Car wash business plan with calculations - how to open a car wash from scratch. Ready-made business plan for car wash and tire service

06.08.2023

We offer the best car wash business plan for beginners. Calculations, tables, useful recommendations.

Starting investment in a car wash: 1,253,000 rubles.
Project payback period: 16 months.
Car wash profitability: 68% (self-service establishment – 75%).

Opening a car wash is planned mainly by those people who want to make a profit without having any special knowledge.

This business is profitable and has good development prospects.

Statistically, there is one car for every family in Russia.

Car owners want their cars to be clean and well-maintained. At the same time, the percentage of ownership of expensive imported cars is also increasing. Clients no longer trust their property to simple guys with a bucket and a rag. They want to receive a high level of service with quality equipment and specialized cleaning products. Therefore, the flow of car wash customers is growing.

Consider the standard car wash business plan, which you should focus on when creating your own.

Car wash business plan: planning

Car Wash Project Summary

For example, we will consider a detailed business plan for a car wash in Moscow.

The project aims to:

Satisfying the needs of customers to provide car washing services at affordable prices with adequate quality.
Creation of an enterprise with a high level of profitability.
Receiving profit from activities.

To open a car wash, an initial investment of 1,253,000 rubles is required.

The amount of 1,000,000 will be received from the investments of the project sponsors.

The amount of 253,000 will be compensated from the personal funds of the business initiator.

Marketing of the project “Car Wash Business Plan”

Car wash market overview

Market analysis in a business plan is necessary to identify the niche and competitors. Before opening, you need to carefully study the types of work provided by competitors, prices, and advertising strategy.

The relevance of the services offered can be assessed personally by visiting 3-4 car washes.

The absence of customer queues indicates low demand.

But it is necessary to take into account the time of day, the seasonality of such a business, and special occasions. The flow of customers increases on holidays and weekends and tends to zero during cloudy weather.

The crisis of 2008-2009 had a negative impact on all areas of providing services to the population. However, by 2010, the majority managed to recover to pre-crisis levels. As for car washes, since 2012 there has been an increase in indicators. Currently, 2/3 of car owners use the services. This led to the opening of a large number of new firms. However, there are still free places in this niche.

Competitive advantages of washing

To beat the competition, you need to take advantage of the advantages that will make your car wash stand out from the rest.

In a business plan you can indicate the following points:

24-hour car wash operating schedule.
The optimum ratio of price and quality.
It is especially important to focus on this when opening a self-service establishment. After all, low cost of services is their main strong point.
Availability of a comfortable waiting room for clients.
Sale of soft drinks and tea/coffee.

Target group

To estimate the number of potential customers to include in a business plan, it is necessary to study data on the number of car owners in the region of interest. They can be obtained on the official website of the State Statistics Service.

In Moscow, the average statistical indicators of the target audience of car washes are as follows:

About 47% of city car owners use car wash services;
among clients 57% are men, 43% are women;
income is average and above average.

It is better to present such data in a business plan in the form of charts and graphs.

Advertising campaign

A successful opening and subsequent effective development of a business is impossible without advertising.

Car wash promotion includes several options:

This includes, first of all, the sign.
It should be bright and attract attention. If the washing facility is not located directly next to the road, there should be a sign indicating the route to the building.

P.S. To attract the attention of customers, inflatable life-size puppets, flags and additional signs along the road are used.

To start, print 1000 pieces and replenish supplies regularly. They are given to clients and placed in thematic places: auto parts stores, car service centers.

Car wash room

There are two options for placing a sink.

Build from scratch.
Not recommended because the number of required permits from different authorities is huge. There is a risk of receiving a refusal from the administration, then the efforts will be in vain.
Rent of finished premises.
The option is more reasonable and therefore popular.
A box or garage would be better. The premises can be purchased or rented with the option to purchase.

In addition to the main premises, make sure there is a parking lot and a waiting room.

You will also need a high-quality drain for water or the development of your own sewage pit.

Car wash business plan: equipment

Equipment is purchased depending on the type of washing. In Russia, four varieties are relevant:

Self-service car washes.

They require large investments to open, which not every entrepreneur can afford.
Clients wash their vehicles themselves using the equipment provided.
Opening a company with a self-service mode is only advisable for large cities with a high population density. They require.

Mobile car washes.

Instead of a room, a Gazelle-type vehicle is used. This allows us to provide services to clients in any convenient location.

Portal car washes.

They have a number of advantages: high throughput, profitability.
They are a fully automated washing process.
The main disadvantage: less gentle on car coverage. In addition, operator negligence can lead to damage to vehicles. Consequently - additional costs.

The most popular variety.
Washers serve customers using equipment that supplies water under pressure.

Although you don’t need a lot of equipment for a car wash, the cost of the best quality equipment is far from small. You can't save money on this.

The list depends on the number of services provided, which are also indicated in a separate list in the business plan.

Car wash staff

Car wash employees must perform their duties efficiently, work quickly, and respond promptly to emerging tasks. Technical knowledge is not required. However, you will need to be in good physical shape to operate high-pressure cleaners.

2 employees are enough for one box.

If the car wash operates around the clock, three shifts are organized. The total number of washers is six people.

This data is not relevant for self-service establishments. Car washes of this type require only two or three administrators working in shifts.

A list of job responsibilities is included in the car wash business plan, based on the Labor Code:

car wash administrator: resolves conflict situations, monitors the maintenance of cleanliness and inventory, organizes the work of the car wash, monitors compliance with the rules of labor discipline and equipment operation, issues tasks to other employees;
washers: clean cars according to technical standards, ensure order in the car wash premises, monitor the correct operation of equipment, inform management about customer complaints and conflict situations.

