that information about it can be completely scrolled through. But that's not true. Modern environmental standards require impeccable compliance with them.
Special filters for water purification are designed to purify water used in work from chemicals, fats, petroleum products and other undesirable substances from Wastewater. Such systems are placed in heated rooms where the temperature constantly exceeds +5 degrees.
The figure below shows a diagram of the placement of equipment at a car wash. As can be seen from technological process After washing the car, sand, dirt and silt go down the drain. Petroleum products remain in the chambers and do not enter further into the purification system. On the washing pump as a result of pumping station purified water is supplied.
How to open a car wash: footage
It is important to pay no less attention to the issue of hiring workers than to issues of a material nature or documentation. Each employer is guided by his own ideas about a good employee, but we advise you to first pay attention to the following two key characteristics:
- high professional level, availability of applied knowledge and skills;
- friendliness, ability to win over, responsibility (will allow you to attract clients and make them permanent).
The optimal operating mode is around the clock. Number of employees: 5 washers and 1 foreman.
For the position of foreman, it is better to look for employees who are executive and have experience in car washes; for the position of washers, you can select low-skilled personnel.
Cost of starting a business
The funds spent on opening a car wash can be divided into two categories: space rental costs + equipment costs. Equipment includes:
- high-pressure apparatus with heated water ($1800-3000);
- a high-pressure apparatus that supplies water to 1 station ($500-1300);
- cleaning systems ($4800-6600);
- compressor ($200-250);
- washing vacuum cleaner ($400-550).
The most popular types of washing equipment are devices from the German company Karcher. Equipping one location with a Karcher automatic gantry wash will cost $100,000.
In addition to German companies, Italian and Danish companies remain popular on the market.
In addition, you will need supplies (like shampoo, polish, certain chemicals). When servicing 30-40 cars daily, about $300 per month is spent on consumables.
How much can you earn?
Your profit depends on many factors, however, in order not to get confused in abstract phrases, we will give approximate figures that you can focus on. Calculations are based on a free-standing, non-garage type 4-place sink.
When servicing (on average) about 200 cars per day, the cost of servicing each order is within 500 rubles. In this situation, the total monthly gross profit reaches 3 million rubles.
The latest trend: all large shopping centers have begun to place self-service car wash bays on their premises. While the wives are busy shopping, the men are calmly sprucing up their four-wheeled friend. I also had a desire: to open a car wash from scratch in my area...
The demand for automotive services never loses its popularity. Regardless of the situation in the country, the weather or the economy, people want to drive cars and expect quality service for their favorite cars. They need not only service stations and gas stations, but also modern car washes. Without a doubt, the car wash business is one of the profitable ones, and you can start it at any time.
The car wash business has its own specifics.
- You need to understand that the profitability of a car wash depends on a number of factors:
- range of services offered (including additional ones - plastic cleaning, tire fitting, blackening of bumpers and wheels, tinting, etc.);
- servicing all brands of cars (both domestic and foreign);
- level of service;
- the liveliness of the area where the car wash is located;
- presence/absence of competitors nearby;
- prices for services;
- work schedule (round the clock, late, early in the morning).
Watch the video: What questions should you ask yourself before opening a successful car wash?
What does it take to open a car wash?
- Your actions:
- send a written request to the city administration about your intention to open a car wash and wait for consent. Please note that such requests are reviewed within one month;
- prepare a sketch of the project and coordinate it with a municipal architect;
- obtain approvals from the Fire Inspectorate, the Nature Conservation Service and the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station;
- having received the appropriate technical conditions, develop design documentation for the future car wash;
- coordinate the project and obtain a positive conclusion from the state examination along with a construction permit;
- conclude agreements with all resource supply organizations (Energosbyt, Gorvodokanal, etc.).
What type of car wash to choose
- There are different types of car washes:
- manual;
- mobile;
- automatic;
- self-service car washes.
Which one should I open? This needs to be decided at the planning stage. Because your choice affects the entire future strategy, investment volumes and profits. Let's take a closer look at each type of car wash.
Manual
- There are two types:
- contact - a person washes a car. This type of sink is the most common. In terms of costs, it is the cheapest. But it is also less and less relevant.
- contactless - water and detergents are supplied using special equipment, and the operator only controls and adjusts the process;
When performing manual maintenance, there is a high risk of damage to the paintwork of the car body.
