Where can you put a car wash. We collect documents for opening a car wash: step-by-step instructions. How much does it cost to open a self-service car wash

Oh, how many wonderful discoveries we have
Prepare the spirit of enlightenment
And experience, the son of difficult mistakes,
And genius, friend of paradoxes,
And chance, God is the inventor.

A.S. Pushkin

This question is asked by all the brave people who decide to enter this business. It would seem that here it is - the cost of equipment, the cost of sheds, the cost of the construction part ...

Look like that's it. Now we count how many cars we will wash, how much we will spend on energy resources. By the way, how do you count? Another question. A question for another article about the cost of programs at self-service car washes.

"Skoka-Skoka" and "turnkey"

The World Wide Web is replete with a wealth of information on how to open such a business. But 80% of this information was written by journalists for various entrepreneurial resources, which, a priori, do not understand anything about the construction of a turnkey self-service car wash. When you read these “opuses”, the remnants of hair on your head begin to move slightly and a legitimate question arises: how?!?, where do these numbers come from?!? Some authors have gone into such wilds of their imagination that they are ready to promise their reader the opening of a 5-6-post self-service car wash for 2-3 million rubles. The remaining 20% of articles are written by equipment sellers, who are certainly professionals in their field, whose main task is to sell, sell and sell. Although among the sellers there are those who are ready to share the real figures of the costs of organizing a business.

So, let's start everything from scratch, forget what we read earlier on the Internet and try to take an honest look at the real costs.

Although we offer all our customers to open a turnkey self-service car wash, in fact, we are an engineering company. Those. we are good at mounting this equipment, servicing and advising our clients, but we are not builders. We know a lot about construction, but we do not build ourselves. We prefer to entrust this to specialists in their field. Therefore, we always warn our customers about this, including the fact that the opportunity to buy a turnkey sink will be more expensive than if the customer wants to build it himself from scratch.

The vast majority of our customers built car washes themselves. Of course, we carry out all our projects to the end and always try to help at each stage. Not only consultations, but also proven contractors. Therefore, we own the cost figures. In addition, during the last 2 weeks we have spoken to many of our clients and acquaintances who have built a car wash in the last six months to find out the full amount of expenses that had to be incurred before starting the business.

Let's start with small digressions.

First retreat

And the experience of the son of difficult mistakes ... There are practically no projects of twins, each project is an individual decision. This is confirmed by our clients. Even those who were not afraid to build three or four self-service car washes with us. The likelihood that you will exceed the planned costs is very high. Therefore, to name exact numbers is the lot of Ostap Bender.

Only Ostap could easily name the cost of saving the father of Russian democracy. We will not do this. We can estimate your costs: separately for the construction part, separately for sheds and technological equipment, which needs to be given the closest attention. Because it is like a human heart. It is important that it be healthy for many years of life.

Second retreat

The most demanded project today is a 6-post self-service car wash. Based on this, we will systematize the costs. But keep in mind that it is impossible to get the correct cost of one post by simply dividing a 6-station car wash by the number 6. A two-station self-service car wash will cost half the cost of a 6-station turnkey car wash. And the 4th guard will be cheaper by only 20 percent. But if we increase the number of posts, then here we can really divide and multiply without fear of error, since an increase in the planned estimate is inevitable.

Third retreat

Many mistakenly believe that the most expensive thing when opening a turnkey self-service car wash is technological equipment. In the case of the most budget equipment, this item will be about 15-20% of the total costs. In the case of purchasing premium equipment, this will take up to half of the total costs.

The main expenses will be on land. Not only in the sense of buying land or the right to a long-term lease, but also other investments in a land plot, namely: approval, technical connection, communications, construction itself, landscaping, etc. The vast majority of these costs are sunk costs. And if you are unlucky with the choice of location, then this money will remain "buried in the ground."

Let's look at real examples of self-service car washes.

Let's start with the most popular self-service car washes. What can be succinctly called "kolkhoz-kolkhoz".

Kolkhoz-kolkhoz

To build such a car wash from scratch costs from 1 million rubles for each post.

I do not want to offend either the owners of such car washes or agricultural workers. Typically, these car washes are opened by people who either have a significant lack of initial capital, or they simply do not understand what they are getting themselves into by opening this type of car wash. At the same time, despite the single term, they can differ significantly both externally and in cost.

They can be:

And they can be like this:

The last sinks, despite a significantly better wrapper, contain approximately the same filling. Not very edible...

Why do we call such sinks not very personal, despite the external attractiveness?

They have one thing in common: they are often created in violation of a number of building codes and unwritten rules. The legislation does not contain any clear norms for the creation of self-service car washes. And everyone is doing what they want. Although Europe has already accumulated vast experience in creating the right facilities. As a result, in an attempt to save money, or out of ignorance, all these sinks have a short service life.

Of course, the reader may object: we do not have Europe, the dirt is not the same. I’ll note right away: that’s why it’s not Europe, because we are not used to observing elementary safety standards, saving electricity, water, cleaning chemicals. Such sinks can be significantly cheaper, especially if they are built in violation of the law and in violation of all possible building codes.

We do not deal with such sinks and do not advise anyone to open them. Why?

Despite the relatively small costs, this business, not having time to pay off, is already beginning to ask for small, but funds, to be poured into it.

Budget equipment has the highest cost of washing programs. In addition, due to the lack of a margin of safety and the use of inexpensive materials, it is necessary to regularly carry out minor repairs, and this is not so much a cost as downtime. And as soon as competitors appear, it turns out that such sinks have a minimum of competitive advantages. The only thing left to do is compete on price. That at a high cost even more begins to resemble business for the sake of business.

