How to open a car wash?

Considering opening your own car wash? Learn the estimated cost of the investment and the stages it involves.

Today the vast majority of people own a car. Almost every family has at least one vehicle, and in many households each member has their own. According to Poland's Central Vehicle Register (as of 8 June 2017), there were 28,678,674 vehicles registered in Poland the previous year. What does that mean for a would-be entrepreneur? Among other things, that the potential customer base of car washes in that country alone is close to 28.7 million. Sounds encouraging? It certainly does. No wonder more and more people are seriously considering opening their own car wash. Before you take the first steps towards running this kind of business, however, find out what it involves and how much the investment will actually cost you.

Where can you find practical information?

First of all, we encourage you to use our free online configurator. It is a quick and easy way to see what configuration options a car wash offers – in other words, how to tailor it to what your future customers expect. When you use our car wash configurator, you also receive a set of documents describing the whole process of launching the investment. In the meantime, read on.

configure and price your car wash

Is a car wash a good business idea?

Given the figures above, opening your own car wash looks like one of the better ways to build a successful business. Is it really? Yes – the car wash market is in very good shape. In Poland alone an estimated 8,000–9,000 car washes are operating successfully, and their number grows by around 400–500 every year. As these examples show, this type of investment – while not particularly innovative – can turn out to be a bull's-eye. It can, but it does not have to.

Whether a car wash actually succeeds depends on several factors, such as its location, its type or the number of competitors operating in the area. That is why it pays to carry out at least a basic market analysis. You can of course commission a professional firm to do it, but that means extra costs. Fortunately, for a car wash a basic assessment is enough, and you can easily do it yourself. Start by listing all the car washes in your town (if it is small) or only in the chosen district (if you plan to open in a large city). You may find that competition is quite strong. In that case, think twice before going ahead, as your chances of success are slim. Instead of adding to an already saturated market, consider how to fill the gaps in the local offer and provide services that differ from those of your competitors. Remember, too, that today investing far from where you live causes almost no problems with day-to-day operations. A car wash is not a typical business that needs to be supervised every day. IT solutions such as Carwash Manager let you check what is happening at your car wash at any time, from anywhere. A site visit will only be needed in critical situations, which – with a good-quality product and well-run servicing – are very rare. Even then you can hire an authorised service partner to give you peace of mind in the most difficult situations. So do not be afraid to consider investing in a car wash away from where you live – it may increase your chances of success.

Is the investment process difficult?

Every serious investment requires specific steps. Many people are put off by the amount of paperwork involved in opening a car wash. Is there really anything to fear? No, as long as you prepare well for the task ahead. For a car wash, the investment process consists of three stages.

Stage one – should cover the estimated cost of the investment and how you will raise the necessary funds. So how much will your own car wash cost? It all depends on its type and size. As an indication from the Polish market at the time of writing: a single-bay touchless car wash cost at least PLN 130,000, two bays PLN 180,000–230,000, and a six-bay touchless car wash from PLN 450,000 to 800,000. An automatic (rollover) car wash is a different story – a single bay cost around PLN 300,000. The most expensive option is clearly a truck wash, with construction estimated at around PLN 1 million.

Stage two – starts with choosing an attractive location. The plot must be zoned for commercial or service use, it should be owned or leased (for at least 10 years), and it must have utility connections (water, electricity, sewerage). Remember that the size of the plot must match your investment plans.

Stage three – obtaining the permits needed to build. First, register a business (if you do not already have one), and then contact your chosen car wash manufacturer. The manufacturer will prepare the project documentation needed for the building application. Next, check the local zoning rules for your plot with the relevant local authority and apply for a building permit. Depending on local regulations, you may also need an environmental decision (and, if requested, an environmental impact assessment), a permit to discharge waste water, a waste permit and an acceptance inspection, for example by the fire service, before the car wash can open.

How much does it cost to open a touchless car wash – location

It is worth knowing that the choice of location and the ownership of the property have a huge impact on the cost of opening a car wash. Those who already own a plot zoned for commercial or service use are in the best position. If you are still looking for a plot suitable for a car wash, prepare for one of two investment scenarios:

• buying a commercial plot,
• leasing.

Buying a commercial plot can significantly increase the cost of opening a car wash – in Poland by PLN 150,000 to as much as PLN 600,000, depending on its size and location. As a rule, the price per m² of commercial land is higher in larger cities. Potential traffic also matters a great deal: plots in the city centre or on busy roads cost more than those in quieter, suburban areas. In the case of a lease, the monthly fee in Poland can range from PLN 3,000 to PLN 10,000 or more. Be sure to include this in your business plan and in the budget for opening your touchless car wash.

