Whether you want to build a new car wash business or expand your current car wash venture, there’s one thing you’ll need no matter what: a business plan.
A comprehensive car wash business plan will help steer you in the right direction. It will guide you through the process of structuring, running and growing your business. From pricing strategies to staffing decisions, there are a few key steps you need to cover before launching your business.
8 Steps to Developing a Successful Business Plan for Your Car Wash
Whether it’s a formal document or something that starts on the back of a napkin, all business owners need a plan. And for the car wash industry – which grows more competitive by the day – it’s critical to be prepared.
There’s not just one way to write a business plan. But a good car wash business plan will help you carefully consider each aspect of your business, whether it’s your marketing strategies or financial projections.
Here are the most important steps you should take to develop a successful plan for your car washing business.
1. Conduct a Market Analysis
Before launching your business, you first need to arm yourself with knowledge of the car wash market. A market analysis will give you an understanding of what the industry looks like right now, which will help you decide how you can best fit into the bigger picture.
Here are a few important questions to guide your market analysis:
- How many car washes are there in your local area?
- How many car washes have started up, and how many have closed down?
- What’s the breakdown between independent car washes and car wash chains?
- What are the newest trends in the car wash industry?
Collecting this information will enable you to make informed decisions about how to shape your business and its services.
2. Describe Your Target Market
Think about the local area – who lives and works there? Everything from the average age to the median income can play a role in how you set up your business.
Most importantly, what kinds of customers from your area do you want to target? If you’re planning on offering a full-service luxury car wash, for example, you might want to target higher-earning customers who own more than one car. On the other hand, a simple self-service car wash might want to appeal to busy middle-class people with a modest budget.
3. Outline Your Services and Products
Not all car washes offer the same services and products. And when you’re facing competition from other washes in the area, your services are even more important. What will you offer, and how will this set you apart from your competitors?
First, focus on your main source of revenue: the car wash itself. Whether it’s an automatic tunnel system or a self-service car wash, know the kind of wash service you’re providing. Then, consider what kinds of car wash products and equipment you’ll use. For instance, will you need pressure washers or foam brushes?
Don’t forget to add any additional services to the list — this might include interior vacuuming, undercarriage washes, deodorizing treatments, towels or detailing.
4. Develop Your Pricing Strategy for Each Service and Package
A pricing strategy can make or break a car wash business. Set your prices too high, and you risk losing potential customers. Set them too low, and you’ll hurt your bottom line.
The right price depends on a variety of factors, including:
- The quality of your products and services
- The convenience of the services
- The car wash methods you use (such as automatic or self-service)
- The average per-car cost of your supplies and labor
- The location of your business (including average cost of living)
- The prices set by competitors in your area
5. Create an Effective Marketing Strategy To Attract Customers
Car wash marketing isn’t just about getting new customers through the door. It’s also about building relationships with existing customers to earn their loyalty and keep them coming back.
An effective marketing plan doesn’t have to be expensive, either. You can start just by having a basic social media presence or setting up attractive signage in your service area.
Other marketing ideas include:
- Setting up a loyalty program
- Building a list for email marketing
- Hosting charity washes for the community
- Offering discounts and promotions
6. Detail an Operations Plan and Your Processes
For the next step, it’s time to break down a detailed operations plan. This will give you a better view of your car wash operations, including the logistics that need to be in place.
Most importantly, you’ll need to outline your short-term processes, or what supplies and labor you’ll need to do from day to day. But an operations plan can also include long-term goals. Try setting a milestone for the amount of revenue you generate or the number of customers who come through your wash over a certain period of time.
7. Build a Comprehensive Financial Plan
A well-written financial plan is key if you hope to gain funding from banks or investors.
A comprehensive financial plan outlines everything from the up-front cost of starting your business to your financial projections for the next few years. This plan should include at least three documents: a profit-and-loss statement, your balance sheet and a cash flow statement.
8. Define Your Key Team Members and Their Roles
While key decisions like choosing the perfect site and securing external funding are important, you should never overlook the management team or hiring process. The right team, like the right price, can make or break your enterprise.
Before you start hiring, make sure you write out a plan for your key team members. From managers to detailing technicians, everybody plays a crucial role in your business’s success. Think about how many people you’ll need, as well as the most important qualities you’re looking for in a candidate.
Partner With Car Wash Industry Experts for Business Success
It isn’t easy to make it in the car wash industry, even as opportunities continue to grow day by day. Without a comprehensive business plan, getting your business off the ground will be hard enough – let alone setting yourself up for success.
Get assistance from the industry experts at National Carwash Solutions. When you partner with NCS, you get the industry’s best car wash solutions, from cutting-edge equipment to premium products. Contact us today to get your brand new business started off on the right foot.