The other way is the way for serious investors who know how to count money well. And not in the short term, but for years to come.

So, if you want to build a normal car wash that will work for many years, there are two options: optimal and uncompromising.

The best option

In this case, the cost of a car wash will be 1.9-2.5 million rubles per post. The takeoff may be due to the completeness of the equipment, the good location of the site, investments in attractiveness and beauty.

It will turn out to some extent a typical wash, but with reliable equipment, with a good low cost of washing programs. And also with a sufficient set of competitive advantages so that for many years it not only worked, but also earned. And if necessary, it could be sold without financial loss.

Uncompromising option

And the genius of paradoxes is a friend ...

The most expensive project costs can fluctuate around 2.7-3.3 million rubles per post. But you get not only the most beautiful car wash in the city, but also the largest possible set of competitive advantages for the future, when competition will intensify significantly. It is your sink that is guaranteed to survive in this competitive struggle. Proven in the highly competitive European market.

Cost items for opening a turnkey self-service car wash

Land plot

We will not dwell on this point, because. it is completely individual. Moreover, it is simply impossible to estimate the average costs. They can be from conditionally zero (if this site already exists and is idle, or very good conditions for its lease) to four tens of millions of rubles, if you buy it in the Moscow region as a property.

Creation of a project, coordination and obtaining a building permit

Usually the most time-consuming stage (at least a month), but not the most expensive. It is necessary to obtain technical conditions for communications (water, electricity, sewerage and, if necessary, gas). It's free. In addition, the project itself is necessary.

Serious manufacturers provide a standard project, but in all cases it needs to be adapted and tied to the terrain. The cost of such a service is up to 150 thousand rubles. The cost of a full-fledged project is from 150 to 400 thousand. We recommend ordering it in the "right" organizations that are recommended in local "architectures".

You can negotiate on your own or entrust lawyers. Often in the regions such services are quite inexpensive (from 50 thousand rubles). Total estimated costs for this item - from 350 thousand rubles.

Site preparation

Or, in other words, the removal of engineering networks from the development patch. A very individual item of expenditure. Usually it is in direct proportion to the cost of the site. The cheaper the site, the more networks are laid on it with the corresponding security zones.

Our clients' costs ranged from zero, when no networks passed through the site at all (which is very rare in an urban environment), to the extortionate 7 million rubles that local power grids requested for the removal of a high-voltage line.

Supply of communications and technical connection

The reverse side of the previous paragraph. If there are no networks nearby, then you will have to conduct them yourself. One of our clients had zero costs (everything was on the site), while another customer had only the supply of water and storm sewer cost 3.7 million rubles. Another of the clients who built 3 car washes said that, if you take it very bluntly, he spent 3 million on each of the car washes for supplying electricity, water, sewerage and gas.

Construction costs

It will only be about the construction of "open self-service car washes", and, more specifically, only about those construction works that take place at ground level and below. The erection of the canopy will be displayed in a separate expense item and we will talk later.

A very interesting article in terms of rampant pseudo-economy, as well as for the profit of unscrupulous "builders". The numbers float a lot. It is here that those who wish to open a “kolkhoz-kolkhoz” car wash most often try to save money. Often with disastrous results already in the first winter.

Some equipment sellers promise costs of only 1.5-2 million for a 6-station car wash. Only when it comes down to it, the estimate doubles, and sometimes even triples.

So, let's try to figure out how much it costs, using the example of construction using ready-made slabs with integrated underfloor heating.

First, the site must be prepared and removed. And also remove the fertile layer of soil, and fill the place of the withdrawn soil. There are no average figures in this case. It can be both zero costs and very, very decent ones. For example, construction work at one facility is now being completed. There, the rise in the level of a large plot (about 30 acres) was 2.5 meters. It was necessary that he was on the same level with the road. All this cost the owner 3.5 million rubles.

Then you need to lay the plates themselves. A set of plates for 6 posts, taking into account the plate for the technical room and installation, cost 2.2 million rubles. Without taking into account the cost of delivery of these plates to the construction site.

In addition to laying the slabs themselves, it is necessary to carry out some excavation work on laying and connecting communications, buy all the necessary building materials, rent special equipment, fence the site, etc. The cost per circle will be at least 2.5 million rubles.

Based on the real experience of our clients, construction work cost them from 2.6 to 3.5 million rubles.

Is it possible to save? Common sense tells you not to, but many do. Someone saves on concrete and violates technological processes. Even despite the fact that it is absolutely impossible to do this at a self-service car wash. In the aggressive conditions of a car wash, acid and salt corrosion of concrete proceeds much faster than usual.

An illustration of the "thrifty" approach. The photo was taken after the first winter operation:

Someone saves on the thickness of the power part of the plate during self-casting. Some unique people manage to make underfloor heating directly without a power unit. As a result, they save from one to two million rubles, but they get a sink that will work, if you're lucky, for 5 years. And if not, then until the first winter.

Someone saves on warm floors or does not cooperate with normal heating engineers who can correctly calculate the floors for a specific climate. Or they will hire the cheapest contractor who will do it in violation of technology. Someone even tries to work without them and misses because of this the most bread season, when the temperature pendulum and the largest number of car wash visitors.

Here is a good example of such savings:

True, in this case, a person not only saved on warm floors, but in general on everything, including equipment. But on sinks of this type - this is a frequent occurrence. Enough to ride on them in the cold.

