Seeing as our banks aren't paying much interest on our money I have been thinking of things to buy that will give me a better return with my money. Does anyone have any personal experience in owning & maintenance on a car wash. How long do things last ( pumps, nozzles, soap dispenser, Ect.) Can I make a profit? Are they a pain to own? What are some unforeseen costs? Opinions? Thanks Gerald
- Thread starter gmccool
- Start date
I have a friend who is a Kubota dealer. He and another fellow ventured into the car wash business. A couple of bays with just the wand etc. and one bay was 'drive thru' automated. He thought they would roll barrels of soap in on a hand truck and roll loads of coins back out! He could write a book full of horror stories, funny stories etc. about this experience. It never did make much money, and the land finally got valuable enough for higher uses.
I know of another man who owned about 3 of them and did well. Mini-storage facilities do well around here.
I know of another man who owned about 3 of them and did well. Mini-storage facilities do well around here.
Chris Jones
Member
I'm curious myself. Storage unit buildings seem like hot commodities too. But with business taxes and property taxes or leases etc I wonder as well. I'm also interested in anything else that one can invest money in for a few years and get a decent return on the investment.
showcrop
Well-known Member
The company that I work for makes the soap for them. profits in the soap is not good and I have not gotten involved. it appears to me that business is very spotty. Some days everybody gets their car washed most days nobody does. One of the best promotions is to sell packages where the customer can get their car washed every week for a major discount if they buy in advance.
I have a friend that owns a C store and later on put in a car wash. It took quite a while for it to start to break even each month. I think now he has it sorted out. The water and sewer bills for a while eating him up. I don't remember for sure, but at one time the water alone was eating up most of what it made. If you want I can put you in touch with him. Really nice guy and easy to talk to. Email is open.
Greg
Greg
RandyB(MI)
Well-known Member
The ones in our town are just paying for themselves/property and the only payoff will be the appreciation on the land itself. If you have it on a corner, good chance Wallgreen or CVS etc will want it. Couple of unprofitable gas stations in town laughed all the way to the bank when they came in and wanted ONLY main corner lots.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
No personal experience, just an observation. I live in a suburban city, population about 40,000, growing rapidly, low crime, high taxes, middle to upper class...
There are:
3 self serve car washes
1 full service wash
2 semi automatic washes
The 3 self serve are on the decline. Poorly maintained, one owned by an a$$, trying to destroy his business, the others are commonly broken, take your money, filthy, etc.
The full serve is busy on weekends, over priced, poor workmanship.
The going thing seems to be the semi automatic. About the same price as the self serve, but it pulls your car through, washes it, you get out and dry it, free vacuum it. They do a good job on a regularly washed car (which mine aren't), they do stay busy! Are they making money? Don't know but appears they are hanging in there, been in business about 5 years now.
There are:
3 self serve car washes
1 full service wash
2 semi automatic washes
The 3 self serve are on the decline. Poorly maintained, one owned by an a$$, trying to destroy his business, the others are commonly broken, take your money, filthy, etc.
The full serve is busy on weekends, over priced, poor workmanship.
The going thing seems to be the semi automatic. About the same price as the self serve, but it pulls your car through, washes it, you get out and dry it, free vacuum it. They do a good job on a regularly washed car (which mine aren't), they do stay busy! Are they making money? Don't know but appears they are hanging in there, been in business about 5 years now.
GeneMO
Well-known Member
- Location
- Pilot Grove, Mo.
Do some intense market research in your area. Find out what things are illegal. Then start doing/selling those things.
Tax free and a good lawyer and political connections will keep you out of the slammer. It has worked for thousands of politicans and govt. officials.
Gene
Tax free and a good lawyer and political connections will keep you out of the slammer. It has worked for thousands of politicans and govt. officials.
Gene
ObsoElitist
Member
I visit a lot of self-washes, as I always stop at the first one to clean the crud off of new purchases coming home. Sorry about the mess.
I am amazed by the damage a determined idiot with a crowbar can do to the coin boxes. Many have spent a lot of money on armor and camera systems. Be awar that that is a major issue with unattended coin-op businesses.