If on initial stage business development, your funds are limited, it is recommended to choose the second option. However, keep in mind: over time you will want to move to a more serious level, which will require new investments.
Mobile
Today this is an intensively developing trend.
- Advantages:
- minimum initial investment;
- mobility;
- high quality of services thanks to the use of modern detergents.
- Peculiarities:
- washing services are provided on-site upon the client’s call;
- there is an exit complex different types(collapsible autonomous point, dry on-site wash, mobile wash with a trailer, on-site car wash team, mobile box);
- costs relate only to the maintenance of the main asset - the box, the permanent location of the team or the storage of the dismantled structure;
- services are often classified as VIP, so business profitability is high.
Automatic
- There are two types:
- tunnel - the machine moves on a transport belt along the washing units;
- portal - the car stands still, and an automated one moves along it arched design. It then cleans the car body using brushes and high-pressure detergent.
- Peculiarities:
- significant savings on personnel (literally a couple of people are enough to work);
- modern equipment is quite expensive;
- in most cases, redevelopment of the premises or construction of a new one (so that it matches the equipment) is inevitable.
Self-service car wash
- Peculiarities:
- the site is equipped with high-tech equipment;
- both the site and the equipment are provided to the client, who himself performs all operations step by step;
- the ability to select the required washing mode: foam, high pressure cold/hot water, removal of insect traces, hot wax, etc.;
- the lack of staff allows the car wash owner to save on investment;
This type of car wash is popular because the equipment is easy to use, and the prices for services are lower than with staff (the client himself carries out and controls the entire process).
Self-service car wash equipment
Look at what equipment is used for a self-service car wash and how it works inside:
In large cities, self-service car washes occupy a leading position.
Requirements for car washes
- The main requirements relate to wastewater and water treatment:
- it is necessary to conclude an agreement with Vodokanal, since during the operation of the car wash, dirty wastewater is discharged into the city sewer;
- the contract specifies the volume of wastewater and the responsibility of the car wash owner to prevent the discharge of toxic substances;
- the composition of wastewater is specified in regulatory requirements;
- a water purification unit must be installed at the car wash;
- To purify incoming water, it is also necessary to install appropriate equipment.
Let's share our experience. Video: the main points in opening a car wash business - examples from personal experience.
How to choose a place
The success of an enterprise largely depends on the choice of location.
- There are two decisive factors:
- location (intensity of client flows);
- costs of the premises (regular rent or one-time investment in the purchase of property).
All beginners are recommended to rent only. Enter into a long-term contract, insisting on a fixed payment amount. Buying your own premises without experience is a pointless risk. Inexpensive building rental options can be found quickly. The main thing is that there is a clear access path to the car wash.
Where should you locate your business: in central or residential areas? Attendance directly affects profitability. After all, if there are no customers, there will be no profit. Compare:
As you can see, the dilemma is serious, there is something to think about.
There is one more point related to the municipal authorities - they do not like it when car washes open in the city center. See if there is an unoccupied place in some upscale area of the city. It may not be big, but its residents drive luxury cars and are ready to use expensive services to maintain their personal fleet in perfect condition. In addition, wealthy people willingly order additional services.
Another option is to camp on the track. But again, there should be a gas station nearby, as well as a store, toilet, and cafe. Otherwise, drivers will drive by, postponing the issue of washing the car until they arrive at their destination.
Selection of equipment and materials
- The minimum set includes the following elements:
- compressor;
- water treatment system;
- high pressure apparatus for supplying water and heating it;
- washing vacuum cleaner;
- detergents.
- The equipment on the Russian market is richly represented by several brands:
- Carebridge;
- Weidner;
- California Kleindienst;
- Karcher.
Their branded prices are kept at the same level, so you won’t be able to save money here.
Organization of space
- Room zoning:
- there should be a client area (an equipped waiting area - a sofa, armchairs, a TV, a couple of tables with chairs for a snack or coffee, a cooler with fresh water, or a machine with drinks, sandwiches and chocolates);
- It is also necessary to organize a staff area (administrator’s office, cash desk, employee lounge).
Life has shown more than once that a person subconsciously strives for comfort. It is enough to pay a little attention to this sector, and it will soon pay off - some customers will prefer your car wash rather than your closest competitors.
