home Calculators What material is best to build a self-service car wash from? Wash it yourself: how the boom of self-service car washes came to Russia

What material is best to build a self-service car wash from? Wash it yourself: how the boom of self-service car washes came to Russia

Self-service car washes appeared in Russian cities relatively recently. Just ten years ago they could be counted on one hand, but recently the number of such sinks has been growing exponentially. This is due not only to the obvious fact that washing a car in such car washes is cheaper than in automatic or manual ones. One of the incentives for going to such a car wash is the fact that there are practically no places left for washing your own car by hand in large cities, and such a “procedure” in nature causes legitimate indignation among others.

In the late 90s and early 2000s, self-service car washes were unprofitable, since the equipment for them was much more expensive than for manual ones, and labor was cheap. If 15-20 years ago the payment for washers was 20-25% of revenue, today it is 50% or more. All this creates conditions for an increase in the number of self-service car washes. The use of such car washes is especially popular among people who like to drive dusty cars. For minor stains, many of them prefer the quick and inexpensive option of washing the car themselves.

Although self-service car washes are theoretically “deserted”, nevertheless, at each facility there is a person on duty around the clock who helps customers with their difficulties. But the most “sore” point of such sinks is the maintenance and repair of equipment. Experts are well aware of the problems with equipment in standard hand washes. These problems increase many times over, since the equipment at self-service car washes is operated by amateurs. Sometimes such exploitation borders on barbarism.

If you consider a self-service car wash as a business, then this is definitely a worthwhile venture. Let's look at everything in order.

Car wash registration, OKVED codes, documents

If the car washing business is not something new for you and you are registered as an individual entrepreneur or legal entity, then this section is not for you. If you are wondering how to open a self-service car wash from scratch, then you should start with registration. It is best to register as an individual entrepreneur and use the simplified taxation system (STS).

The choice of the simplified tax system option (6% of gross income or 15% of the “income minus expenses” scheme) depends on the business plan drawn up. If confirmed expenses are less than 60% of revenue, then the first option is preferable.

The main activity should be “washing vehicles, polishing and providing similar services” (OKVED code 45.20.3).

For beginning businessmen, a particular difficulty is the coordination of documents with supervisory authorities (ecology, sanitary and epidemiological service, energy supervision, fire inspection, and so on). The easiest way to resolve this issue is if you order a self-service car wash project from a specialized organization. There are probably several of these in your city, and such organizations provide a fully coordinated project. This is not the cheapest option, but, in practice, the fastest and most reliable.

Selecting a site and constructing a car wash

There is no need to repeat that choosing the right location for a self-service car wash is half the battle. However, there are limiting factors when choosing a site. There should be minimal infrastructure near the site:

running water or other source of clean water;
sewerage (except for cases of completely closed systems, which we will discuss below);
possibility of connecting to electrical networks.

Connecting to these networks “eats up” the lion’s share of investment in the construction of a car wash.

It is generally accepted that the most suitable places to locate a self-service car wash are the outskirts of residential areas, preferably on roads leading to business and industrial centers. Also attractive are the routes that connect residential areas with the city center. The ability to visually view the car wash from the highway is very important.

Alexander Kaptsov

Reading time: 7 minutes

A A

You should always keep your car clean, regardless of the time of year or weather conditions. This is an axiom that does not require proof. The annually increasing number of cars on Russian roads creates favorable conditions for the development of the car wash business. The demand for these services is growing steadily. But what kind of car wash to open largely depends on the future plans of the businessman and his financial capabilities.

There are several types of car washing services.

Portal and tunnel - car washing is fully automated.
Manual - the car is washed by car wash staff.
Open (self-service) - the driver washes the car independently using the provided products.

A self-service car wash is a set of equipment capable of providing high-quality and safe car washing. The entire set of equipment in such a service (vacuum cleaners, dryers, guns supplying water and foam) is characterized by maximum simplicity.