I am amazed by the damage a determined idiot with a crowbar can do to the coin boxes. Many have spent a lot of money on armor and camera systems. Be awar that that is a major issue with unattended coin-op businesses.
Friends had a car wash independent of their glass business. The car wash was barely making any money and then the EPA stirred up the town. The fee to clean the pits went up about 6 times more than the previous fee.
Somehow they found an investor and sold the car wash business. Buyer remodelled and dressed the place up and went broke. The equipment and vandalism gets costly too.
Look for a safer place to invest your money.
Somehow they found an investor and sold the car wash business. Buyer remodelled and dressed the place up and went broke. The equipment and vandalism gets costly too.
Look for a safer place to invest your money.
2 Old 2 care
Member
I own the property one is built on (99 year lease) I see all the financials at the end of each year. Just reviewed 2014's. It's in the 17th year of the lease agreement. Like ANY business, a car wash is subject to success or failure depending on a number of factors. You need a good location. The one I'm referring to is only a couple blocks from another car wash, but ours does 90% of the business in our small town primarily due to the better location. Also, you need modern, CLEAN, well maintained facilities.
I'll use the term "we" because this is somewhat of a partnership agreement.
Vandalism can be a huge expense. We counter that by having a well thought out security camera system and a manager/maintenance man who drop in at frequent intervals. If we catch someone (first hand OR on camera) we prosecute whenever possible. Word travels fast around a small town.
Also, our facility is in plain unobstructed view of several other business'. No security system beats nosy neighbors!
Know your state, local and EPA requirements....Meet or exceed them.
Also keep in mind there is a rather hefty initial investment that takes a few years to recoup. I look at it as this being like investing in the stock market....long term investment.
There are a number of firms that build car washes and supply product/equipment. All of them I'm familiar with will sit down with you and develop a business plan, one you can take to the bank to secure financial assistance. I'm sure that service is offered nation wide by other vendors. Google search "car wash builders" and include your location in that search.
I won't go into specifics, but I get a rather substantial lease payment every year, and the owner/operator makes what I'd consider a decent living with his portion. Not everyone's results are the same though, just as not all small business' make it in todays world.
I'll use the term "we" because this is somewhat of a partnership agreement.
Vandalism can be a huge expense. We counter that by having a well thought out security camera system and a manager/maintenance man who drop in at frequent intervals. If we catch someone (first hand OR on camera) we prosecute whenever possible. Word travels fast around a small town.
Also, our facility is in plain unobstructed view of several other business'. No security system beats nosy neighbors!
Know your state, local and EPA requirements....Meet or exceed them.
Also keep in mind there is a rather hefty initial investment that takes a few years to recoup. I look at it as this being like investing in the stock market....long term investment.
There are a number of firms that build car washes and supply product/equipment. All of them I'm familiar with will sit down with you and develop a business plan, one you can take to the bank to secure financial assistance. I'm sure that service is offered nation wide by other vendors. Google search "car wash builders" and include your location in that search.
I won't go into specifics, but I get a rather substantial lease payment every year, and the owner/operator makes what I'd consider a decent living with his portion. Not everyone's results are the same though, just as not all small business' make it in todays world.
I used to work for a family that owned a car wash. They owned a lot of other businesses and always used the car wash to launder cash from those others. Said no one would ever know how many cars actually went through the wash so they could make up whatever they wanted.
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
Where I live, all the small mom and pop DIY car washes along with most of the laundry mats are a thing of the past.
We have only two large car washes, but they are not DIY's. Your car goes through a machine, auto wash, wax and dry.
Now for a fixed fee they sell a monthly pass for unlimited washes.
I would think it takes a lot of money and the competition will be ruff. Not to mention, city taxes, city water/sewer, labor costs. I'm not interested in putting my money in a car wash. Diy car washes have issues with keeping things from freezing too.
I've recently invested in 3 different real estates trusts, 6-7% returns. One was FDIC insured. I would talk to a broker or finical investor as to where to put your money and ou do very little work.
