Open the car wash. The financial side of the issue. Decide on the tax system.

Good afternoon, dear readers! Probably, each of you drew attention to the fact that the number of cars on the roads is increasing from year to year. Despite a significant downturn in the economy, the high cost of gasoline, a catastrophic shortage of parking spaces and regular traffic jams. As you know, you can turn any situation to your advantage. The expansion of the automotive market entails an increase in demand for related goods and services. Therefore, today we will discuss how to open a car wash!

Indeed, if demand increases, then you need to create a supply without wasting time. Many car owners are very sensitive to their vehicle, so they are always looking for the best for the "iron horse". They are ready to go further and pay more for a quality service.

Car washes are also a highly profitable business. The average profitability is around 50%. Agree, this is not bad! For those who do not know, we explain: in each ruble received from clients, half is income, and the other half is overhead. But we'll talk about numbers later. Today we have prepared step by step instructions for aspiring entrepreneurs! Thanks to her, you can open a car wash from scratch.

Preparatory Activities: A good start is half the battle!

Before starting a business, you need to think carefully about the details. Right now, it is important to collect as much information as possible about what car washes are and fill the gaps in knowledge in the field of elementary accounting, because you need to be able not only to earn money, but also to count correctly. The network contains a lot of information on this matter.

If you need to draw up a business plan to find investors, then this article will help you do it quickly and correctly!

Choosing the type of car wash: Seriously!

In addition, you need to decide on the following nuances: in which area of \u200b\u200bthe city to open, can you afford to buy a room or have to rent, where to look for staff, people with what level of income, you would like to see your clients, as well as what type of car wash to open.

Option 1. Traditional sink.

This is the most popular and widespread species in Russia. We are talking about a standard set: a washer, sponges, mops, shampoo and half an hour of time. The advantages are obvious - the relatively low cost of the service, high popularity among the population and, as a result, quick payback.

Option 2. Automatic contactless car wash.

No brushes, no sponges, no washer. The dirt is washed off with a strong stream of water, then an active foam is applied, which was washed off by another stream of water. The process ends with a protective polish coating. Advantages: speed of washing, average cost, minimal damage to the paintwork. BUT! Opening such a sink in Russia is not best idea... The fact is that they are simply not able to qualitatively wash the dirt that accumulates on cars in the autumn-winter period.

Option 3. Automatic contact wash.

This type of car wash is similar to the previous one. First, water is supplied under pressure, then active foam and then water again. The difference is that they are additionally equipped with automatic brushes that remove dirt from the machine. At the end of the wash, wax is fed, after which the machine dries. Benefits: quick wash, quick payback. The only significant drawback is that it is expensive to open an automatic car wash!

Option 4. Dry self-service car wash.

How to open a car wash, thanks to which the car owner will be able to participate in the process, and at the same time be sure that the paintwork remains in perfect condition. It is worth considering dry washing. The car is treated with a special polish shampoo, which softens the dirt, after which it is very easy to remove it. Advantages: the coating is not damaged, great for winter (the seals on the car will not freeze or break when trying to open the doors) Disadvantages: dry washing will not cope with heavy pollution and washing the underbody, wheel arches, and discs.

Option 5. Self-service car wash (standard).

This type is good in that you do not need to hire car washers and pay them wages. It is enough to hire one person and put him at the checkout (if you wish, you can do this yourself). The car owner buys tokens, which he uses to pay for the equipment used, and washes the car on his own. Advantages: minimal personnel costs, speed. Disadvantages: The hardware is expensive.

Option 6. Modular car wash.

A sink is called a modular sink, which is assembled from special panels. Assembling it takes about 10 days. Advantages: can be disassembled and assembled at a new place, quickly pays off, it is easy to obtain the necessary permits. Disadvantages: high cost (about 1.5 million rubles).

Option 7. Washing for trucks.

Opening a car wash from scratch is quite profitable for trucks. The key to success is choosing the right place! Since truckers will be the main customers, the car wash should be located in the immediate vicinity of their parking lots. Then you will have plenty of customers and the sink will quickly pay off. Naturally, in this case we are talking about traditional washing with water. Benefits: quick payback. Disadvantages: It is difficult to find a suitable place.

What type of car wash should you choose? There is no definite answer to this question. Some entrepreneurs have experience, capital, connections, knowledge behind them, others have one thing or nothing at all. The initial conditions are different for everyone. We decided to create an instruction for beginners, so we will give this tip: start simple - open a standard (traditional) car wash!

Market research: always learn, know everything! The more you learn, the stronger you will become!

After the choice in favor of one of the types has been made, it is worth collecting as much information as possible about the market segment in which you are going to work. Simply put, it's time to visit your competitors. Why is it important? Because you can learn a lot, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the "enemy" in order to use both in your activities. So, you should definitely find out:

• the average cost of the service in the locality, as well as its cost from direct competitors, that is, at those car washes that are located in the same area in which you would like to open yours,
• what equipment do competitors use,
• what additional services are provided (blackening tires, washing the engine, waxing, and so on),
• features of service promotion (advertising, loyalty programs, promotions, discounts).

