A well designed, well maintained Self-Serve Car Wash could produce as much as 25% return on your total investment in just a few years time. Self-Serve Car Washes are popular because of their simplicity, due to minimal labor requirements and the ability to provide 24 hours of operation, 7 days a week. Because land cost continues to rise, many washes are now built as profit centers to combat these expenses. Some ideas to consider with a Self-Serve Car Wash would be a quick lube or Exterior Express Tunnel. Items found in a Self-Serve car wash include, but are not limited to, in-bay automatics, self-serve bays, vending islands, and vacuum systems.

Self-Serve Carwashes have proven to be a great match with the In-bay Automatics because they take less time than self-serve washing alone. An in-bay automatic can offer high income with low labor cost and inventory. One in-bay automatic typically generates the income of 3-5 self-serve bays. In-bay automatics are classified into two categories:

Touch-free Automatic

• Uses high-pressure passes and cleaning agents to clean the vehicle
• No equipment contact with vehicle
• Typical wash takes on average between 2-5 minutes

Friction Automatic

• Utilizes top and side brushes that rotate
• Make contact with the vehicle in order to clean it
• Combine high-pressure passes/cleaning agents with brushes to aid cleaning

Both types of automatics have low operating costs, easy to operate, convenient for customers, and can be operated without an attendant on-site.

Choose an automatic that is loaded with features and options that customers can choose from. Additional features that provide a clean car and a fun experience include, but are not limited to:

• Hot foamy presoak
• Tire cleaner applicators on-board
• Undercarriage wash
• Scrubbing action oscillating
• High-pressure wash and rinse
• Soft touch brushes
• Rocker panel sprayers
• Wheel brushes
• Triple shine foaming conditioner
• Spot free rinse
• On-board blowers
• Rollover design for faster wash cycle
• Entrance controllers

Remember to always keep an eye out on surrounding competition to ensure you may offer your clientel the best equipment the industry offers. An attractive carwash will continuously bring in customers as long as your site is properly maintained and kept in order.