How to Start a Car Wash Business

There are several options for a person to consider when looking getting into the car wash business. Should the person buy an existing business? Should it be automatic-self service or one with a staff of washers? Should you consider a mobile business or a business with a fixed location? Should the business be a hand wash business or equipment oriented? All of these questions must be answered and the potential owner must come to grips with these options. The amount of money the person has available to put into the business will be a determining factor on what way would be the best way to go. A fixed location will cost more to do than a mobile business. Buying an existing business is usually more costly upfront than starting one from scratch, but in this case it would depend on which way the person chose. For example the mobile car wash would be far less expensive than a fixed location operation. The mobile business would have the cost of equipment and a truck. The fixed location would entail a building and the equipment for the bay or bays.

Starting either from scratch would cost a certain amount. Whether this would be more of less than buying an existing business would depend on the deal that could be made with the current owner. If the owner is motivated and trying to just get out of the business, then a better deal may be possible. The circumstances would dictate the answers to these questions.

Talking with business brokers and looking on the Internet could help in finding a person with a mobile business. The fixed property would probably be easier to find.

Another possibility would be to start with a mobile business and as the cash flow became more stable, look into getting or adding a fixed location car wash.

The Internet is a terrific way to find businesses/equipment for sale

A person thinking about starting one of these car wash associated businesses can easily find car washes for sale and brokers who represent them. The mobile businesses may be slightly harder to find, but they are available. The advantage of buying an existing business is almost always a better way to go than starting one from scratch. The immediate cash flow and clients is a huge plus to a new owner. This factor could be the difference between success and failure. An existing business is much easier to push past the break-even point and to a successful venture. A true start-up business has to gain clients and slowly build up cash flow. The question for the owner of this business is will it happen soon enough for the business to survive.

Talk with a broker about what is available and the terms they feel they can obtain from the current owner. If this is out of your reach financially, then a mobile hand wash could be the answer or using a small power washer to get the business off the ground and started. There are several options in this business that could lead to a successful new business. Getting clients will be the biggest problem facing the new owner of such a business, as there are few to none when the business is opened.

The Internet can be used to find equipment, which is new or used. This is another real advantage of using this tool to help a potential owner find what is needed. Just put in what you are looking for in the search box and you will be surprised at how many sources will show up.

Arranging financing of an existing business

The current owner is the obvious source of some financing of an existing business. The problem is the buyer will have to pay a higher price for the business than if it were being purchased for cash. Having your financing in place when making your offer for the business will save money on the purchase price.

The Internet is an excellent way to find business financing for your purchase. There are several firms that show up on the Net for this type of loans. These firms are in the business of doing this kind of lending and are much more understanding of the problems a new owner faces when buying a business. They are certainly worth contacting and discussing your situation.

Car Wash information and Car Wash business planning

There are great sources on the Net that will help the potential owner of any type of business. The Car Wash business is well covered and a buyer can get good information about running and owning this type of business. Having prior knowledge of what is needed to be successful in this business will help a potential buyer decide if this is the correct move for them to follow. A book that tells the facts is invaluable to the buyer of such a business. Getting an up close and personal look before the fact lets the buyer imagine what it would be like to own a car wash business. If they like what the see in their minds eye they can pursue the project.

Another way to get information is to speak with people in the business. They may be willing to talk if they are sure that you will not be in competition with them. They could lead you to brokers and companies that would be helpful in getting more information. The one question that you should try to get them to answer is would they do it again. Has it panned out like they thought it would before they got into it?

Any information from all sources will help you evaluate even better the advantages and disadvantages of going into such a business. This is true of any type of business that a person is considering.

The problem as always is one size does not fit all. One owners experience could be great and another could wish they never made the decision

Conclusions

This business, car washing, has so many options available to owners and potential buyers that need to be looked at and considered very carefully.

It is not like buying a restaurant or a plumbing company. Those businesses have limited variations such as location or the type special services they offer. This business has many different levels of financial commitment to buy or start. All of these options make this an interesting business to consider. People are very particular about their cars these days. Their car represents a substantial investment that needs care and ongoing maintenance. This means this business niche is likely to grow and be used by more people all of the time. A trend like that makes this business even more attractive to the potential owner.

Finding a business for sale and the needed money to make the purchase is fairly easy for a person that is used to using an Internet search engine. If you speak with someone in the business, they may be very helpful and even better they may be in the market to sell. If they are, the obvious question is why do they want to sell. In any event they could give you valuable insight into the business.

The Benefits of Pressure Washing and Hiring a Business to Do it For You

When many homeowners think of ways to make their homes look better, they consider getting services like lawn maintenance, gutter cleaning, window washing and home cleaning. While all of these services are necessary, many homeowners fail to consider their sidewalk and siding and what condition it is in. Simply put, having siding that is in good condition is a necessity, as siding that is in bad condition will be more prone to issues such as mold, which can be a problem for those who are allergic to it. There are many benefits to getting pressure washing done by a professional, as you’ll find out in this article. Four Benefits of Pressure Washing - It’s Not as Expensive as Replacing Things Outright. Does your siding look like it’s been there for a long time and is in desperate need of replacement. Or how about your deck-does it look like the wood needs to be re-stained? These are both signs that your siding and deck are in need of maintenance. A lot of people assume that when the condition of anything on their hope deteriorates, it’s automatically time to replace it. But a good pressure washing can restore your deck, siding or sidewalk to its original condition because the wash removes dirt and many other things that can make your deck, siding, or sidewalk look in worse condition than it really is. - It Gets Rid of Harmful Mold. It’s a fact that many homes have mold of some kind on them, which can trigger allergic reactions. If you’ve felt like your home is making you sick, it could very well be a mold build up on the outside. Pressure washing is able to cut through mold and grime and remove it in a way that is safe and will be beneficial to both you and your home. - Extends the Life of Roof Shingles. Replacing the roof on any home is a very costly thing, and a build-up of mold is a common cause for shingles that need to be replaced a lot more often than they should. Fortunately, pressure washing-even on roofs-can get rid of the mold and greatly extend the life of the shingles, saving homeowners thousands of dollars in potential repairs. - Better Insulation and More Energy Efficient. Improper home maintenance can result in a home that is poorly insulated and will cost a lot more to keep warm. Due to the rising cost of energy, having a properly insulated home is essential, and believe it or not, pressure washing can aid in this. That’s because pressure washing gets rid of things that can affect the insulation of the home, both on the roof and on the siding. Why to Hire a Professional to Pressure Wash In some instances, doing things yourself can save money and time, but not when it comes to important home maintenance like pressure washing. It’s far cheaper to hire a professional business to do your home’s pressure washing, as you won’t need to buy the special equipment they use to get it done. You’ll also save time, as you won’t have to spend hours doing it yourself. Finally, the results will last much longer than an amateur job would.

