Thinking of a business idea to begin making more money in 2022? You have landed just on the right page because we have a lucrative business idea that is quite simple and easy to start — a mobile car washing business. Indeed, it is a competitive industry with more than 67,163 car wash and auto detailing businesses in the US in 2022. But, the industry is still growing and you can reap maximum benefits if you start a mobile car wash business by first understanding the basics of the business model and applying the tips mentioned in this extensive guide. So, let’s cut to the chase and get started!

Why start a mobile car washing business?

If you are still uncertain or have doubts about starting a mobile car wash business, let us entertain you in a discussion where we share the five reasons why it’s the business you should go for. Here are the reasons why owning a mobile car washing business is an excellent idea.

Car wash is a cash cow

The car washing business, mobile or stationary, is a lucrative business model since cars are always going to get dirty. The best thing about mobile car washes is that customers don’t need to take their cars to the car wash. You take the car wash to them. If you run your business in a location with a high number of car owners and little to no competition, you are in for a steady source of income.

Your work is your advertisement

This makes mobile car washing more fun. Your work is up for assessment by everyone looking at the car you just washed. If you did a brilliant job, people will eventually look for your services next time they need a car wash. Hey, don’t forget to put your business sticker on the car you wash!

Let’s you be your own boss

This feeling never gets old. With a mobile car washing business, you will be in control. You are your own boss and have the freedom to make decisions for your company. There will be nobody you will have to seek permission from. Customers can only state what they want out of your service, but they cannot direct you. The better you work, the more referrals you’ll get, and the more money comes in.

Hands-on business

People that enjoy working with their hands and like to interact with something tangible will love owning a mobile car wash. Most importantly, this business is for you if you love interacting with people. Every new client comes with a new challenge, so you’ll have enough opportunity to learn and upgrade your game.

Opportunity to set schedule

A mobile car washing business allows you to set your own schedule. You can create a schedule that gives you the opportunity to live the life you always wanted. Set your working hours in a way you can achieve a work-life balance and not experience burnout.

Ten practical steps to start a mobile car washing business!

Now that we have convinced you to start a mobile car washing business, it’s time you follow the steps to start one up! Here are the ten practical steps we highly recommend you consider when starting a mobile car washing business.

1. Do your due diligence

From learning the trade of mobile car wash to understanding your customers, to knowing your competition requires a lot of time. And that’s precisely why we suggest you start early. Do some research as the knowledge about the latest trends and technologies can easily put you ahead of the competition.

2. Write a business plan

A business plan always comes in handy when you require investments or bring in a business partner. It also helps stay in the right direction and keep growing. Writing a business plan takes quite an effort so make sure you set enough time aside to learn how to write one.

3. Legalize the mobile car wash

Go through your state’s regulations, especially for car washing businesses. Since different states might have different regulations, it’s crucial you are well-acquainted with them to seek clearance while starting and running a mobile car wash. Specify your business structure as it determines your business’ future. Remember to never take compliance lightly. We would suggest hiring a lawyer if you are new to starting a business.

4. Find the right market

You would want to wash a lot of cars in a few locations. The more concentrated your business is, the higher the probability of more work. Moreover, you would want to cut down your expenses by traveling less to wash more cars. You will also want to target areas where more car owners live.

5. List the services you’ll offer

Broadly, you can offer interior and exterior mobile car washing services. List down the services you will offer at your mobile car wash. Services like vehicle washing, toxic tar removal, vacuum cleaning, window cleaning, leather seat wiping, engine bay cleaning, headlight restoration, and others are quite popular.

• Interior car washing services

This generally involves vacuuming, window cleaning, trash removal, and seat wipe-down to make the interior look fresh and new.

• Exterior car washing services

This usually comprises washing, claying, removal of tar, tire dressing, and rim cleaning.

• Add-on services

You can list add-on services like car waxing, scratch removal, leather conditioning, shampoo carpets, shampoo seats, pet hair removal, engine bay cleaning, mold removal, clay bar treatment, headlight restoration, and more.

