Finishing Line

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... »

Although it has been difficult to write positivity about the car wash industry for some time, there are signs suggesting growth again. Some of the external drivers thought to influence demand for car washing are vehicle sales,...

What I know about customer satisfaction I learned mostly during the five years I spent working at car dealerships — first auto body technician, later new-car salesperson.

After high school, I started a small business and had several part-time jobs — car wash on weekends, detailing cars during the week, and night shift at a gas station. The “filling” station, Keystone Oil, bought its products from...