All Forum Posts by: Dave Carpenter

Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I noticed in your message that you did say “on her way out”. I’m taking that to mean she is gone (minus the gift she left behind)? It sounds like things can now start to improve. 

You acted like an adult, and she acted, well; like a dog.

I agree with many others. This sounds like one of those situations that is so frustrating, and unfair that it boils your skin! However. And it’s a big however, in the big picture, this is a speed bump. Get them out and move on. You can do this! You will sleep well st night knowing you are playing by the rules and being the bigger person. It’s going to be tough and frustrating for the next few days/weeks/months, but when it’s done it will be in the past and you will have learned a ton! Hang in there and let us all be encouraging as you go through this!

Another angle to get info is to find the local chemical suppliers. They will know many of the washes in your market and provide good insight. Google search “car wash supplies, or car wash distributors. Service companies can be helpful, but many are one man shows so may be hard to find. 

I own two brushless automatic (no employees) car washes. I think there are pretty big differences between coin op, automatic with no employees and employee driven washes. The first can be looked at a bit more passively and the last is really a business in every sense. 

So it depends where on the scale you are thinking compared to what is available. The next step is the numbers. 

I’d be glad to talk further or answer specific questions. It can be very profitable, but can also add a lot of daily work.

Sara,

I purchase a pair of automatic car washes a little over a year ago. These are a little different than the ones you are looking at since the only employee is me, and I only work part time when repairs are needed, or money needs to be collected. 

There are countless things to talk about and answers to give. Two key pieces to me that i would suggest for you to consider are:

1. Who is selling. I was fortunate to have a seller who was very very helpful. He left nearly all the supplies/tools with the car washes. I can't imagine having to try and rebuild that stock. He also is helping to finance a percentage of the purcahse so he has some vested interest in my success. I didn't fully appreciate the value of this at the time, but it is huge looking back!

2. I would suggest you find out who the chemical (soap) supplier is and the maintenance person and talk with them. For me those two guys who incidentally helped physically build the car washes 15 years ago are a wealth of knowledge and advice. Reach out to them and buy them the fanciest dinner you can and ask their advice. That would be money well spent. (Maybe a steak dinner is a bit much, but seriously, they will know the good, the bad and the ugly.)

3. I am more than happy to answer other questions you may have. Feel free to reach out. My washes are certainly somewhat different than yours, but they are more similar than an apartment building. 

Keep digging in, it CAN be a great business!

Dave

@Jeremiah Pedersen I’m not super familiar with all of those zip codes, but I can tell you that 53208 consists of 2 pretty different market areas that are basically split by hwy 41. To the west (closer to Wauwatosa) you will find $200k and up duplexes whole to the east of the highway you are more around the $100k price point. These are pretty large generalizations which are intended to give you a sense of the large ranges even within the same zip code. 

@Donald S. As a car wash owner myself I have probably had a dozen people immediately jump to that show when I tell them I own car washes. They also, I think, are half wondering if I launder money through them (which I do not). I should probably watch that show sometime so I know what specifically they are thinking of me...

There is also a car wash podcast called "The How of Car Washing" with David Begin and Henry  Lopez. I believe David is the current head of the car wash assn.

Welcome to BP!

@Dave Rav one word of caution for self serve is that because you have no employees people do all kinds of dumb stuff when they think no one is looking. People will dump mattresses, old tires, oil, and anything else you can think of in the bays. It’s not necessarily a deal breaker, but put those things somewhere in the consideration of a self serve.