Each client can intuitively understand for what work and what to use. Therefore, washing your car yourself will be a quick process for any car owner, and also more profitable. And this is a high-quality result for less money.

How to wash your car yourself at a car wash?

Practical and thrifty clients just need to pay for the service and perform some actions

Wash with warm water and powder. In this case, the dirt is removed (this is done by contact or non-contact method).
Wash using cold water. The resulting foam is washed off.
Applying wax. This procedure will give the car shine.
Polymerization. It will not allow water to leave streaks on the surface of the car.

Russia is famous for its frosts, so in winter entrepreneurs may have a question: what to do with liquids that are susceptible to rapid freezing?

Firstly, The self-service car wash must be equipped with a heated floor system, which is laid directly under the covering. It consists of pipes through which running warm water circulates. At the right moment, the gas (diesel) boiler turns on, and then water heating starts in the system. Thus, the coating does not freeze or become covered with ice even when washing the car.
Secondly, For washing, you need to choose devices equipped with devices for constant water movement. For example, guns that supply water under high pressure. In this technique, even when it is not in use, water still flows, but in a small stream - it passes through the storage tank, then is filtered and again passed through the gun. As a result of the continuous circulation of liquid along the freezing chain, water in the guns does not occur.

In order to estimate the cost of building a turnkey self-service car wash, you need to consider all the key stages of this process and sum up their costs.

Purchase and delivery of equipment and treatment facilities

Equipment for this type of washing is ordered in Europe. The best option for a big city is a 6-post car wash, the average cost of which does not exceed 9,500,000 rubles. The buyer pays for delivery, which costs at least 375,000 rubles. The cost of purchasing treatment facilities will be no more than 1,000,000 rubles.

Purchase or lease of land

Each businessman solves this issue in his own way. Someone enters into a lease agreement for space with parking lots, hypermarkets or shopping centers. Others decide to purchase state land. This type of business will require an area whose sizes vary from 150 m² to 650 m². Moreover, in the first option, the activities for registration and approval of documentation (permits, connecting all communications, and so on) will amount to about 1,000,000 rubles, and in the second - more than 3,000,000. The price will also be affected by the region of the country, the location of the site, and others factors.

Construction works

The construction budget may exceed 4,000,000 rubles. These costs will include excavation work and laying communications, installation of heated floors and highways, concreting and asphalting work, installation of metal structures, installation of treatment facilities and, of course, landscaping of the surrounding area.

Installation of ordered equipment

As a rule, 10% of the total price of the equipment is spent on its installation and startup. In this option, it turns out to be 950,000 rubles.

Advertising

This item is not as expensive as all the others. The minimum set of advertising activities will consist of an advertising frieze along the entire perimeter of the car wash, several banners with instructions, a couple of signs or signs located at the entrance to the car wash. With a reasonable approach, expenses will not exceed 100,000 rubles.

As a result, taking into account all the costs described above, the approximate cost of building a turnkey self-service car wash will cost the amount not less than 19,000,000 rubles.

Where to buy the necessary equipment in Moscow and St. Petersburg?

The question of purchasing the necessary equipment for car washes, where customers serve themselves, is quite natural.

Most of this equipment is imported from Europe. This type of entrepreneurship is widely developed there, so the production of all the required devices has been established. Many European companies have a network of direct dealers in Russia. You should contact them directly regarding purchasing issues.

We must not lose sight of the fact that customers are primarily attracted to high-quality equipment. Since the car wash business is only gaining strength in Russia, in small towns there may not be companies capable of equipping a car wash with decent equipment.

However, there are enough such organizations in Moscow and St. Petersburg. They offer devices with maximum functionality and full adaptation to the climate of our country.

In addition, recognized leaders in the production of washing equipment, such as Karcher, NERTA, Kranzle and others sell through official online stores.

Prices for car wash equipment designed for customer self-service are quite high. And yet you should not save on equipment, since frequent breakdowns can reduce the quality of service, reduce the flow of customers, and spoil the reputation of the car wash, which, of course, significantly reduces income.