Car wash business plan: implementation

Car wash project schedule

Event	Month 1	Month 2	Month 3
Paperwork
Conclusion of a premises rental agreement
Purchase of materials and equipment
Repairs in washing areas
Hiring staff
Opening a car wash

In the car wash business plan, it is necessary to indicate not only the timing of the implementation of the stages, but also who will carry them out. It is necessary to indicate the responsible person and plan the necessary budget for this.

P.S. For a self-service car wash, the staff reception stage is eliminated.

Calculation of costs for opening a car wash

№	Name	Qty.	price, rub.
	Total:		RUB 1,012,980
1.	Paperwork	-	28 000
2.	Real estate	240 sq.m.	960 000
3.	Inventory:		2 600
	Sponges	10	450
	Special napkins	10	1 620
	Brushes	2	30
	Buckets	5	500
4.	Chemicals:		22 315
	Car cleaning shampoo	3	2 880
	Wax	2	4 630
	Polish	51	4 080
	Active foam	1	3 385
	Engine cleaner:	1	2 100
	\|-\| for glass washing	10	2 500
	\|-\| for blackening rubber	1	700
	\|-\| for dry cleaning	1	540
	Grain polishing paste	2	1 565

A list of equipment is added here, the list and cost of which is also drawn up in the form of a table in the business plan.

This will cost about 200,000-240,000 rubles.

Financial section of a car wash business plan

Monthly car wash costs

Now let’s calculate the monthly expenses for maintaining the car wash, which also need to be included in the business plan:

Rent.
If the premises are leased, the item is entered here, and not the opening costs.
Let's take the average cost of 50,000 rubles.
Consumables.
Chemicals, sponges, buckets will cost 10,000 rubles.
Taxes and payments for individual entrepreneurs – 10,000 rubles.
Advertising.
Depending on the type of advertising you choose, you will spend about 6 thousand rubles.
Salary – on average about 35% of revenue (except for self-service car washes).

In the final part car wash business plan must contain information about the amount of profit and payback of the project. This section is especially important for investors and for obtaining a loan to open a bank account.

A selection of the best advice from an expert,

how to open a successful and profitable car wash:

Revenue and payback of a car wash

The total expenses in the business plan are:

opening expenses – 1,253,000 rubles;
expenses every month - 76,000 rubles. + employee salaries.

If the salary expense is 35% (126,000 rubles), the monthly amount will be 202,000 rubles.

The costs of maintaining the operation of a self-service car wash do not include the payment of a salary in this amount. However, the profit will be less due to lower prices for services.

Income is calculated according to the following scheme:

the average number of cars serviced is 40 per day;
The minimum cost of a service from the list of services provided is 300 rubles.

300 rubles*30 days*40 cars = 360,000 rubles/month.

Monthly net profit:

360,000 – 202,000 = 158,000 rubles.

This figure is achievable at least six months after the opening of the car wash.

For the first months, you should count on only half the amount.

The loan repayment period is calculated based on these data and the size of the loan, and must be indicated in the business plan.

Opening a self-service car wash, tunnel or manual, is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Taking into account the state of Russian roads and the growth in the number of cars, the conclusion about the potential success and profitability of the business suggests itself.

To achieve success, you must make a discovery and carefully adhere to it.

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The purpose of opening a car wash.
Description of the upcoming project.
Options for car washes in Russia.
Coordination and resolution.
Car wash demand.
Location of the car wash, room for the car wash.
Competition in the washing business.
Marketing, advertising and sales.
The financial part of a car wash business plan.
Prices for car wash services.
Premises for a car wash (rental costs).
Purchase of equipment.
Washing staff.
Total costs (fixed, one-time).
Estimated revenue, profit.
Payback, profitability.
Project summary.
Car wash risks.
Conclusions.

The purpose of opening a car wash.

Provide a wide range of services for:
- cleaning dirt from various parts of cars - wheels, body, wheel arch liners, bottom;
- dry cleaning and cleaning of the car interior and trunk;
- engine washing;
- body polishing.

Description of the upcoming project.

A business such as a car wash is especially popular among people who want to start a profitable business, but do not have special knowledge. And this is quite feasible provided that:
- you have it, you can rent or purchase a plot of land, and possibly a ready-made box next to a highway or highway;
- you have the opportunity to settle all bureaucratic formalities;
- you can purchase all the necessary equipment.
Once you understand all the above points, all you need to do is buy detergents and put money in your pocket.

This business plan shows how to organize manual work. Provided that it works around the clock and seven days a week, its profitability will be 30-35%, and this is a relatively high level.

Options for car washes in Russia.

Now in Russia there are three types of car washes.
1. Mobile. They are opened on the basis of a Gazelle-type vehicle, which makes it possible to work with clients in any place suitable for such a business.

2. Portal. They are equipped with automatic car washing facilities, have high throughput, and bring good income. The downside is the human factor. A careless operator can damage the client's car. And this will entail losses from possible compensation for damage and inevitably damaged reputation.

3. Self-service car washes. Here, each client washes his car himself. This is, of course, convenient. However, becoming the owner of such a sink is not affordable for everyone, as it requires considerable funds. In addition, such a business is advisable only in large cities where the population density is high.

4. Manual. Most Popular. Here the washer serves customers using special pressurized water supply devices.
Coordination and resolution.