Collect as much information as possible, both about the disadvantages and the advantages. Both other information is of great value. Knowing the strengths, you will learn and strive for more, and knowing the weak, you will understand how to make worthy competition!

How to open a car wash: concept development or get out of the gray mass!

At this stage, you need to summarize and draw conclusions from the information collected. Any business does not start with paperwork, construction and investment. It starts with an idea! And it is desirable that this idea be unique! Of course, you won't be able to do something completely unique when it comes to a car wash, but you can create your own style and stand out from the crowd.

You must decide on:

• number of boxes for washing cars,
• price segment,
• TM equipment,
• the name of the car wash,
• operating mode,
• the number of employees
• promotion of services,
• basic services,
• additional services,
• the comfort of car owners,
• purchase / lease of land,
• construction / lease of premises,
• own "chip".

Not an easy task! Although this is only the first step, it is perhaps the most important. An aspiring entrepreneur must think through everything to the smallest detail! This is the only way to “survive” in the face of tough competition.

In order to make it clear: "trick" is the very thing that will set your business apart from the gray mass. For example, why not start actively promoting your services to corporate clients. That is, to negotiate with large companies (which usually have their own vehicle fleet) on cooperation. It turns out that your car wash will serve not only private clients, but also businesses! This is very beneficial! You need to find the phone numbers of large companies whose office is located nearby and offer your services. It is important to secure a verbal agreement with an agreement!

Step 2. How much does it cost to open a car wash: budget for opening and calculation of profitability!

There are a lot of options on how to open a washing business, so we will make calculations for:

• traditional car wash for 2 boxes,
• rented premises,
• 12-hour working hours 7 days a week,
• 8 washers who work in shifts (6 hours a day, 2/2), plus 1 cleaner.
• Cost of services:
• Body wash - 300.
• Interior cleaning - 120.
• Waxing - 110.
• Wheel washing - 20.
• Cleaning of rugs - 40.
• Blackening of wheels - 150.

We calculate the initial investment:

1. Payment of state fees, obtaining permits - 10,000.
2. Purchase of equipment and supplies – 500 000.
3. Repair of the premises - 200,000.
4. Advertising - 100,000.
5. Providing communications, if necessary - 100,000.

The total is 810,000 rubles.

Naturally, it is impossible to say exactly how much it costs to open a car wash. Since there are too many variables in this equation: rental cost, presence / absence of communications, equipment brand, number of boxes, and others. But the algorithm for calculating the initial investment remains unchanged.

1. Monthly activity costs (costs):

• Purchase of consumables - 15,000,
• Labor remuneration (8 washers + 1 cleaner for 15,000 each) - 135,000,
• Rent + light and water - 60,000,
• Advertising deductions - 20,000.

Total monthly: 230,000 rubles.

1. Planned monthly revenue.

Car wash throughput: 48 cars per day (average 30 minutes per car). The planned level of occupancy is 80%, that is, 39 cars per day. Each car owner orders a different set of services. Average check - 400. Planned revenue - 15,600 per day, 468,000 per month.

1. Profit before tax is: 468,000 - 230,000 \u003d 238,000.
2. Net profit (for individual entrepreneurs on a simplified taxation system "income"): 238,000 -6% \u003d 210,000.
3. This means that the payback period will be 810,000 / 210,000 \u003d 4 months! A car wash with such parameters pays off faster than any other, which is important for novice entrepreneurs.
4. Car wash profitability: 210,000 / 468,000 * 100% \u003d 45%. This is a very good indicator, which suggests that each ruble received from customers contains 45 kopecks of net profit.

Based on these figures, the entrepreneur must conclude whether it is worth opening a car wash. Before making a final decision, three predictions can be made: pessimistic, realistic and optimistic. This will prepare you for different scenarios.

STEP 3. How to open a car wash: paperwork!

After the concept has been approved, its economic justification and a decision has been made to open a business, it is necessary to begin the paperwork. For ease of perception, we will divide the bureaucratic process into stages.

Stage 1. Visiting the tax office.

The first step is to submit documents to the Federal Tax Service and open an individual entrepreneur or LLC. For beginners, the best is IP, since there are much fewer problems with it: fast, simple and easy to understand. And the article will help you understand the nuances.

At the same time, you can submit an application for choosing a taxation system, if this is not done within a month from the date of registration, then the general taxation system will automatically apply. It requires knowledge in the field of accounting and tax accounting, as well as the filing of a fairly large amount of reporting.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, one of the special tax regimes is best suited. A good option - a simplified taxation system, which is of two types, depending on the tax base: STS "income" 6% and STS "income-expenses" 15%. The first option is simpler, 6% is paid from the proceeds, but the second is beneficial for those who have more than 60% of the expense in their revenue! For example, for wholesale trade... Important! You need to be able to confirm the expense (have primary documentation: checks, invoices, invoices).

