Before we suggest how to run a car wash business profitably, let’s break in some exciting news. As per the International Carwash Association, Washing cars is a $24 billion industry and it’s growing. Every time a new vehicle hits the road, the prospects improve.
The statistics are truly encouraging if you are exploring car wash business as a possible venture. And even more exciting are the latest technological advancements we have witnessed in the form of high pressure machines and steam cleaning tools. Being mobile, one can start an auto detailing business right from one’s car.
Yes, you read it right, from a car!
What more, mobile detailing business doesn’t need a large water supply or management; so there is no need to carry water tanks when you deliver detailing service at your customers’ doorsteps.
Aided by such technological advancements, mobile auto detailing has come to the fore and many players are following suit. They are investing in carry cars and some thrilling pieces of machinery to roll out superior customer service right at your doorstep. Gone are the days when one had to invest in open spaces, conveyor installments and front desks, with internet marketing picking pace and cost optimization being the keyword, people are running mobile auto detailing business without the overhead.
And since there is no shortage of prospects around the world, car wash business presents attractive prospects to entrepreneurs who want to try something off the track and yet make as much money as well qualified professionals.
Nurturing and Running the Business Profitably
While the prospects are highly conducive for businesses, the onus still lies with the entrepreneurs to execute it right. Running mobile auto detailing needs sincere efforts in marketing and putting together a team that knows how to deliver top services. You need professionals with an eye for details.
Ensure that you have identified the right target group and have a solid marketing plan in place. Remember even in the internet age and the low cost of advertisement on it (factoring social media here) you need to put a solid strategy backed market initiative or you will fail. One innate advantage with running a car wash franchise or an independent detailing business is how it spreads on its own. You would have to use it to your advantage and that would be possible only when the service is exceptional.
Another important consideration would be the speed at which you deliver car detailing. As per few independent researches, people don’t like spending more than eighteen minutes on detailing. So if your professionals can beat that or equal it, chances are you would not only have repeat business but a lot of referrals as well. To further promote referrals, you can start a membership program where you reward your ‘advocates’. This strategy works wonder for repeat business and an organic spread without much marketing investments. But again, the underline would be the quality of service. If you can maintain your service at better levels for long time, you would carve out a space for yourself in the market.
If you feel that planning, strategizing or marketing is not your cup of tea, try opting for car wash franchise instead. The rewards are as big with only small royalty payments every month. Better still are those car wash franchise options that ask for fixed monthly payments so that you keep the chunk of revenues with yourself.
In a nutshell what would differentiate you and the rest of car detailing businesses out there would be the time factor, professionalism, customer service, marketing and the Green approach.
Therefore running a successful detailing business would distill down to the kind of results you can deliver with less water, better speed and economy. If you can do that, it would be a lot easier not only to market but to find Green conscious customers as well. Going Green would not only help the environment but also play a crucial role in winning more prospects.
