How to open a car wash from scratch: a business plan

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Many Russians these days are looking for an acceptable way to get a reliable income, and the idea of starting your own business is increasingly taking over the minds of fellow citizens. Where, in what area is it relatively easy to earn money? Where to go if you do not have huge funds to organize a serious business or buy a new business? And what to do if absolutely all niches are occupied a long time ago, and inventing something new is still the same task?

What's profitable?

Let's not reinvent the wheel and today we'll talk about one of the classic, well-established types of business, the opening of which, although it requires quite serious investments, is still quite a real task.

It's about washing cars. How to open a car wash from scratch? What is needed for this, and how to properly organize a business in order to have a guarantee of profit, not losses? In this article, we will tell you how to properly open a car wash and explain some important nuances.

How relevant is this?

Why a car wash? The relevance of this business in modern urbanconditions proved by life itself. Judge for yourself: car washes are in demand absolutely everywhere - from a metropolis to a small town, and people use their services in any season.

In winter, every driver needs to visit a car wash to wash off s alt, sand and reagents. In spring and autumn, you have to look there at least once every 2-3 days due to constant mud and puddles on domestic roads. In the summer, among car owners, it is customary to carefully rub the cars to a full shine. And today we will talk about how to open a car wash from scratch.

This business (according to professionals) has a fairly high profitability (30-40%), that is, it is among the profitable enterprises. We can talk about full payback after about 12-16 months after the opening of the business, of course, subject to its successful setting and promotion. If we are talking about a portal, more expensive option, then this period is extended, and it will be possible to calculate net profits in a year or two.

How to open a car wash from scratch: a business plan

The beginning of absolutely any commercial project requires the development of a detailed business plan. It should contain a detailed calculation of the costs, revenues, payback and, ultimately, the profitability of the conceived enterprise. Based on these data, it will be possible to analyze the possible prospects that this commercial project may have.

How to open a car wash? The business plan of your undertaking must necessarily include the following main points: financial strategy, business organization plan, marketing specifics,market data for similar services.

Calculating the cost of your future business greatly depends on whether you are planning to build a separate facility for organizing a sink or are going to get by with buying or renting an existing one.

In the first case, you should first of all deal with a thorough study of the issues of building a room with the execution of all the necessary documentation, the cost of acquiring or renting a land plot, consumables, purchasing and installing equipment, as well as the necessary repairs and inevitable costs during operation. Each of the points should be thought out more than carefully.

What documents do you need to collect?

What instances should be bypassed before opening a car wash from scratch? The business plan must include this item without fail. To begin existence, your offspring must obtain permission in the form of a SEZ (sanitary and epidemiological conclusion). To do this, you will need to collect a package of documents, the complete list of which is regulated by order No. 776 of Rospotrebnadzor (dated November 21, 2005).

If you are planning, for example, to open a car wash from scratch in Moscow, you will:

1. Schedule a visit to the Moscow Land Committee in order to conclude a land lease agreement.

2. Seek permission from the government of the area where your business will be located, as well as get opinions from the Fire Service, Moskompriroda, MP "Mosvodostok" and Gossanepidnadzor.

3. Construction plan to be approved by the Moscow Committee for Architecture.

What else needs to be agreed upon

In addition, the Moscow government will require you to provide contracts for the lease of a site, cleaning of the adjacent territory with the removal of solid waste, a situational plan with the marked boundaries of your site and a document indicating that your cash register equipment is registered.

Before opening a car wash from scratch, information about the proposed construction of the facility will need to be submitted to the Department of Communications and Transport. To obtain a free economic zone and approve the project, you will have to contact Rospotrebnadzor (its territorial department).

We select a place and premises for our car wash

The payback rate and, as a result, the profitability of this business project are directly related to the location of the car wash. An almost ideal place for this is the roadsides of the central city avenues, also pay attention to the busiest highways.

Often car washes are organized at the entrance to the city, next to the customs or border post. But, being in the area of a major transport hub, drivers most often give up the idea of using the services of a car wash because of the increased fuss and flea market. It will be more profitable to offer your services near gas stations and maintenance stations.

Renting is cheaper

How to open a car wash from scratch, when building your own building for it is an overwhelming financial task for you? In this case, the rental of premises at the ATP, suitable for allparameters might be a good option. In addition, you will have to draw up much less documents. Car enthusiasts are usually familiar with all such enterprises in their city.

The type and volume of services provided depends on the parameters of the premises. For example, if you are thinking about how to open a truck wash from scratch, there are a number of additional factors to consider, starting with the height of the ceilings.

Don't forget about the need for an auxiliary area where you will store consumables.

Water treatment at a car wash

In connection with the growth of serious environmental problems, the owners of car washes put forward requirements that you will certainly have to take into account when opening. For example, a purification system will be required without fail, the filters of which will remove fats, oil products and other wastewater chemicals.