Staff
Recruitment is the stage preceding the opening of an establishment. On the one hand, it’s quite easy to find people - there are enough people willing to work.
- On the other hand, be careful:
- It is possible to hire washers without experience, but on the condition that the person is trainable, efficient, and responsible;
- minimum requirements - knowledge of the car, hard work, good physical shape;
- additional requirements - friendliness, resistance to stress, communication skills.
Please note that not all candidates are ready to work at night. And those who have expressed a desire, it is not a fact that they are able to remain cheerful at night. Please take into account irregular working hours.
Basic and additional services
- Main services include:
- body wash;
- interior dry cleaning;
- polishing
- Additional services include:
- glass washing using anti-rain and anti-pot technology;
- blackening of wheels;
- applying a protective wax layer to the body;
- blackening of bumpers;
- engine washing;
- abrasive polishing;
- radiator washing;
- cleaning plastic parts salon;
- removal of holograms;
- headlight armoring (application of protective film);
- tinting;
- tire service
Remember that today's car owner is a sophisticated person, somewhat spoiled by service. And the wider the range of your services, the higher the popularity of your car wash will be.
Possible car wash franchises
The idea of a franchise business should not be dismissed. On the contrary, sometimes it is precisely this that will bring benefits, while promoting an unknown car wash will take a lot of effort with zero results.
A small franchise open goes well with a car wash. Perhaps your companion will be pleased to drink a cup of aromatic coffee while you polish your car.
A franchise is understood as a “ready-made business” from a well-known brand, that is, the right to use a specific trademark for commercial purposes on a paid basis. What are the advantages? You don’t have to develop a client base, build your reputation, or prove your worth in the market. Consider the most famous:
Brand "Mobile car wash"
- Peculiarities:
- a team of trained cleaners arrives at a pre-agreed location and provides services;
- the work uses unique chemicals(without water, so no dirt or water remains in the form of puddles);
- Currently, preparations are underway to create stationary car washes near gas stations, shopping centers and other crowded places.
Brand Fast and Shine
- Peculiarities:
- many branches have already been created in Russia (in 60 cities);
- the brand is recognizable and respected by car owners;
- By purchasing this franchise, you receive a ready-made solution and a ready-made business plan.
Brand LuxCarwash
- Peculiarities:
- quite a popular brand;
- calculations have shown that opening an establishment costs 8 times less than opening a standard and familiar washing bay.
How much does it cost to open a car wash?
With proper organization, washing pays for itself quite quickly, despite the initial difficulties.
- And that's why:
- the car remains clean and presentable for only a few days (this is due to heavy and frequent rainfall and poor quality of roads);
- Today no one wants to wash their car themselves, but a ready-made service is popular and in demand;
- there is no need to be afraid of competition (it’s enough to find an unoccupied place and “fit in” with the streams of client flows).
- Initial investment to open a car wash from scratch:
- set of equipment - about 300,000 rubles;
- detergents and auxiliary consumables - about $300 monthly (based on 30 cars serviced during the day);
- build a box from scratch - from 2700 to 3000 thousand rubles.
Let's watch a video on how to properly build a car wash box:
Estimated profitability
- Profitability and payback:
- the average profitability is quite high - 40%;
- the initial investment pays off within the first 1-3 years.
The numbers are taken from real life. The car wash business has been operating for decades; it is not something exotic and unknown. Over the years, an extensive analytical base has been accumulated. Therefore, it is easy to make forecasts, they are understandable and adequate.
Keep in mind that a high threshold of basic investments is the main difficulty for new businessmen. To ease the financial burden, start with a portable sink, and a little later create a full-fledged multifunctional complex based on it. By that time, you will already have both experience and an established clientele. Sberbank will help you with this for your small business.
Due to the fact that the number of cars in cities is constantly and steadily increasing, the demand for car-related services is growing. This applies to service stations, gas stations and car washes. But would it be a mistake to try to take a place in this niche, and what kind of income will a car wash bring to the owner?
Benefits of a car wash
Despite the fact that opening a car wash involves certain difficulties, this business is not only profitable, but also pays off relatively quickly. This business is partly profitable because many car owners are ready to pay for car wash services and wash their car in the yard today own home– it’s long, hard and unprofitable.