If you're going to save money, it makes more sense to buy a device that is less functional and without additional options, but still reliable. As your business expands, you can purchase more modernized equipment.

The approximate cost of a set of equipment for frame self-service car washes for 6 stations varies within 100,000-130,000 euros. Naturally, the euro exchange rate, or rather its fluctuations, will significantly influence the purchase price.

Business plan for opening a new self-service car wash from scratch

Let's consider a business project for a self-service car wash consisting of 2 posts with an area of 90 m² (60 m² for two posts, 30 m² for other premises) with an adjacent area of 90 square meters.

The amount of one-time costs will be 1,662,000 rubles, it will include a number of items:

purchase of equipment - 720,000 rubles,
installation of equipment - 72,000 rubles,
provision of additional electrical power, water supply and drainage - 270,000 rubles,
landscaping of the adjacent territory - 150,000 rubles,
renovation of premises - 180,000 rubles,
obtaining permits - 270,000 rubles.

Monthly expenses are 780,000 rubles, which include:

labor costs - 270,000 rubles (a total of six employees working in three shifts of two people),
expenses for renting premises including utility bills - 120,000 rubles,
other costs - 120,000 rubles.

Calculation of estimated profit

The service operates around the clock, but its maximum load occurs from 8.00 to 10.00 and from 17.00 to 22.00. And in the remaining time the workload is 20% of the maximum.

It takes an average of 20 minutes to wash a car, which means you can wash 3 cars in an hour. Therefore, the number of cars passing through one post per day is calculated as follows:

3 * (2 hours + 5 hours) + 3 * (24 – (2 hours + 5 hours) * 20% = 30 cars

Every day, two posts will be able to service 60 cars every day, and they will wash 1,800 cars per month.

The average price of a body wash is 500 rubles. If we also take into account additional services (body polishing, interior cleaning and others), then the average bill for each client will be 600 rubles.

1800 * 750 = 1,080,000 rubles per month

After deducting monthly expenses and taxes, the net profit will be 235,200 rubles per month. The project will pay off in seven months.

Buying and selling a franchise business

Car washes, where customers can service their cars themselves, are a new profitable way to invest. Since this market segment in our country is still at the stage of formation, those who wish may well have time to occupy the most promising places, build sinks on them and thereby “skim off all the cream.”

Investing in a car wash business can be equated to investing in real estate - reliability and legal protection based on the right of ownership or long-term lease of a land plot and on documentation agreed with the authorities.

However, the profitability of a car wash is several times higher than from purchasing apartments or office space. A businessman who owns a self-service car wash does not spend much time managing his business. This business has certain features that allow you to keep all business processes under control.

Franchising is an advanced way of running a business. The franchisor, for an agreed fee, “hands over” to its partners (franchisees) the right to use the brand, and also provides them with a proven and reliable methodology for managing the business.

There are several principles at the heart of a successful car wash franchise.

Franchising must be relevant and timely.
Extremely simple business organization.
Timely delivery of consumables.
A well-thought-out business strategy for further development.
Unique business concept.
The attractiveness of the enterprise for investors.
Availability of support from the state (currently the Ministry of Economy of the Russian Federation subsidizes various innovative enterprises).

By joining the franchising system, an entrepreneur buys a franchise and also receives information about the amount of necessary financial investments and an established procedure for conducting business. This method, despite the presence of risks, provides a stable income and increases the profitability of the business compared to the option when starting your own business from scratch.

According to statistics, out of 100% of car washes opened from scratch, only 20 percent are still operating after a year.
The picture is different with car washes opened under franchise agreements: out of 100%, after three years, 80 remain afloat.

Today, almost every Russian family has a car, or even two. In this regard, the demand for the services of companies engaged in various types of car maintenance is quite high and is only increasing every year.

At the same time, car owners are very kind to their “iron pets”, groom them, cherish them, and spend a lot of time and money on them. You can make money from this “weakness” of car enthusiasts, and in the most cunning way. It will appeal to both entrepreneurs and car owners themselves.

