Many Russians today are looking for an acceptable way to get a reliable income, and the idea of organizing their own business is increasingly capturing the minds of fellow citizens. Where, in what area is it relatively easy to make money? Where to go if you do not have huge funds to organize a serious business or purchase a new business? And what if absolutely all the niches are occupied long ago and inventing something new is still the task?
What is profitable?
Let's not reinvent the wheel and today we’ll talk about one of the classic, well-established types of business, the opening of which, although it requires quite serious investments, is still a very real task.
It's about washing cars. How to open a car wash from scratch? What is needed for this, and how to organize the business in order to have a profit, not a loss, with a guarantee? In this article we will tell you how to properly open a car wash, and explain some important nuances.
How relevant is this?
Why car wash? The relevance of this business in modern urban conditions is proved by life itself. Judge for yourself: car washes are in demand absolutely everywhere - from a metropolis to a small town, and people use their services in any season.
In winter, every driver needs to visit a sink to wash off salt, sand and reagents. In spring and autumn, you have to look there at least once every 2-3 days due to the constant dirt and puddles on domestic roads. In the summer among car owners it is customary to rub the car carefully to a full shine. And today we will focus on how to open a car wash from scratch.
This business (according to professionals) has a fairly high profitability (30-40%), that is, it belongs to the number of profitable enterprises. One can talk about full payback after about 12-16 months after the opening of the case, of course, subject to its successful formulation and promotion. If we are talking about a portal, a more expensive option, then this period is extended, and it will be possible to calculate the net profits in a year or two.
How to open a car wash from scratch: a business plan
The beginning of absolutely any commercial project requires the development of a detailed business plan. It should contain a detailed calculation of costs, revenues, payback and, ultimately, the profitability of the planned enterprise. Based on these data, it will be possible to analyze the possible prospects that this commercial project may have.
How to open a car wash? The business plan of your undertaking must necessarily include the following main points: financial strategy, business organization plan, specifics of marketing, data on the market for such services.
The calculation of the costs of your future business greatly depends on whether you plan to build a separate room for the organization of the car wash or are going to get along with buying or renting an existing one.
In the first case, you should first of all engage in a thorough study of the issues of building a building with the preparation of all the necessary documentation, the costs of acquiring or renting a land plot, consumables, the purchase and installation of equipment, as well as the necessary repairs and unavoidable costs during operation. Each of the items should be thought out more than carefully.
What kind of documents do you need to collect?
What authorities have to get around before opening a car wash from scratch? A business plan must include this item without fail. To begin to exist, your offspring must obtain permission in the form of SEZ (sanitary-epidemiological conclusion). To do this, you need to collect a package of documents, the full list of which is regulated by order No. 776 of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare (dated November 21, 2005).
If you plan, for example, to open a car wash from scratch in Moscow, you have to:
1. Schedule a visit to the Moscow Land Committee in order to conclude a lease of land.
2. Seek permission from the administration of the area where your business will be located, as well as obtain opinions in the Fire Department, Moskomprirode, MP Mosvodostok and State Sanitary Inspection.
3. The construction plan should be agreed in the Moscow Architecture Committee.
What else will need to be agreed
In addition, the Moscow government will require you to provide contracts for the lease of the site, cleaning the surrounding area with the removal of solid waste, a situational plan with the boundaries of your site and a document indicating that your cash register equipment is registered.
Before you open a car wash from scratch, you will need to submit information to the Communications and Transport Department about the proposed construction of the facility. To obtain a free economic zone and agree on a project, you will have to contact the Rospotrebnadzor (its territorial administration).
We select our car wash place and room
The payback speed and, as a consequence, the profitability of this business project are directly related to the location of the car wash. Almost the ideal place for this is the roadsides of the central city avenues, also pay attention to the busiest tracks.
Washings are often organized at the entrance to the city, next to a customs or border post. But, being in the area of a large transport hub, drivers most often abandon the idea of using the services of a car wash because of increased fuss and crush. It will be more profitable to offer its services near gas stations and TO stations.
To rent is cheaper
How to open a car wash from scratch when the construction of your own building for it is an impossible financial task for you? In this case, renting a room at the ATP, suitable in all respects, can be a good option. In addition, you will have to draw up much less documents. Motorists, as a rule, are familiar with all similar enterprises in their city.
The type and extent of the services provided depends on the premises. For example, if you are thinking about how to open a car wash from scratch, you should consider a number of additional factors, starting from the height of the ceilings.
Do not forget about the need for auxiliary space on which you will store supplies.
Car wash water treatment
Due to the growth of serious environmental problems, car wash owners have requirements that you will definitely have to consider when opening. For example, a mandatory treatment system will be required, the filters of which will remove fats, oil products and other chemicals from wastewater.
