Buying a Car Wash: Things you Need to Know

Here at Turtle Wax Pro, we understand the difficulty in succeeding within the car wash industry, and especially in trying to stand out in the market.

The car wash space has many substitutes available to consumers, ranging from self serve to full automated washes. This creates the need for your wash to stand out in the eye of consumers.

Advertising can be a great way to increase business as your potential audience can be attracted and enticed towards your car wash over another!

By targeting consumers with specific and different forms of ads, businesses can attract new customers and grow their business in ways they could not done before.

Advertisements are not only for gaining new customers, they can be essential for building general brand awareness and improving loyalty for your existing users.

In this article, we'll be walking you through why advertising is important, how you can use advertising to strengthen your business, and how you can start creating impactful advertisements.

The Car Wash market is a multi-billion dollar industry.

There are over 25,000 car washes in the United States alone. The industry employs over 150,000 people and generates over $9 billion in annual revenue.

Even now, growth is still occurring at a rapid pace. In fact, the industry is expected to grow by 3% every year.

This growth is driven by the rise in vehicle ownership, increase in per capita income, and the need for car owners to maintain their vehicles.

With the right car wash advertising strategy, businesses can tap into this growing market and improve their bottom line.

The Car Wash Market

Despite the large size of the market, the car wash industry is very fragmented.

The top 50 companies account for less than 20% of the total market share. This leaves a large opportunity for small and medium sized businesses to increase their market share.

There are many different types of car washes, from self-service to full-service. There are also a variety of different services that you can offer, from express wash to detailing.

No matter what type of car wash you have, there are plenty of things you can do to increase business and market share.

The Car Wash Industry is a Tough Market

If you run a car wash, you know that competition is fierce.

Many car washes are going out of business because they can’t keep up with the competition and provide quality services at reasonable prices.

So how can you make sure that your car wash stays competitive?

Advertising is a way to help ensure that your wash stays competitive and has a consistent flow of customers.

Advertising allows your car wash business to attract new customers, customers from competing businesses and may even stop current customers from going elsewhere. .

Unfortunately, many local businesses are going out of business because they haven’t been able to keep up with the competition as there likely are many car wash options to choose from in any given area.

Standing out is difficult, but is a must to attract customers.

Quality services and reasonable prices are important for success in owning a car wash.

If you want your car wash to be successful, you need to offer quality services at reasonable prices.

Unfortunately, many car washes are going out of business because they can’t keep up with the competition and provide quality services at reasonable prices.

In a competitive market like the car wash market, there are many substitutions present. That means for customers to choose your wash, you must provide a great wash at a great price.

Advertising a Car Wash

The first step to increasing business is to make sure that customers are aware of your car wash. Advertising can be a great way to do this.

There are many different ways to advertise and utilizing a mix of methods is the best way to ensure results.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

First, businesses should consider what type of ad would be most effective for reaching their market.

The type of car wash will dictate exactly what type of ad to use. For example, a self service car wash may have a different marketing strategy than a full service car wash.

Second, businesses should make sure that their ads are creative and attention-grabbing.

Attractive visuals, key words, free services (or discounted) will all be attention grabbing to your audience.

Finally, businesses should track the results of their car wash advertising campaigns to ensure that they are effective.

Trial and error is sometimes the only way to succeed.

An important thing to remember when it comes to advertising car washes is that not all methods will work for every business. If you want more customers, it is important to experiment with different types of ads and see what works best for your company.

Car Wash Marketing Ideas

There are a variety of different ways to advertise your car wash.

You can use print ads, radio spots, social media campaigns, and outdoor signage, just to name a few.

By using a variety of car wash marketing techniques, you can reach a wider audience and bring in more customers who will appreciate the convenience and quality of your car wash service.

Print Ads

One way to advertise your car wash is through print ads. You can place ads in newspapers, magazines, or even direct mailers. Make sure to include your car wash’s name, address, and phone number so customers can easily find you.

Distributing flyers in the local area is also a great way to promote your car wash.