The most difficult thing in this matter is to obtain documents allowing you to open a car wash.
You will definitely need to carry out project reviews:
- in the SES,
- in the labor protection service,
- in the nature conservation service,
- from firefighters,
- in architecture,
- from the state examination.
This is not easy, but it is quite doable if you show patience and willpower.

Demandto the car wash.

There are still many car owners in Russia who wash their cars themselves in rivers and garages. However, there are many who consider this method of washing a relic of the past. Basically, these are people belonging to such a layer of the population as the middle class: entrepreneurs, middle managers. Such car owners do not have the time, and perhaps even the desire, to wash the car with their own hands. But there are enough funds to provide this care to specialists.

Along with the fact that recently the number of cars on the roads has increased significantly, we can safely say that the demand for car maintenance services has also increased. This means that a car wash is not only a popular business, but also a profitable one. And over the years, given the trend, the demand for it will increase.

Location of the car wash, room for the car wash.

The main thing to consider when opening such a business is the location. In the city, a car wash should be located in large residential areas with a large number of residents, next to shopping centers, business centers or even in them. It is ideal if you can establish a business near customs and border posts. Car washes installed near parking lots, gas stations or service stations will also be in considerable demand.

The correct location will ensure constant workspace utilization.
Of course, it is best to rent a space for washing. It will be quite difficult to build it. Here it is inevitable to go to the authorities with a pile of documents requiring approval. Just look at the sanitary standards that allow a car wash to be installed no closer than 50 meters from the nearest residential building.

Another option is to buy an already established business. Starting a business at an already existing car wash with well-established operations, your own circle of clients and an acquired reputation is much easier than creating a business from scratch. Apparently, many people choose this option. How else can we explain the rush of demand on the market for enterprises of this type?

Competitionin the washing business.

In our country, car washes have long since become commonplace from the category of “curiosities.” We can say that in any more or less large city they are found, if not on every corner, then quite often. And, accordingly, competition is high. This places another requirement on the business plan - a clear description of how to enter, occupy a place and gain a foothold in this market. And also a clear idea of what advantages your business will have over competitors.

The location of your business will tell you which advertisement to choose. Close to a busy highway, when the car wash is, as they say, in plain sight, you may only need a billboard or a catchy sign with a sign.

Some people put up a “car wash” sign. But this is more difficult, as it requires permission from the traffic police.
At the stage of starting a business, when there are still quite a few or no available funds for advertising, you can declare yourself on your own. For example, selling subscriptions with favorable conditions for the client, holding promotions such as “wash your car five times and get a discount” or “every ninth wash is at the expense of the establishment.” This can attract customers without advertising costs.

And when you “promote”, expand and, perhaps, increase the range of services, for example, including painting, polishing or tire fitting, you can think about the advertising budget.

The financial part of a car wash business plan.

Feasibility study and implementation features
Prices for car wash services.

The list of washing services consists of:

Body washing and polishing;
- engine washing;
- dry and wet cleaning;
- interior cleaning.
It is worth considering that the car wash business in Moscow is seasonal. In spring and late autumn, queues form at car washes. But in the summer it is calm. Although, of course, the climate in Russia is unpredictable. Summer can be rainy, and winter can be characterized by prolonged thaws and “dirty mess” on the roads.

The location of the wash and the types of cars serviced affect the prices. Let's try to calculate based on 350 rubles - the average cost of car body washing, which is a basic service. The average bill per client will consist of the cost of the basic service and additional services.

Premises for a car wash (rental costs)

So you've decided to rent rather than build a car wash. Then keep in mind that:
- 90 sq.m. - required area for washing from two posts, of which 60 sq.m. - area intended for car wash stations, 30 sq.m. - other rooms.
- another 90 sq. m - the area required for the adjacent area.

It's hard to say how much it will cost. Different cities have their own rental rates, and in many, car washes operate as part of municipal programs on a preferential basis. If we take, for example, the rental rate in the capital, then, according to preliminary estimates, it is about $1,000 per 100 square meters per month.

The cost of preparing the site and premises for a car wash and utilities will have a significant impact. Of course, most often, landlords have already made sure that the premises being rented are already supplied with electricity, running water and heating. But a car wash is a business that may require additional electrical power as well as a water drainage system. Accordingly, additional funds will be spent on this.

In addition, it will be necessary to decorate the room inside and outside. In some cases, you will have to cover the area around with asphalt.
Presumably, all of the above work will require about $7,000 - $10,000.

Purchase of equipment.

The very minimum that will need to be spent on the purchase of equipment will total 351,000 rubles.

Schedule

We establish that the car wash will operate around the clock. From 8.00 to 10.00 and from 17.00 to 22.00 we will make the load maximum, the rest of the time - at the level of 20% of it.
On average, it takes 20 minutes to wash one car. This means it will take an hour to service three cars. Thus, we believe that one post will serve daily: 3*(2 hours + 5 hours) + 3*(24-(2+5))*20% = about 30 cars.
Through both posts - 60 cars.
To summarize: on average, a two-post car wash can serve 30*60=1800 cars per month.

Washing staff.

It all depends on the scale of your wash. The larger it is and the more jobs there are, the correspondingly more service personnel will be required. Also consider the number of shifts. Many car washes serve customers in two or three shifts.

Let’s assume that when fully loaded, you will need a cashier-accountant and 9 people who will work in three shifts.
We calculate labor costs using the formula: 9*20,000 + 30,000 = 210 thousand rubles per month. That's $7,000.