The registration process with the tax office will take no more than 10 working days.

Stage 2. Conclusion of a lease agreement.

At this stage, with the registration documents in hand, you can safely go to conclude a lease agreement. You won't be able to do this before official registration. Commercial real estate objects are leased only to individual entrepreneurs or legal entities.

If an entrepreneur decides to buy / lease land and build a car wash from scratch, then the process becomes much more complicated, as it is necessary: \u200b\u200bto approve the car wash project at the administration of the settlement, obtain permits from the SES, the traffic police, environmentalists, firefighters and the State Expertise. This process will take 3 weeks at best. Not to mention that the initial investment will be increased several times, and the payback period will reach 2-3 years!

Stage 3. Connection to utilities.

This item is needed only for those premises that are not electrified and do not have a water supply system, as well as for the construction of a new building.

Step 4. Purchase of equipment and materials: the best advertisement of any product is its quality!

It will be quite difficult for a beginner to do it himself right choice from a variety of equipment for car washes. Therefore, it is best to order from organizations that specialize in the sale of such equipment. There are three reasons for this:

1. They will prompt you the correct set of necessary equipment per two posts.
2. They will familiarize themselves in detail with the features of each brand and provide a wide range.
3. Make a discount for wholesale.

The same company will provide a guarantee for the equipment, and, if necessary, spare parts. Plus, intermediary firms are always very attentive to their customers, as they are interested in long-term cooperation.

If you decide to purchase equipment yourself from different sources, then the main thing to remember is that quality comes first. Saving on equipment will subsequently lead to additional costs, plus lost profits due to the downtime of the post! We have collected five of the best TM equipment for sinks for aspiring entrepreneurs:

1. Portotecnica
2. Karcher
3. Kranzle

You can trust these brands.

Naturally, the most expensive device is a water purification system for car washes. You can do without it, because the waste water cannot be discharged into the sewer. It needs to be cleaned and put back into action. After the water is used up, it is handed over to special companies that deal with the disposal of industrial waste. Its cost varies in the range from 50,000 to 300,000 rubles.

In addition, you need to purchase:

1. High pressure washer. It should have a professional status, because such a model is designed for long-term continuous work. A great option is Karcher HD 10/21. The cost is 40,000 rubles. We need two for our car wash.
2. Set of nozzles - 2 pcs.
3. Compressor - 1 pc.
4. Vacuum cleaner - 2 pcs.
5. Expendable materials.

How to open a car wash and attract customers? It is necessary to organize a place for a comfortable waiting for the car, therefore this stage worth purchasing additionally:

• TV set
• Sofa (armchairs)
• Coolers for cold and hot water.

Thanks to this modest set, you can easily organize a waiting area where the client can drink water or coffee.

Step 4. Personnel: the profitability of a car wash is directly proportional to the diligence of the washer!

As you know, cadres are everything! This rule is also true for car washes. A good car washer is worth its weight in gold. Since, perhaps, 80% of business success depends on his skills and diligence. Qualities that any car washer should have:

• friendliness,
• learnability,
• good physical form,
• knowledge of the car (highlights),
• the absence of bad habits is desirable.

Being in good physical shape is a must, because an employee may never sit down during his shift. In the process of washing, almost all muscle groups are actively involved for a long time. Not every man can cope with such a physical activity.

Step 6. Opening a car wash from scratch!

When everything is ready, you can have a grand opening! Yes, it is solemn! This way you can attract customers. Make a special offer on this day: car wash at half price or a fragrance as a gift, plus a discount coupon for the next visit, or blackening tires for free. There are a lot of options! The main thing is to sound tempting!

A few days before the opening, you can order advertising on the radio! Many drivers come in to get discounts, an inexpensive car wash, or just check the level of service and quality at a new car wash. Naturally, on this day, the staff must work for five-plus. After all, there is nothing better than word of mouth. A driver who likes the service received will definitely tell his friends, relatives and acquaintances about it.

In the first month of work, you can slightly lower the price! This is considered unfair competition, but all methods are good on the way to the cherished goal! But don't cut it down too much! First, take a loss. Secondly, customers may react negatively to subsequent price increases.

Now you know how much it costs to open a car wash and how to do it! But that is not all! We have collected some useful tips for you from car washer owners.

Tip 1. It is best to rent a space for a car wash, which is initially most suitable for this business. A prerequisite is the presence of all communications! The construction of a new building and the supply of water and light is a complicated and expensive process, so novice entrepreneurs should not undertake it. It is better to first study all the nuances of the activity!

