Downtime Is More Than a Mechanical Problem Downtime is one of the most expensive—and frustrating—issues car wash owners face. When equipment goes down, revenue stops, customers leave, memberships are questioned, and staff morale suffers. What makes downtime particularly damaging is that its true cost is often underestimated. Lost washes, refunds, churn, and reputational impact rarely…
Read MoreMost Car Wash Frustrations Share the Same Root Causes Car wash ownership can be highly rewarding—but it is rarely frictionless. Even well-located, well-equipped sites can become sources of daily stress when small operational issues compound into recurring problems. What makes these challenges particularly frustrating is that they often feel unique, even though they are remarkably…
Read More(Part 2 of 2) Understanding Car Wash Equipment & Technology Choosing the right car wash equipment is one of the most important decisions entrepreneurs make when developing a new car wash. Equipment determines wash quality, operational efficiency, maintenance demands, and long-term profitability. Modern car wash systems are highly engineered, integrating mechanical components, chemistry delivery systems,…
Read More(Part 1 of 2) What Entrepreneurs Need to Know Before Building a Modern Car Wash Starting a car wash is one of the most appealing paths into small-business ownership because it blends strong consumer demand with opportunities for predictable, recurring revenue. Yet the simplicity of the service—vehicles entering, receiving automated cleaning, and exiting—often hides the…
Read MoreFranchising is often marketed as a turnkey path for starting a business, offering ready-made systems, recognizable branding, comprehensive training, and ongoing franchisor support. For many industries, this “business in a box” approach reduces risk—franchisees follow a proven formula, tapping into existing products, supply chains, marketing, and collective buying power. But is that always true when…
Read MoreIn business—and especially in the car wash industry—we’re constantly faced with decisions. What equipment to invest in? What technology to embrace? What customer experience to prioritize? Each choice comes with its own positives and challenges. There’s a philosophy—sometimes summed up as “it’s 50/50”—that helps frame these decisions in a healthier, more realistic way. Understanding the…
Read MoreWhen I first got into the car wash business over 20 years ago, $3 car washes were a new phenomenon. I remember seeing friends proudly post their low prices on their buildings. But before too long, something interesting happened—the community stopped calling those businesses by their actual names. Instead, they became known simply as “the…
Read MoreWhat is the Difference Between a Tunnel Car Wash and In-Bay Automatic Car Wash? Maximizing the site and investment Rural vs Metro Property size You Are you looking to invest in the car wash industry? If you have started looking to invest in a car wash, I’m sure you have come across all the different…
Read MoreCarwash Fundamentals After some recent reflection on business and car washing, I decided I needed to focus more on the fundamentals in our business this year; request in – service out. It sounds very simplistic but why make it harder than that? The difficult part lies in how we minimize the time between the request…
Read MoreYou might not want to admit it, but summer is over! Just drive by any school in the morning and the traffic will tell you that. While you might not want to think about it, it is time to prepare your wash for winter. Too many times, we see sites wait until the first snow…
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