In addition, Russian realities are such that the quality of roads, constant precipitation and dampness in many regions of Russia do not allow keeping a car clean for more than a few days. It is interesting that even with such a high demand, there are still not enough offers, and each new car wash, with the right actions of the owner, will certainly become a profitable business.
Thus, this business has the following advantages:
- High demand for car wash services at almost any time of the year;
- Business profitability;
- Lack of significant competition.
The prospects of any car wash also depend on less significant factors, for example, targeting a certain category of consumers, the ability to service both domestic cars and expensive foreign cars, additional services for customers and the level of service.
Residents of single-industry towns are interested in: besides this?
Is there a profitable business with minimal investment? What knowledge and skills are needed for this? We are on this question.
Car wash franchise
Theoretically, for a car wash there will be enough space, a minimum set of equipment, detergents and several washers. However, this option will only work in small towns where the population simply has no choice. Currently, when opening your own car wash, it would be better to use a franchise.
The definition of the term “franchise” is very broad and covers a whole range of activities and actions, but in general, a franchise is a paid right to commercially use a trademark and/or business system. In this case, the owner of the rights (franchisor) transfers them for a fee to the using party (franchisee).
Today, there are several companies in Russia that are ready to cooperate with entrepreneurs and transfer the rights to their business schemes and trademarks. These companies provide franchises for mobile car washes, the demand for which is constantly growing. All of them differ in terms and amount of franchise payment, but three projects can be called the most interesting for beginners.
Franchise "Mobile car wash"
This project has been running since 2010. The peculiarity of the company’s way of working is that the client does not come to the car wash: the washers themselves will arrive at a pre-agreed place to provide services. The company's working methods do not involve the use of water - special chemicals are used for this, as a result of which there is no dirt or puddles left at the car wash site. In addition, one of the areas of work of the “Mobile Car Wash” is the creation of small stationary posts in various parking lots, near shopping centers, not far from cinemas.
Franchise "Fast and Shine"
When purchasing a FastandShine franchise, the car wash owner receives a ready-made business plan and business solutions that relate to opening a car wash and effectively attracting customers. The company operates in 60 cities of Russia.
Franchise "LuxCarwash"
This is another opportunity to organize a mobile car wash, which, according to rough calculations, will cost eight times less than a stationary box.
Franchises "Autolandia" and "Autoreality" as alternatives to a car wash
The huge number of cars in our vast country requires a large number of security alarms and other related products for cars.
In 2012, the Avtolandia franchise was registered, since then more than 25 partners from Russia and Kazakhstan have joined us and together we have created an extensive network of online stores that sell radar detectors, video recorders, navigators and much more.
The peculiarity of this enterprise can be safely called a small investment of money for the promotion of its own business. For 50 thousand rubles, the franchisor will provide the buyer with complete information on organizing a business, help launch your online store and provide and, to begin with, provide a certain amount of the necessary goods.
The franchisee will feel constant support from the franchisee, and he can also count on his full assistance in resolving any issues that arise.
The tempting nature of this proposal is as follows: the opportunity to make a quick profit with minimal investment, combination with any other type of activity, you can do this work for several hours a day.
A big role in the popularity of the Autolandia franchise is played by its online orientation. This means that you don’t have to look for premises for your business, hire staff, train them and pay salaries. You will save on all this. The owner himself will control the entire production, from the purchase of goods to its sale. At the same time, you do not need any special knowledge or preparedness.
The payback is evidenced by the following fact: more than 10 franchise enterprises of this brand have already been opened.
The demand for auto parts never falls, but in times of crisis, on the contrary, it grows, since there is not always enough money to buy new cars, and old periodic ones need to replace components.
Motorists increasingly prefer to buy spare parts themselves, without contacting service centers. The Autoreality franchise makes it possible to sell spare parts from well-known companies; the buyer chooses the brand himself and receives the rights to sell its products in his city. This direction is considered quite new; running a business does not require special skills, knowledge or large investments, and profit is guaranteed from the first days of the enterprise’s operation. The franchise involves four options for cooperation, three of which are online trading with the provision of a website, one is a regular store.
Types of car washes
Choosing the type of car wash is very important point, which needs to be studied at the planning stage. The volume of cash investments, demand for car wash services and profit depend on this. All car washes are divided into several types:
- Manual;
- Automatic;
- Mobile.
Mobile car washes– the least common category today, however, given the fact that such a business will require relatively little money, and the means and equipment used make it possible to wash a car quickly and with very high quality, mobile car washes can be considered a promising area.