Tip 2. Having a waiting area for clients is a "must-have". If a driver has a choice between two identical car washes, but one has a seating area and the other does not, guess where he will go? Of course, where he will be comfortable!

Tip 3. If you are not confident in your own abilities. If you are afraid that you will not be able to independently promote your car wash services to the market, then you should consider the option of opening it under a franchise. How much does it cost to open a car wash this way? It all depends on the company you want to become a part of! Well-known franchised chains: Mobile Car wash, Fast and Shine, Lux CarWash.

Tip 4. Choose premises not because of its price, but because of its advantageous location! Correct location is one of the key success factors! An excellent option would be a car wash near busy highways, shopping centers, car dealerships, near a tire shop and other places where car owners congregate.

How to prepare a business plan for a small cinema yourself? Starting a business: a step-by-step algorithm for creating a shoe workshop! December 9, 2016 2:24 am

Let's consider all the subtleties of starting a new business using an example.

What you need to open a car wash

After all the possible risks have been calculated, and you have assessed your capabilities, you can proceed directly to the process of opening an enterprise. This is where the process of collecting documents begins.

In some cases, the best option is to contact specialists who will not only be able to advise you on collecting a package of documents, but also carry out these processes for you. Today services such as registration of an individual entrepreneur with a minimum of your participation are very popular. In addition, the cost of such a turnkey service is about 4000 rubles, and the process itself takes from 7 to 9 days. At the same time, you are guaranteed to avoid possible mistakes.

First of all, you need a Sanitary and Epidemiological Certificate. The full package of documents for obtaining a free economic zone is defined in order No. 776, clause 19 of 11.21.05.

• Land lease agreement with the land committee;
• Permission from the district council, under whose jurisdiction the site for your enterprise is located, as well as conclusions from the Environmental authorities, the Fire Service, the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision.
• An agreed development plan.

As well as:

• Registration documents for cash register equipment;
• Agreements for cleaning the adjacent territory and removal of solid waste;
• Situational plan with a clear indication of the boundaries of the land.

There are no general requirements for these documents for all enterprises, and Rospotrebnadzor independently determines the need for them in the process of inspecting an object.

In addition, the Communications and Transport Directorate must be notified of the start of construction or the start of work on your car wash.

Location and visit to the car wash

For a car wash, it makes no sense to build a room, it is enough to rent a room. Cons of self-building a room for a sink:

• Obtaining permits for construction;
• During construction, all sanitary standards must be observed.

Accordingly, the amount of money spent for its construction will amount to approximately 2 million rubles.

When choosing a car wash location, it is important to consider the following points:

• High cross-country ability of transport;
• Convenient road junction;
• Minimum of competitors;
• A minimum of opportunities to wash the car yourself (the presence of nearby reservoirs and public water sources is not a plus for your company).

The best option is to enter the city along the federal highway.

Business plan opening a car wash

Before registering your car wash, you need to calculate in detail all costs, assess the possible income with maximum risks and, most importantly, assess your own capabilities.

Be sure to analyze the development perspective.

In other words, you need to develop a quality business plan.

The main points of a business plan for organizing a car wash:

• Strategy, preferably for several years ahead;
• Business processes;
• Market and competition;
• Possibility of providing additional services (tire fitting, cafe).

The number of cars per capita continues to grow, and with it the accompanying services continue to develop: car washes, service stations and gas stations.

In this article we will focus on one of the car service businesses. And consider a car wash as a business: how much does it cost to open it from scratch and what is needed for it.

Business plan: how to open your own car wash from scratch

Due to the high demand for services, this type of activity is very promising. But its success strongly depends on the correct choice of location and competent organization of the process.

Before starting your first investment, you should carefully consider all aspects and calculate the possible costs.

Therefore, the very first stage of planning, you will need to approximately look for a place for a future car wash and decide which of the services you will provide. And having already decided on these parameters, start an approximate calculation of the costs of the organization.

To a large extent, which consumer you are targeting plays a role here.

• If you are targeting customers who do not intend to participate in the process, or intend to receive a large percentage of the profits from related services, then it is better to focus on options that involve staff service. Prices at such a car wash will be higher due to the need to pay employees, but there are also more opportunities and services.

• And in a place with very high traffic, self-service enterprises are ideal. The speed of such sinks is high. But the drivers call in to quickly wash off the dirt, and are almost not interested in additional services.

And remember, if you open a car wash from scratch, you will have to invest in the site, and in equipment, and in paperwork.

Much easier:

• Buy a ready-made business.
• Or take advantage of the franchise offers.

Types of car washes

These enterprises are divided into the following types:

• Contact and non-contact.
• Manual and automatic.

Manual pin

The traditional method, which includes water, car shampoo and various rags, brushes, sponges. In this case, the washer sees the field of work and can pay more attention to the desired areas. For a fee, you can get the salon cleaning.