I've been a landlord for 45 years. I wouldn't recommend doing that. I keep saying I'm getting out, but then what would I do for a source of aggravation? Not married.
We have only two large car washes, but they are not DIY's. Your car goes through a machine, auto wash, wax and dry.
Now for a fixed fee they sell a monthly pass for unlimited washes.
I would think it takes a lot of money and the competition will be ruff. Not to mention, city taxes, city water/sewer, labor costs. I'm not interested in putting my money in a car wash. Diy car washes have issues with keeping things from freezing too.
I've recently invested in 3 different real estates trusts, 6-7% returns. One was FDIC insured. I would talk to a broker or finical investor as to where to put your money and ou do very little work.
I've been a landlord for 45 years. I wouldn't recommend doing that. I keep saying I'm getting out, but then what would I do for a source of aggravation? Not married.
Maybe you could buy a large 50HP tractor with heated cab and plow snow, grade driveways and roads. It would be 40K dollars for a machine that size. And, you could get $50 an hour for your work. A buddy of mine has a 50HP Deere machine that he trailers around and gets $50/hour for the work.
A car wash could be a money pit. There is a quarter car wash in my town and I just saw a well driller there 2 weeks ago, not to mention seeing a guy there shoveling mud out of the bays, then there is the garbage that people leave there, etc.
Let us know in a few weeks what you invested in.
A car wash could be a money pit. There is a quarter car wash in my town and I just saw a well driller there 2 weeks ago, not to mention seeing a guy there shoveling mud out of the bays, then there is the garbage that people leave there, etc.
Let us know in a few weeks what you invested in.
I have no exsperiance with owning them but observations to start with. 1. check the available water supply!!! 2. You need a health population to make it go. 3. Can it be combined with a laundry mat or self storage??? 4. Is there something nearby to draw people Like a large mall??? Not sure those self serve ones are the answer as anyone can buy a cheap pressure washer and do it at home!!! One last though can you build it run it for a few years and resell it keying in more on resale with that one!!
teddy52food
Well-known Member
The price of silver is low now. Buy up all you can & sell when it gets high. Years ago I got a little for $6-7-8 an ounce & later sold it for $40.00. Should have had more.
Billy Shafer
Well-known Member
My neighbor owns the local car wash. He would tell you. Go raise rocks,you will make more money.
1948CaseVAI
Well-known Member
I use a self-serve weekly. A couple of years ago they modernized to take debit and credit cards, and the manager told me that within a year they will no longer accept cash. That will help the vandalism/theft problem a lot.
I really don't understand why any vending machine still takes cash in this day and age. The cards are more convenient for all involved. Any machine can be connected to the financial card system for very little investment. No hard wires are required.
I really don't understand why any vending machine still takes cash in this day and age. The cards are more convenient for all involved. Any machine can be connected to the financial card system for very little investment. No hard wires are required.
All car wash outfits suck big time.
They have never enough light, it is always foggy and there's no car lift so one can't wash the underside or mud from the frame rails. And to top it off they cost an arm and a leg for the poor service to boot.
I let the rain wash my vehicles, the outcome is the same and it is free.
They have never enough light, it is always foggy and there's no car lift so one can't wash the underside or mud from the frame rails. And to top it off they cost an arm and a leg for the poor service to boot.
I let the rain wash my vehicles, the outcome is the same and it is free.
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
Having tenants is enough aggravation. I retired 11 years ago. I said then if I ever decide to go back to work, I'll go outside and bang my head against a brick wall until the urge goes away. Never had to use the brick wall.
If I need a replacement source of aggravation, I'll put my thumb on an anvil and smack it with a big hammer. So far, haven't had to use the anvil either.
If I need a replacement source of aggravation, I'll put my thumb on an anvil and smack it with a big hammer. So far, haven't had to use the anvil either.
Chris Jones
Member
Yea, we watched "Breaking Bad" too. 
ObsoElitist
Member
Carry a 1/4 inch pipe elbow and a crescent wrench and you can wash the underside well.
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