How to Update Your Business Plan and Improve Your Car Wash 

Running a car wash is a totally unique experience, and your business plan is just as unique. Learn how updating your plan and making just a few small improvements can take your car wash to the next level.

If Your Business Plan’s a Lemon, Make Lemonade

When you first started running your car wash, did you take a moment to sit down and draft a full business plan? If you did, is it still relevant? How is it working for you? If the plan is too old, if it isn’t leading you to success, or if you’ve never written a business plan at all, it’s time to turn those ideas into something new and refreshing.
Before you start taking your current plan apart, take some time to familiarize yourself with the following common components of a good business plan.

Executive Summary

An executive summary is essentially a short description of what your business does and why it’s special and valuable to the local market. As a car wash, your business description might include something like “We are the only car washing business in the area that offers both drive-through and hand car wash equipment for self-service.”

Description of Company Business Model

This is a more detailed description of the company, including the type of business model you’ll be following. Most car wash businesses tend to follow a Direct to Consumer model (i.e., you sell a car washing service directly to the consumer with no intermediaries).

Market Analysis

In this section, you’ll provide an analysis of the local market. This will give you a better understanding of what you’re working with, as well as help you identify the types of things you can offer that your competitors can’t. Markets fluctuate over time, so this is a section that you’ll definitely want to come back to and update at regular intervals.

Services and/or Products

Here’s where you’ll describe the products and services you’ll be providing. Be sure to add plenty of details so that this section is a strong representation of what you have to offer. Yours might say something like “we offer touchless car wash services that use top-quality cleaning products and cutting-edge car wash equipment to produce better results than other car washes.” 

Operations

Describe all operations and job roles, including your own. Operations might be things like maintenance, management, cashiering, customer assistance, and accounting. Likewise, job roles may be things like maintenance and repair technician, general manager, cashier, car wash attendant, and accountant.

Marketing

This is where you outline your marketing and sales strategies. When writing (or rewriting) this section, consider the media you use to advertise and the kinds of promotional deals you offer. Explain how you’re reaching out to new and old customers.

If your current business plan isn’t working for you, this might be a good section to revisit. Perhaps going in a new direction with your marketing can boost your business.

Finances

This section is where you’ll explain your finances, from your property taxes and supply costs to your employee salaries and net profits. Detail how these finances are managed and by whom. Just like marketing, this can be a good place to look for potential improvements in your business plan.

Appendix (Summary)

A well-organized plan ends with a summary of the other sections in an appendix. This summary is a great way to quickly introduce a business plan to someone without getting into the full details. If you re-read your old summary and it falls flat, it’s time to rework things.

Other Ways to Turbocharge Your Car Wash Business

Even if your business plan only needs a few minor updates, there are plenty of ways to continue improving and growing your business. The following are a few things you can do to spend less, earn more, and have fun doing it.

Rev Up Your Marketing

If you’re advertising in the wrong places or trying to sell to the wrong people, you’re just not going to reach your customers. Update the market analysis section of your business plan and get a look at who you really need to reach. If the analysis shows that there is a strong demand for services like yours among senior residents, for example, you might lean less on social media and more on traditional means of advertising.

Rewrite Your Business Description

Are you even doing what you originally set out to do? If not, that’s okay—it’s just time to update your business description so that it fits what you’ve grown into. While doing so, think about whether the description is really what you want it to be. If there’s something missing (or something that’s there isn’t working), revise it. Then, become it.

Invest in Better Tools and Technology

Buying new equipment for your car wash can cost a pretty hefty chunk of change, but, if you’ve been relying on old, outdated sprayers and dryers that are starting to cost you in repairs, you might be better off investing in replacements. Ideally, updating your tools and offering better car wash capabilities will bring in more regular business, making up for the cost in eventual profits.

Revisit Your Company Values

Sometimes, improving your business starts with improving the culture. Take a look at the core values you’ve identified for your business (e.g., integrity, reliability, or innovation). Do they still fit, or is there something else that needs to be highlighted? If those values haven’t changed, can you confidently say they’re being upheld? Work together with your team to refresh your company values or recommit to them.

Strengthen Your Relationship with Customers

Even if your customers never leave their cars, you should still maintain a good relationship with them. Audit your own performance when it comes to dealing with customers; when they have problems, are you quick to address them? Are your employees friendly and professional with them? A strong, positive relationship with your customers is what will keep them coming back.

If you really want to know what your customers want from you, you could also ask for their feedback. Including them in the process is a natural way to create loyalty.

Overhaul Your Budget and Start Pinching Pennies

Follow the money. If you’re pouring all your money into a fancy storefront instead of good car wash materials, you might want to shuffle things around a bit. Figure out what’s most important for you to invest in, as well as areas where you can save money. Make an effort to shop around for better prices on things like bulk detailing supplies and car wash towels.

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Looking to save money on products and equipment for your car wash business? Superior Car Wash Supply is a one-stop-shop for affordably priced cleaners, waxes, replacement parts, car cleaning accessories, and more.

With a Superior Car Wash Supply account, you’ll be able to quickly re-order your favorite products and receive them in just 1-3 days, free of handling charges. Find great deals on bulk orders of retail vending items like air fresheners, Armor All, and glass cleaner. Don’t have a car wash vending machine? We sell those, too!

Saving money doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality. Browse our catalog of products online, or call us today at (800) 554-9274 to discuss how we can help you boost your business and grow your bottom line.