Manual car washes in turn, they are divided into non-contact and contact. In the first case, water and detergents are supplied using equipment, and the worker controls the process without directly participating in it.
Contact washers- the most common and least expensive type. In this case, the car is washed by a person, and despite the fact that this is a very profitable type of car wash for owners and an inexpensive way for customers, manual contacts are gradually losing their relevance. Manually applying detergents with a sponge if done carelessly can lead to damage to the body, and in terms of time, washing a car using this method is inferior to other types.
Automatic car washes are also divided into two types: portal and tunnel. In a portal wash, an arched automated structure moves along the car, which cleans the body either with brushes or using a high-pressure system.
In tunnel-type car washes, everything happens a little differently: a car moves past the washing units on a special conveyor belt. In this case, you can also save on employees: for the operation of the sink, up to two people are enough to control the process. However, you will have to invest a lot of money in the construction of a separate room, since it is not always possible to find a suitable one.
What do you need to open a car wash?
Theoretically, opening a car wash is not so difficult if you strictly follow the instructions and soberly assess your capabilities (including financial ones). Where to start opening a car wash? First of all, you will have to choose a place and find out the rent for it. This amount always depends on the specific situation.
But the most important and very first actions of the future car wash owner are to obtain a resolution from the city administration and submit a letter of petition. This means that administration representatives should not have any complaints about opening a car wash in the selected area.
A lot of time may pass from the time the application is submitted, and there is no point wasting it: during these few weeks you need to prepare and submit a sketch of your project to the city administration, coordinate it with municipal architects, the SES and the fire service, and after that you can calmly wait to receive preliminary consent from administration.
After this, all received documents for opening a car wash, along with a letter addressed to the mayor, must be submitted again to the city administration, and after the final consent, you can begin to design or construct a building for the car wash.
At this stage, the final project is developed, which is sent for examination by the SES, agreed with the labor protection service and the environmental service, and approved by fire inspectors and city architects.
The last stage is the state examination, which approves the project and issues a construction certificate.
Requirements for car washes
During the operation of a car wash, wastewater is discharged into the city sewerage system, and the owner of the car wash must enter into a corresponding agreement with the municipal water supply and sewerage utility (WSS).
According to the terms of the contract, water and wastewater services establish regulatory requirements for opening a car wash based on the composition of wastewater. In simple terms, the water and wastewater sector regulates the amount and composition of wastewater: the volume should not exceed the amount specified in the contract and not contain toxic or environmentally hazardous chemicals.
Also, do not forget that water treatment equipment must be installed at the sink to purify the incoming water. These are inexpensive and compact units that do not pose any particular difficulties.
Car wash space
The profitability of such a business depends on the choice of location for a car wash. Although car washes are generally cost-effective, your choice should be taken with due care. For example, in residential areas there may be fewer customers, but the monthly rent will not hit the pocket of the car wash owner even in the “off season”.
A car wash in prestigious areas may have a higher rent, and in such places (usually the city center) the administration is very reluctant to allow car washes to operate. But even if you find a suitable area with high traffic near the center, you can be sure of a constant volume of work. In addition, residents of elite areas very often own expensive cars; they can afford to regularly care for their car and often order a whole range of additional services.
It is not necessary to build a separate building for a car wash from scratch: you can find inexpensive options with a ready-made building, but when building your own building, it is very important to choose a place where not only many cars pass by, but also to which customers can freely drive up, regardless of how busy it is roads.
Construction or rental of boxing
Opening your own car wash always involves a choice: build a separate building in accordance with your requirements or rent a box and try to adapt to the proposed conditions yourself?
The answer to this question is clear. For a business such as car washes, the best option there will be the construction of their own boxes, but not everyone has such a large sufficient capital to invest part of it in construction.
If you work for the future, you can choose a ready-made option, but in this case you need to approach the choice of location very carefully: the very low cost of rent in the first place should not be pleasantly surprising, but immediately alarming. It is possible that low price associated with an unfavorable location.
How to choose equipment for a car wash?
What equipment is needed? Any modern car wash should have:
- hot water pressure washer and water supply pressure washer (average cost $3,000);
- Compressor (costs about $250);
- Washing vacuum cleaner (from 400 to 550 dollars);
- Used water purification systems (from $5,000);
- Consumables in the form of detergents (about $300 monthly).