Make $450 or More Per Job – Start a Pressure Washing Business

The Pressure washing business is a great opportunity for anyone that wants to make either a part or full time income. Here are 5 important reasons explaining why it’s profitable to start a pressure washing business.
You can make $450 dollars or more for simply pressure washing a home. On average it takes 4-6 hours of work to finish pressure washing a residential home around 2000 square feet. That comes to on average $75 dollars an hour just for doing residential work. The commercial work is even more lucrative. In rich neighborhoods it is often acceptable to charge higher prices per home.
There is low overhead when operating your own power washing business. The maintenance costs required for operating a pressure washer is typically low and insurance costs are not high when compared to other small businesses. Compared to owing a brick and mortar store, the pressure washing business costs and overhead doesn’t even compare. You don’t need to maintain a store or pay expensive monthly rental fees. The main monthly costs for a pressure washing business are insurance, marketing costs, and equipment maintenance.
The pressure washing business isn’t as competitive as many other small businesses. For example if you compare the pressure washing business with the landscaping business you will find far greater competition in the landscaping business. To verify this look in your newspaper for landscaping business ads and then check for pressure washing business ads. Chances are you will find less competition.
The startup costs for a pressure washing business are lower than most other small businesses. You don’t need to invest $10,000 dollars to get started in the power washing business. A lower investment means less risk in case your business fails or the market isn’t as good as you expected. Many people fall into the trap of believing they need the best, most expensive equipment on the market in order to run a successful power washing business. The truth is you can run a successful business and be highly efficient by using average or used equipment provided the equipment operates properly.
The pressure washing business allows repeat business. Clients you do work for will often as you to come back in 3-6 months if you do a good job. Also there will always be work available. Mold, Algae, and dirt are never going away. There will always be another residential or commercial building that needs to be pressure washed regardless of your competition.

Enhance Your Power Washing Business With Pressure Washer Accessories

Once you’ve made the initial investment of a good, powerful pressure washer it will benefit you to take some time to explore all of the pressure washer accessories available. Pressure washer accessories can optimize the list of services you can offer customers and put you ahead of your competitors. Pressure washer accessories, such as GFCI cords and plugs, brass couplings, hose restrictors, good pressure gauges, winterizing kits, battery boxes, unloader valves can extend the life of your existing equipment. They can also just simply make your job easier and more professional looking. To expand the list of services you offer, consider adding a sand blaster (medium to heavy duty equipment is available) or sewer jetter (can clean pipes and tubes from 1” –6” in diameter) to your system. Chemical injectors are a necessity when you need the extra cleaning power of chemicals. There are high or low-pressure chemical kits with adjustable chemical injectors. There are metering valves, nozzles for distance or maximum pressure, and systems that save your pump, lance, hose and gun by having the chemicals by-pass them. Add the service of duct cleaning to your repertoire, and shine above the competition even more. Made to be corrosion-resistant and with self-lubricating bearings, the Swiss made carbide swivel duct cleaner is one great pressure washer accessory. Working with hot or cold water, duct cleaners clean any kind of duct, vent, chimney, or chute. And don’t forget the market for cleaning restaurant hoods and trash chutes and even kegs and barrels. Some surfaces can be cleaned with pressure and cold water alone, but many cleaning jobs will go faster with (and some downright require), hot water. If you don’t yet have the power of hot water, it should be one of your next pressure washer accessories. There are many types to choose from that can be added to existing cold water pressure units. If you want to help the environment, there is another good pressure washer accessory to help you do so. The “wash water filter system” protects the environment by re-using wash water that has been filtered. When power washing floors, driveways, or any flat surface, this system harbors, collects, and then filters the dirty water. Using portable dams and drain covers, and a closed vacuum, state-of-the-art filter, and holding tank system, this wash water filter set-up makes sense economically and environmentally too. For ease, comfort, and professionalism, there are pressure washer accessories such as foot valves (lets you operate the pump from a distance), extension wands and brush attachments, carts, skids, hose reels, magnetic starters, and so much more they are hard to list here. It will benefit the pressure washer owner to know of the many accessories available and their applications. For instance, by checking out the accessories available, you would learn that simply adding a rotary nozzle would increase cleaning power and efficiency for large, flat surfaces. A rotary nozzle uses centrifugal force and is 200% more efficient than a 25° flat fan nozzle. Rotary nozzles come in small (2,500 psi), medium (3,000 psi), large (4,350 psi) and extra large (5,000 psi), and there is a stainless steel, super-heavy-duty (7,350 psi) rotary nozzle. Of course, the pressure washer accessories list includes replacement parts—from engines and pumps (and parts for them), through to tires for hose reels and hardware for all mechanisms.