Wastewater treatment plant

These are facilities that treat wastewater from a self-service car wash, for subsequent discharge into the sewer. There are several options. Firstly, buying the cheapest cleaning services just for the sake of the certificate that is needed to obtain a permit to operate a car wash. In fact, such purifiers clean almost nothing. The issue is a rather short time when the water utility wakes up and takes a sample of wastewater and counts for the entire past volume for additional treatment to the MPC standards, or impose fines. Therefore, we do not recommend going this way.

Normal real treatment facilities cost from 350 thousand rubles. The final price depends on the requirements of the water utility or on the type of sewerage. For example, to discharge wastewater into a storm drain, more serious treatment plants are needed, the cost of which is about 1.5 million rubles. For most of our clients, they cost 400-500 thousand rubles.

canopy

Also quite an interesting expense item. It well reflects the banal ignorance of building codes not only by customers, which is excusable, they should not know them. But also contractors. Quite often, at car washes of the “kolkhoz-kolkhoz” class, a painted pipe 70x70 is used, which in the structures used does not withstand any serious snow and wind loads and is suitable only for columns of cemetery fences.

Depending on the region, you need to use a pipe of at least 120x120, depending on the thickness of the metal.

In addition, painted metal at self-service car washes starts to rust very quickly due to constantly high humidity, a large amount of alkali and reagents.

This is what a painted metal frame looks like after 9 months at a self-service car wash. Photographed in Moscow:

A hot-dip galvanized canopy, created according to all SNiPs, of a standard design, with stretch marks between posts, a technical room, roof decking and a simple frieze, costs from 1.2 million rubles. And it gets proportionally more expensive if you add rigid partitions between posts, more beautiful advertising friezes, backlighting, etc. I'm sure everyone has seen self-service car washes of this type.

They look like this:

If you focus on design, cover the metal with finishing materials, then the cost increases significantly, boldly steps over 2 million rubles and has practically no boundaries. The final cost of an individual canopy will depend solely on the imagination of the customer.

In addition to the "square design" there are a large number of variations. For example, such a shed for the customer will cost 1.4 million rubles with a technical room.

This type of Russian-made canopy, together with a technical room, will cost approximately 2.7 million rubles.

Imported designer canopies, as well as Russian stainless steel canopies, exceed the uncomfortable bar of 4 million rubles and can cost up to 6 million rubles. It will depend on the manufacturer, materials, design, color scheme, some customization elements and other things.

There are no average prices, everyone decided for himself how much his canopy would cost. Therefore, our customers' prices ranged from 1.3 million rubles to 5.8 million rubles.

landscaping

For some reason, many, especially equipment sellers, forget about this expense item. These costs are not typical and are highly dependent on the land itself. The most expensive thing in this article is asphalting. The average price of asphalting (with preparation) costs about 1.5 thousand rubles per square meter. And if you have a large plot, for example, 20 acres, where there is bare land, then be prepared to spend at least 1.5 million rubles only on asphalting. Also, money can be spent on lighting, landscaping, advertising signs, etc.

Naturally, the cost of improvement can be minimal. For example, if you rent a parking lot near a hypermarket.

Our clients' landscaping costs varied greatly. there are practically no identical plots, and ranged from 200 thousand rubles to 3 million rubles.

Optional equipment

In this expense item, I lump together all the equipment that is not directly related to car wash equipment. These are vacuum cleaners, and boilers for underfloor heating, and video surveillance systems, and other equipment.

Also, there is no average cost, because each customer determines his own needs. How many posts he needs with vacuum cleaners. What boilers will it cost: simple household ones for 150 thousand rubles or professional pellet ones stuffed with electronics for 600 thousand rubles. Does he need a simple video surveillance system for 100 thousand rubles or does he need a serious system with FHD cameras, a file server and remote access for half a million rubles.

From 500 thousand rubles to 1.2 million rubles are spent on this item.

Equipment

I deliberately put this article at the very end to show that the main costs are the costs associated with the land. Moreover, they are one-time and for the most part irrevocable. In the case of a site selection error, the equipment can be moved to a new location. But asphalt and other costs will remain buried in the ground in the literal and figurative sense.

At the same time, in the future, all these costs will not significantly affect the earnings of a car wash, unlike equipment. You need to understand that all this is auxiliary to the main car wash equipment. It is the equipment that affects most of the factors of future earnings.

For sinks of the "Kolkhoz-Kolkhoz" type, the cheapest equipment for 6 posts is bought, which costs at least 2 million rubles with delivery and installation. In principle, prices vary greatly in the equipment market. Sometimes you can find equipment that is absolutely identical in terms of components, but with a price difference of one and a half times.

It is very rare to find high-quality equipment at sinks of this class. More often the opposite. There are sometimes sinks where everything is really built for many years, plus everything is very beautiful. That is, a person has invested more than 10 million rubles in his facility and at the same time installed budget equipment.

I understand people who buy such equipment. And I respect their choice. But it seems to me that they simply were not aware of what exactly they were risking and why there was such a variation in prices on the equipment market.

Buying a turnkey self-service car wash for 6-10 million rubles, they unconsciously put themselves in a very precarious position. Indeed, in the pursuit of savings, they have lost any serious competitive advantages. And even such serious ones as the cost of washing programs.

However, all people are adults. And if they are ready to risk a very large sunk sum, then this is their risk.

Russian equipment, which can provide a good cost for washing, starts at 4 million rubles. But whether it can provide other competitive advantages and reliability is a big question.

The simplest imported equipment costs about the same money. But it is the simplest. Therefore, it is worth stopping at it only if there are not enough funds. Although here you can already seriously think about which is better, simple imported or Russian, but "fancy". On the one hand, there are more risks with Russian equipment, on the other hand, there is more choice of functionality for the same money.