You can also include a coupon or special offer in your print ad to entice new business to try out your services. For example, you could offer a discount for first-time customers or a free car wash with the purchase of a detailing package.

Radio Spots

Another way to reach customers is through radio spots. You can buy airtime on local radio stations and create ads that will play during drive time.

Like print ads, make sure to include your car wash’s name, address, and phone number in your radio spot so customers can easily find you. You can also include a sales promotion within it, to cause more listeners to act.

Social Media Campaigns

In today’s world, social media is a powerful marketing tool. You can use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to reach customers. Other social media sites such as LinkedIn and TikTok could prove to be useful car wash marketing tools as well.

Social media accounts are crucial for car washes because they provide a way to connect with customers and promote deals or discounts.

When creating social media posts, be sure to use attractive visuals and persuasive copy. You want to grab people’s attention and make them want to learn more about your car wash.

Make sure to include a call-to-action in your posts, such as “Visit our website to learn more” or showcasing particular services that customers will love to have done to their vehicles.

Outdoor Signage

Another way to reach potential customers is through outdoor signage. You can place banners, signs, and flags around your car wash to grab people’s attention.

Make sure your signage is visible and legible from a distance. You want people to be able to see it and read it easily so they know what your business is and what services you offer.

You can also use outdoor signage to promote special services such as your for top of the line package.

Many companies (including Turtle Wax Pro) have outdoor signages that are very appealing to the eye and showcase a premium nature to them, which cause customers to try them out.

By using a variety of advertising techniques, you can reach a wider audience and bring in more customers to your car wash which will aid in succeeding even in the most competitive market.

What do you Write in a Car Wash Advertisement?

Here are a few ideas of what you can include in your car wash ad:

• Your business name
• Your logo
• A tagline or slogan
• Attractive visuals
• Information about your location
• Unique Aspects
• What services you offer
• Specials or promotions you are running
• A call to action note that entices consumers

Having a variety of these ideas can help your ad stand out from your competitors and help drive sales.

How to Create a Tagline or Slogan for a Car Wash?

Your tagline or slogan should be easily recognizable, so customers can remember it and associate it with your brand.

It should be reflective of what your company does or what you want your company to be known for. Whether it be affordable rates or the best cleaning job in town.

Also, your tagline or slogan should be reflective of your company’s values. (ex: environmentally focused)

What makes your Business Different?

The aspects that make your car wash different than the one down the road should be included in your advertisements.

You may be a local business, the only one using a specific brand of products, touchless as opposed to using brushes, an established brand, or vastly more experienced.

Small businesses have the opportunity to focus on community service or being more personal with their customers. Thus, many consumers choose to support small businesses over other options.

These are all examples of characteristics that make your car wash business stand out and are potential reasons why customers will choose you over another.

Unique Advertising Ideas for your Car Wash Business

The car wash marketing strategies mentioned before are significant in bringing awareness to your wash. But you might already have the basics covered, or maybe you want to try something different to set your business apart.

If that’s the case, here are some unique advertising ideas for your car wash business:

Sponsor a Local Sports Team or Another Popular Local Attraction

One way to get your car wash’s name out there is by sponsoring a local school sports team or another popular attraction in your area.

This could be anything from Little League to the local school. By having your name on their jerseys or arena, you’ll be getting great exposure to both new customers and existing customers.

Have a Grand Opening Event or Anniversary Event

Another way to advertise your business is by hosting a grand opening event (for a new business) or anniversary event. This is an exciting way to get new customers in the door and try out your car wash for the first time.

At special events, you can offer special pricing, freebies, free food, or other activities to bring in larger crowds. You can also use special events like these as an opportunity to introduce any new services or products you might be offering.

Get Involved in the Community

One way to endear your business to your target audience is by getting involved in the community. This could be anything from sponsoring a charity event to hosting a food drive.

By giving back to the community, you’ll not only be helping others, but you’ll also be gaining some good publicity for your business. This is a great way to build brand awareness and loyalty among possible customers and your customer base.

Offer Free Washes

Not many people can turn down something free. By giving away a free wash for their first wash, you encourage customers to try out your service.

