The US car wash industry generates about $15 billion in annual revenue, with the average profit margin for car wash businesses ranging from 10% to 40%. The car wash business is lucrative, and you can mint money if you go above and beyond your competitors.
One effective way to get a bigger piece of the car wash pie is implementing creative car wash business ideas to make customers fall in love with your business. A car wash isn’t the first place anyone thinks of as a good place to hang out, but providing a few key amenities can change that perspective. Your business has the potential to reach the next level of customer service, propelling you to become a top earner in a competitive market. Talk about clean cash flow!
How Creative Business Models Drive Revenue Growth
Whether you operate a full-service car wash, express car wash, auto wash or auto detailing business, you’ll need a creative business model and robust business plan to compete with the 56,000 car washes in the US and rake in the big bucks.
Competitive spaces like the car wash industry reward the players who adjust to the market’s evolving needs. Even in other sectors, top companies and legal entities leverage business model innovation to stay at the top of their game and boost their revenue.
Overall, a creative business model helps you:
- Identify new business opportunities
- Predict market trends and customer behavior changes
- Embrace challenges and manage risks
Ultimately, employing a creative business model will enhance your classic car wash business while effectively bringing it into the 21st century.
5 Car Wash Business Ideas To Get You Started
Here are six innovative business ideas that’ll empower you to run a profitable car wash business today and in the future:
1. Car Wash and Coffee Combo
You can implement this combo in your existing or brand-new car wash in two ways.
First, you can treat coffee as a loss leader and offer it for free to new and current customers. Because other car cleaning businesses in your location may also provide complimentary coffee, aim to improve your customer’s coffee experience by serving quality coffee (or at least refreshing that pot regularly).
A free but quality coffee experience can turn a one-time customer into a loyal returning one. This will sustain and increase your car wash revenue. It’s a simple step, but one that helps customers enjoy their time at your business more.
Another option is to set up a cafe connected to your business. The cafe could operate normally, providing a common, familiar service to the area. At the same time, car wash customers can receive coupons for free or discounted items. You could also offer loyalty cards, where a certain number of visits earns further rewards at the coffee shop. It’s yet another incentive for customers to choose your business over the other one down the street.
2. Eco-Friendly Car Wash Solutions
About 66% of American consumers and 80% of US young adults between 18-34 years care about sustainability so much that they’re willing to pay more for sustainable products. You can bet a good percentage of your car wash customers fall in this category, which is why you should consider investing in eco-friendly car wash solutions such as the following:
- Using renewable energy like solar power to run your car wash
- Recycling water
- Installing vacuums and other equipment that lower energy costs
- Ensuring chemicals are free of harmful ingredients
After investing in eco-friendly solutions, place it front and center in your marketing campaigns so eco-conscious customers get the message. Publicizing eco-friendly car wash solutions is essential, given that 78% of customers struggle to identify an environmentally friendly company despite wanting to support sustainable companies.
Finally, you can build your entire brand identity and business model around this idea. Consider choosing a name for your car wash that embodies your brand’s eco-consciousness.
3. Car Wash Membership Programs
Top-line: perhaps not so unusual or unexpected – but definitely worth doing in a creative way to garner attenion. Car wash membership programs boost your revenue by stabilizing the ebb and flow of your customer traffic. There will always be seasonal fluctuations, but creating loyal customers mitigates this effect.
Running a successful membership program calls for an effective marketing campaign, and here’s where you can flex your creativity muscles.
- Launch Party: Kick things off with a bang by hosting a launch event for your membership program. Use this as an opportunity to create buzz and excitement. Hire a band or other entertaining “extras” people will come out for. Hold contests, seasonal promotions or community events, and include eye-catching signage, flags, banners, or interactive elements like QR codes.
- Out-of-the-Box Engagement: Keep members engaged with quarterly inventive and fun themed car wash days built around holidays or celebrating local high school teams. Gamify the service experience with drawings or raffles, with leaderboards and prizes, or even partnering with local businesses for cross-promotion.
- Limited Time VIP Member Experiences: Prioritize the satisfaction of current members with “surprise and delight” occasional VIP options like express lanes, special discounts, free hotdogs or barbecue, chair massages and/or coupons for perks among community retailers. If someone inquires who is not a member, sign them up at a temporary discount.
These strategies not only enhance customer engagement but also ensure your membership program remains dynamic and appealing.
4. Car Wash for Pet Owners
According to the American Pet Product Association, 86.9 million US households own a pet. Dogs are the most preferred pet, with 65.1 million households owning at least one. And if you know something about pet parents, they love to drive around with their pets.
Thus, if you dedicate a pet wash section (start with a dog wash section), you’ll impress these pet parents who love to keep their pets clean at all times. A car wash with a dog wash station is super-convenient to pet parents as they clean their cars and pets simultaneously. This way, they won’t have to carry a clean dog in a dirty car or an uncleaned dog in their newly-cleaned car. Most people jump at the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
5. Car Wash Entertainment Zone
Depending on the extra space in your car wash premises, you can install a permanent entertainment zone for your customers to unwind as their cars are being washed. At the minimum, ensure your customers can access the WiFI.
Some other entertainment options include:
- Televisions
- Kid’s play area
- Music
- Gaming zone or arcade
The type of entertainment you choose should be appealing and appropriate to your customer base so you keep them coming back for more.
Enhance Your Car Wash Business Ideas With the Best Equipment Partner
While these creative car wash business ideas can help optimize your return, you’ll rely on your existing car wash to implement the ideas. You’ll need all the tools of the trade, like the best equipment and car wash chemistry, to function optimally.
NCS is your proven partner for all your car wash solutions, including consultation and marketing advice. Contact us at any time for expert input on car wash questions.
