How to open a car wash from scratch: a business plan

Many Russians today are looking for an acceptable way of obtaining a reliable income, and the idea of organizing their own business increasingly takes hold of the minds of fellow citizens. Where, in what sphere is it relatively easy to earn? Where to go, if you do not have huge resources for organizing a serious business or buying a new business? And what if all the niches have been occupied for a long time and invent something new? Is that still the task?

What is profitable?

Let's not invent a bicycle and today we will talk about one of the classic, well-proven types of business, the opening of which, though it requires a fairly serious investment, but still a real challenge.

It's about washing cars. How to open a car wash from scratch? What is needed for this, and how to organize the business properly, with a guarantee of having a profit, and not a loss? In this article we will tell you how to open a car wash correctly, and explain some important nuances.

How relevant is this?

Why car wash? The actuality of this business in modern urban conditions is proved by life itself. Judge for yourself: car washes are in demand absolutely everywhere - from a megacity to a small town, and their services people use in any season.

In winter, every driver must visit the sink to wash off salt, sand and reagents. In spring and autumn, there is no less frequent sightseeing than every 2-3 days due to the constant mud and puddles on the domestic roads. In the summer among car owners it is customary to rub cars to the full shine. And today it will be exactly how to open a car wash from scratch.

This business (according to professionals) has a fairly high profitability (30-40%), that is, it refers to the number of profitable enterprises. About full payback can be said after about 12-16 months after the opening of the case, of course, provided its successful production and promotion. If it is a portal, more expensive option, then this period is extended, and you will be able to calculate net profits in a year or two.

How to open a car wash from scratch: a business plan

The beginning of absolutely any commercial project requires the development of a detailed business plan. It should contain a detailed calculation of costs, revenues, payback and, ultimately, the profitability of the intended enterprise. Based on these data, it will be possible to analyze possible prospects that this commercial project may have.

How to open a car wash? The business plan of your endeavor must necessarily include the following main points: financial strategy, business plan, marketing specifics, market data for such services.

Calculating the costs of your future business depends heavily on whether you are planning to erect a separate room for the cleaning organization or are going to do with the purchase or lease of an existing one.

In the first case, you should first of all carefully study the issues of erecting the premises with the registration of all necessary documentation, the costs of acquiring or leasing a land plot, consumables, purchasing and installing equipment, as well as necessary repairs and unavoidable costs in the process of operation. Each of the items should be thought out more than carefully.

What kind of documents do you need to collect?

Which authorities should be circumvented before opening a car wash from scratch? The business plan should include this item without fail. To start existence, your offspring should get permission in the form of SEZ (sanitary-epidemiological conclusion). To do this, you will need to collect a package of documents, a full list of which is regulated by Order No. 776 of Rospotrebnadzor (dated November 21, 2005).

If you are planning, for example, to open a car wash from scratch in Moscow, you will:

1. Plan a visit to the Moscow Land Committee with a view to concluding an agreement on the lease of a land plot.

2. Attend permission for the administration of the area where your business will be located, and obtain opinions in the Fire Service, Moskompriroda, Mosvodostok and Gossanepidnadzor.

3. To coordinate the construction plan in the Moscomarchitecture.

What else needs to be coordinated

In addition, the Moscow government will require you to provide contracts for the lease of the site, the cleaning of the adjacent territory with the export of solid waste, a situational plan with the designated boundaries of your site and a document showing that your cash register equipment is registered.

Before opening a car wash from scratch, it is required to submit information about the proposed construction of the facility to the Communications and Transport Department. To obtain SEZ and approve the project you will have to apply to Rospotrebnadzor (its territorial management).

We select our place and room for our car wash.

The payback rate and, as a consequence, the profitability of this business project are directly related to the location of the car wash. Almost the ideal place for this - the curbs of the central city avenues, also pay attention to the busiest routes.

Washings are often organized at the entrance to the city, next to the customs or border post. But, being in the area of a major transport hub, drivers most often refuse to use the services of a car wash because of the hustle and bustle. It will be more profitable to offer its services near fuel stations and TO stations.

Rent - cheaper

How to open a car wash from scratch when building your own building for it is an impossible financial task? In this case, renting a room at an ATP, suitable for all parameters, can be a good option. In addition, many less documents will have to be issued. Motorists, as a rule, are familiar with all similar enterprises of their city.

From the parameters of the room depends on the type and volume of services provided. For example, if you are thinking about how to open a truck wash from scratch, you need to consider a number of additional factors, starting with the height of the ceilings.

Do not forget about the need for an auxiliary area on which you will store supplies.

Purification of water in a car wash

In connection with the growth of serious environmental problems, car wash owners are being asked to take into account the requirements that you will have to consider when opening. For example, a cleaning system is mandatory, the filters of which are to remove fats, oil products and other chemicals of sewage.