This way they can compare your car wash to the one they typically use, and if your service is of good quality, consumers will continue for paid washes.

Have a Rewards/Loyalty Program

A rewards program is a great way to encourage current customers to continue using your wash. By offering a discount coupon or freebies after a certain number of visits, you’ll be sure to see customers coming back.

Having a loyalty program is also a great way to upsell customers on other services or products you might offer.

You can promote your loyalty club on your business website, on social media, or through in-store signage. This is a great way to increase your number of returning customers and build customer loyalty.

Thinking outside the box can separate you from the rest of the competition, and get your car wash business out in a way no one else can.

Working with an experienced company like Transchem and Turtle Wax Pro

Implementing a strong marketing strategy to ultimately increase business for you car wash can be difficult.

Transchem and Turtle Wax Pro are not only car wash suppliers, we are companies dedicated in helping your business succeed.

We understand that just owning a car wash is only a small fraction behind operating a car wash, marketing it is a must.

We have decades of experience helping car washes of all types and sizes, and thus, can provide a superior level of guidance that can help your car wash business gain market share and increase customers.

It's obvious how important advertising is to suceeding in the car wash market. By utilizing some of the advertising ideas mentioned, you can increase brand awareness to your car wash and bring in more traffic.

Advertising is an incredible powerful tool that can skyrocket the success of your business. If you believe that your car wash business could improve it's advertising, don't hesitate to get in contact with us! We at Transchem and Turtle Wax Pro can provide some guidance on how to seperate yourself from the rest of the market.

Are you looking for a business opportunity that is both profitable and exciting? If so, then you should consider opening a car wash business.

This industry is booming, and there are many different ways to get started. In this blog post, we will discuss steps that will help you get your car wash business up and running!

Let's state the obvious: What is a car wash?

A car wash is a business where people can go to have their cars cleaned.

This can be done either by hand or by machine, and there are many different types of car washes to choose from.

Is owning a Car Wash Business a good idea?

If you're thinking about starting a professional car wash business, know that it can be very lucrative.

The car wash industry is growing rapidly, with the injection of venture capital in professional car washes and new technology.

This means that now is a great time to get involved in car washing. Not only is the industry growing, but there are also many different ways to build a car wash business.

It can be a challenge at times, but opening a car wash can prove to have many avenues for success, making it a great investment opportunity.

Are car wash businesses profitable?

Car wash businesses can be very profitable. How profitable your car wash will be depends on many factors: the location, type of car wash, and how well you run the business.

However, with a little bit of planning from the help of some car wash experts, your car wash will net you $85,000 on average (US Census Bureau) over the course of a year.

Let's discuss the different types of car washes, as they each have unique advantages and disadvantages.

What are the different types of car washes?

There are several different types of car washes, and you'll want to learn about all the different options when choosing which one you would like to own.

Self Service Car Wash

This type of wash is exactly what it sounds like - customers serve themselves. Typically, a machine with various chemical choices and a pressure washer is used. They may have extras like vacuums and towels to help the drying process.

Self serve washes are great as they require very little staff. They are also quick, which is great for customers who are in a hurry. A self service car wash has the strongest advantage of being the cheapest to open.

Unfortunately, they can be quite messy and unorganized, customers often don't clean up properly. Plus, self serve washes have much cheaper wash packages meaning less room for profit on each car.

In Bay Automatic Car Wash

In this type of wash, the customer drives their vehicle into an empty bay. The vehicle is then cleaned by machines that move around the car.

In bay car washes have a few advantages over self serve ones. They're much more organized and customers can't make much of a mess. In bay car washes also have wash packages that cost more. This is due to the ability to offer packages that are more complex. There is now more potential to make a profit on each car.

This type of car wash is typically found at a gas station or other location where there is room to park the cars, but not enough room to fit a tunnel car wash.

In bay washes have the advantage of still being fully automated, providing customers with high convenience and low effort. It can only serve one customer at a time however, sometimes creating lines and limiting potential revenue.

Tunnel Car Wash

In a tunnel car wash, the customer drives their car onto a conveyor belt that moves the vehicle through a long tunnel.