Such equipment is quite compact and belongs to transportable units. The procedure for water purification itself is carried out in stages. The existing circulation tank allows you to clean the liquid using a reverse cycle. Thus, circulating several times in a row along the circuit, the water remains practically free of impurities.

Since the operation of the treatment equipment is provided at temperatures above +5 °C, it should be installed in a heated room.

What's next?

At the opening of the car wash, a commission of representatives of the administration, firefighters, traffic police and other services should be present. They will sign the act of acceptance of your object.

Then you should take care of advertising. After all, the more people learn about the new car wash, the more of them will become customers. Funds for the opportunity to notify potential consumers about your service should not be spared.

Advertising on billboards located in close proximity to your point of sale will be very effective if you indicate in a short form its location, opening hours, discounts, main services and important bonuses.

Selecting staff

After overcoming bureaucratic obstacles, start recruiting the right staff. What should it be? The main requirements for applicants for employees are the ability to understand cars of the category the service of which is supposed to be in your case, contact (to form a list of regular customers) and polite treatment.

In order not to lose consumers of services, it is desirable to operate the car wash around the clock - such a schedule is optimal for it. In this case, you will have to hire 5 or 6 washers and one foreman.

Higher education is not required for your employees, students can also be employed. They should be paid according to the amount of work done. Employees should be motivated by additional financial incentives, and stylish work overalls with a corporate logo will help to raise the image of a car wash as a reputable enterprise.

Calculate the cost of the project

When calculating mandatory expenses, proceed from the cost of rent. This amount will vary depending on the premises and the area where it is located.located. Investments in the purchase of equipment should be added to the lease.

A high-pressure cleaner with water heating function will cost you between $1,800 and $3,000. The device that supplies water to 1 post - at 500-1300 c.u. e. Compressor - 200-250 dollars. Washing vacuum cleaner (or vacuum cleaner) - 400-550 dollars. Water purification system - in 4800-6600 dollars

Most car wash owners prefer to buy imported equipment. In this market segment, 80% of sales belong to the German company Karcher. In addition, Italian and Danish equipment is appreciated. Russian manufacturers usually buy water purification devices.

The list of basic materials related to consumables consists of car shampoo, polishing agent, products used for dry cleaning, cleaning of wheel rims, engine, bumpers. Monthly expenses for them will be about $ 300, provided that 30-40 cars are serviced by a car wash daily.

Advice for a businessman to achieve success

Let's give some more recommendations on how to open a car wash from scratch.

In the summer, the flow of customers, as a rule, dries up. Washing services are mainly used by those who want to wax the car. What should a businessman do in order not to lose profit? The only way out here is to slightly lower prices while expanding the range of services. Second, try to offer customers additional reasons to visit your outlet. For example, set up a small tent next to the establishment with tables wherethose who wish can relax and have a snack (for example, barbecue). During the holidays, someone will definitely want to wash the car.

Great solution - a mini-market with groceries or a small store selling spare parts within walking distance.

What to do if funds are insufficient

Perhaps you want to spend as little money as possible and are thinking, for example, how to open a self-service car wash. Well, this option is quite possible. Its advantages are that savings on staff salaries are achieved. Of course, this type of service has individual characteristics that must be taken into account when drawing up a business plan.

If you came up with the idea of how to open a car wash in the garage, it is better to immediately abandon it. Apart from the need to settle questions with the leadership of the garage cooperative, the problem of water supply, a "brisk" place and the installation of all the expensive equipment mentioned above is in full growth.

The main point, because of which this project can be considered unviable, is the inability to connect to water supply and sewerage networks. Even if there is one, you will be required to build a wastewater treatment system. In a word, this idea is not very successful.

How to open a self-service car wash from scratch: some tips

Suppose you want to get this type of sink. You already know how to open a car wash from scratch. The business plan in this case should only be slightly adjusted to suitfeatures of such service.

As you know, car washing services are portal and tunnel, in which washing is carried out in an absolutely automated way, manual (washing of cars is done by staff) and open - based on the principle of self-service.

In the latter case, the drivers themselves wash their cars with the funds provided. Such a sink consists of a set of equipment with a set of necessary materials. All equipment (pistols for water supply, vacuum cleaners, dryers) is as simple and clear as possible. Customers use the services of such a car wash much more willingly because of the opportunity to save money.

The list of services provided includes washing with warm water and powder (removing dirt), rinsing off the foam with cold water, waxing cars, curing to eliminate drips.

The main problem when setting up such a car wash is what to do with freezing liquids in winter? There is a solution, and it consists in a device under the floor heating using a pipe system with circulating running hot water. Water heating in the system is ensured by automatic switching on of a gas or diesel boiler at the right time. Equipment should also be selected with continuous fluid circulation, such as pressurized water guns.