Surely you have noticed more than once that when giving their car for washing, drivers jealously examined the result of the work done - whether the wash was done well, whether the car was damaged somewhere. In general, this process often brings a lot of anxiety to both the client and the car wash employee. This problem can be solved by letting the owner do everything himself. The advantages in this case are obvious:

responsibility for quality rests entirely with the client;
the cost of the service is reduced;
you get paid for the fact that the driver washed his car himself.

Interesting, isn't it? This direction is very attractive and can turn out to be a very profitable business, so next we will talk about how to draw up a business plan for a self-service car wash and what points you need to pay special attention to.

Contactless car wash: reasons for choosing

As mentioned above, there are many advantages to a self-service car wash. It will be even more attractive if you organize a contactless rather than manual wash. Firstly, the quality of work improves - car wash employees often “slut”, and car owners remain dissatisfied with the result.

Secondly, the time for the washing process itself is reduced - from 30 to 15-20 minutes. Thirdly, car wash maintenance costs are reduced - there is no need to attract additional labor. And, as a result, the cost of car washing services decreases.

However, in order for your service to be in demand, you need to take into account a number of nuances. The first is the seasonality factor. It makes sense to work from April to September-October, since in winter the demand for this service drops sharply. During this period, you can switch to something else or rent out some places. The second is choosing the location of the car wash. The flow of car owners who want to use your service largely depends on where it will be located. More on this below.

Choosing a place to organize a wash

The first point that should be included in the business plan for a self-service car wash is the area and territory in which it will be located. The most attractive places in the city from the point of view of a large flow of customers are:

busy city streets (usually the center);
near the parking lots of large shopping centers;
upon entering the city;
at the entrance to a residential area of the city.

A contactless self-service car wash can be organized in any of these places and it will certainly be in demand. Moreover, the area of the occupied territory directly depends on the number of parking spaces. So, to install a two-post sink you will need approximately 200-250 square meters, for four posts, respectively, twice as much. In addition, care should be taken to ensure there is sufficient space for cars waiting in line.

Land lease: nuances

Once you have found a suitable location, you need to contact the owner of the land to resolve the rental issue. Before installing a sink in the selected area, you need to make sure that it is suitable for use for your purposes. Ask the land owner for all the necessary documents - an extract from the Unified State Register, a cadastral passport and a certificate of ownership of the plot. It is important to find out the status of the land and the purposes for which it can be used. In our case, it should be an industrial construction site.

When concluding a lease agreement, write down such important points as the inability to raise the price unilaterally or indicate the maximum possible level, and also do not forget to indicate the purpose of leasing the site. Assess the communications and power supply near the rented area in advance so that there are no problems with their connection in the future.

Car wash equipment

The most important thing in this business is high-quality equipment for self-service car wash. It’s best if it’s German - ideal value for money. How much does a self-service car wash with two stations cost? If we talk about good foreign equipment, you can buy it for 2-3 million rubles. It is most profitable to buy a six-post car wash, the price of which will average 5-5.5 million. In addition, you will need a vacuum cleaner to clean the interior. At least two-post. It will cost an average of 200-250 thousand rubles.

Special contractors can be hired to install the equipment. Often the suppliers themselves offer this service for an additional fee.

Additional equipment

How to equip a self-service car wash in addition to the main complex? If the owners carry out the process manually, then other related tools/resources will be needed:

instructions for use - detailed operation algorithm in large letters (at each parking place);
a set of detergents;
a wardrobe in the form of rubber boots and raincoats (so that the driver does not get wet while washing his car).

They will not be needed for contactless service. You also need to think in advance about how customers will pay the cost of a self-service car wash - fixed or by time of use. In the latter case, countdown timers should be installed inside each washing station. This will help car owners navigate when to complete the “water procedure”.

Turnkey car wash

Today, ready-made solutions for this type of business are in quite high demand. There are reliable and reputable companies on the market offering turnkey self-service car washes. In this case, there is no need to independently select high-quality equipment and think through all the nuances of organizing a wash.