Total costs (fixed, one-time)

We calculate costs using average figures.
One-time costs (in dollars):
- equipment - 12,000;
- installation of equipment - 1,000;
- water supply and drainage - 4,500;
- landscaping - 2,500;
- interior decoration - 3,000;
- documentation permitting the opening of a car wash - 4,500.

Costs each month (in dollars per month):

Salary - 7,000;
- additional costs - 2,000;
- rent of premises - 2,000 (including utility bills for water and electricity);

Total costs:

General capital - $27,500 (825,000 rubles);
- monthly - 12,000 dollars (360,000 rubles).

Estimated revenue, profit

We calculate the expected monthly revenue using the formula:
1800 cars/month * 400 rubles/car = 720,000 rubles.
Without deducting taxes, the profit will be: 720,000 rubles - 360,000 rubles = 360,000 rubles ($12,000).
After taxes - $10,500.

Payback, profitability

This type of washing will begin to pay for itself after 2.5 months of operation.
Profitability:
- gross profit margin (GPM) - about 50%, net profit (NPM) - 40-45%.
- return on investment (ROI) - 38%.

Project summary.

The investment will be $39,500. It will take five to ten months to return them. Net profit will be from 5,000 to 15,000 dollars per month.

Car wash risks.

When opening a car wash, take into account the risks that may entail additional costs, reduce profitability, and in the worst case, even ruin you.

Raids by inspection services, high demands from the SES;
- an unsuccessful location of a car wash will lead to a lack of customers;
- high competition;
- human factor - insufficiently qualified personnel;
- Force Majeure.

Conclusions.
Opening a car wash is difficult, however, it is low-cost compared to other types of business. It will quickly pay for itself and generate high income. But subject to a favorable location and successful receipt of permits at all stages of business approval with various authorities.

Sample brief description of the project:

Activities: stationary car wash.

Location: you need to indicate where the service is located, the approximate population of the area, and the approximate number of potential clients.

Area: 60 square meters.

Form of ownership: rent.

Schedule: 7:00-21:00, seven days a week.

Documents for car wash

The case should be registered as IP by selecting the code OKVED 74.70.2 – “Cleaning and cleaning of vehicles.” You can begin work only after collecting a complete package of permits from government authorities. Certificates and permits for opening a car wash:

Conclusion from the local fire safety service;
Lease agreement and BTI plan for the premises;
Sanitary and epidemiological conclusion. A complete list of requirements and documentation is given in Rospotrebnadzor Order No. 776 dated November 21, 2005 “On sanitary and epidemiological examination of various types of activities”;
The list of establishment services agreed with the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision;
Certificate from the labor protection service;
Permission from the Nature Conservation Service. To obtain this, you will need a developed scheme for the implementation of waste discharge;
Agreements with public utilities: on household waste disposal, disinfection, disinfestation, etc.;
Permission to open an establishment in the selected location from Rospotrebnadzor. Issued based on consideration of all the above documents.

The approximate cost of registration and documentation is $1200.

To launch the project faster in the work, it is worth involving lawyers or special companies involved in the preparation of permits.

Production plan

A business plan for opening a car wash must begin with choosing the location and arrangement of the premises.

Where is it profitable to open a car wash from scratch?

The best places: at the entrance to the city (drivers want to wash their car after a long journey or before a trip), near border and customs posts, next to gas stations, parking lots, and car service stations. As an alternative, a location in a densely populated residential area is suitable. Such a point will serve mainly regular customers. Located near a large shopping center, you can count on visits from owners of expensive cars. There may be less clientele, but the average check is higher.

The establishment must be located at a distance of at least 70 m from residential buildings. Important condition– the service is located near major roads and must have good entry/exit and parking spaces.

Premises requirements

If the rented property has not previously been used as a car wash, you will have to take care of arranging wastewater drainage, because the water consumption at such an enterprise is very high. Ideally, the drain should lead to a central water supply system, otherwise you will have to design a waste pit. Such work costs between $700-800.

We calculate costs based on the fact that we rent a building with an equipped drainage system. Other requirements for the room: waterproofing and thermal insulation, good lighting.

An example of space distribution: the service consists of two boxes (each 4 meters wide, 6 meters long, 3 meters high). These are universal sizes that allow you to equally service cars and trucks. The remaining 12 sq. m – waiting area for clients. The administrator works here. The required area adjacent to the sink is 30-40 square meters. m.

If you rent an almost finished plot with an asphalt entrance and all the necessary communications, the monthly fee will be about $700-800. Approximately $2,500 will be required for cosmetic repairs and additional moisture insulation.

Technical base

Our car wash is focused on manual labor; such equipment is cheaper and pays for itself faster, especially in small towns.

Necessary equipment for a car wash:

High-pressure apparatus with water heating (two pieces) - $1200-1300. It is worth purchasing two devices of different power. One for light pollution (with a capacity of 400-500 l/hour) and one more powerful (800-900 l/hour). The best manufacturer is Karcher;
Professional vacuum cleaner for dry and wet cleaning (two pieces) - $1000. Elsea, Nilfisk-Alto, Baiyun;
Two foam generators - $650. PROCAR, Karcher, A.E.
Chemical cleaning apparatus - $150. Karcher;
Treatment plant - $1200-1300. AROS, Aqua;
Small equipment (cart for tools and detergents, scrapers and brushes, napkins, rags, dustpans, brushes, gloves, etc.) - $100;
Auto chemicals (car shampoos, windshield washes, glass cleaners, cold and hot wax, polishes) - $150.

The price of a set of washing equipment is around $4,500.