Typically, the cost of professional equipment depends on the manufacturer, but in this case, the car wash owner has little choice and will not be able to save much. The main suppliers to the Russian market today are Karcher, Carebridge, California Kleindiest, Weidner and other smaller manufacturers from Spain, Germany and Italy.
However, a good car wash is not only about equipment, but also about separate areas for staff and customers. This will attract new customers through good service, make the work of your employees more comfortable, and therefore the car wash will bring more profit.
A rest room, a room in which the cash register and an administrator’s office will be located should be provided for the staff. The conditions in these premises do not have to be the most luxurious: everything should be equipped for productive work, but nothing more.
In the case of premises for clients, it will not be possible to limit yourself to “Spartan” conditions: it has long been proven that with the same prices for a product or service, the client will almost always choose the offer where it will be comfortable and convenient for him to wait for his order or his turn.
A comfortable sofa and armchairs for clients, a TV or a standard selection of magazines in the waiting room is good, but you can go further and provide the client with the opportunity to have a snack, drink coffee or warm up in the winter.
To do this, it is not necessary to invest in a large extension for a cafe-bar: it is enough to provide a room in which, in addition to a small sofa, you can place three or four small tables, a cooler with hot and cold water and a small assortment of snacks.
Hiring
Recruiting personnel for a car wash is the last thing you need to do after solving all the issues regarding construction and purchasing equipment. However, this simple task also requires a responsible approach.
Becoming a car wash does not require any education or special skills: such employees are easy to train. However, candidates for this position must meet certain requirements:
- Learning ability;
- Good physical form;
- Minimum knowledge of the car;
- Friendliness and attentiveness towards clients;
- Responsibility.
Many car washes operate around the clock, and in this case, the washer has to make such an additional requirement as the ability to work at night.
Basic and additional services at a car wash
Additional services do not mean selling hot tea to customers, but procedures directly related to car washing. And in this case, you need to be prepared for the fact that the staff will have to be additionally trained and, most likely, the salaries of the washers will be increased. Obviously, the motivation of a washer to learn how to wash an engine, use anti-pot and anti-rain products will depend on the level of salary, and additional services for the owner of a car wash are, first of all, an opportunity to attract new customers.
You should not think that most car washes only provide external body washing: the range of services is very wide, and the main thing is to be able to attract customers to such services and make the right offer.
Many modern car washes (especially in big cities) offer their customers a whole range of additional services. Below are just a small part of them:
- Blackening of wheels and bumpers;
- Washing the engine using detergent;
- Radiator flushing;
- Application of protective wax;
- Abrasive polishing;
- Cleaning plastic in the interior;
- Removing holograms.
How much does it cost to open a car wash and what is the return on investment?
When the building for the car wash has been approved and built, the equipment has been purchased and installed, and the staff are dressed in new branded workwear, it is too early to talk about the success of the business. Should you open a car wash? Yes, it is profitable to open a car wash, but every entrepreneur knows: in the best case and with sufficient initial capital, the new company will work at least “from zero” at first, and sometimes expenses can significantly exceed income.
But this is the beauty of car washes as a business: such services are in great demand and there are very few specific features, so if everything was done correctly at the creation stage, the business will develop and generate income.
Much depends on the initial capital, and if large loans were taken out to create a car wash, the process may drag on, but it will not stop. How much does the equipment cost? All equipment will cost approximately 300,000 rubles. Consumables (at the rate of 30 cars per day) will cost $300 monthly, if you add to this the cost of building boxes of 2,700,000 rubles - it turns out that the cost of opening a car wash is 3,000,000 rubles.
But this is the case if the boxes were actually built: if the premises are rented, all expenses in the first month (including staff salaries) will amount to about half a million rubles. But simple mathematical calculations show that monthly income with an average visit to 30 transport units per day will be 300,000 rubles.
So, after paying wages, deducting taxes, and paying rent, the car wash owner is still making a profit. Naturally, it is worth taking into account the so-called “low season”: in the summer, revenue is significantly reduced, since the streets are clean, and most potential clients are on vacation. But even in this case, summer losses are generally compensated by large volumes of work in the autumn-spring period.
The number of cars in cities and other populated areas is growing steadily. In this regard, the demand for all services related to cars is growing. Entrepreneurs are increasingly turning their attention to business related to cars: car services, car washes, gas stations.
