Newbie looking for advice...

Hey guys! I figured if I looked hard enough I could find a message board about car washing on the internet. :) I am 24 years old and looking to break into the business. I flipped a house in college so I have about 40k to help me get started. I am a commercial appraiser so I have done my due diligence the best I could. Any tips you guys have? I just want to know EVERYTHING I can before I invest in this. I am looking into a 4 bay right now as funds/credit is limited because of my age. Again...thanks for sharing!

Start reading cwguy.com, you will see what the day-to-day "activities" of owning a self-serve car wash is like.

I'm sure others will add to this.

Get a job at one first. It only takes a few hours a week, but thats the best way to learn. To many people get into the business that have a little money, and think all you have to do is switch the chemicals out every now and then. Most SS carwash owners that are not "hands on" people are always looking for good help. By good help I don't mean someone that knows alot about carwashes, just someone willing to learn, show up, and not steal!

Homer is right, it's a very common misconception that a self-serve car wash is a "build it, turn it on and collect the money" business. You can do it that way, but your net will be very low, probably nonexistent. If you don't plan on spending a significant amount of time on the wash, or you can't find someone competent that you can trust to take care of it properly, you'd be better off just putting your money in a CD.

Everyone one above is absolutely correct. Go to work for a car wash. If a self serve owner does not need help, then ask if you can work for peanuts for awhile so you can learn the business, but be sure he knows you will not be his competitor. You would not want to open a pizza shop unles you worked in one - right. You have to look for someone outside of town. And I don't mean a newbie like yourself. You need to hook up with a person who has been around for several years and is successful. You need to be a good plumber, mechanically inclined, half ass electrician, semi pro at diagnosing problems, customer oriented, and do not mind to work either day, night and weekends, on the roof at 0 degrees if need be and be very good at controling expenses. It's all about revenue and expenses.

Good luck

Joe

www.crowncarwashinc.com