This type of wash is much larger than an in-bay wash and can accommodate more cars.

Tunnel washes can be extremely lucrative but also are extremely expensive to open in the first place. Most tunnels will require a multi-million dollar initial investment.

Tunnel washes typically offer the best wash packages and have the ability to upsell customers on waxes, polishes, and other services. They also have high customer satisfaction as they provide a complete cleaning of the vehicle.

It is also important to ensure that there is a market in that area for such a large wash, as a tunnel's greatest advantage is being able to serve multiple vehicles at once. There longest tunnels can service 1200-1500 cars per day leading to daily revenue of over $20,000.

Washing Equipment

To start a car wash, you'll need to decide which type of car wash you want to open and what car wash equipment is right for you.

Brushes

Some car washes will use a brush style system. This uses long bristled brushes that spin and help to loosen the dirt and grime on the car.

These do a great job at cleaning vehicles, sometimes a little too well.

There have been cases of the brushes scratching paint off of cars, so be sure to research this type of system before you choose it for your business.

Soft Cloth

This type of system uses long, soft cloths that wrap around the vehicle and clean it as it moves through the wash.

This is a safer option and is used by most car washes today.

Touchless Car Wash

Touchless car washes use high-pressure water jets and no brushes or cloths to clean the vehicle.

This is a newer option that is becoming more popular as it has no chance to damage the customer's vehicle.

Full Service Car Wash

Full service washes offer a complete service that washes, dries, and vacuums the inside and outside of your vehicle. This is the best chance to offer exceptional customer service.

Full service car washes are great because they offer customers convenience and a thorough cleaning.

They do require more staff than other types of washes, which can make them more expensive to run.

What type of car wash is the most profitable?

The answer to this question is not straightforward as it depends on various conditions.

The income your car wash business can generate will depend on a variety of factors, including location and business plan.

A full service car wash business could be more profitable than other types of car washes because they provide more services and can charge more for them.

An automated car wash business could also be the most profitable as it needs less dedicated staff and can run 24 hours, meaning more potential customers.

Start your car wash business plan

Here are some steps and aspects you'll want to consider when creating your business plan for a car wash.

1) Business Name:

As with any business, you will need to pick a name for it to be run as, and this will be the first thing you put into your business plan.

For your own car wash business, we recommend you to pick an easy to remember, snappy name as customers will be more likely to return if they can remember it.

2) Target Market:

When you’re planning to start a car wash, it’s important to think about who your target market is.

Are you aiming for the high-end market with luxury cars? Or are you more interested in catering to the budget-minded customer with economy cars?

Your target market will help determine the type of car wash you open, as well as the location and services you offer.

3) Location:

Your location is critical for the success of your car wash. You'll want to make sure that it is easily accessible and in a high traffic area.

The location can also be what area of the world, as some cities or regions are higher car traffic areas, and what weather they experience will differ as well.

4) Wash Type:

The type of wash you decide to open will play a large role in your start up costs, as well as the potential income you can generate.

The various forms of automatic car washes carry unique benefits that make them advantageous to some, but a self service car wash has its market, so decide carefully!

5) Competition:

You will also want to do some market research into the competition before finalizing your decision to open a car wash there.

A little competition is healthy, but too many local businesses, other car washes and big name corporations could make it difficult for your business to thrive.

6) Employees:

You'll need to decide how many employees you'll need and what their roles will be.

This will depend on how large of an operation you plan to open.

7) Applications/Loyalty Program:

You may want to offer some type of applications or loyalty programs to customers.

This could include a rewards program for return customers to eventually redeem a free car wash.

You can also offer coupons or discounts for a free wash to help attract new vehicle owners.

Digital Mosaic is a fantastic provider of technology solutions for the car wash industry. They provide clients with a way to effortlessly institute turn-key subscription and loyalty programs, brand their operations with a custom branded app, and improve their marketing efforts by paying close attention to customer data and analytics.

8) Ins and Outs:

Experience and knowledge is an invaluable aspect to any business venture, and the car wash industry is no different.

