The car wash industry has evolved quickly in model types, technology and services. Below is a very broad description of the primary models. As you will see, the primary differences between them is the level of services that are provided, and in each case, requires a different investment and operational strategy.
FULL SERVICE CAR WASH
A full-service car wash offers the most services and is usually controlled entirely by an employee. The driver typically hands the key to an attendant and then will wait in a reception area or lobby while the staff process the vehicle through the entire cleaning process – both exterior and interior, meaning they will take the vehicle through the tunnel. and then perform perform full detail and vacuum services. The entire process can take upwards from thirty minutes to an hour depending on the services selected.
Due to the nature of the process, a full-service car wash often is heavily staffed to provide the labor required, and therefore a full-service car wash requires more oversight and operational cost compared to other types of car washes. However, the average revenue per vehicle is higher, and locations with higher income demographics will likely require more services, so there is much to consider when deliberating between models for investment.
EXPRESS / EXTERIOR CAR WASH
An express exterior car wash offers fewer services, and it requires significantly less employees to operate. In this service model, the customer drives their own vehicle through an automated conveyorized tunnel, and selects the service options themselves using an automated pay station prior to entering the tunnel. In many cases there is an employee at the pay station to either assist in the selection or sales process, and another stationed at the tunnel entrance who will bug-prep the vehicle and guide the driver onto the conveyor.
In some facilities, there may also be employees stationed at the end of the tunnel to wipe down mirrors and any remaining wet areas. Either before or after the wash, the customer will have access to free vacuum bays where they can vacuum and clean out their own vehicle as needed. As people get busier the need for quicker options definitely delivers in this model.
FLEX SERVICE CAR WASH
A flex model car wash is a combination of both the full service model and the express exterior model. It operates the same as an express exterior, except that it offers detail services. The flex service customer still drives their own vehicle onto the automated conveyor/belt, through the tunnel wash process. However, once they exit the tunnel, and depending on their service selections, they can either drive to the free vacuums to vacuum the interior themselves, or drive to a designated area where staff will provide detail services. This model will have less staff than a full service model, and more than an express exterior model, but it meets in the middle in terms of customer service needs.
IN-BAY AUTOMATIC CAR WASH
An in-bay automatic car wash differs in that there is no automated conveyor or belt system that pulls a vehicle through the tunnel. In this model, a customer drives their own vehicle to a designated position within the tunnel. The customer then stops their vehicle, and the cleaning process begins. Once the cleaning process is complete, the customer then drives their vehicle out of the tunnel.
The process is entirely automated (wash selection, payment, and wash process is all controlled by the customer) so in this model overhead costs are minimal and often require no permanent onsite employees. Of course there are other overhead or staff cost considerations such as periodic supply runs, cash collection, maintenance, site cleaning and trash, and occasional repairs.
SELF SERVICE CAR WASHA self-serve car wash is a coin-operated, manual process. In this model, the customer uses a spray, pressure water hose or brush. This business model also has very minimum overhead and often requires no employee supervision or assistance.
With the various types of car washes to consider before investing, it is important to also understand the various benefits some locations offer in addition to location. New technology implemented allows many locations to reap the benefits of water reclamation. Water reduction and reclamation technology project lower overhead costs