The present century can rightly be called a time when motor vehicles are considered a necessary means of transportation, and not just an indicator of the level of family income. Due to frequent use, car owners from time to time have to resolve some difficulties that arise with their iron friend. If the owner faces a technical inspection once a year, then he has to take care of the car’s appearance almost every day. In such cases, complexes where you can wash your car yourself and save a lot of money come to the rescue. Why is this not a promising idea for an entrepreneur? Consider a sample business plan for a self-service car wash with calculations to understand how profitable it is to invest in this kind of venture.

Over the past decade, Russians' vehicle fleet has increased by 65%. This is one of the reasons why self-service car washes are profitable.

The nuances of opening a self-service car wash

What is a self-service car wash anyway? This is the name for an almost completely automated service that allows the car owner to take proper care of his vehicle himself, without the help of a specialist. For this purpose, a car wash consists of several stationary posts, each of which is equipped with a hardware complex. Using a simple and accessible interface, anyone can select the necessary tools (brushes, vacuum cleaner), turn on the water supply with detergents and start washing the car themselves.

Why should you take a closer look at this type of business? The self-service car wash project has a number of obvious advantages:

saving money attracts a large flow of customers (the average bill, depending on the services chosen, will be 150 rubles),
the lack of queues is another great pro (the whole washing process takes about 10 minutes),
no need to maintain a large staff of workers (two operators are enough),
high average daily vehicle traffic (from 500 units),
quick payback
lack of competition,
reducing the risk of claims from the car owner to a minimum (by washing the vehicle yourself).

The expert opinion on the issue of investing money in the self-service car wash business comes down to a clear opinion: although this entrepreneurial niche is not empty in the market, it cannot be said that it is oversaturated.

If you know a suitable area where there are no or very few self-service car washes, why not make it your business?

The first step is to draw up a business plan for a self-service car wash, at least with conditional calculations, in order to know what you will have to face and how much money will be needed. Such a project should include the following items:

Preparation of documents and permits.
Choosing a location and premises.
Selection of equipment.
Selection of the necessary personnel.
Marketing plan.
Financial calculations of expenses and income.

At first glance, it may seem to the inexperienced eye that there is nothing difficult about opening a self-service car wash. However, as a rule, a beginner encounters difficulties at the very beginning of his journey.

To avoid frequent mistakes, we will analyze each of the points in more detail.

Self-service car wash plan for 4 stations

Registration of documents and permits

The first step is registration with the tax authorities as a business entity. There are two options - open an individual entrepreneur or LLC.

	IP	LLC (legal entity)
Documentation package	– statement P21001, - copy of the passport, – receipt of payment of duty 800 rubles;	– a copy of the Charter, - memorandum of association, – protocol, – extracts from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, – order for the appointment of a director, - order for the appointment of a chief accountant, – composition of co-founders, - letter from Rosstat, – receipt of payment of the duty of 2500 rubles;
Tax	simplified tax system with 6%;	UTII from 15%;
In case of bankruptcy	at the expense of your family’s capital;	at the expense of the company's authorized capital;
Advantages	quick start and inexpensive package of documents.	the possibility of expanding the network in the future by attracting new investors.

To legally operate a self-service car wash, you will need the following documents:

certificate of registration as an individual entrepreneur or LLC,
certificate of registration with the tax service,
permit issued by the city or district administration,
ownership or lease agreement for a land plot,
agreement on the disposal of solid waste (solid waste),
agreement with the local water supply company,
an agreement with a local electrification company,
coordinated car wash project in all city institutions.

In order to obtain approval for the last item of the set of documents, it is necessary coordinate the self-service car wash project in:

SES (SanEpid Station),
fire department,
Town Planning Committee,
BTI (Bureau of Technical Inventory),
environmental service for nature protection,
labor protection service.