It would be smart to speak to successful car wash owners or suppliers as part of your market research. Knowing their views, strengths, and weaknesses can make you a more profitable business.

9) Car Wash Suppliers:

You'll need to find suppliers for all of the equipment and chemicals you'll need to run your car wash business.

We recommend finding multiple suppliers and distributors, like Turtle Wax Pro, and discussing your needs with each of them to learn more about the costs involved.

Suppliers can offer more than just chemicals as they can help with improving your wash, market positioning, brand recognition, etc.

We have a blog detailing everything you'll need to know regarding picking the right supplier to help you open a car wash.

How To Open A Car Wash, The Business Framework

We will also run through some of the legal needs and paperwork aspects to opening and running a car wash business. You will need to contact appropriate local authorities in your area, this will just give you an idea of where to start.

Registering your Car Wash Business

The first step is to register your business with the local authorities and the IRS.

You will need to obtain business licenses and a federal tax identification number, as you will need to pay business taxes.

Permits and Zoning

Be sure to check with your local government about any permits or zoning regulations that may apply to your car wash business.

These are documents and policies that you would need to open and run your car wash, legally.

Car Wash Business Insurance

It's important to get business insurance for your car wash to protect you from any potential liabilities.

You'll want to have a discussion with your local insurance agent so they can help choosing a policy that fits you best.

Workers compensation insurance is also required in some areas, so be sure to check with your state's laws.

Business Banking

You'll need to open a business bank account and get a line of credit or loan for your car wash venture.

It is also important for a business bank account to be in place, so that your business and personal finances can stay separate.

As small business owners, you'll need to make sure your business's financial operations are in order.

Start Up Expenses

The costs involved to get your business off the ground will depend on a number of previously mentioned factors, like the kind of car wash you want and how many employees you plan to have.

Opening a car wash can differ greatly in initial expenses, a small self service car wash will be much cheaper than a tunnel wash for example.

Be sure to review your financial options to decide what is your best course of action.

Ongoing Expenses

Now that we've gone over some of the one time start up costs, it's important to understand those initial costs are not the only ones that go into opening a car wash.  

You'll need to factor in the cost of running your car wash on a day to day basis.

This includes costs such as water and electricity, chemicals, supplies, employee wages and other business expenses.

Marketing

Marketing can be a make it or break it factor for your new car wash business. You need to get the word out to car owners!

Small businesses and small business owners sometimes find marketing a difficult task but if you want to find success within the car wash industry, you will want some type of marketing strategy.

Your marketing strategy can include advertisements, signage, events and so much more.

Small Businesses Marketing Help

Fortunately, we have a blog created outlining how you can market your car wash to make the concept easier and more approachable.

You can also rely on your car wash supplier for marketing help, at Turtle Wax Pro, this an aspect we aim to help all of our operators with, as we understand the challenge of finding and keeping customers coming back.

If you're in the market to open a new car wash, get in touch with Turtle Wax Pro

We would love to hear your idea and see how we can help you get started in the industry.

Turtle Wax Pro provides everything from industry leading car wash chemistry, to business and marketing support.

We have been in the car care business for over 75 years and know a thing or two about how to start a car wash and washing cars.

Reach out today for more information on how we can help you with your new car wash business venture!

Running a car wash business can be lucrative, but it's important to find the right car wash supplier in order to make your business successful.

There are many different suppliers out there, so it can be difficult to determine which one is right for you.

Turtle Wax Pro is a great option to help supply your car wash. We offer the highest quality chemistry on the market, have decades of experience of helping wash businesses succeed, and have strong healthy relationships with our customers.

These are all key factors to look for when searching for a supplier and we believe that Turtle Wax Pro and Transchem Group can be the best supplier for you.

If you're in the car wash business, then you know that finding the right supplier is essential. Let's go over some key considerations to look for when choosing a supplier.

To Succeed in the Car Wash Business, You Have to be Unique

The car wash industry is a competitive one, so it's important to find a car wash supplier that can give you an edge over your competition. One way to do this is by choosing a supplier that offers unique products or services.

