
Opening a gas station car wash is a great way to increase the profitability and appeal of your business. For one thing, you likely see hundreds of visitors a day seeking to fill up their tanks, add engine oil, or clean their windshields at your station, so adding an automatic car wash can be an effective way to increase revenue.
In addition, people don’t always have time for all the bells and whistles at a standalone car wash that includes cleaning services like interior detailing, tire cleaning, and wax coating. By setting up a gas station-car wash combo, you can provide visitors with a one-stop shop where customers can quickly fill up their tanks, run their vehicles through a basic wash, and be on their way.
If you’re interested in integrating your gas station with a car wash business, it’s first important to understand the basics of how it works. Read on to learn more about running a car wash business, including several advantages this investment can bring to your gas station.
How To Integrate Car Wash Services at Gas Stations
Running any car wash business takes careful planning, so long before you get started, you’ll want to draft a comprehensive car wash business plan. This should outline your startup costs like tunnel construction, equipment and signage. You’ll also want to consider monthly costs like maintenance, car wash business equipment replacement and chemicals. Once you’ve estimated your investment costs, you can determine the potential revenue per wash and how much profit it will bring to your gas station.
If you’re buying a ready-made car wash business for your gas station, you’ll need to ensure that the POS system at the gas pump is updated so customers can easily purchase a car wash when they fill up. Ideally, you should have several different tiers of wash options available. For example, customers could pay $5 for a basic exterior wash or $8 for full-service washes that include undercarriage washing, extended wash cycles, or free access to a vacuum cleaner after leaving the wash station.
Main Benefits of Adding a Gas Station Car Wash
There are numerous reasons why it can be advantageous to invest in a tunnel car wash. By understanding the advantages of this investment, you can proceed with confidence knowing you’re creating new value for your business. Here are some of the primary benefits of incorporating an automatic car wash with your gas station.
Enhance Customer Convenience
One of the biggest advantages of automatic washes is the speed and convenience they offer. For customers too busy to visit full-service car washes or time-consuming detail service, a quick cycle in a gas station car wash offers a simple and easy solution.
Increase Revenue Streams
Starting a car wash business from scratch can be a challenging and costly endeavor. However, by setting up a gas station car wash drive-thru, you can capitalize on the customer base you already have to boost your monthly revenue. Furthermore, automated car washes are capable of operating around the clock, so even if your gas station is closed, you can continue to earn passive revenue after hours or on the holidays.
Meanwhile, customers who visit your gas station exclusively for your wash will be more likely to purchase other items, like gasoline or drinks and food at your convenience store. In this way, your car wash operation and gas station business can work to complement one another, effectively encouraging customers to spend more at your location per visit. This extra income can then be used to bolster your working cash flow, help cover overhead, or pay for renovation projects on your property.
Improve Gas Station Foot Traffic
Opening a car wash at your gas station will give people an additional reason to visit your business, increasing customer traffic each day. This higher visitor volume will contribute not only to more sales, but greater word-of-mouth advertising and improved brand awareness within the community. Given time, you can begin to attract more and more repeat customers, helping you to carve out a greater market share of local business. If there are several other gas stations or car washes in the area, increased foot traffic will allow you to maintain a competitive edge.
Increase Your Marketing and Cross-Promotion Opportunities
By offering car wash memberships or a rewards program, you can easily set up a marketing strategy that augments both sides of your business. For instance, you can offer a discounted car wash for any customer who purchases $30 or more in gas. Conversely, if your operation includes a convenience store, you can offer a free 40-oz drink or candy bar to customers who purchase a car wash.
Another simple idea is to create punch cards for customers that provide them with a free top-tier wash for every five basic washes they purchase. You can also consider combining incentives from both your car wash and gas station into a single preferred customer membership plan, giving patrons access to perks like discounted gas, free coffee refills, unlimited car washes, or rebates on select purchases.
Maximize Your Business Potential Today
At NCS, we seek to provide car wash owners and operators with the comprehensive support they need to thrive. Our team will ensure all your car wash essentials are covered, from chemicals and preventative maintenance to car wash part installation or replacement. If you’re unfamiliar with how car washes operate or the upkeep they require, we also offer training courses in our learning hub so you can embark on your next business investment with confidence.
If you’re ready to learn more, contact us today to get started.