What is needed to set up a waiting area? Administrative desk with telephone and computer, sofa, 4 chairs, coffee table, LCD TV and vending machine with tea and coffee. Or you can offer customers free coffee as a bonus for ordering.

But installing a vending machine will allow you to earn additional money from visitors waiting in line. A used machine from the Necta, VendShop, Saeco brand can be purchased for $1200-1300. Arranging the foyer will require an investment of $2,500.

Services and pricing

We create an approximate price list. Each service varies slightly in price depending on the type of vehicle. Main list:

Full body wash (with foam and drying) – $4.5-5;
Express body wash (dirt removal without drying) – $3-3.5;
Regular cleaning of the interior with a vacuum cleaner, washing glass and door trim – $4-5;
Washing the engine and engine compartment – $5-7;
Washing and cleaning the trunk with a vacuum cleaner – $3-4;
Blackening of bumper and tires – $3-4;
Body polishing – $7.5-9;
Body treatment with liquid wax – $3-3.5;
Washing all windows – $3;
Wheel washing and drying – $1.7-2.3;
Dry cleaning of wheel rims – $2.1-3;
Removing stains from the body (bitumen, insect marks) – $3-4;
Disc polishing – $3-3.5;
Carpet cleaning – $0.8;
Cleaning the interior of fur and animal hair – $2.6-2.8;
Cleaning and conditioning of seats – $2.5-3.3;
Interior dry cleaning – $62-92.

Organizational plan

One worker is required for one vehicle, two workers are required for two posts. The optimal work schedule is every other day. You will need to hire six washers, an administrator, and a cleaner. Accounting is outsourced. The monthly salary fund is around $3200.

Marketing strategy

In addition to a bright sign, you should get a sign with a sign indicating the road to the car wash. It is displayed on the street during the operation of the establishment and does not require approval from the authorities, like outdoor advertising. Its cost is about $60.

You can put up a road sign indicating the direction of travel and the distance to your service. This requires coordination with the traffic police (in particular, justification for the traffic pattern in the selected area), and the production and installation of a sign costs $150-200.

Sales promotion

To attract new customers and acquire regular ones, you need to develop discounts, offer promotions and discounts. You can offer a service as a gift with the main set (for example, blackening of rubber for orders over $5). Offers like “Every fifth wash as a gift”, “25% discount on all work on the last day of the month”, etc. work well.

In the first days it’s real attract attention with signs like “We are open! 50% discount on car wash!”

A start-up business can receive visitors thanks to gift subscriptions for small services, such as cleaning the trunk, glass, and rugs.

Financial plan

Let's calculate how much it costs to open a car wash and how much you can earn. It is necessary to draw up a financial plan taking into account possible unforeseen expenses.

Capital expenditures:

Documentation – $1200;
Repair – $2500;
Rent for three months in advance – $2200;
Purchase of equipment and furniture, appliances – $7,000;
Signboard, investment in advertising – $300;
Unforeseen expenses – $500-700.

In total, a turnkey car wash for 2 stations will cost approximately 14 thousand dollars. Monthly expenses consist of utility bills, rent, purchase of auto chemicals, salary payments and amount to about $4,500.

Let's decide on profit calculations. Two posts can serve 50-55 cars in a 14-hour working day. The average check is $4.5. The car wash's monthly revenue is approximately $7,000. An additional income of $200-300 will come from a coffee machine. Net profit is around $2800.

This is a detailed description, with minimal costs. The project pays for itself in 7-8 months and begins to generate stable income. It is possible to increase profits by opening an additional post.

The car wash business is becoming an increasingly profitable activity. Every day new cars appear on the roads all over the world, the owners of which strive to maintain the cleanliness of their iron friend.

A car wash can generate income all year round. With the right approach, the business will pay off in the shortest possible time. What you need to know before opening a car wash.

Choosing the right location for a car wash

How profitable a car wash will be depends on its location. It is best to locate a car wash where there is heavy traffic. A large number of visitors is also guaranteed for those who decide to locate a car wash in a residential area of the city, not far from service stations, gas stations and parking lots. Pay attention to the road leading to the car wash and the immediate access to it. If, for example, the establishment specializes in trucks, then the entrance to the car wash should be appropriate.

Suitable premises for a car wash

At the initial stage of business development, there will be enough space that can simultaneously accommodate 2-3 cars. Over time, the number of boxes can be increased. The main condition for the normal functioning of a car wash is a constant supply of water. When choosing a room, think about how expensive it will be to connect water and sewerage. After dry cleaning is completed, the car interior should be dried in a warm room. Take care of the heating system, especially since this will also be important for employees working in the cold winter months.

Choosing staff for a car wash

Every client appreciates good treatment and the quality of the services received, so the staff must be as polite and qualified as possible. Direct control over the work of employees will not be superfluous. Saving on staff salaries is not recommended, because it has a direct impact on the quality of work. The price of services will be justified by their quality, and as numerous surveys show, most drivers are reluctant to save on car care, not regretting paying a decent amount of money for a quality service provided.

Equipment for opening a car wash

To start a business, you will need a washing vacuum cleaner or dust extractor (costing about $500), a heated high-pressure apparatus (about $1,500), and a compressor (about $300). A cleaning system, which will cost about $5,000, would also be a good idea. This is not the most important element, but rather an investment that will allow you to save money in the future by reusing purified water.