Car washes with no unique selling proposition are very common. You must find things that separate you from other washes if you want to succeed. The right supplier can offer you competitive prices, quality supplies, equipment, support, advice, site signage, marketing help and more that can give you a leg up in business.

Here's What To Avoid In A Car Wash Supplier

1. Avoid suppliers that just need to make a sale and offer no support after your launch.
2. Be wary of a supplier who can't answer questions. This generally means they won't be helpful if any issues arise in the future.
3. Look out for suppliers without local or regional service teams. Depending on your customer volume you may get stuck in a long line waiting for service or repairs.
4. You should also be careful of suppliers who don't have a good reputation. If other car wash owners haven't heard of them or have had bad experiences, it's best to avoid doing business with them.

Looking for a Reputable Supplier

It's also important to choose a supplier that is reputable, has a long track record of industry wins and wants to be a true partner. Businesses succeed when they have long-term relationships with their suppliers. A reputable supplier will be able to more effectively provide you with the resources and support you need to grow your business.

Watch Testimonials

You can learn a lot about a supplier by reading online reviews, case studies and testimonials from other car wash business owners. Make sure to read both positive and negative reviews in order to get a well-rounded view of the supplier.

You should also take the time to speak with other wash owners who have used the supplier. They will be able to provide you with first-hand information about their customer experience.

"When I built our first car wash in 1991 I was looking for a chemical company that could provide knowledge, dependability, service, value and high quality safe products. The Turtle Wax Pro team and Transchem delivered and for over 30 years has been our chemical suppler of choice, they've never let us down. When it comes to a soap provider you can count on day in and day out I couldn't think of a better company than Turtle Wax Pro and Transchem." - Mike Black, Founder/Owner at Valet Car Washes 

Consider the Chemistry

The chemicals dictate the final wash product you can offer your customers. The goal of achieving the perfect wash can only be met with high quality chemistry that all works together.

When choosing a car wash supplier, you should consider the quality of the products that they offer. The last thing you want is your customers' cars to be damaged by poor car wash chemicals.

Which Type of Products Does Your Wash Want to Offer?

Every car wash has staple products like presoaks and detergents but car washes can really differentiate themselves by offering unique items like fragrances, ceramics, and tire dressings.

Think about which products in particular you want to offer your customer, that decision may direct you to a particular company that carries specific supplies.

There are so many products to choose from, we recommend getting in contact with a couple of car wash chemical manufacturers before deciding on any products.

Less Is More!

Some companies can have hundreds of SKUs but you'll need to narrow your decision down to between 5 and 15 core chemicals for your wash.

The Turtle Wax Pro lineup offers more than 40 highly diverse chemicals alongside other individual chemical solutions.

This allows us to stay competitive with other industry prices, stock more product, ship faster, provide more in-depth service and streamline our operation to help you clean more cars.

Consider the Car Wash Equipment

The car wash industry is always changing and car wash equipment is becoming more advanced. You'll want to make sure that the supplier you choose offers the latest and greatest in car wash equipment.

This could include pressure washers, car wash pumps or central vacuum systems for detailing services. This will ensure that your customers are getting the best possible car wash experience.

Having to buy new equipment is expensive and time consuming so it's important to get it right the first time.

Maintenance Matters

Maintenance solutions are also important to consider when choosing a supplier. Make sure your supplier has a good relationship with one or more local distributors in your area to service and repair your equipment on a regular basis.

Consider the Extras

It's also important to find a supplier who offers training on how to use the car wash equipment. This will ensure that your team is able to properly operate the car wash equipment and provide a great experience for your customers.

Turtle Wax Pro offers in-depth training on chemistry, installation, service, business operations and more to our partners (the distributors and operators we work with). This should create reliability for you and your employees when it comes to any problems that could arise.

What about...

Perhaps you want to own a truck wash as well? A truck wash will need different equipment than a standard car wash. How easy is it to receive repair parts? How detailed are the product manuals? How quick is installation?

These are all factors you will want to consider when evaluating the right supplier. It can be challenging to know what is the right equipment and we recommend contacting a supplier (like Turtle Wax Pro) before you decide on anything.