The main advantage of this solution is that there is no need for expensive equipment, which is useful at the stage of starting a business.

Minus: high dependence on the conscientiousness of the washer, the likelihood of damage to the coating and low speed (only 3-4 cars per hour)

Manual non-contact

In this case, a high pressure apparatus (HPA) is used. First, the machine is treated with a jet of water under pressure. Then, with the help of special foam generators and a foam gun, a detergent composition is applied to the machine, which is then washed off. The final stage is drying.

The advantage of this process is:

• Higher operating speed in comparison with the contact method (about 4–5 machines per hour).
• Preservation of the body coating.

There is an option in which cleaning is carried out not with water, but with steam under pressure (eco-washing or steam washing).
In this case, there is no need to use detergents, and the water consumption is much lower. The method can be applied to both the body and the interior.

The advantages of such sinks are in their relative environmental friendliness, savings due to the composition and cost of equipment.

The disadvantage is that:

• Such sinks require the use of personnel, with all the ensuing consequences.
• Very tough pollution is difficult to clean with steam.
• Installations have temperature limitations.

Portal

This is an automated process. And based on the equipment and cleaning program, one operator can wash up to 20 cars per hour.

The process is as follows: the car drives into the field of action of the washer, which is a U-shaped frame. The frame moves around the vehicle and removes dirt from the body surface in various ways. Cleaning can be contact, non-contact or combined.

Here the influence of the human factor is minimized, the speed of work increases. Water consumption due to automation is less. Portal devices are available in various sizes, including those suitable for cleaning trucks.

There are also many disadvantages of such sinks:

• Firstly, the price of the washing frames is appropriate.
• Secondly, the premises for these installations require capital.
• Thirdly, in order to provide additional services (and their profitability is usually higher than a simple wash), you will have to increase the area of \u200b\u200bthe room, so that after the end of the cleaning there will be where to put the car for further processing.
• And the quality here is lower than with manual methods.

Tunnel

Also an automated process. In this case, the vehicle is placed on a platform that moves through arches and portal devices. And they different methods (contact and non-contact) remove dirt from the surface of the machine.
The length of such a car wash is up to 50 m. And thanks to the presence of platforms, it can serve up to 150 cars per hour.

Cons: the need for capital construction, large area occupied by devices, high cost of equipment, the need for separate places to provide additional services.

Self-service points

A common and profitable option.

For money, you provide the client with AED equipment, and he washes his car himself.

• Beneficial even in terms of quality. The car owner should only complain about himself.
• The staff is almost unnecessary.
• Capital buildings are not needed either, usually just a wide canopy over the posts is sufficient.
• High enough speed.
• Since the client pays for the amount of water and detergent used, the process is more economical.

What it takes to open your car wash

First, decide which car wash you want to open from scratch ( practical advicehow to do it better, you will find c).

According to this:

• Find a suitable plot for construction or a finished object.

• Register and collect all the necessary documentation.

• Design and build or convert a car wash. Connect it to the required utilities.

• Hire staff.

• Attract customers.

And work, work, work.

Site requirements for a car wash

Site selection is one of the determining factors for the success of washing plants.
The more potential customers nearby, the better. The closer to large transport interchanges and highways and large streets, the more profitable.

A great option is to install a car wash complex in the parking lot of a large shopping center, provided that you agree with its owners.

It is good to have a car wash on the road from business to sleeping areas. Because most of the drivers will come to wash the car after a working day.

The location next to a busy road does not always play a sufficient role. It is possible that the track is nearby, but it is simply inconvenient to stop or slow down near the sink.

Also, there will not be much sense next to the track from a small manual contact car wash enterprise with a wide range of services. Since people on the road will generally be in a hurry and will not have time for a full car wash. For such a case, due to the higher performance, a self-service station or a tunnel version would be suitable.

There are many aspects of the influence of the location on the choice of the most effective way organizations.

What documents are needed to open a car wash

Although such services do not require certification, a lot of paperwork will have to be collected to open a car wash.

To get started, you must:

• Be registered as LLC or individual entrepreneur.
• Choose the most suitable taxation system.
• Register with the Federal Tax Service and non-budget funds.

• You will have to collect a complete package of permits for your facility: project agreement on ecology and environmental protection, architectural approval, permission from local authorities.

• Expert opinions from firefighters and SES. It will be especially difficult with SanEpidNadzor. Since such complexes are dangerous from the point of view of environmental protection, and require the installation of sewage and storm water treatment systems.

• Waste disposal contract.

• Certificates for all equipment.

• Land lease agreement and much more.

• It is better to clarify the current list of required documents before opening.

Staff

The number and type of staff directly depends on the services provided.

For the entire self-service station, 2-3 workers may be enough. And in other cases, at least one person per post, plus managers, cleaners, administrators, salespeople (if there is related trade), etc.