Preparing and processing documents is not an easy task. For help, you can contact a law or consulting firm: for a fee, they will save the future businessman from having to stand in lines.

Be prepared that this stage will drag on for six months. And if you consider that the construction stage will take several more months, then you need to include one important fact in your calculations: It will take about a year from the moment of the idea to its full implementation.

A self-service car wash can provide services for a wide variety of vehicles: from passenger cars to special equipment

Choosing a location and premises

Not all car wash projects are doomed to success. A considerable number of them closed without lasting even a year. This was mainly due to the initially incorrect choice of location for the car wash complex.

So, Where should a self-service car wash be located? so that it not only pays for its existence, but also brings good income? There are several key points:

parking spaces near large shopping centers or construction complexes,
car parking,
gas stations,
Service station (service station),
sleeping areas,
busy streets of the city,
entrances to the city limits.

The car wash should be located at the exit points for vehicles, and not vice versa: it’s unlikely that anyone will have time to take care of their metal horse in the morning before work. But after work, spending a little energy but leaving clean is quite appropriate.

The land on which the car wash is planned to be built is must be intended for industrial purposes, otherwise it will not be possible to obtain any permission for its operation according to the law.

Among other things, it’s good if there are already the necessary engineering systems have been installed– water supply, sewerage and electricity. Otherwise, you will have to pay for their equipment yourself.

When a profitable location has been chosen, you can move on to the issue of selecting the right premises. Its future size also depends on who will be the client of the self-service car wash and how many cars can be processed in it at the same time. There are car washes for passenger vehicles or special equipment, with 4 stations or 6 stations.

It makes no sense to open a self-service car wash with less than 3 positions: the average consumer check will not be able to fully cover expenses, which will make the business unprofitable.

Whatever transport is planned to be served, there is Several general requirements for washing facilities:

area from 250 sq m,
zoning (direct workplace, client area, area for office purposes (restroom, rest room, room for workers, room with equipment, storage room)),
maintaining optimal temperature conditions during the cold season,
good lighting,
presence of waterproofing,
availability of running water,
the presence of a sewer system.

If finances allow, in the hall where clients will be located, you can equip a small cafe or vending machines with coffee and snacks, as well as place a kiosk with various consumables for the vehicle.

Self-service car wash option for 6 stations

Equipment selection

Technical equipment for any enterprise is one of the main components of the project and, at the same time, the most consumable. If you can save money in some other places, you should never do it here. Firstly, cheap analogue equipment quickly breaks down and does not cope well with the task. And secondly, there is a risk of causing damage to the client’s vehicles, which will entail new costs.

The best brands of automated complex for self-service car washes are Ceccato, Wesumat, Karcher.

If it is not possible to purchase a ready-made set immediately, you can use the leasing service.

The minimum set of equipment for a self-service car wash includes:

The design, simple to operate, is complex from the inside. From the outside you can see a metal case with a console and buttons that work even in conditions of high humidity. The device is equipped with a money receiver (holes for coins and paper money, as well as cards), which eliminates the presence of operating personnel. With its help you can do the following:

Selection of the necessary personnel

We noted earlier that an automated service allows you to avoid involving employees in the business. However, for the smooth operation of a car wash, the following personnel are not necessary:

Washers (three people working in shifts will be enough).
Administrator (monitors employees, pays utilities on time and replenishes consumables).
Marketer (engaged in advertising and attracting clients).
Accountant (pays salaries, submits reports to government agencies).

You can save money by turning to an outsourcing company for accounting services. And the owner of the car wash can take on the functions of administrator and marketer.

Marketing policy

Advertising has always been the most effective way to convey information about yourself to others. The daily and final annual income of the company largely depends on its effectiveness, so you shouldn’t skimp on it either.

Despite its apparent simplicity, the design of a self-service car wash is a technically complex hardware complex

bright outdoor sign,
notable signs and road signs,
large roadside sign,
business cards at the counters of nearby institutions (shopping malls, shops, service stations, gas stations),
advertisements in the media and on the Internet on thematic platforms (car magazines and websites).