If we take equipment from the best European manufacturers, then the prices for equipment for 6 posts will vary from 5 to 9 million rubles.

Although it is more correct to write in euros, because the ruble exchange rate is not constant. In euros - from 70 thousand euros to 140 thousand euros.

Our clients chose Aquarama worth from 5 to 7 million rubles at the exchange rate at the time of purchase of the equipment.

How much does a self-service car wash cost?

A brief summary of the above, or how much a 6-post “project” will cost.

The cheapest self-service car wash with a certain amount of luck will cost at least 1 million per post. What we call "kolkhoz-kolkhoz".

The optimal cost is from 2 million per post.

If your choice is an uncompromising car wash, then get ready to shell out at least 3 million per post.

In conclusion, I would like to note that everything in life is relative. Someone lives without thinking about the future. And today's financial result, albeit small, but today's. And someone thinks globally and for years.

Oleg Logachev

Roman Korolev

29 July 2017

The number of cars on the country's roads is growing exponentially every year. High traffic intensity on the roads leads not only to accelerated wear of road surfaces, but also to increased pollution of vehicles when operating in such conditions. As a result, the services of car wash stations are in great and constant demand, and they thrive in the fertile field of car service.

If you have to start a car service business from the very beginning, then the most correct decision is to open a car wash. This does not require the presence of highly qualified specialists, you can quickly teach any student to professionally wash cars with the help of special equipment. Boxes are best suited for washing cars and trucks. The success of a car wash business is largely determined by its location.

In order for it to have high permeability, experts recommend considering the following factors when choosing a location:

boxes should be located near the carriageway of the track;
it is undesirable for another competitor to be nearby;
it is desirable that the boxes be installed in a densely populated area, close to large parking lots and garage cooperatives.

If in the future it is planned to expand the business to cover other types of car service, then it is best to immediately start building a capital structure made of brick or concrete slabs. It will be possible to place workshops, a small auto parts store, and a car wash there. However, such a large project will require significant financial investments and take a long time to implement. It will also be difficult to sell it if necessary due to the high cost of real estate.

Mobile car wash

If one is engaged only in washing cars, then capital construction sharply reduces profitability and increases the payback period of the enterprise. Therefore, experienced businessmen recommend that beginners start working by renting premises and equipment. There is a third option, how to open a car wash from scratch, this is the use of prefabricated frames for the installation of indoor boxes. As an object of non-capital construction, such a box will significantly reduce the initial financial investment, significantly simplify and reduce the time for documenting a business and registering it. At the same time, despite the simplicity of the construction of such structures, it is important to fulfill all the regulatory requirements for ensuring safety and working conditions, heating, water supply and sewerage.

When renting, it is necessary to select a room that will require minimal investment in repairs and equipment. It is possible to use a building that previously served similar purposes, but was subsequently converted for some reason. Business promotion takes place gradually and requires a long period of time, so the lease agreement must be drawn up for a long time so that the tenant cannot demand to vacate the premises at the most inopportune moment.

For the efficient operation of the enterprise, it is necessary to have at least two washing places. Taking into account the waiting room for the car, which needs to be occupied with something while washing the car, the required area for deploying a car wash will be at least 130 square meters. A skillfully organized recreation area for a client waiting for the end of the process will ensure the formation of their own permanent clientele, which is the basis for the stable functioning of any business. Therefore, saving in this matter should not be.

The efficiency and continuity of the production process in the question of how to open a car wash from scratch is determined by the reliable provision of water supply and wastewater disposal. Water must be supplied with high pressure and in sufficient quantity. To create the desired pressure, autonomous pumps are used that create additional water pressure. The optimal solution for wastewater disposal is the presence of a central sewerage system. If it is unavailable or prohibited from use by local authorities, a drain pit should be equipped that meets all the requirements of sanitary and epidemiological supervision. All these issues of providing engineering communications should be taken into account when choosing the location of the box and renting it. Under certain conditions, they can become an unsolvable problem or require an unbearable amount of investment.

Experience shows that the vast majority of success (up to 80%) of opening an enterprise depends on a good location (passability). It is considered lucky that it belongs to the first line of objects from the highway. With the right organization of business, it will be much more convenient and faster to unwind here. The standard addition of a car wash with a tire fitting and curing area, as well as a counter with a set of running parts and consumables, is a popular gentleman's set of the most sought-after road services.

Something else useful for you:

Issues of economics and management

The basis of the business plan in the task of how to open a car wash is the profit received. It is calculated approximately from the following provisions:

Video: Turnkey car wash from 650 thousand rubles

in one day, a car wash with two workplaces can serve from 40 to 50 cars;
depending on the type of machines and type of cleaning, the average cost of one service is 300 rubles;
therefore, for the month of receipts at the cash desk will be: 40 mash. x 300 rub. x 30 days = 360.000 rubles;
when setting the payroll in the amount of 35% of income, the amount of 126,000 rubles / month will be spent on the maintenance of employees;
payments for the rent of the premises, the use of water, light and heat will amount to approximately 76,000 rubles;
under such conditions, the net monthly profit is determined by the amount of 360.000 - 126.000 - 76.000 = 158.000 rubles.

The business process organization strategy should be based not only on attracting new customers, but much more on retaining old regular customers so that commercial relationships are long-term. In this, the decisive role belongs to the created image of the company, focused on caring for the needs of the client and high quality service. A live analysis of claims and feedback on the results of the service will serve as a good incentive to improve its quality and level of culture.

