Would ya like to own a car wash? Think again...

[TurboBuRick]

For those of you who don't know me personally I am in the car wash business among other things. We have three facility's in the south subs of Chicago. These are not your average run of the mill car washes. 100 ft convoyed tunnels with enough equipment to build two separate washes. Very clean and very well lit. We also have self service bays and 2 touchless automatics. Very meticulously maintained by me. I designed, built and now maintain all three places. I don't mean I told some contractor how I wanted it built, I actually did all my own purchasing and equipment installations. The only thing I hired out was the electricians to run the pipe and pull the wire. I did all the welding, ran all the hydraulics, all the water lines, set up the the computer and wired it all to work. They are very impressive washes and very reasonably priced. Prices are $7 for a basic $8 for super and $9 for the classic wash. Add 1 dollar for full size. So the most you will spend is $10 bucks. We are exterior run through and have a drying area with clean towels for the customers to use when they come out. A neat concept my partner came up with that the customers really like. They like it so much that they steal 2000 towels a month! From each place! Great people out here.:frown: I work 6 days a week. I can't remember the last Saturday I had off. Then I have customers accusing me of scratching there car or ripping of their mirror or their rear wiper or always something. I'm to the point I hate this business anymore.:frown:

Pics of Lockport

 

[JOHNDEEREGN]

I always thought I wanted to build a carwash in my hometown; not that fancy though.

Looks really nice; god luck with the sale

 

[SPTLSS1]

I owned a detail shop for several years after college. I actually worked there thru high school & when home on breaks from college. Bought the business and ran it for a # of years. Got completely burned out and sold the biz to a friend. Still in operation today & I started there back in 1987...boy I feel old.

Still do detailing on the side but don't miss the business at all. Plus I make 3x at my current job vs when I owned the shop....& I work less hrs.

Don't bother w/ a business broker since they were a waste of time plus they try tying you into a contract.

Good luck.

 

[Pronto]

Wow, the super duper wash around here is over $13. Good luck with your next enterprise.

 

[Not Avg 6]

Rick,

Your GN buddies could use some discount passes.

 

[BlackoutDrunk]

That sucks man. You gotta do something so you can get some time back to yourself and your family. There's no quality of life when your working all the time and besides that it's a damn shame you don't have more time to drive that beautiful GN you have.

Good luck with the sale.

 

[TexasT]

For those of you who don't know me personally I am in the car wash business among other things. We have three facility's in the south subs of Chicago. These are not your average run of the mill car washes. 100 ft convoyed tunnels with enough equipment to build two separate washes. Very clean and very well lit. We also have self service bays and 2 touchless automatics. Very meticulously maintained by me. I designed, built and now maintain all three places. I don't mean I told some contractor how I wanted it built, I actually did all my own purchasing and equipment installations. The only thing I hired out was the electricians to run the pipe and pull the wire. I did all the welding, ran all the hydraulics, all the water lines, set up the the computer and wired it all to work. They are very impressive washes and very reasonably priced. Prices are $7 for a basic $8 for super and $9 for the classic wash. Add 1 dollar for full size. So the most you will spend is $10 bucks. We are exterior run through and have a drying area with clean towels for the customers to use when they come out. A neat concept my partner came up with that the customers really like. They like it so much that they steal 2000 towels a month! From each place!

Pics of Lockport

I'm guessing you're turning a profit or you wouldn't keep at it. May be try raising the price a bit to off set the hassle factor. If you raise the price 25% an loose some of the biz you'd come out ahead as you would not loose as many towels(That's a joke but true). Maybe try some of the self serve car washes next time. They might be better and not take so much of your time.

 

[TurboBuRick]

Rick,

Your GN buddies could use some discount passes.

Did I forget to mention everyone is your friend...LOL Mike you just come see me. For a cool cat like you, I think can accommodate.

That sucks man. You gotta do something so you can get some time back to yourself and your family. There's no quality of life when your working all the time and besides that it's a damn shame you don't have more time to drive that beautiful GN you have.

Good luck with the sale.

Tell me about it Chuck but I think the best chance for me is to sell out to my partner. Then the other part that sucks, I'll have to get a job and work for someone. :tongue: :biggrin: And congrats on becoming a senior member...

 

[BlackoutDrunk]

ha I didn't even notice the senior member thing.

 

[Not Avg 6]

Yeah Rick I know, just poking fun. Whatever you decide to do, it will work out fine. I know how you operate and you won't have a problem.

 

[ijames]

How about holding people's keys until they return the towels? Nahh, too much hassle. Put your logo and addresses on them and sell them for $1 each. Cheapskates will bring them back next time, most will pay the buck each time, and you get some advertising. Or sell them for $1, and give a $0.50 off coupon for the next wash when they return the towel.

 

[GNVYUS 1]

Good job, that seems like a pain in the ass to pull off and you have 3.

