Monday, September 19, 2016
The
country may be in recession, but this may also be a golden opportunity for
those who can look beyond the problem to launch themselves into successful
entrepreneurship. Owning a car wash business can be a great way to make a
living. If you choose a good location, buy the right equipment, provide fast,
efficient service at competitive prices, and market yourself well, customers
will come and your business will thrive.
Nigeria
is blessed with good weather, but either in dry or rainy season, people must wash
their cars, and there couldn't have been a better time to invest. More so,
washing vehicle by oneself with a sponge, a bucket of water is quickly becoming
a thing of the past. Consumers are increasingly turning to professional car
wash services making them a lucrative business option.
The
beauty of this business however is that it requires less capital and you may
not need to worry about the commitment of your workers as most often you can
base their income on the number of cars washed by individual.
You
can equally make some cool cash by the side, providing refreshments for your
customers while waiting for their cars to be washed. However, operating a
successful car wash business also requires a significant investment and great
planning. Here's what you need to know before you begin.
Research
As
with any venture, this is the first and most important step. Visit other car
washes, learn more about the latest technology and equipment, decide on the
type of car wash you want to run, and figure out how much it's going to cost
and how you're going to finance it.
Competition
Look
at other car washes in the area you're considering as well as around the city.
Find out which ones are successful and why, and on the flip side, which ones
are not and why. Learn from their mistakes and benefit from their successes.
Business
plan
The
more detailed, the better. It should include your investment, financing and
projected profits, and all costs such as taxes, permits, construction,
employees, equipment, licenses, liability insurance, marketing and any other
business expenses.
Equipment
suppliers and manufacturers
Whether
you decide to run a hand wash, in-bay automatic or self-service will, in turn,
determine the equipment and supplies you'll need.
Right
place, right time
Location:
Of course it's important - in any business it is carefully considered(or should
be) before purchases are made.
Car
washing is no different: But what should you look out for, specifically, in
site selection?
High
traffic flow:If you're in a quiet place, away from the main road and have a
limited number of vehicles driving past, you'll obviously have less customers.
While you may be able to slowly gain a loyal customer base, you just won't have
the best turn over.
Target
market:Research the type of people living in the area - is it an elderly
neighbourhood? Families? Young professionals? Is there a typical kind of car
that this demographic drives? As a result of this research you can tailor your
car wash to your potential clientele.
Population
density: Your car wash will be more profitable if in a more densely populated
area.
Proximity
to other businesses:Local corporatebusinesses could bring you consistent trade
if you are suitably located. A regular fleet of company cars would be a welcome
revenue stream.
Signage:
It should be clear, concise and bold - this is particularly relevant for
passing trade, so it should be visible from a distance.
Effective
marketing
It's
simple: If you don't market your business, you won't make a profit.
Using
a variety of marketing strategies will be most effective in selling your
business.
Never
under-estimate the personal branding- showing the personality behind the car
wash and getting people to trust you and your services will help build aloyal
customer base.
More
traditional marketing strategies are, of course, a must: leaflets, ads in the
local newspaper, yellow pages, and effective signs.
It
is the age of technology, hence online marketing can also be used, including a
website informing potential customers about contactable links.
Time
management and cost should be considered when marketing your car wash. For
example, lower cost marketing initiatives such as leaflets and flyerswill
generally take less time to implement.
Cohesive
branding is also a part of successful marketing. Like the signage, make sure
that it is clear and consistent on all products, staff uniform and signs.
Finances
Firstly,
make sure that you have enough start-up capital before you enter into any deals
- and that means more than the cost of the car wash. Every new business needs a
significant contingency fund.
Be
realistic about how much you're investing and the return you'll make - consider
all factors (location, population).