Car wash services

The average car wash provides services such as dry cleaning of the interior, washing the outside of the car, engine washing, body polishing, dry and wet cleaning. Be sure to think about how to turn a casual client into a regular one. A good idea is to sell subscriptions for 10-20 washes, so that the cost of one wash is less. In addition to the basic services, you can provide some additional ones, for example, tire fitting, car service or a cafe. Please your customers with pleasant little things that will make them come back and use the services of the establishment again. After washing, you can, for example, fill the windshield washer reservoir with water (in summer) and frost-resistant liquid (in winter) for free. Such an interesting service as car washing by sexy girls in swimsuits will also attract new customers.

Advertising and promotion of car wash

It is very important to demonstrate to potential customers all the advantages of your car wash. It would be nice to come up with non-standard advertising, for example, with the participation of celebrities. The main options for advertising are traditional - media, Internet, billboards, signs, flyers, business cards, etc.

Income

Business profitability depends on the season. According to statistics, the most people who want to wash their cars appear in the spring and autumn. If the winter is warm and the summer is rainy, then income will be ensured during these high seasons. Approximately 30 percent of revenue is spent on staff salaries, the same amount on consumables and payment for rent, taxes, etc. Net profit is approximately 40% of revenue. Speaking about the number of customers depending on the time of day, it should be noted that most often they stop by the car wash at 8-10 am. Typically, the peak subsides by lunchtime to reach a maximum after 4 p.m., when many drivers stop at the car wash on their way home from work. Rarely does anyone visit the car wash at night. Weekends are characterized by a smaller influx of customers.

Your own car wash is a business whose success depends on its reputation. Providing quality services will allow you to gain a foothold among market leaders. The payback period for a business idea on average takes no more than six months.

Especially for KHOBIZ.RU

Today, the Russian automatic car wash market is at the stage of active development; there is a shortage of car wash stations in the country. To open your own business, it is necessary to develop a detailed business plan for a car wash, taking into account the specifics and risks of this area of operation.

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Services

Car washes are designed to clean vehicles, as well as provide additional services.

Main autospa services:

Washing the vehicle. It involves cleaning the body, rims, tires and arches. This procedure can be carried out with or without the use of chemicals. The final cost of the service will depend on this. After washing, for an additional fee, the body can be automatically dried and/or wiped with a rag.
Cleaning the vehicle interior (wet or dry). This service involves wiping glass and plastic panels, removing debris (using a vacuum cleaner), and cleaning leather and fabric surfaces.
Interior dry cleaning. It involves professional cleaning of seats, ceilings, plastics, floors, doors and seat belts using special chemicals.
Waxing. This is a coating of the body with hot or cold liquid wax. It adds chic to the paintwork and protects it from external influences (dirt, salt, chemicals).
Polishing. Polishing the body of a vehicle serves as a protective layer of varnish and paint, as well as cosmetic (hides small scratches, adds shine). Plastic parts, headlights and other parts are polished. To perform this procedure, special chemical compounds are used.

Additional car wash services:

engine washing;
washing the bottom;
cleaning of interior mats (rubber, polyurethane, fabric, velor, 3D);
washing glass with a cleaning agent;
disk cleaning;
lock processing;
processing rubber seals of doorways;
cleaning doorways;
blackening of tires, bumpers;
removal of traces of insects;
removal of bitumen stains;
washing the radiator grille.

Relevance

The overwhelming number of car owners want their cars to be well-groomed and clean, so they actively use car wash services.

The relevance of the business is due to its following advantages:

direct relationship between the development of the automotive industry and the growing popularity of car washes;
stable and high demand for services;
high profitability and, as a result, a fairly quick payback;
free entry to the market;
lack of need for the entrepreneur to have special specific knowledge;
the possibility of opening a parallel business - a car shop, a car service or just a tire service.

Types of car washes

Car washes are:

manual and automatic;
stationary and mobile;
tunnel and portal.

The choice of autospa type should be based on:

features of the local market;
consumer requests;
competition;
financial opportunities.

Manual

Hand washing is the most common way to organize a business; it requires minimal investment. In this case, the client will spend quite a lot of time waiting for the completion of the cleaning procedure for his car.

The vehicle washing service includes the following types of work:

hand washing using car shampoo, sponges, rags and brushes;
wiping the body with special rags.

It is also possible to open a manual but contactless car wash. This method of cleaning the vehicle body eliminates the possibility of damage to the paintwork.

Automatic

There are two types of automatic contact washing of vehicles:

tunnel (conveyor);
portal.

The tunnel involves moving the machine on a conveyor through the washing complex, through pressure washing arches, applying foam, wax, and drying. Portal - involves the machine being in one place, where a frame with various cleaning attachments (brushes, rollers) moves above it. The portal type of car wash is not capable of accepting as many cars as a conveyor type.

Just as in the case of manual washing, there is a contactless washing option, but using an automatic machine (without human intervention). Cleaning occurs using high pressure water and chemicals.

Automatic washing eliminates the human factor. In this case, there is no saving in detergents or energy; the work is always performed with the same quality. The automatic vehicle cleaning procedure will take a minimum amount of time.

Self-service car wash

The self-service establishment operates according to the following algorithm:

The client is temporarily provided with an equipped car care area.
Through the control terminal, the user selects the vehicle washing mode. First, he places the money into the bill acceptor.
The car owner independently performs car cleaning operations.

Typically self-service auto spas offer the following service options:

washing with cold water supplied under pressure;
washing with hot water supplied under pressure;
applying foam, shampoo;
applying hot wax to paintwork;
rinsing with reverse osmosis water.

