Tips for Newcomers
Considering a carwash business? Make sure you review the basics

As in any real estate investment, location is the primary consideration when finding a suitable site to build on. The success of a location will depend on the following characteristics.

The size of the lot should be in proportion to the size of the building you can construct, with turning radius, set-backs, easements and local building stipulations in mind. An architect is critical for helping layout your wash during this phase.

Full-service carwashes tend to require more land because of the additional profit centers and vacuum or detail areas. Exterior or express tunnels can use smaller or narrower lots, but you must have enough room for vending areas like coin-op vacuums, shampooers, fragrance machines and vending machines.

The most desirable carwash building position is parallel to the street. Although land costs are more expensive for frontage, the exposure you have is your best advertising.

Buildings that are perpendicular to the street tend to have deeper lots and require less road frontage.

The following characteristics help determine how many cars you will wash and therefore how large a facility you may need to produce clean cars:

• Competition 
• Proximity to retail business 
• Traffic count 
• Population 
• Traffic speed 
• Room for additional profit centers 
• Building or utility requirements 

Carwash buildings are typically constructed from block, brick and mortar. Other materials such as wood and steel siding may be used but tend to be less durable and look dated before their time. An attractive building with a lot of glass and good lighting will attract people to your wash.

City sewer and fresh water are musts for the successful carwash. However, some areas of the country and many outlying areas rely on the need to recycle water. This requires the use of filtration systems and special underground storage tanks to assist in the processing of recycled water.

Electricity is a major utility in carwashes and varies extensively due to equipment content and size of tunnel. Typical three-phase voltage is 460/230 or 208. The higher voltage tends to make electrical installation easier and less expensive.

Carwashes often use hot water for prep guns, chemical solutions, floor heat and wash water. Natural gas is required for boiler systems to generate such water.

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