Most of the work at a car wash is not very difficult. Nevertheless, it is better if your employees have certain knowledge and qualities:

• Have an idea of \u200b\u200bthe car's design.
• Be friendly and sociable.
• Responsibility and learning are also needed.

And the process itself requires good physical shape.

What is needed for an efficient car wash

Much of the future success or failure of a car wash is based on decisions in the planning phase.
It is important not only to link the type of enterprise to flow density, location and customers.

It is also necessary to properly organize the premises and field trips, correctly arrange the equipment. The more conveniently these or those units are placed, the easier it is to use them, the faster the cleaning will be carried out. So those more money you will receive it.

Remember the importance of water treatment:

• First, you simply won't open up without it.
• Secondly, the reuse of water will save a little.

You also need to consider the possibilities of advertising. This is especially important at the very beginning of work. The right signs and banners will help you find your car wash faster.

Promotions and discounts can attract customers to you. On the other hand, print ads will have almost no effect.

Car wash profitability

Starting such an enterprise from scratch is an expensive pleasure.

• A plot of land of 9 acres for commercial development in a fairly convenient location costs at least several million rubles.

• Not less than a hundred thousand will be spent on design.

• Construction, depending on which type of car washes you prefer, will hardly cost you less. And that's not counting all the difficulties and unforeseen expenses associated with obtaining documentation.

• A Russian-made self-service complex for five posts with minimal functions costs about 2 million rubles.

• You also need to put the territory in order, connect all the systems, organize water treatment and much more.

Of course, you can cut costs:

• Not buying, but renting a plot.

• Purchase and refurbish an existing building. This solution will remove the need to build and significantly reduce the required documentation package from you.

Well-organized car washes in a good location have a profitability of about 30% and pay off in about 3 years.

You can find out about other current business ideas by reading

Washing a car and keeping it in good condition has long been a popular business idea. This direction is perfect for any time of the year, as it does not have a significant impact on profits.

Is it worth opening such a business today? Let's talk about this in this article, as well as about the specifics of the case and how expensive it is.

Relevance: market analysis

According to the analyzes carried out, car washes remain a fairly profitable business today. They are relevant both in the warm season, when a clean car attracts the eye, and in the cold, when the vehicle must be protected from harmful salt and sand.

If in his own yard the owner of the car often picks up a bucket and a rag, then the residents of apartment buildings cannot even dream of this. The car may be dirty again after a few days. This is due to precipitation, poor quality road surface and the season.

Let's figure out what the profitability of this business depends on. When deciding to open a car wash, pay attention to the following nuances in advance:

• the region must be economically stable, where the number of cars will grow steadily every year;
• it is better to open a car wash in a residential area with a minimum number of competitors, so that the business will pay off faster;
• it is desirable to invest not only in washing cars, but also in related services, which will lead to an increase in demand.

How to open a car wash?

Let's talk about how to start your own car washing business. Of course, it will require some investment, and in certain cases, considerable funds.

Initially, you should pay attention to the following costs:

1. Purchase and registration of a land plot.
2. Construction and repair of premises for a car wash.
3. The cost of purchasing equipment and detergents.
4. Depreciation costs.
5. Fee for paperwork.

Franchise: pros and cons

A franchise agreement is a case where the initial costs can be much higher.

But it is worth considering that a franchise is good only when it opens in a large city. In fact, an entrepreneur spends a fairly large amount of money on a franchise agreement, and as a result gets the opportunity to work with a ready-made brand.

The advantages of such a business include:

• lower advertising costs, because the brand is already widely advertised;
• recommendations on the conduct and maintenance of the business, received along with the contract.

The disadvantages include:

• high cost of the franchise agreement;
• lack of freedom of action, since you will have to follow the rules of the parent company.

Types of car washes

There are several types of car washes. All of them, in turn, are divided into several types:

1. Manual.
2. Auto.
3. Mobile.

Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Manual car washes have been around for a very long time. If you plan to invest very little money, then hand washing the car is just what you need.

They are divided into two types:

• contact wash, where people clean cars;
• contactless washing, implying an automatic supply of detergents under human control.

The disadvantage of manual washing is the duration of the process. This is the main reason when talking about the gradual withdrawal of such sinks from the market. This happens gradually and very slowly.

Automatic car washes are also classified into two types:

1. Portal.
2. Tunnel.

The difference between them lies in the movement of the arched washing structure (portal type) or in the movement of the car itself being cleaned (tunnel type). The essence of the process in both cases is the same: washing occurs automatically.

Mobile car washes are not very common today, but they will conquer the market in the near future. Their main plus is that the car owner does not need to go anywhere, at the request received, the car wash itself leaves for the agreed place and quickly cleans.

Premises

In most cases, any business opening begins with the choice of premises. It must meet the following parameters:

• fit the budget;
• have a convenient entrance;
• be located away from competitors;
• comply with technical standards.