Consider your Customer

Last but not least, you should consider your ideal customer experience when choosing a supplier. What type of experience do you want to offer your customers?

Do you want to offer a luxury wash experience or a more basic wash experience? This will help you determine which car wash supplies, equipment and add-ons you'll need to purchase.

What Does a Premium Industry Supplier Offer Their Car Washes?

1. A wide range of chemistry, services, systems and car wash equipment.
2. Advice on how to best position your wash for success. This involves marketing, best use of the products, and a full dedicated hands-on training session with ongoing learning material.
3. Help you find ways on how to reduce costs and optimize your car wash to save time and produce more sales for your site.
4. Lastly, the relationship they maintain with their partners. A top supplier will offer car washes technical support, answer any questions they have, and keep an open dialogue to continuously improve the products and services they offer.

All of these aspects are what separates the industry leaders from the rest.

Choosing Turtle Wax Pro as Your Supplier

Turtle Wax Pro is one of the most trusted car care brands in the world with expertise to drive more sales and gain market share around the world.

We strive to be the best supplier possible to all of our partners, operators and distributors. We do this by offering the best chemistry on the market, high quality car wash equipment, and knowledge from our dedicated sales and service teams.

We Know It's Hard

Picking the right supplier can be a tough process but will prove to be very rewarding if done correctly. We hope that we cleared up some questions you had and have given you a bit of direction on how to choose a high quality partner.

If you have any questions about your car wash regarding anything from products to strategy, don't hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to discuss how you can find even more success within the car wash industry.

Every car wash ultimately has the same goals of producing the perfect wash, resulting in loyal, happier customers, and making a great profit.

However, the perfect wash business does not come easily, and there are many factors that need to be met first.

We have talked about some of these previously, most notably car wash chemicals (check out our blog archive)!

But one significant aspect of having a great car wash is knowing the importance of training for your staff. For instance, it is very important for car wash staff to know exactly how to use the specific products, equipment, promote and upsell wash packages, and be able to tackle unique car and customer situations.

Training Geared for your Team

The perfect training regiment comes down to understanding your specific wash facility and ensuring your team knows exactly how to use their tools to their greatest potential. It also supports developing new skills to build the business, plus improving the wash experience for customers.

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Achieving the perfect wash

The car wash process may look simple from the outside, and as any and all experienced car wash owners or workers would know, it is complex and can change on many small factors.

Your wash quality can differ from many different aspects such as water quality, equipment types, chemicals, and much more. If one factor stops working well, the whole wash operation can suffer.

This is precisely the reason that your staff must know the ins and outs of their tools, to be sure the best car wash can be achieved. This can be achieved with regular training, equipment upkeep, and fine tuning.

Effective training is not an easy feat to accomplish, and can be a big time commitment, but you will want to be sure to do so to make your business a success. Hopefully, you have a strong supplier (like us!) who can help car wash operators in their training efforts, and take some of the burden off their shoulders.

The Car Washing Industry is a competitive one, and every advantage is key

Training your team in how to upsell wash packages, set customers onto a loyalty program, maintain equipment, manage a backroom safely, and other necessary skills will ensure you are making steps to improve your business, and get ahead of the competition. Every advantage your car wash can get should be taken within such a competitive industry.

Car Wash Training: How To Do So Effectively

The best way to train your staff is to make it a priority, not only for new hires, but to build skills across your team. Taking the time and ensuring it gets done will pay off down the road when wash results, customer satisfaction, and hopefully profits have improved.

There are numerous different types of training areas and techniques that can be used to help your team learn the ins and outs of the business.

A big asset for you here is your car wash supplier, who should act as your partner to help you get ready and best situated in using their products.

The Importance of Chemical Training

Managing carwash chemicals is a huge aspect of any car wash business. This is why you will need to understand the wash process that makes cleaning successful, and how to properly and safely harness chemistry for best results. Work with your chemistry manufacturer or distributor with their expertise on the product line.

They can teach you which chemistry combinations will perform optimally at your location, show cost-per-car analysis methods, and how to dilute, monitor and manage chemistry for the best car wash performance.  

