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In January of 2014, I sold my last car wash to a regional car wash company that owned eight other car washes. It was the last of three car washes that I had owned over my 10-plus years in the car wash industry. »

Unlike franchises and large corporations that have multiple operations in various locations, mom-and-pop shops usually have a single location that occupies a physically small space. The shop could be any type of business such as... »

A major concern for business owners and managers is “bench strength.” That is, the quantity and quality of up-and-coming, potential leaders who are in the pipeline. The problem is that too often these would-be leaders hold back,... »

For many young children, the excitement of riding through the car wash tunnel rivals a visit to an amusement park. To be fair, seeing the entire process — soaping, rinsing, drying, and polishing — from inside a vehicle can be... »

Nearly all of the customers descending on your wash look forward to spending minimal time on a mundane chore. They have trolled their part of town and chosen your location for one reason or another. None of them appreciates that... »

The efficiency of a detail operation can be directly affected by the way the detail shop is laid out. Additionally, the layout will determine, in part, the visiting customer’s impression of the business. Thus, it is beneficial to... »

Over the years, I’ve been employed by well over a dozen organizations plus I’ve enjoyed over two decades of self-employment.

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The Southeastern Car Wash Association’s 2017 Convention and Expo takes place in Orlando, FL. The event runs from Sunday, July 23 through Tuesday, July 25. The venue for the show is the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. »

Dealing with a little dirt and grime is just part of the job when you are in the car wash business. But some washes get an unfair share of filthy, mud-covered vehicles and must find unique ways to process them effectively and... »

Market saturation is a situation that arises when the volume of a product or service in a marketplace has been maximized in its current state. »

Mike worked for a full-service car wash and went to work every day, happy to have a job. But he wasn’t too enthused about his work environment. Employee morale was so-so, and most long-time employees were merely going through the... »

A lot of car wash owners I talk to want to convert their wash to an express model. The desire to do so is based on a couple of factors: to reduce employee headaches, promote monthly memberships, update tired equipment,... »

When is it time to change the services you offer to your customers? What services do you add or do away with? How do your services compare to those of your competitors? Is it time to renovate your existing location?  »

Congratulations! Your detail operation is up and running and you have customers. So now that your employees are buzzing away, completing paid job after paid job, you need a way to keep track of all that incoming revenue.  »

People make mistakes. Electricians make mistakes. Installers make mistakes, and employees make mistakes. Let’s be honest. I make mistakes, and most of you reading this can likely recall making a few boneheaded mistakes in your... »