Ya you gotta get a handle on that towel thing, you could hire one person to just sit there and watch over it, or just ditch that idea completely and have a crew dry the cars. The tips will take care of them with a minimal base pay.

 

[GNTurbo6]

Make an automated towel dispenser so they only get so many towels per wash.

 

[TurboBuRick]

I'm guessing you're turning a profit or you wouldn't keep at it. May be try raising the price a bit to off set the hassle factor. If you raise the price 25% an loose some of the biz you'd come out ahead as you would not loose as many towels(That's a joke but true). Maybe try some of the self serve car washes next time. They might be better and not take so much of your time.

It is time to raise the price Tex, thats for sure and yes we still turn a profit but the margin is getting closer. I hate to do it. Business has been terrible due to the weather and the gas prices are crunching consumers but I guess it's inevitable. Sh!t roles down hill.

Yeah Rick I know, just poking fun. Whatever you decide to do, it will work out fine. I know how you operate and you won't have a problem.

Thanks Mike, I like the way you operate too. You are truly a original guy. Proud to know you and your next wash is free.

Good job, that seems like a pain in the ass to pull off and you have 3.

Thanks Doc, now that I'm getting a little older I look back and it was defiantly an accomplishment but when I was building it was just another day at work. I enjoyed the construction part. We have three, two in the burbs and one on the ss.

Ya you gotta get a handle on that towel thing, you could hire one person to just sit there and watch over it, or just ditch that idea completely and have a crew dry the cars. The tips will take care of them with a minimal base pay.

We weighed out the cost of putting an employee out there and it would still cost more than we are loosing in towels. I like the idea of having a drying crew except for one thing, when they don't show up Sunday morning to work I will be out there drying cars.

Make an automated towel dispenser so they only get so many towels per wash.

Thought of this too, limiting the amout per customer would be a step in the right direction.

 

[GNocide]

i have always wanted a own a car wash- just 1 though
full detail business and a couple self serves on the same lot- dreams

 

[SGRIM]

Nice venture I checked into it a few times where I live but the dog gone gas stations kept building them...... Not as nice I know but people are about cheap and convenience!

One thought through, a digital camera system that takes a good front shot of each car before entering will prove if anything was knocked off:biggrin:

Good luck with the venture!

 

[Chuck Leeper]

The price has $ added to it, to cover the towel thefts..
Divide the # of cars into the # of lost towels x the cost/towel.
Add that as a "deposit", and hand the customer his deposit back, when he hands over the towels....
Being the nature of the bus, I'd bet the thieves are repeat customers...
Or, restrict the exits, so each customer HAS to pass thru, and hand over his/her towels.

 

[GregInAtl]

I am sure my drought clouded view is different than most, but why not sell the bussiness' to someone wating to try something new? If things dont DRASTICALLY change soon, people in your business in my area will be forced to close to water restrictions. Forced. Washes are still open, but rations are not far out of realm of possibilities when we have huge lakes 18'-20' low, (180 days of water left for Atlanta) and 27" of rain deficit to Dec. 1 since jan 1. I pray things change soon, and dont worsen and come your way. If they do, you wont want to be holding those cards then. Having a dirty car in Atlanta is almost a badge of honor, oh and the local paper (Atlanta journal) writes the names of the top 10 water users each month in the paper to embarrass them into conservation.

 

[TurboBuRick]

Nice venture I checked into it a few times where I live but the dog gone gas stations kept building them...... Not as nice I know but people are about cheap and convenience!

That is a problem but on the bright side, the gas stations really don't take care of their facilitys. They are usually run down pile of crap inside of a year.
I hear talk of wal-mart building them in there parking lots. I have a Jewel 1 block away with a car wash. They use to wash some cars but now its just like the gas stations. No one to maintain = no cars.

One thought through, a digital camera system that takes a good front shot of each car before entering will prove if anything was knocked off

I do have a camera system but you know how that goes. the damn camera is never in the right spot. Almost every time it's something hanging on by a thread. For instance on the suv and p-up's, we fold in side mirrors and the hing point snaps loose. A big problem with the GM's jerry azz design, good going guys. I developed a way to repair and make the mirror better than when they came in but most people don't want it fixed they want a new one. Or here is the best one, I want a new one and I want the dealer to fix it!

You know I'll be the first to fix anyones car if a malfunction or equipment breakage or something like that but when all other cars are going through with no problem and continue to go through. Thats when I have issues.

O and no one never ever gets out of their car before a wash an inspects their cars, only after the wash when the car is cleaner than it's been in weeks. Now all the sudden the car wash scratched their grocery getting daily driver. They aways seem to forget when they were getting the ice and snow off with their scrapers or setting stuff on their hoods and trunks.
Got to love it. Then try and keep your composure through all this.
I have lost it a few times, I try hard not to but I can only be pushed so far.

Thanks for all your suggestions guy's.

 

[DCVING 6]

Make it like the post office, attach the towels to a chain.