The main reasons for dissatisfaction, according to survey statistics, are the insufficient quality of cleaning the car, the low culture of treating the client, the lack of a ready and understandable price list for the services provided, the lack of an appointment for service and the fuzzy regulation of work on time. Efficiency and quality of work on washing cars is ensured by the use of modern washing equipment and materials, as well as staff training and standardization of all operations. At the same time, the quality of work should be a determining component in the amount of wages of a car wash worker.

Documentary support required to open a car wash

Before you open a car wash, you need to decide on the name and legal structure of the new enterprise. As a small business entity, it can be registered as an LLC or an individual entrepreneur. These registration options have significant differences in the organization of reporting and taxation, the advantages and disadvantages of which can be decisive in choosing one form or another.

To open your own business in the field of automotive service, you must approve the following package of documents:

Video: How to open a successful car wash

registration certificate of LLC or individual entrepreneur;
certificate of entry in the tax register;
extracts on registration with the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation, the Social Insurance Fund and the Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund;
environmental passport of the enterprise;
lease agreement, purchase of a property;
permission from supervisory authorities (sanitary and epidemiological supervision, fire protection) to carry out production activities.

The above list of permits may be supplemented by other official papers, depending on the region, which are determined by local authorities. The process of registration and approval of the necessary documents is the most difficult period in this interesting business and can last for months and years.

Basically, it consists of several stages:

filing a petition with the city administration with a project and a sketch of the facility and permission from the SES, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and urban architecture;
after approval by the city administration, an architectural project is drawn up, which undergoes an examination of architects, firefighters, SES, environmentalists, labor protection specialists;
Further, an act for land use and a building permit is issued.

The stages of torment listed above can be significantly reduced if you use a rented room that already has all the permits.

How to open a car wash without harm to the environment

An analysis of the bankruptcy of car wash stations shows that the main reasons for them are the following miscalculations and omissions in the organization of the case:
1. Not paid due attention to the problem of wastewater discharge. This problem should be solved both with supervisory authorities (city water utility) and local residents using the common sewerage and water supply network. The choice and installation of a cleaning device can be a cardinal solution to the issue. The cost of equipment depends on the degree of cleaning, which should correspond to the place where the car wash is located;
2. The attitude of the environmental authorities towards your enterprise depends on the choice of treatment equipment. Excessive savings in this matter can go sideways and lead to plant downtime. Prices for treatment plants start at 50,000 rubles. It can take from 60 to 160 liters of water to clean one car, so using purified water for reuse provides good cost savings.
Compact and mobile cleaning devices allow the use of multiple water filtration to obtain a high degree of purification and economical consumption.

Car wash equipment

In addition to water filters, the following devices are required for the operation of the enterprise:

high-pressure car wash manufactured by Karcher or others;
water heaters;
car vacuum cleaners;
foam generators;
dry cleaning equipment.

Good afternoon, dear readers! Probably, each of you paid attention to the fact that the number of cars on the roads is increasing from year to year. Despite a significant downturn in the economy, the high cost of gasoline, a catastrophic shortage of parking spaces and regular traffic jams. As you know, any situation can be turned to your advantage. The expansion of the motor transport market entails an increase in demand for related products and services. Therefore, today we will discuss how to open a car wash!

Indeed, if demand increases, then it is necessary, without wasting time, to create an offer. Many car owners are very sensitive to their vehicle, so they are always looking for the best for the "iron horse". They are willing to go further and pay more for a quality service.

Car washes are also a highly profitable business. The average profitability index fluctuates around the value of 50%. Agree, it's not bad! For those who do not know, we explain: in each ruble received from clients, half is income, and the other half is overhead. But we'll talk about numbers later. Today we have prepared a step-by-step guide for beginner entrepreneurs! Thanks to her, you can open a car wash from scratch.

Preparations: a good start is half done!

Before you open a business, you need to carefully consider the details. Right now it is important to collect as much information as possible about what car washes are and fill in the gaps in knowledge in the field of elementary accounting, because you need to be able not only to earn money, but also to count correctly. There is a lot of information on the net about this.

If you need to draw up a business plan to find investors, then the article will help you do it quickly and correctly!

Choosing the type of car wash: in all seriousness!

In addition, you need to decide on such nuances: in which area of the city to open, whether you can afford to buy a room or have to rent, where to look for staff, people with what level of income you would like to see as your customers, and also what type of car wash to open.

Option 1. Traditional washing.

This is the most popular and widespread type in Russia. We are talking about a standard set: a washer, sponges, mops, shampoo and half an hour of time. The advantages are obvious - relatively low cost of the service, high popularity among the population and, as a result, a quick payback.

Option 2. Automatic touchless car wash.

No brushes, no sponges, no washer. Dirt is washed off with a strong stream of water, then an active foam is applied, which is washed away by another stream of water. The process is completed by coating with a protective polish. Advantages: washing speed, average cost, minimal damage to the paintwork. BUT! Opening such a car wash in Russia is not a good idea. The fact is that they are simply not able to qualitatively wash off the dirt that accumulates on cars in the autumn-winter period.

Option 3. Automatic contact washing.

This type of car wash is similar to the previous one. First, pressurized water is supplied, then active foam and then water again. The difference is that they are additionally equipped with automatic brushes that clean the dirt from the machine. At the end of the wash, wax is applied, after which the machine is dried. Advantages: washing speed, quick payback. The only significant drawback is that opening an automatic car wash is expensive!

Option 4. Self-service dry car wash.

How to open a car wash that allows the owner of the car to participate in the process, and at the same time be sure that the paintwork will remain in perfect condition. Consider dry cleaning. The car is treated with a special shampoo-polish, which softens the dirt, after which it is very easy to remove. Advantages: the coating is not damaged, great for winter (seals on the car will not freeze or tear when you try to open the doors). Disadvantages: dry washing will not cope with heavy pollution and washing the bottom, wheel arches, disks.