6. Purchase equipment

Once you determine the services you will provide your customers, it’s time to purchase the equipment. You will have to purchase a vehicle big enough to store all your car washing equipment. We highly recommend buying a used van or SUV and modifying the interiors to make work more efficient. This would cost you around $3,000 to $5,000. Make sure you have between 80 to 100 gallons of water capacity and enough power to operate the electrical equipment. You will have to purchase the following equipment:

• Microfibre towels
• Pressure washer
• Vapor steamer
• Chemicals and shampoo
• Paint correction
• Buffers
• Polishers
• Buckets
• Sponges
• Vacuum cleaner
• Brushes
• Water supply tank and pump
• Portable generator

Items like generators, vacuum cleaners, pressure washers, and vapor steamers do not require to be brand new. Buy the used machines and get things going.

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7. Nail the pricing

You should determine the pricing for your services according to the cars you will wash. Car size, condition, and location are some factors you should consider when pricing your services. We highly recommend you conduct competitive research and only then create a price list for the different cleaning services. Go for a fair price.

8. Double down on promotion

Once everything is set up, you will need clients. That’s precisely where marketing and promotion will help. You will have to take your business to the target customers by using lucrative online and offline promotional strategies and ensure a high brand awareness across the area or city you’ll cover. If you are new to marketing, we suggest you check out how your competitors promote their businesses or just hire a marketing firm.

• Invest in branding. Get your business an attractive logo, business cards, and apparel or uniform.

• Create an official website to enable customers to check out your services and make an appointment. Allow them to select your services and pay within a few clicks.

• Build your social media presence and start posting entertaining and informative videos to show your expertise. Follow a social media posting schedule to never miss out on a post. Also, allow customers to make an appointment through the ‘Book Now’ button on social media.

• Go traditional and create flyers. It is very easy and effective, especially if you target a small area or region. You can create flyers using Microsoft Word as it has premade templates.

• Start attending local car meets. Local car enthusiasts often gather at car meets to share their passion for automobiles. Follow the planned meets and car shows and introduce people to your mobile car washing business.

• Start listing your business in online directories. This is essential as people searching for your business online will find it easier to inquire about your services and availability. Listing on sites like Google and Yelp allows potential clients to contact your business quickly and make easy appointments.

• Become a certified detailer. We highly recommend you certify your skills through the International Detailing Association to make your business more credible. Becoming certified makes it easier for clients to trust your services.

• Conduct mobile car washing events. We suggest you come up with informative events where you show people how to wash a car properly. These can be weekly or monthly free-to-attend events that will help your business gain more exposure.

9. Focus on expansion and growth

Once the foundation is set, you will have to focus on growing your mobile car wash company. The best way to expand is by documenting the progress of your existing wing and identifying the mistakes that occurred while running it. This will help you launch your company in neighboring cities or regions and achieve better results from the word go. Make sure you revamp your official website to meet the increase in traffic. Optimize the site to gain better conversion rate optimization and user-friendliness.

We suggest you focus on repeat customers by providing them recurring services through attractive schemes and offers. Small percentage discounts go a long way in boosting recurring bookings. Not just that, you should also allow customers to buy prepaid service bundles. Such bundles can bring in the cash upfront while providing customers the luxury to get their cars washed — whenever they want!

Another practical way to grow your business is by using upselling. It is a well-known business tactic where you suggest to customers services in addition to the services they originally wanted. We have already mentioned the add-on services you can offer. Make sure the customers see them when they are making an appointment through the online portal or on social media. 

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10. Measure, improve, and set new goals

Lastly, you should identify the variables that impact your mobile car wash business. Some of these factors are –

• Number of shops
• Location of your shop(s)/services
• Number of employees
• Employee pay and pay rates
• Number of cars detailed per day
• Types of cars detailed
• Time to estimate, time to detail, time to invoice
• Types of detailing services and packages offered
• Price per detail
• Advertising budget and channels
• Operating costs
• Seasonality

Since you are new to running a business, we recommend you use Microsoft Excel to figure out how much money and time goes into managing all the above factors. This helps understand the impact of the variables on your business, which further allows you to set better goals and make performance improvements.

Use the data and metrics to make growth-related decisions. As you keep aggregating more and more data, you will find areas in your business where you’re leaving money on the table. Most importantly, keep up with the changing trends of the automotive industry to serve your customers better.

Takeaway!

A mobile car wash business is certainly a profitable business model. Still, we suggest you prepare yourself well for the challenges the journey will throw at you. We highly recommend you double down on proper planning and hard work to make your mobile car wash a successful business. Make sure you provide high-quality services and care for your customers before anyone. Couple all this with the tips and tricks mentioned in the post and you’ll be there at the top in no time. Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments. Also, don’t forget to check out other informative posts on the blog!