Editor’s note: This article was first published in May 2010; the prices it quotes for Spain, with a full hand wash and valet costing between €12 and €17, are 2010 figures.
Make money from the very first day your business opens, with minimal investment. We have all seen the typical self-service car wash at petrol stations, where you put in a few coins and wash your car yourself with a pressure hose until it gleams, or the more thorough automatic machines that do all the work for you.
For me and for many other people, that isn’t enough. I like to have the outside of my car washed and the inside left as good as new.
I drive 35 km to get my car washed, and I have to book an appointment two or three days in advance, because the 12 employees at this business can’t keep up. I don’t go to another car wash 25 km from home because there are only four people there, and sometimes they tell me they are practically booked up for the whole month.
So I have noticed that businesses of this kind are in high demand among customers, especially in spring and summer.
Starting this business is very simple. It doesn’t need large facilities or a lot of expenses. You can start it in your own garage at home or in a warehouse.
I have watched how they can leave your car looking like new in less than 10 minutes. While one person washes the outside, another is inside cleaning the interior and a third is washing the mats and getting the dust out of them.
When they finish, they spray some fragrance inside and leave you their card with their phone number so you don’t forget to call them next time.
The potential customers for this business are as varied as can be:
- Private individuals
- Company cars
- Truck drivers
- Used car dealers
- In short, anyone with a vehicle.
You can add value to your car wash business by offering a pick-up and delivery service. The possibilities for this business are endless and the investment is minimal.
In Spain, the price of this kind of vehicle cleaning service ranges from €12 to €17. Would you pay that to feel like you’re driving a brand-new car? To be honest, I would.
If you were looking for a profitable business idea with little investment, one that doesn’t even require experience, this could be the idea for you.
If you decide to start a business like this, remember that advertising at the beginning is important; word of mouth will take care of the rest.
Further reading
- Why a business plan matters
- Which legal structure to choose for your business
- How to finance your business
- 5 ways to grow your business
- How Google AdWords advertising works for your business
Featured image: Express Hand Car Wash, Caldicot by Jaggery, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