Option 5. Self-service car wash (standard).

This type is good because you do not need to hire car washers and pay them wages. It is enough to hire one person and put him at the checkout (if you wish, you can do it yourself). The owner of the car buys tokens with which he pays for the equipment used, and washes the car himself. Advantages: minimal staff costs, speed. Cons: Equipment is expensive.

Option 6. Modular car wash.

A sink is called modular, which is mounted from special panels. Assembly takes about 10 days. Advantages: can be disassembled and reassembled in a new place, pays for itself quickly, it is easy to obtain the necessary permits. Disadvantages: high cost (about 1.5 million rubles).

Option 7. Washing for trucks.

Opening a car wash from scratch for trucks is quite profitable. The key to success is that you need to choose the right place! Since truckers will be the main customers, the car wash should be located in the immediate vicinity of their parking lots. Then you will have plenty of customers and the sink will quickly pay off. Naturally, in this case we are talking about traditional washing with water. Advantages: fast payback. Cons: Difficult to find a suitable location.

What type of car wash should you choose? This question cannot be answered unambiguously. Some entrepreneurs have experience, capital, connections, knowledge behind them, others have one thing or nothing at all. Everyone's starting conditions are different. We decided to create an instruction for beginners, so we will give this tip: start simple - open a standard (traditional) car wash!

Market research: always - to learn, everything - to know! The more you learn, the stronger you become!

After the choice in favor of one of the types is made, it is worth collecting as much information as possible about the market segment in which you are going to work. Simply put, it's time to visit the competition. Why is it important? Because you can learn a lot, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the "enemy" in order to use both in your activities. So, you should definitely know:

the average cost of the service in the locality, as well as its cost from direct competitors, that is, at those car washes that are located in the same area in which you would like to open yours,
What equipment do competitors use?
what additional services they provide (tire blackening, engine washing, waxing, and so on),
features of service promotion (advertising, loyalty programs, promotions, discounts).

Gather as much information as possible, both about the shortcomings and the advantages. And so and other information is of great value. Knowing your strengths, you will learn and strive for more, and knowing your weaknesses, you will understand how to compete!

How to open a car wash: concept development or get out of the gray mass!

At this stage, you need to summarize and draw conclusions from the information collected. Any business does not begin with paperwork, construction and investment. It starts with an idea! And it is desirable that this idea be unique! Of course, doing something completely unique when it comes to a car wash will not work, but it is quite possible to create your own style and stand out from the crowd.

You must decide on:

the number of boxes for washing cars,
price segment,
TM equipment,
car wash name
mode of operation
the number of employees
service promotion,
basic services
additional services
comfort of car owners,
purchase/lease of land,
construction/rental of premises,
own "chip".

The task is not easy! Although this is only the first step, it is perhaps the most important. A novice entrepreneur must think through everything to the smallest detail! This is the only way to “survive” in the face of fierce competition.

To make it clear: a “trick” is the very thing that will make your business stand out from the gray mass. For example, why not start actively promoting your services to corporate clients. That is, to agree with large companies (which usually have their own fleet) on cooperation. It turns out that your car wash will serve not only private customers, but also businesses! It's very profitable! You need to find the phone numbers of large companies whose office is located nearby, and offer their services. Verbal agreement is important to fix the contract!

Step 2. How much does it cost to open a car wash: the budget for opening and calculating profitability!

There are a lot of options for how to open a washing business, so we will make calculations for:

traditional car wash for 2 boxes,
rented premises,
12 hours work 7 days a week
8 washers who work in shifts (6 hours per day, 2/2), plus 1 cleaner.
Cost of services:
Body wash - 300.
Interior cleaning - 120.
Waxing - 110.
Washing wheels - 20.
Carpet cleaning - 40.
Blackening wheels - 150.

We calculate the initial investment:

Payment of state fees, obtaining permits - 10,000.
Purchase of equipment and consumables - 500,000.
Repair of the premises - 200,000.
Advertising - 100,000.
Summing up communications, if necessary - 100,000.

In total, it turns out 810,000 rubles.

Naturally, it is impossible to say exactly how much it costs to open a car wash. Since there are too many variables in this equation: the cost of rent, the presence / absence of communications, the brand of equipment, the number of boxes, and others. But the algorithm for calculating the initial investment remains unchanged.

Monthly operating costs (expenses):

Purchase of consumables - 15,000,
Salary (8 washers + 1 cleaner at 15,000 each) - 135,000,
Rent + electricity and water - 60,000,
Advertising deductions - 20,000.

Total per month: 230,000 rubles.

Planned monthly income.

Car wash throughput: 48 cars per day (average 30 minutes per car). The planned level of workload is 80%, that is, 39 cars per day. Each car owner orders a different set of services. The average check is 400. The planned revenue is 15,600 per day, 468,000 per month.

Profit before tax is: 468,000 - 230,000 = 238,000.
Net profit (for individual entrepreneurs on the simplified taxation system "income"): 238,000 -6% = 210,000.
This means that the payback period will be 810,000 / 210,000 = 4 months! A car wash with such parameters pays off faster than any other, which is important for start-up entrepreneurs.
Car wash profitability: 210,000 / 468,000*100%=45%. This is a very good indicator, which indicates that each ruble received from customers contains 45 kopecks of net profit.

Based on these figures, the entrepreneur must conclude whether it is worth opening a car wash. Before making a final decision, three forecasts can be made: pessimistic, realistic and optimistic. This will prepare you for different scenarios.