The most promising places are cottage lines near populated new buildings. The city center will also be a convenient location, but the municipalities may refuse.

The premises can be bought or rented, but some entrepreneurs are taking a different path. First, they acquire a plot of land, then they receive permission to build a sink, and only then proceed with the construction of the building. Only one thing can be said about such a plan: it is too costly and will require large quantity time.

In order for the project to satisfy the city administration, it is necessary to prepare the project in advance, apply to the city architecture with it, resolve issues in the SES, and then wait for a decision. It is issued within 30 days.

Please note that the application is submitted to the name of the head of the city.

An ideal wash should include:

1. Cashier's place.
2. Staff rest area (including a changing room).
3. Bathroom.
4. Administration office.
5. Relaxation area for clients.

The more comfortable the visitor feels, the more chances that he will come again.

Equipment

Depending on the chosen type of future sink, you should provide for the purchase of equipment. The required set of equipment includes:

• waste water treatment system, its approximate cost is estimated at about 300,000 rubles;
• a compressor, the cost of which is not so high and amounts to about 20,000 rubles;
• apparatus for supplying water and heating it, the price of which starts from 200,000 rubles;
• vacuum cleaner for washing, from about 30,000 to 50,000 rubles.

You will also have to purchase detergents from one of the companies specialized in this.

The equipment must be purchased branded with an appropriate guarantee. This will be the key to a long service. As a rule, the choice falls on Karcher products (Germany). Its network is well developed in Russia. You should also pay attention to Wesumat, Istobal, Comet, Carebridge and others. All of them are manufacturers from Europe.

Staff

Automatic car washes do not require a large number of workers. If we are talking about a manual or mobile version, then you will have to spend a little more time and effort on recruiting and training personnel.

Washing workers do not need to have a university degree. Usually young guys familiar with the device of the car apply for such positions. They must meet the following requirements:

1. Be ready to learn.
2. Be responsible.
3. Be friendly and helpful.
4. Be in good physical shape.

If you plan to organize work 24 hours a day, then you may need an additional staff to work in two shifts.

A good team is always a plus. Do not forget that even employees of such a small enterprise want to receive bonuses and participate in corporate events.

Required documents

The most important question when opening any business is solving the problem with documents. The business must function according to all the rules, and in order to achieve this, you will have to collect the necessary documents.

As mentioned above, the opening of the car wash must be approved by the city administration. It will require coordination with the following structures:

• architecture;
• nature protection service;
• the fire department.

In addition, increased requirements for sewage are imposed on car washes. This means that cleaning equipment must be purchased first.

In addition, the following package of documents is provided:

1. Waste disposal contract.
2. Territory cleaning contract.
3. Cash register service agreement (it must be purchased and registered with the tax service).
4. The contract with the water utility.

A special commission of Rospotrebnadzor is examining the facility in accordance with a previously written statement. If all the requirements are met, you can safely start work.

Car wash advertising methods

Properly organized advertising aimed at a specific consumer is the key to a successful business. Let's figure out how to properly inform city dwellers that your car wash is the best in the entire area.

A potential consumer of services is a motorist living at a certain address. Before submitting an ad, you need to come up with a logo and slogan. This will help clients remember the location faster. The title should be short and catchy.

Advertising placement methods:

• radio for car enthusiasts (for large car washes);
• newspapers and magazines for car owners;
• banners;
• billboards and posters.

One of the original car wash promotions was that young people used a wet sponge and a stencil to paint the words “10% discount on car wash” on all dirty cars. The address was attached below. Investments are minimal, and the effect turned out to be enormous.

Another popular method today is to negotiate with a company associated with a car service or gas station to place your advertisement. In return, you post their banner. In fact, there are a lot of ways, it is important that the advertising acts in a targeted manner.

Financial component of business

The cost to be spent on the opening should be calculated in advance. That is why we will discuss what the investments should be initially, and how quickly they will pay off.

Opening and maintaining costs

The full cost of opening such a small enterprise will include:

• paperwork (the amount can vary greatly by region);
• purchase of equipment (the minimum cost will be half a million rubles);
• purchase of furniture (racks, wardrobes for staff, a table, a couple of sofas for clients);
• purchase of detergents (monthly about 20,000 rubles);
• personnel labor costs;
• lease of premises (if you do not buy out or build the building yourself);
• payment of utility bills;
• payments to the budget;
• payment for existing contracts for the cleaning of territories.

Amount of future income

Depending on the area, the car wash can serve up to several hundred cars per day. Knowing the average price per wash, you can easily calculate your monthly income. In general, the profitability of such a business confidently reaches 30-40%. This is a very good indicator.

Investments during the subsequent period after opening are quite insignificant. You just have to buy detergents, use water, electricity and pay wages to workers.

Payback period

A business like a car wash quickly pays off, especially if everything is done correctly. On average, a full payback occurs in a year. The most expensive car washes, such as automatic ones, pay off in two years.