In what cases is this beneficial?
The prospects for a car wash depend on many factors, including, for example, the level of service, the ability to service both domestic and foreign cars, the availability of additional services and their range.
This is a business with little specificity. For those who are wondering whether it is profitable to open a car wash, the main deciding factors will be the liveliness of the chosen area and the absence of nearby competitors.
What do you need to open a car wash?
You should send a written request to the city administration and obtain its consent to open a car wash in the selected area. The period for consideration of such requests is one month.
Need to prepare preliminary design and coordinate it with municipal architects, as well as obtain approval from the SES, fire inspectorate, and environmental service.
Based on the received technical specifications, a complete set of design documentation is developed. After which you will need to approve it, obtain a positive conclusion from the state examination and permission to build the facility.
Appropriate agreements must be concluded with resource supplying organizations.
Types of car washes
It is better to decide on the type of car wash at the planning stage, because both the size of the investment and the profit will depend on this.
Car washes are divided into:
- mobile;
- manual;
- automatic.
Mobile car washes– a popular and rapidly growing direction. They require little initial investment, and modern detergents allow us to provide very high-quality services.
Manual car washes are divided into:
- contactless;
- contact.
In the first type of car wash, water and detergents are supplied through equipment, and the worker only controls the process. In the second case, people wash the car. This is the cheapest and most common type of car wash. However, nowadays it is increasingly losing relevance. The large time costs of washing a car are often not justified. In addition, careless actions can lead to damage to the body.
Automatic car washes can be:
- portal;
- tunnel.
Portal washes are designed in such a way that an automated arch structure moves along the car, cleaning the body using high pressure or brushes.
In tunnel washes, the process is organized in exactly the opposite way: here the machine moves on a conveyor belt along the washing units.
Automatic car washes are good because they allow you to save on staff. For normal operation of the sink, only two people will be enough. However, you will have to spend a lot of money on purchasing equipment and building or remodeling the premises, since often the existing premises do not correspond to the equipment for automatic washing.
Requirements for car washes
During operation, the washers discharge wastewater into the sewer system. Therefore, before starting work, it is necessary to conclude an agreement with the city water utility. There are regulatory requirements regarding the composition of wastewater. The volume of wastewater is specified in the contract, as is the inadmissibility of discharging toxic substances hazardous to the environment into the sewer system.
Water treatment equipment must be installed at the sink. This is usually a compact and inexpensive unit. Similar equipment is designed to purify incoming water.
Selecting a location
The first thing to start opening a car wash is choosing a location. You should choose a suitable room in the optimal area of the city, town, or choose an option on the highway near a gas station.
Next you need to find out the cost of rent. Renting a property will usually be more profitable than buying it, especially if you enter into an agreement for a long period of time and with a fixed payment amount.
Its profitability will directly depend on the location of the car wash. In residential areas there will be fewer customers than in the city center or on the highway. But the rent will be more affordable. In addition, municipal authorities often do not like the opening of car washes in the center.
The optimal choice would be an elite area located close to the center. Residents of such areas usually have expensive cars, can afford regular car maintenance, and often order many additional services.
There is no need to build your own sink. You can find an inexpensive option for a ready-made building. In any case, the main thing is that there is free access to the car wash, which does not depend on road congestion.
How to open a car wash from scratch: choosing equipment
The required set of equipment will look like this:
- high pressure apparatus for supplying and heating water;
- compressor;
- water purification systems;
- washing vacuum cleaner;
- detergents.
The equipment, of course, will depend on the specific manufacturer. Supplies to the Russian market are mainly carried out by large foreign companies. Their prices are appropriate, so you won’t be able to save much.
Main manufacturers:
- Karcher;
- Carebridge;
- California Kleindiest;
- Weidner.
It is important to properly zone the car wash and include areas for customers and staff. This will make your work as comfortable as possible, and good service will attract many regular customers.
The optimal minimum is a place for a cash register, an administrator's office, a staff rest room, and perhaps also a place where customers can drink coffee or even have a snack while waiting.
It has long been proven that customers are more willing to choose those places that guarantee them a lot of comfort.
The standard set includes a comfortable sofa and armchairs, magazines, and a TV. No special luxury is required here, the main thing is functionality and a focus on productive work.