Among other things, we must not forget that car washing is a renewable, recurring service, which means The main influx of funds is expected from regular customers. But they need to be conquered again and again interesting offers about promotions and discounts. For example:

pre-registration for a convenient time,
out of turn service,
additional service as a gift,
sale of season tickets,
comprehensive services at a lower price,
promotion “every 5th wash as a gift”, etc.

Financial expenses

Finally, we come to the part of our self-service car wash business plan that worries most entrepreneurs the most. Let’s say right away that opening a car wash is an expensive undertaking, but with proper implementation it will pay off within the first years of its existence.

For calculations, let’s take a car wash complex with 6 stations: it is this that will help you quickly return your investment. A 4 station sink will cost about 30% less, but the income from it can also be reduced by the same amount.

The initial cost of opening a self-service car wash includes:

Obtaining a permit – 500 thousand rubles.
Purchase of equipment – 3.5 million rubles.
Construction of the complex – 3 million rubles.
Marketing costs – 300 thousand rubles.

Bottom line: the future owner of an automated self-service car wash business will need start-up capital in the amount of 7.3 million rubles.

In addition to the first investment, there are also monthly costs, including:

Rent of premises – 60 thousand rubles.
Payments for utilities (electricity, water) – 30 thousand rubles.
Salary (3 workers and an outsourced accountant) – 100 thousand rubles.
Consumables (detergents) – 10 thousand rubles.

Result: every month the car wash will “eat up” another 200 thousand rubles.

In a situation where there is no money, but the desire still remains, you can use the option of finding a partner or investor. Also, do not forget about the method that franchise agencies offer.

Only taking into account all expenses and income can you calculate how much it will take to start a business

Profit calculation

In the previous subheading, we found out that from the moment of creation to the end of the first month of operation, our enterprise will take about 7.5 million rubles. After what period of time will a businessman be able to regain his investment and how much can he really earn in the car wash business?

To calculate profit, let’s take the average cost of one wash as 150 rubles. Our car wash complex is designed for 6 posts, each of which serves 20 cars per day. In this case, financial calculations look like this:

Daily revenue – 18 thousand rubles.
Monthly revenue – 540 thousand rubles.
Net income for the month (revenue - expenses) - 340 thousand rubles.

Result: with a monthly income of 340 thousand rubles. The payback period for a self-service car wash business will be 22 months.

In custody

Of course, not every entrepreneur is able to open a business in self-service car washes. You can take a closer look at it if you already have experience in opening and running a business. And it is better for a novice businessman to focus on a different type of activity, characterized by a small start-up capital and a quick payback.

The climate of our country, as well as the condition of the roads, forces car owners to wash their cars with high frequency. To do this, they have two options: wash it themselves, near the garage or in the yard of the house, or go to a car wash (long line, possibility of getting another scratch from a clumsy washer, high fee).

The first option irritates passersby, takes up the car owner’s precious time and leaves behind huge puddles. The option with a sink also has its disadvantages: a possible queue, the danger of getting chipped or scratched, as well as a high fee for the service. That is why an alternative option is now being developed - a self-service car wash. People pay a much lower amount and still receive the necessary equipment to professionally wash their car. How to open a self-service car wash? We will answer this question in our article today, and also provide expert advice and identify the pitfalls of this business.

In order to start engaging in commercial activities, it is necessary to choose the organizational and legal form of the future enterprise. Experts advise not to complicate your life and register as an individual entrepreneur, whose work is much simpler than that of a limited liability company. In order to open your own car wash, you must obtain permission from local authorities (according to Decree No. 584 of July 16, 2009).

Self-service car wash is a promising niche in business that is just beginning to gain momentum.

Car wash place

The determining factor for the success of a self-service car wash will be its location. Experts note several of the most popular places:

entering the city, because cars after a long journey most often require washing;
the central streets of the city, there are always a lot of cars on them, so there will definitely be customers;
places near parking lots.