Please note that car wash customers also prefer to receive bonuses, discounts and nice little things from time to time.

If you install a cooler in the waiting room and offer your customers cookies, coffee and tea, this will only have a positive effect on your quality of service.

According to statistics, most car washes in Russia are hand-operated. They are easier to open and pay off quickly. When talking about automatic points, professionals say that motorists themselves are against them. This is not entirely true. Perhaps the myth that such washing would damage the body or paint was spread deliberately. The European population just prefers car washes where the car takes over.

When opening this or that business, the main issue becomes the profitability of this event. This criterion is key when choosing your field of activity. Of course, no one will undertake to predict the future profit with 100% accuracy, but it is quite possible to outline the general picture.

A person who decides to open a car wash, regardless of the reason that prompted him to do so (a dream, a desire to organize his own business, the intention to invest financially wisely, or just a good combination of circumstances), acts at least with foresight. After all, a car wash is not just a stable and sustainable enterprise, but also a very profitable business, which anyone can do, regardless of their entrepreneurial experience. Nevertheless, the car wash business, like any other, has not only advantages, but also some, albeit minor, disadvantages.

Is a car wash really a guaranteed demand?

The subheading question is absolutely not far-fetched. Everyone who has seen the queues in front of car washes cannot but answer positively. Nevertheless, some part of entrepreneurs, especially beginners, striving to have a certain illusory right to a monopoly, are trying to invent new ideathat would allow them to avoid competition. However, a monopolist and a successful businessman are not always related concepts. A seller, for example, of square balls, is by definition a monopolist, but one cannot expect to have a large clientele.

The most promising strategy of a developing business is considered to be sales orientation towards goods in high demand. And this is quite logical, since the re-invention of the bicycle is not only hopeless, but also expensive.

You should not be afraid of competition, because it is a kind of engine of entrepreneurship. Therefore, while the number vehicle on the territory of the Russian Federation is growing steadily, car washes are a business that guarantees profit.

Investment attractiveness and liquidity of the car wash business

These most important qualities of business in general, and of the car wash business in particular, are especially vividly manifested in the context of the approaching economic crisis. Therefore, at present, finances invested in real production are considered the most reliable investment. This means that the liquidity of this business will remain quite high regardless of further developments. In other words, the money invested in your own profitable business will not be lost even in a financial crisis.

These findings are confirmed by statistics on the popularity of sales of a particular business. Car washes confidently occupy the third place in the ranking of sales after beauty salons and the Internet. Summarizing the above, we can state that a newly built own car wash is an exceptionally liquid business, and it, built on its own land plot, is doubly liquid.

Transparency and ease of management

The ease of management of the washing business is due to several basic provisions, expressed in the absence of not only complex technical processes and an acute dependence on suppliers, but also a shortage of suitable personnel. Opening your own car wash does not require an entrepreneur to have special technical knowledge or skills, which makes it accessible to the vast majority of our compatriots.

High level of profitability

Car wash profitability monitoring carried out by specialists shows that the minimum profitability of a given business rarely falls below the 30% level.

As a rule, an entrepreneur who opens his own car wash, based on a well-written business plan, which includes not only a development strategy and analysis of the existing market, but also marketing, can expect a profitability of about 50%.

The main financial costs of the owner of a car wash are, in most cases, small and consist of the following items:

staff salaries;

communal payments;

• rent (in some cases).

  So, undoubtedly, the profitability of a car wash promises to be high, but subject to certain rules of this business. This is an off-season business that is in demand every day and even around the clock. In this regard, when asked whether it is profitable to open a car wash, all motorists will answer in the affirmative. The owner of a car wash is not threatened with downtime and lack of customers with well-organized work.

  A well-chosen placement is a 50% success rate. Knowledgeable people looking for a place closer to a gas station or service station, near busy highways or shopping centers. And this is the right move - after refueling the car, it is convenient to immediately send it to the car wash, without traveling tens of kilometers. Or leave the car for half an hour and go shopping yourself.

  Equipment and type of car wash are of great importance. After all, it is known that the more you invest, the more chances you have to get a return. Car washes range from simple, hand-made, to fully automated, so-called contactless. According to surveys conducted by the site's editors, a modern car owner, especially the owner of a good and expensive car, does not want to save on caring for his car and is ready to pay, but pay for quality services that guarantee a flawless appearance and no scratches on the expensive surface.

  This rule applies to the choice of detergents and other car care products. Automotive cosmetics is a whole science. Again, any car owner wants their car to be treated with tested and certified products, not washing powder.

  Having received one satisfied customer, the owner of the car wash can be sure that he will receive a dozen more people in the ranks of his regular customers. A good reputation is earned by conscientious work, not advertising and low prices. This seemingly simple business requires serious organization and responsible work.