It might ease your concerns to hear this: I operate a self-service car wash, and despite facing considerable competition, it’s thriving. Just down the road, less than a mile away, there’s another self-serve car wash with a lower starting price of $1. Adjacent to that is a tunnel wash. Within two miles, a brand-new car wash boasts an in-bay automatic system and free vacuums, also starting at just $1. Another self-serve option is about three miles away. Despite all this, my Self Wash Car Wash is the most expensive in the area. My facility isn’t the newest aesthetically, though it’s well-maintained with fresh paint and updates. My in-bay automatic wash is currently out of service. Plus, one of my five self wash bays has been non-operational since before I even purchased the business. And yes, I charge for vacuum use. Effectively, I’m running a four-bay self wash with four vacuums.
Yet, month after month, my car wash is hitting record numbers. The reason? Everything that is operational at my self wash car wash works exceptionally well. The soaps, rinse, wax, and vacuums are all updated with new motors and hoses, ensuring reliability and customer satisfaction. My vending machines are consistently stocked, the bays are cleaned every day, and trash is promptly removed. My advertising efforts are purely local, focusing on the immediate community.
Just today, I even adjusted my time per quarter downwards because I noticed significant increases in my gas and water utility costs. Even though my self wash car wash is achieving unprecedented revenue, it feels like the profits are being squeezed by these rising utility bills.
The key takeaway here is: don’t be afraid to charge appropriately for your self wash car wash services. If you’re considering playing the pricing game, you could start at $1, but perhaps reduce the time per dollar. Personally, I’d prefer to charge $1 per minute, but with the level of competition surrounding my self wash car wash, I’m hesitant to make such a significant price jump currently. Unless… maybe I should just buy out all the car washes around me and then raise prices across the board? Wait a second, I need to make a quick call to my realtor. Just kidding… or am I?