Understanding and managing carwash chemicals and how to optimize them will have your team ensuring it is bringing out your wash's best results.

The Importance of Equipment Training

Whether a tunnel, in-bay automatic or self-serve, knowing how to best utilize, set up, and maintain your equipment will prove to be invaluable to your total car wash success as it can make a large difference in your end results. A car wash business utilizes a lot of different operational equipment ranging including water softeners, conveyor belts, payment systems, robust tunnel systems and dryers and much, much more. All are vital pieces that must be running smoothly.

Knowing how to do some repairs and regular maintenance is a much needed skill as you want to have as little downtime as possible, (also getting your business back running as fast as possible).

Having team members who understand general and tunnel equipment maintenance, including basic repairs, managing equipment performance optimization and the electrical components controller, preventative maintenance techniques, or a just general equipment overview are a few examples of important skills in a successful car wash. Reaching out for support from suppliers with up to date knowledge can be a great first step in gaining a thorough understanding of the systems in your wash.

Hands-On Experience

Offering your staff practical hands-on workshops, especially if new to the industry, is a great option for a car wash operator to build success for his business. It can be led by a visiting product representative, if related to a specific chemical line or piece of equipment. For more specific training to a particular car wash, often car wash owners can train their teams in any educational gaps they perceive. Training can even be led by a more experienced staff member during non-peak or off-hours, ensuring that your team is comfortable, competent and safe in handling large machinery or commercial chemicals. Distributing this practical knowledge will be essential especially if more experienced staff are not available, or move on to a new company.

Other Training Areas  

There are many more aspects to a car wash than just chemicals or equipment. Training must be done for other areas such managing inventory, operational, finances, marketing and customer service, which are some broad areas that will need to be part of any business. More specifically, inventory management, effective budgeting, and people management are examples of skills that will acted in your business. Teaching your staff to upsell products to customers, educate them on premium wash packages, and encourage visitors to join a loyalty program can be of huge value to a car wash business as well, encouraging a more reliable income with higher profit margins.

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Turtle Wax Pro can help you Train

Your car wash supplier is a powerful asset that can help get your team up to speed quickly and easily on car wash methods, products, and more (we have a blog detailing the importance of your car wash supplier).

Here at Turtle Wax Pro, we have a strong focus in ensuring our clients and partners have training resources that will help their staff use our chemicals more effectively. Our biggest tool for car washing facilities is our exceptional Training tool, FREE and available online for all our customers:

TWP LEARN: Turtle Wax Pro's Online Learning Center

Turtle Wax Pro not only is premium car wash chemistry, with exceptional marketing and branding advantages, but also offers exclusive online training in subjects across the car wash industry.

This is because we understand the importance behind providing training to car wash staff: your car wash can thrive and employees can become actual car wash professionals.

Simple and Convenient Training

This tool is so easy for car washes to use for training their teams, as they can use any device at any time to complete online courses and quizzes. Participants will receive a solid education and certificates at the end of each of the training courses. This saves time for car washing operations as they don't need to build and execute fancy training seminars, and best of all, it's FREE for our customers and their staff.

Over 20 Hours of Video Content

From learning about the five factors of car wash, the chemistry of cleaning, to marketing with the Turtle Wax Pro brand, chemical setups, cost-per-car analysis, titration, advanced car wash knowledge and much more, TWP Learn has content plans for all skill levels.

How Training can Help your Car Wash Business

The importance of training your staff should not be understated, as it can be the difference between a good car wash and a great one. A well-trained team will know how to use their tools better than anyone else, meaning they can provide a higher quality finished product and happier customers, helping your business stand out from the rest!

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Contact Turtle Wax Pro for your Car Wash Success

Training is just one facet of the car wash world that we strive to help our clients with.

Turtle Wax Pro is one of the most recognized car wash brands in the world for a good reason, we have over 75 years of car care experience and decades in providing national carwash solutions (and international) to car wash industry operators and businesses.

Contact us if your business could use some better support whether that be with your chemicals, marketing, or training.