STEP 3. How to open a car wash: paperwork!

After the approval of the concept, its economic justification and the decision to open a business, it is necessary to start the paperwork. For ease of perception, we divide the bureaucratic process into stages.

Stage 1. Visit to the tax office.

The first step is to submit documents to the Federal Tax Service and open an individual entrepreneur or LLC. For beginners, IP is best, since there are much fewer problems with it: it is fast, simple and easy to understand. And the article will help you understand the nuances.

At the same time, you can apply for the choice of taxation system, if this is not done within a month from the date of registration, then the general taxation system will be automatically applied. It requires knowledge in the field of accounting and tax accounting, as well as filing a fairly large number of reports.

For start-up entrepreneurs, one of the special tax regimes is best suited. A good option is a simplified taxation system, which can be of two types depending on the tax base: STS "income" 6% and STS "income-expenses" 15%. The first option is simpler, 6% is paid from the proceeds, but the second is beneficial for those who have a percentage of expenses in the composition of the proceeds exceeding 60%! For example, in wholesale trade. Important! You need to be able to confirm the expense (have primary documentation: checks, invoices, invoices).

The tax registration process will take no more than 10 working days.

Stage 2. Conclusion of the lease agreement.

At this stage, with registration documents in hand, you can safely go to conclude a lease agreement for the premises. This cannot be done before the official registration. Commercial real estate objects are leased only to individual entrepreneurs or legal entities.

If the entrepreneur decides to buy / rent land and build a car wash from scratch, then the process becomes much more complicated, since it will be necessary to: approve the car wash project in the administration of the settlement, obtain permits from the SES, the traffic police, environmentalists, firefighters and the State Expertise. This process will take 3 weeks at best. Not to mention that the initial investment will be increased many times, and the payback period will reach 2-3 years!

Stage 3. Connection to engineering networks.

This item is needed only for those premises that are not electrified and do not have a water supply system, as well as during the construction of a new building.

Step 4. Purchase of equipment and materials: the best advertisement for any product is its quality!

It will be quite difficult for a beginner to make the right choice from the variety of car wash equipment. Therefore, it is best to order from organizations that specialize in the sale of such equipment. There are three reasons for this:

They will prompt the correct set of necessary equipment based on two posts.
They will acquaint you in detail with the features of each brand and provide a wide range.
Will give a discount for wholesale.

The same company will provide a guarantee for the equipment, and, if necessary, spare parts. Plus, intermediary firms are always very attentive to their customers, as they are interested in long-term cooperation.

If you decide to purchase equipment yourself from different sources, then the main thing to remember is that quality comes first. Savings on equipment will subsequently lead to additional costs, plus lost profits due to the downtime of the post! We have collected five of the best TM equipment for car washes for aspiring entrepreneurs:

Portotecnica
Karcher
Kranzle

These brands can be trusted.

Naturally, the most expensive device is a water purification system for car washes. Do without it, because waste water cannot be drained into the sewer. It needs to be cleaned up and put back into action. After the water is processed, it is handed over to special companies that are engaged in the disposal of industrial waste. Its cost varies from 50,000 to 300,000 rubles.

In addition, you need to purchase:

High pressure washer. It should have the status of a professional, because such a model is designed for long-term continuous operation. A great option is Karcher HD 10/21. The cost is 40,000 rubles. We need two for our car wash.
Set of nozzles - 2 pcs.
Compressor - 1 pc.
Vacuum cleaner - 2 pcs.
Consumables.

How to open a car wash and attract customers? It is necessary to organize a place for a comfortable waiting for the car, so at this stage it is worth purchasing additionally:

TV
Sofa (armchairs)
Coolers for cold and hot water.

Thanks to this modest set, you can easily organize a waiting area where the client can drink water or coffee.

Step 4. Staff: the profitability of a car wash is directly proportional to the diligence of the washer!

As you know, cadres are everything! This rule also applies to car washes. A good car washer is worth its weight in gold. Since, perhaps, 80% of business success depends on his skills and diligence. Qualities that every car dealer should have:

friendliness,
learnability,
good physical form,
knowledge of the car (highlights),
preferably no bad habits.

Good physical shape is a mandatory requirement, because an employee may never sit down during his shift. In the process of washing, almost all muscle groups are actively involved for a long time. Not every man can cope with such a physical load.

Step 6. Opening a car wash from scratch!

When everything is ready, you can arrange a grand opening! Yes, it's solemn! This way you can attract customers. Make a promotion on this day: a half-price car wash or a free fragrance, plus a discount coupon for your next visit, or blackening tires for free. Plenty of options! The main thing is to sound tempting!

A few days before the opening, you can order advertising on the radio! Many drivers come to get discounts, an inexpensive car wash, or just check the level of service and quality at a new car wash. Naturally, on this day, the staff should work for five plus. After all, there is nothing better than word of mouth. The driver who likes the received service will definitely tell his friends, relatives and acquaintances about it.

In the first month of work, you can reduce the price a little! This is considered unfair competition, but all methods are good on the way to the cherished goal! But don't go too low! First, take a loss. Second, customers may react negatively to subsequent price increases.

Now you know how much it costs to open a car wash, and how to do it! But that is not all! We've put together some helpful tips for you from car wash owners.

Tip 1. It is best to rent a car wash space that is initially the most suitable for this business. A prerequisite for the presence of all communications! The construction of a new building and the supply of water and light is a complex and expensive process, so novice entrepreneurs should not take it on. It is better to study all the nuances of the activity first!