The price tags for such a car wash are noticeably lower, since the entrepreneur saves on wages for service personnel. They are in high demand among car enthusiasts. In recent years, there has been a trend of active growth in the number of car washes of this type.

Autonomous

Advantages of mobile autonomous car washes:

no foundation needed;
no room needed;
little time required for commissioning;
permitting statements from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station and the fire service are ready;
there is no need for sewerage (they are equipped with equipment for reverse water purification);
no need to connect electricity, water supply, sewerage;
easy to dismantle and transport to a new location.

Market description and analysis

The procedure for washing a vehicle is in second place among car-related services, after tire fitting. Despite the apparent abundance of car washes in Russia, almost every city has a shortage of them and the idea of opening is still profitable. About 80 percent of car owners resort to the services of such establishments. The greatest demand is observed on weekends and holidays, as well as in the autumn-spring period, when the weather is bad.

Almost every fourth resident of Russia has a personal car. Over the past fifteen years, the Russian vehicle fleet has increased by approximately 50 percent.

According to statistics, in Russia, out of ten car washes, nine are manual, and only one is automatic. The figure shows the ranking of cities by the share of services with automatic car wash.

This picture is due to lower initial costs for organizing manual washing. However, in Europe the opposite picture is observed; 70% of establishments are equipped with automatic devices for cleaning car bodies.

The target audience

Potential buyers of services are mainly men in the age group from 20 to 60 years. Their incomes are at or above average. Most often these are middle managers and entrepreneurs.

Women also actively use autospa services. These are mainly clients aged 20 to 45 years, with high or average income. They primarily pay attention to the appearance of employees, the presence of signs and the level of service. In Moscow, 57% of car wash customers are men, and 43% are women.

Competitive advantages

To ensure a constant flow of customers and be profitable, a car wash must have the following competitive advantages:

24-hour operation;
a wide range of;
modern and high-tech equipment;
positive customer reviews;
availability of equipped premises for car owners to comfortably wait for their vehicles;
sale of tea, coffee, soft drinks, etc.;
thoughtful marketing policy.

Advertising campaign

When opening one small car wash, it will be most profitable and productive to focus on attracting regular customers and retaining them.

When organizing a network of car washes, or opening one, but a large one, serious and regular marketing activities will be required, including:

order a bright sign;
make advertising boards (placed near the car wash, at gas stations, near spare parts stores and car service stations);
put up a sign board (placed near a highway, shopping center or department store);
regularly hold seasonal promotions;
issue discount cards;
develop bonus programs;
give gifts (for example, wash the floor mats for free or fill the windshield washer reservoir with anti-freezing liquid in winter and water in summer);
provide clients with free coffee and tea in the waiting room, as well as a TV and magazines;
sell subscriptions that allow you to wash your car a little cheaper;
distribute business cards, booklets.

In addition, you need to provide advertising on the Internet. At a minimum, you should create groups in popular online services, and ideally, develop a branded website. You can also arrange a pre-registration; this will increase the customer’s loyalty to the car wash, as he will be able to save his time.

Step-by-step instructions and what you need to open

To open an autospa from scratch, you need to go through the following steps:

Market research.
Defining the business concept.
Business plan calculation.
Registration of a company and its registration.
Determining a location for a car wash.
Engineering and technological design.
Construction of a washing building, reconstruction of the existing premises.
Determination of equipment supplier.
Purchase of equipment and its installation.
Coordination of the company's activities with supervisory organizations.
Personnel selection.
Implementation of marketing strategy.

To open a car wash, the first thing you need to do is study the characteristics of the market, competitors, consumers, and, based on the information received, begin to formulate a business development strategy.

Documentation

The best option for registering a company’s activities would be to open an individual entrepreneur or LLC. When filling out the documents, indicate the activity code according to OKVED – 45.20.3 “Car washing, polishing and provision of similar services.”

In the case of constructing a building for a car spa, the entrepreneur will be required to:

Write a letter to the district administration with a request to provide a site for construction. An alternative option is to buy land at market price.
Develop a design sketch that meets all the requirements for such buildings. They must comply with environmental, architectural, sanitary and fire standards.
Obtain permits for the construction of a building and the provision of services.

List of documents for starting the functioning of the company:

conclusion from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station;
permission from the Fire Service;
a copy of the car wash project (certified by the BTI);
consent from town planning authorities;
permission from the environmental supervision service.

The list of documents required to obtain an opinion from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station is indicated in the order of Rospotrebnadzor, N 776.

If a client accepts payment by bank cards, the company must open a current account with a commercial bank. The use of cash registers will require their registration.

At the request of the entrepreneur, the services provided by the car wash can be certified. When purchasing major equipment, it is important to preserve the accompanying documents (environmental agreement, certificates, license, expert opinion). The company must have a contract for the removal of solid waste and the provision of utilities.

In the case of renting premises, it is important that a formal agreement is concluded, drawn up according to the rules.

Room

When choosing a premises, an entrepreneur can go in two ways:

rent a building or part thereof;
build a new building.

Renting is a more profitable option, but only if it fully complies with the requirements of supervisory services and the business format. The process of designing a building from scratch will be more energy- and material-intensive. The starting capital for organizing a business according to the second option will be approximately two to three million rubles more compared to the first.

Autospa location criteria:

proximity to the place of residence of potential buyers;
close to gas stations, highways, auto repair shops, auto shops, etc.;
convenient access roads;
availability of parking space;
absence of competitors nearby.

For a medium-sized car wash, a room of about 100 square meters is suitable.

Premises requirements:

water pipes;
sewerage;
electricity;
heating;
thermal insulation of walls and roof;
waterproofing;
good lighting of the work area.