Such equipment is compact enough and refers to the transported nodes. The very procedure of water purification goes in stages. The existing circulation tank allows the liquid to be purified using a recycle cycle. Thus, circulating several times in a row along the contour, the water remains practically free of impurities.

Since the operation of the cleaning equipment is provided at a temperature above +5 ° C, it should be installed in a heated room.

What's next?

At the opening of the sink there should be a commission from representatives of the administration, firefighters, traffic police and other services. They will sign an acceptance certificate for your facility.

Then you should take care of advertising. After all, the more people learn about a new sink, the more of them will be included in the number of customers. The funds for the opportunity to notify potential consumers about your service is not to be pitied.

Advertising on billboards located in the immediate vicinity of your point will be very effective if you specify in brief form its location, opening hours, discounts, basic services and important bonuses.

We select staff

Having overcome bureaucratic obstacles, engage in the selection of suitable personnel. What should it be? The basic requirements for applicants for employees - the ability to understand cars of the category, the service is supposed to be in your case, contact (to form a list of regular customers) and polite treatment.

In order not to lose consumers of services, it is desirable to operate the washer in a round-the-clock mode - such a schedule is optimal for it. In this case, you will have to hire the washers in the amount of 5 or 6 people and one foreman.

Higher education for your employees is not necessary, students can also work for hire. Pay them should be on the amount of work done. Motivate employees should be through additional financial incentives, and to lift the image of a car wash as a solid enterprise will help stylish working overalls with a company logo.

We will calculate the cost of the project

When calculating mandatory costs, proceed from the cost of renting. This amount will be different depending on the room and the area where it is located. To the lease should be added to the purchase of equipment.

The high-pressure device with the function of heating water will cost you in the amount of 1800 to 3000 dollars. The device that delivers water for 1 post - at 500-1300 y. Compressor - at 200-250 dollars. Washing vacuum cleaner (or a vacuum cleaner) - at 400-550 dollars. The system of water treatment - in 4800-6600 dollars.

Most car wash owners prefer to purchase imported equipment. In this segment of the market 80% of sales belongs to the German company Karcher. In addition, Italian and Danish equipment is valued. Russian manufacturers usually purchase devices for water treatment.

The list of the main materials related to consumables consists of an auto shampoo, a polish preparation, the means by which dry cleaning, wheel disks, engine, bumpers are cleaned. Monthly expenses for them will amount to about $ 300, provided that the carwash is serviced daily by 30-40 cars.

Tips for a businessman to succeed

Let's give some more recommendations how to open a car wash from scratch.

In summer, the flow of customers, as a rule, runs low. Washing services are mostly used by those who wanted to cover the wax car. What should a businessman do to avoid losing profits? The only way out here is to reduce prices slightly while simultaneously expanding the range of services. Secondly, try to offer customers additional reasons to visit your point. For example, break a small tent near the institution with tables where people can relax and have a snack (for example, a shish kebab). During the rest, someone will definitely want to wash the car.

An excellent solution - a mini-market with products or a small store selling spare parts, in walking distance.

What to do if the funds are not enough

Perhaps you want to spend less money and think, for example, how to open a self-service car wash. Well, this option is quite possible. Its advantages are that it saves money on staff remuneration. Of course, this type of service has individual features, which must be taken into account when drawing up a business plan.

If you came up with the idea how to open a car wash in the garage, it is better to immediately abandon it. Apart from the need to settle the issues with the management of the garage cooperative, the problem of water supply, the "smart" place and the arrangement of all expensive equipment mentioned above, is rising.

The main point, because of which this project can be considered unviable, is the lack of the possibility to connect to the water supply and sewage networks. Even if there is one, you will be required to construct a sewage treatment system. In a word, such an idea is not very successful.

How to open a self-service car wash from scratch: a few tips

Suppose you want to get a sink of this type. You already know how to open a car wash from scratch. The business plan in this case should be only slightly adjusted for the specifics of such services.

As is known, services for washing cars are portal and tunnel, in which washing is carried out in an absolutely automated way, hand-held (the washing of machines is handled by personnel) and open - based on the principle of self-service.

In the latter case, drivers themselves wash their cars with the provided means. Such a washing consists of a set of equipment with a set of necessary materials. All equipment (water guns, vacuum cleaners, drying machines) is as simple and straightforward as possible. Customers use this kind of washing much more willingly because of the opportunity to save money.

The list of services includes washing with warm water and powder (removal of dirt), flushing foam with cold water, applying wax on cars, polymerization, eliminating stains.

The main problem with the device of such a car wash is how to be in the winter with freezing liquids? The solution is, and it is in the device under the covering of the warm floor by means of a system of pipes with circulating flowing hot water. Heating of the water in the system is ensured by automatic switching on at the right time of a gas or diesel boiler. Equipment should also be selected with a continuous circulation of liquid, such as guns for supplying water under pressure.