It is more profitable to open a self-service car wash at the entrance to the city or on the central streets

In order to build a self-service car wash for 2 parking spaces, an area of 250-300 square meters will be required, but in order for customers to have a place to wait in line, it is necessary to allocate an additional 200-300 meters. Renting land within the city with an area of 500 square meters will cost an entrepreneur 70-120 thousand rubles.

If you do not know whose ownership the land is, you can contact the State Register; the response will indicate the owner of the land, his cadastral number and the purpose of the land.

An important point is the availability of communications - electricity and water supply; their absence will seriously complicate the task of arranging a sink.

For a car wash for 2 cars, an area of about 500 square meters will be required.

Equipment

High-quality equipment will allow an entrepreneur to win a client audience. The best option would be German equipment, which is ideal in comparing price and quality. An example is the BKF Carwash contactless car wash for two car stations. The price of such a car wash ranges from 2 to 3 million rubles. You will also need a two-station vacuum cleaner, costing about 250 thousand rubles. An entrepreneur will not be able to install the equipment on his own, so he will need to hire specialists at an additional cost.

In addition, the entrepreneur will need additional equipment. Since car owners will carry out the process manually, they will need:

instructions for using the equipment, which describe in detail how washing is carried out (at each parking place);
detergents purchased in sufficient quantities;
special clothing for drivers (raincoats and boots) so that the client does not get his clothes wet.

You also need to determine in advance how payment will be made:

by car wash time;
fixed per car.

It will be more profitable to charge money for the washing time, but then it will be necessary to install special timers with a countdown for each parking space.

The price of equipment for two machine posts varies from 2 to 3 million rubles

Documentation

To obtain permission to build a car wash, you need to contact a construction company or design center; the employees of these organizations will make the project themselves and approve it. After this, you need to get the go-ahead from SES specialists, firefighters, labor inspectors and the environmental protection society.

Only after all the listed permits have been received, the entrepreneur can contact the local administration to obtain permission to open a car wash. In this case, it does not matter who is the owner of the land, the set of documents practically does not depend on this.

Staff

Since the car wash will be carried out by car owners themselves, there is no point in recruiting a large team of employees. All you need is an operator who will monitor the condition of the equipment, help customers and sell them wash tokens. If the car wash will operate 24 hours, then you need to hire 2-3 people who will work around the clock. In order not to spend too much on taxes, you can apply UTII, then the tax will be calculated on the area, not on revenue, and there will be no need for a cash register. The operator's salary ranges from 20 to 25 thousand rubles per month, and depends on the number of work shifts.

Such car washes do not require a large number of employees; customers wash their cars themselves

Income and expenses

This business cannot be classified as cheap due to the purchase of expensive equipment at the initial stage, the construction of a car wash, and the rental of a large area of land. The main costs at the first stage consist of:

purchase of washing equipment (2 stations) – 2-3 million rubles;
purchase of a vacuum cleaner (two-station) – 250 thousand rubles;
equipment installation – 200 thousand rubles;
construction of a car wash – 3 million rubles;
registration of permits, ordering a car wash project, etc. – 300 thousand rubles;
advertising – 1 million.

Total one-time expenses will amount to approximately 7.8 million rubles.

Let's add to this amount the monthly expenses for renting land - 100 thousand rubles, employee salaries - 75 thousand, purchasing detergents and other small items - 100 thousand. We get monthly expenses of 275 thousand rubles.

The price of a half-hour wash of your car is estimated at 300 rubles, that is, in a month with a good influx of clients, you can realistically earn from 600 to 900 thousand rubles. In this case, the payback of the project will take 1-2 years. Only through a competent advertising strategy and high-quality equipment will an entrepreneur be able to convince customers of the profitability of this car wash, thereby ensuring a decent profit.

As we were able to see, opening a self-service car wash is a very expensive business, but the prospects of making millions in profits per year attract many wealthy entrepreneurs. Therefore, if you have 7-8 million, then this business is an excellent investment.