Such equipment is quite compact and relates to transported nodes. The water purification procedure itself is proceeding in stages. The existing circulation tank allows you to clean the fluid using a reverse cycle. Thus, circulating several times in a row along the contour, the water remains practically without impurities.
Since the operation of treatment equipment is provided at temperatures above +5 ° C, it should be installed in a heated room.
What's next?
At the opening of the washing should be attended by a commission of representatives of the administration, firefighters, traffic police and other services. They will sign the acceptance certificate of your property.
Then you should take care of advertising. After all, the more people learn about the new car wash, the more of them will be among the customers. There is no reason to regret the opportunity to notify potential consumers about your service.
Advertising on billboards located in the immediate vicinity of your point will be very effective if you indicate in brief form its location, opening hours, discounts, basic services and important bonuses.
We select staff
Having overcome bureaucratic obstacles, be engaged in the selection of suitable personnel. What should it be like? The main requirements for applicants for employees are the ability to understand cars of the category the service of which is supposed in your case, contact (for forming a list of regular customers) and polite handling.
In order not to lose consumers of services, it is advisable for the sink to operate around the clock - such a schedule is optimal for it. In this case, you will have to hire washers in the amount of 5 or 6 people and one foreman.
Higher education is not necessary for your employees; students can also work for hire. They should be paid on the amount of work done. Employees should be motivated by additional material incentives, and stylish work overalls with a company logo will help to enhance the image of a car wash as a solid enterprise.
Calculate the cost of the project
When calculating the required costs, proceed from the cost of rent. This amount will vary depending on the premises and the area where it is located. Investments in the purchase of equipment should be added to the lease.
A high-pressure apparatus with the function of heating water will cost you in the amount of 1800 to 3000 dollars. The device that supplies water to 1 post - at 500-1300 at. e. Compressor - at 200-250 dollars. A washing vacuum cleaner (or vacuum cleaner) - at 400-550 dollars. Water treatment system - at 4800-6600 dollars.
Most car wash owners prefer to purchase imported equipment. In this market segment, 80% of sales are owned by the German company Karcher. In addition, Italian and Danish equipment is appreciated. Typically, water purifiers are bought from Russian manufacturers.
The list of basic materials related to consumables consists of car shampoo, polishing agent, dry cleaning agents, cleaning of wheel disks, engine, bumpers. Monthly expenses for them will be about $ 300, provided that a car wash 30-40 cars daily.
Tips for success businessman
Let's give some more recommendations on how to open a car wash from scratch.
In summer, the flow of customers tends to dry out. Wash services are mainly used by those who want to wax the car. What should a businessman do in order not to lose profit? The only way out is to lower prices slightly while expanding the range of services. Secondly, try to offer customers additional reasons to visit your point. For example, set up a small tent next to the establishment with tables where people can relax and have a snack (for example, barbecue). During the rest, someone will definitely want to wash the car.
An excellent solution is a mini-market with products or a small store selling spare parts within walking distance.
What to do if funds are insufficient
Perhaps you want to spend as little money as possible and think, for example, how to open a self-service car wash. Well, this option is quite possible. Its advantages are that savings are achieved on staff remuneration. Of course, this type of service has individual characteristics that must be taken into account when drawing up a business plan.
If you had the idea how to open a car wash in the garage, it is better to immediately abandon it. In addition to the need to settle issues with the leadership of the garage cooperative, the problem of water supply, a “lively” place and the installation of all the expensive equipment mentioned above is rising to its full potential.
The main point, because of which this project can be considered unsustainable, is the inability to connect to water supply and sewage networks. Even if there is one, you will be required to build a sewage treatment system. In a word, such an idea is not too successful.
How to open a self-service car wash from scratch: some tips
Suppose you want to get this type of sink. You already know how to open a car wash from scratch. The business plan in this case should only be slightly adjusted to the features of such a service.
As you know, car wash services are portal and tunnel, in which the washing is carried out in an absolutely automated way, manual (personnel wash the machines) and open - based on the principle of self-service.
In the latter case, the drivers themselves wash their cars with the provided means. Such a sink consists of a set of equipment with a set of necessary materials. All equipment (water guns, vacuum cleaners, dryers) is as simple and straightforward as possible. Customers use the services of such a wash much more willingly because of the opportunity to save.
The list of services includes washing with warm water and powder (removing dirt), washing off the foam with cold water, applying wax to cars, polymerization that eliminates drips.
The main problem with the installation of such a car wash - what to do in winter with freezing liquids? There is a solution, and it consists in the device under the floor heating using a pipe system with circulating running hot water. Water heating in the system is ensured by the automatic inclusion of a gas or diesel boiler at the right time. Equipment should also be selected with continuous fluid circulation, such as pressure guns.