Tip 2. Having a waiting area for customers is a must-have. If a driver has a choice between two identical car washes, but one has a seating area and the other does not, guess where he will arrive? Of course, where he will be comfortable!

Tip 3. If you are not confident in your own abilities. If you are afraid that you will not be able to independently promote the services of your car wash, then you should consider opening it under a franchise. How much does it cost to open a car wash this way? It all depends on the company you want to be a part of! Well-known franchise networks: Mobile Wash, Fast and Shine, Lux CarWash.

The number of cars in our country is growing even despite the outbreak of the crisis. This means that any business related to cars will be guaranteed to generate good profits. One such type of business is a car wash. Let's figure it out how to open a car wash from scratch, what is needed for this and what is its profitability.

Introduction

A car wash is a profitable and stable business that brings a steady income. In order to organize it, you do not need experience or any skills. The car wash is not a seasonal business, although there may be some decrease in the number of customers during the summer. In summer, customers often order expensive procedures (cleaning the interior, engine), so the total amount of income does not fall.

Car wash is a profitable and promising business

How to start?

The first step is to study the market in your city and draw up at least an approximate business plan. It should take into account the following factors:

Location.
Studying the demand for services.
The average income level of prospective clients.
The total cost of renting the site and building.
The cost of building a car wash in the absence of an alternative.
Equipment purchase costs.
Mandatory monthly expenses (wages, utility bills, taxes).

Based on this information, it is already possible to make some calculations and think about opening.

Registration

Now let's list what documents are needed to open a car wash In your city. First of all, you will need to register with the nearest tax office. You can become an individual entrepreneur or open an LLC. There is no particular difference between these forms of ownership, except that as the owner of an LLC, you will be able to sign a contract for servicing the fleet of other companies.

Then you will need:

Contact the city council and get permission from them to open a car wash.
In the case of a new building, you will need to contact the local design organization, which will create an appropriate project for you, taking into account the requirements of the law.
Issue permits to open at the sanitary station and fire inspection.
Obtain permits from the Department of Environmental Protection.
Get an act on the ground.

Market research

After the business plan is drawn up, it is necessary to assess the level of competition and find a good place to open a car wash. Find out if there are car washes in the area, what services they provide, what price range they offer. Try to identify their shortcomings and think about what you would add or change in the work.

Prefabricated car wash - a great alternative to a stationary one

Think over your list of services. The competition in this market is quite strong, so you need to somehow stand out from the crowd. Offer your customers not only washing the body, but also the engine, dry cleaning the interior, polishing, grouting scratches. Be sure to equip a rest room where the visitor can drink coffee or watch TV while washing.

Note:car washes that allow the driver to wash the car himself have proven themselves well. The client pays for the time spent in the box and for the consumption of detergents, while using your equipment.

The location for washing is best chosen in the following places:

In a sleeping area.
In the business center of the city (near offices).
Near major highways with high traffic.
Close to service stations, gas stations, car parks.

Build or rent?

If you have enough start-up capital to build, then it is better to build a building than to rent it and remodel it. Now many construction companies offer ready-made solutions from metal structures and sandwiches at quite reasonable prices. But What does it take to open a car wash? by building it from scratch? You will have to take the land on a long-term lease and obtain a building permit. Of the pluses - free architecture (you can choose the right number and size of utility rooms yourself), as well as the absence of rent.

If the starting capital is not enough for the construction, then rent the building. This will significantly reduce the level of investment, but you will have to pay 50-70 thousand rubles per room per month.

Types of car washes

Washers are automatic and “manual”. The most promising are precisely automatic car washes, which allow servicing a large number of cars in a minimum time. Automatic car washes are divided into two types:

Tunnel.
Portal.

Portal car wash - a practical and inexpensive solution

In a tunnel car wash, the car is installed on a special conveyor belt and automatically moves around the box, leaving the other side completely washed. In a portal car wash, the car is driven into the box and washed with three brushes: two vertical and one horizontal. Brushes move in space, qualitatively washing all the dirt. The portal sink is very compact - it fits well into any room. The washing process in automatic car washes is usually 2-3 times faster than in manual car washes, so you can serve more customers in a working day and save on staff.

Note:modern automatic car washes are completely safe for the car. But it is necessary to monitor the condition of the equipment and service it in time.

The most practical is considered a portal sink. Its advantages:

Mobile sizes.
Absolute versatility.
The speed of work is 12 cars per hour.
Minimum staffing.

Modern portal car wash can be contactless - all dirt is removed not with brushes, but with special nozzles through which water is supplied under high pressure.

Tunnel car washes require a “tunnel” up to 35 meters long. It is capable of processing up to 20 cars per hour - as soon as the first car moves 4-5 meters deep, you can drive the second one onto the belt.

Building types

Car washes can be divided into stationary and prefabricated. Stationary car washes are usually attached to complexes: service stations, spare parts stores, tire fitting. All necessary communications are brought to them and a building permit is obtained.

Car wash goes well with tire fitting and service stations

Prefabricated will require a permit from the Department of Architecture. To do this, you will need to provide:

Patent IP or LLC.
Certificate or lease agreement for the land.
Car wash project with its appearance.

You will also need to connect the building to engineering networks and obtain permission to open from firefighters.

Wet business: opening a car wash

* Calculations use average data for Russia

Car washes are not a new business, but they are still in demand. Moreover, many experts say that this sector is currently experiencing another round of development. In particular, this statement applies to regional markets. So how do you open a car wash?

According to the calculations of foreign experts, there should be one portal car wash for every 50,000 people.
The initial boom in car washes has passed, but the market for these services has not yet been fully developed.

Professional kit for creating business ideas