In order to offer coffee to the client, you don’t have to invest huge amounts of money in a cafe. You can install a coffee machine or simply place a cooler with hot water and offer customers something like cookies or chocolate for tea and coffee.
Staff
Selection and hiring is the last stage before opening a car wash. This is not a difficult task, but it requires an extremely responsible approach. It is quite possible to choose car washers without work experience or special knowledge, but there should still be minimum requirements for candidates. The main qualities of a good car wash employee are:
- knowledge of vehicle design;
- responsibility;
- friendliness;
- communication skills;
- excellent physical shape;
- learning ability
Some car washes operate 24 hours a day, so the washer must be prepared to work during the night hours.
Types of basic and additional services
The main services include:
- body wash;
- interior dry cleaning and drying;
- polishing
Additional services do not mean selling coffee and hot buns to customers, but services that are directly related to washing.
Additional services will require additional staff training and increased salaries. It is absolutely obvious that the motivation for introducing a number of additional services for the car wash owner will be to increase the number of clients, and for the employee, washing the engine using the anti-sweat and anti-rain technique will be justified only if there is an appropriate financial reward.
Traditionally, a car wash is understood only as a purely external car wash. However, the range of additional services can be incredibly wide. The main thing is to be able to make the right offer to the client.
The most common additional services offered in big cities include:
- applying a protective wax layer;
- blackening of bumpers;
- blackening of wheels;
- engine washing;
- radiator washing;
- abrasive polishing;
- elimination of holograms;
- cleaning plastic in the cabin;
- tinting;
- reservation.
It is clear that the wider the range of additional services, the more in demand the car wash itself becomes. You can also open a tire workshop, which will attract even more clients to your complex.
The acquisition of a mini-factory for a small business can be the next step in the development of an entrepreneur -
Possible car wash franchises
If we approach the issue from a purely theoretical position, then to open a car wash you will only need premises, detergents, several washers, and a minimum set of equipment. However, such a car wash will only be successful in small towns where the choice of the population is very limited.
If the business is planned in a large city, then you can purchase a franchise.
The concept of “franchise” is quite multifaceted and covers a whole range of actions and activities. But to put it simply, a franchise is a paid right to use a particular trademark for commercial purposes.
Using an already promoted brand makes it possible to quickly start making money from a well-known name. Here you won’t have to re-establish a good reputation and client base.
Today, there are several companies operating in Russia that offer car wash franchises to entrepreneurs. Their offers differ in conditions and prices. Let's look at the most interesting options.
LuxCarwash
Thanks to this franchise, you can organize a car wash, which will cost about 8 times less than the usual and standard box.
Fast and Shine
When purchasing this franchise, the entrepreneur will immediately receive ready-made business solutions and a business plan. The company has its branches in 60 Russian cities.
"Mobile car wash"
The uniqueness of this project is that the washers themselves go to a pre-agreed location to provide services to the car owner. No water is used in order to avoid leaving puddles and dirt. Only the latest chemicals are used for washing. In the future, the company plans to create stationary car washes near shopping centers, gas stations and other places.
Option of non-stationary car washes from the ChistoCar company
Self-service car washes “POMOY SAM”
How much does it cost to open a car wash and its estimated profitability
Opening a car wash is not an easy process and involves certain difficulties. But a car wash pays for itself pretty quickly. Car owners are increasingly refusing to wash their cars themselves.
Russia is known for its bad roads and frequent and heavy rainfall. All this does not allow you to enjoy a clean car for longer than a few days, after which the car owner will again have to use the services of a car wash.
In addition, competition in the market here will not be as high as in other types of business. A newly minted car wash owner will quickly begin to receive a stable profit if he takes into account some of the specifics of the business and the peculiarities of the market situation.
If we talk about the initial investments, then all the equipment will cost approximately 300 thousand rubles. Cleaning supplies would cost approximately $300 per month if 30 machines were serviced daily. Construction of a box for a car wash from scratch costs approximately 2.7 - 3 million rubles.
The average profitability is 40%, which is quite high. The initial investment pays off in a period of one to three years.
The main difficulty in opening a car wash is the high threshold of basic investments. In order to reduce these costs, you can start a business by opening a portable car wash, and later, after building a customer base and making a profit, build a full-fledged washing complex.
Video: the process of building a stationary car wash for 3 stations