How much does it cost to open a car wash?

Would you like to start your own business in the car wash industry, but are not sure whether you have the necessary funds? You already know the investment stages, so assuming you have leased or own a commercial plot with utility connections, it is time to consider the cost of opening a car wash. It depends on several factors:

• the choice of car wash manufacturer

There are many manufacturers of touchless car wash equipment and constructions on the market. Before you choose a supplier, think carefully about which one will be best. It is worth working with manufacturers who have been on the market for many years. BKF has been serving customers for more than 30 years. In that time it has delivered over 1,600 projects, not only in Poland but also in 25 other markets in Europe and Asia. Our car washes are designed for a wide range of weather conditions – from sunny Greece to the cold climate of Scandinavia. Our own R&D department and strong focus on innovation mean you can choose top-class car wash solutions from us. An extensive service network also makes it possible to expand and modify the car wash, so if you start with a single-bay site, you can extend your offer as your business grows. The cost of opening a car wash depends largely on the manufacturer you choose. It pays to choose reliable and experienced business partners – you get products that let you grow your business, which increases your chances of success.

• the type of car wash

Depending on your budget for setting up a touchless car wash, you can choose from various solutions. In our offer you will find washing technologies designed for different types of car washes, such as container and modular touchless car washes or automatic rollover car washes. It is worth deciding in advance what kind of business you want to run, as the solutions and the customer groups differ considerably. Expected customer traffic is also important: container touchless car washes can be adapted to high-traffic locations, while modular ones are recommended for medium and lower traffic. You also need to decide how many bays to start with. A touchless car wash that can serve only one car at a time may cause queues and frustrate customers, while a multi-bay site means a higher investment. Depending on the type of touchless car wash you choose, the price in Poland may range from PLN 250,000 to as much as PLN 1,000,000.

• the choice of construction

Although washing technologies are extremely important when opening a car wash, it is also worth considering the type of construction. It affects both the look of the touchless car wash and the cost of opening it. BKF offers several types of construction. They differ in design, materials, number of light points, optional equipment and the placement and number of logos. All of them are made in accordance with the applicable standards, so you can be sure of a high-quality product.

• additional equipment

It might seem that a car wash has only one job – to let customers wash the car body quickly. However, in today's dynamic market it pays to take care of customer comfort and a high standard of service. That is why many people wondering how to set up a self-service car wash consider buying additional equipment that enriches the offer and makes the site more convenient to use. At BKF you can choose additional equipment such as a professional vacuum cleaner with powerful industrial turbines and a large container. This way customers can not only wash and care for the car body with the available washing programmes and chemicals, but also quickly and effectively vacuum the interior. It significantly raises the level of service – it is much more pleasant to drive home not only with a clean body but also with upholstery free of crumbs and dust. Another very useful addition is a money changer – a machine that changes banknotes into the coins needed to use the car wash, making it easier for customers to use the site. As a rule, the more additional equipment, the better the chances of a newly opened car wash. Remember, though, that working with BKF you can expand and modernise the solutions you use. So even if you start with a touchless car wash with standard equipment, you can easily add extra equipment as your business grows.

• personalisation

When thinking about how to set up a self-service car wash and how much it will cost, remember brand recognition too – especially if you are just starting out. At BKF you get a fully personalised site, with a construction carrying your logo. This helps potential customers notice your newly opened touchless car wash more quickly.

These are just a few of the factors that have a huge impact on how much it costs to set up a touchless car wash business.

Cost of opening a touchless car wash – profitability calculator

When running your own business, profitability is crucial. After all, everyone who decides to open a car wash wants to start earning from it as soon as possible. On our website you will find a profitability calculator that lets you estimate the running costs of the business and its potential revenue yourself. Combined with the car wash configurator, it gives you your own figures on how much you need to open the site and what your fixed expenses will be. With these tools, your decision to open your own touchless car wash will be better thought through and your investment safer.

What to look out for before starting the investment?

As you can easily guess, there are many companies on the market that build car washes. Do not choose a company at random, as this may lead to unsatisfactory results. So what should guide your choice? Above all, check the supplier's credibility. Ideally, your car wash should be built by a company with many years of experience in the industry and a guarantee of high quality. Do not forget to check the options for expanding the car wash with further systems and components later on.

DESIGN YOUR CAR WASH ONLINE AND WE WILL PRICE IT

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