Finishing Line

Entrepreneurs are a lot like baseball players — they would rather hit a home run than a single or double. Similarly, investors tend to build big car washes rather than small ones. »

I came across an article written by an equipment manufacturer that discussed what traffic count is needed to assure a profitable location. To paraphrase: Enough cars are needed to pass by every day so even if only a tiny... »

A broad view of environmental responsibility is that a good business can simultaneously make a profit and steward the environment. »

It’s taken roughly 10 years for Lotus-Effect paint to go from laboratory scale and proof-of-concept to future commercialization with Nissan introducing its prototype “Leaf” model with self-cleaning paint. »

What can lead to a slow and steady, or sudden and unexpected, loss of business that is not weather-related? »

Future discounting is the rate at which someone is willing to trade something now for something in the future. For example, my wife buys a new car, usually cash, and holds on to it for a very long time. I can’t resist leasing and... »

One of the downsides of consolidation is it tends to wreck consumer markets.

The tomato category has shown this over the past 15 years where lack of competition made big Florida tomato companies complacent and their product... »

Car washing is a “numbers game.” The more cars processed the more money to be made. The greater the production is on best days the healthier the bottom line. »

The car wash industry is literally fed by vehicle sales from new- and used-car dealerships. »

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) are designed to provide a better understanding of ideas, basic information, and sometimes fairly complex topics — and will often link to more detailed information. The format is commonly used... »

Historically, car wash owners have been hands-on people. However, the success of the new car wash formats has shown that automation can increase efficiency and free up valuable time. »

The largest surface area of a vehicle is painted. Paint is used to cover metal body panels and make outer surfaces look good. »

Soap is made by mixing fat with a water solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide. Detergent properties are due to dissociation hydrolysis — water added to a substance causes both the substance and the water molecule to split... »

Ensure Their Most Productive Use

My wife has been complaining more frequently about my willingness to work — as in washing and waxing her car.

Work is said to occur when force results in movement. In the early 1800s, people... »

Last month we suggested the principal constraint that limits or prevents a “mom and pop” start-up from investing in the car wash industry is the availability of capital. Now we provide some suggestions to help overcome this... »