The building area is divided into the following zones:

reception;
room for clients;
room for workers;
areas for washing and processing vehicles;
office space (warehouse of consumables, equipment);
parking lot for waiting cars.

At the stage of business formation, you should not open more than two washing stations. One post may also not be enough; the presence of a queue will drive away customers.

The video describes the key points in selecting premises for a car wash. Filmed by the Oleg Uzbekov channel.

Equipment and inventory

Depending on the type of car wash being opened, the set of equipment may differ.

Car wash equipment:

Name	Approximate prices in rubles
Apparatus that supplies water under pressure	300 000
Washing vacuum cleaner	20 000
Foam generators	20 000
Compressors	150 000
Water purification and recycling systems	160 000
Ventilation system	100 000
Heating system	150 000
Power supply system	50 000
Dry cleaning machine	240 000
Furniture and equipment for the waiting room (sofa, armchairs, table, TV, Wi-Fi, coffee machine)	100 000
Furniture for the workers' room (lockers, chairs, table)	30 000
Furniture and equipment for the reception area (counter, chair, computer, cash register equipment, safe)	80 000
Other equipment and inventory	50 000
Total:	1 550 000

Professional washing – 232,000 rubles Foam generator - 13,000 rubles A set of equipment for car dry cleaning – 120,000 rubles Water purification system for one post – 50,000 rubles

Staff

Autospa staff:

director;
administrator (two people);
washers (four people, with two posts and two shifts).

The following points should be considered when recruiting:

The image and reputation of a car wash depends on the quality and speed of the work performed.
The work of people directly involved in washing vehicles is associated with health risks. Since chemicals are used, you have to stay in a room with high humidity for a long time, and temperature changes are observed when the gate is opened.
The wages of the main workers should be piecework and depend on the number of cars serviced.
Workers providing basic autospa services are not required to have special skills, knowledge, or education. However, this does not apply to those who, for example, do interior dry cleaning or polishing.
Cleaners must be in good physical shape.
You can hire girls for work, as they are more careful, responsible and attract more clients.

The administrator must be able to work with the target audience, offer basic and additional services. It distributes booklets, business cards and other advertising products, issues discount cards, awards bonuses, etc.

Administrator requirements:

pleasant appearance;
communication skills;
determination and self-confidence;
polite treatment of clients;
patience and perseverance.

The administrator monitors:

cleanliness of the premises;
stock of inventory;
compliance with equipment operation standards;
compliance with labor discipline.

He also serves customers, resolves conflict situations, ensures smooth operation of the car wash and issues tasks to staff.

Calendar plan

Autospa opening schedule:

Stages	1 month	2 month	3 month	4 month
Preparation of a business project	+	—	—	—
Preparation of documents for company registration	+	—	—	—
Company registration	+	+	—	—
Selection of premises and conclusion of a rental agreement	+	+	—	—
Purchase of equipment, furniture, inventory, materials	+	—	—	—
Room renovation	+	+	—	—
Installation of equipment	+	+	—	—
Recruitment	+	+	—	—
Marketing events	+	—	—	—
Start of work	+	—	—	—

A car wash business plan should include not only the timing of each stage of the company’s formation, but also the people responsible for their implementation. Scheduling involves indicating the costs of implementing the specified activities.

Financial plan

A detailed business plan with calculations includes the definition of investments and regular expenses.

Start-up capital for starting a car wash.

Expenditures	Approximate prices in rubles for 2019
Registration of a company and obtaining permits	50 000
Rent for premises (for three months)	150 000
Redevelopment and renovation of premises	300 000
Purchase and installation of car wash equipment	1 600 000
Marketing events	70 000
Consumables	20 000
Other costs	50 000
Total	2 240 000

Monthly investment in business.

To start a medium-sized car wash with two stations, you will need a large sum of money - about 2,240,000 rubles. In this case, monthly expenses will be at the level of 240,000 rubles.

Risk analysis

A qualitative analysis of the risks of implementing a car wash project is based on an expert assessment of the likelihood of a threat occurring.

Business project risk analysis.

Risks	Probability of occurrence	Description
Poor location	Average	It is possible to minimize the likelihood of this threat occurring at the design stage. Here you should analyze traffic flows, terrain, infrastructure, competitors, etc.
Competition	Average	The effect of competition can be manifested in price dumping, increasing the level of technology and quality of service. An entrepreneur is recommended to work on building and retaining a client base.
Low qualifications of personnel, staff turnover	High	The low prestige of the car washing profession may lead to the hiring of people with low intellectual abilities or who perceive the job as temporary. To prevent the occurrence of this threat, it is necessary to apply total control and introduce a system of fines.
Seasonal decline in demand	High	Demand is affected by weather. A businessman should develop competent marketing tactics, for example, holding promotions during periods of sales decline.
Technological risks	High	The threat may manifest itself in illiterate or inappropriate use of technical capacities. The risk can be prevented by introducing compensating emergency systems, including an engineer on staff, and carrying out planned repairs/preventive maintenance.
Changes in the legal framework	Low	Tightening business conditions.

Income and payback

On average, 30 vehicles are serviced per day. The average cost of services provided is 360 rubles. Based on this, it turns out that the car wash’s daily revenue will be 10,800 rubles, and per month – 324,000 rubles. After taking into account taxes, the company’s net profit, taking into account seasonality, will vary in the range from 40 to 100 thousand rubles.

The return on the initial investment will be from 2.5 to 3 years.

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