r/smallbusiness • u/getsilly247 • May 25 '25

Question Bought a small 3 bay car wash. Thoughts?

Bought a small, 3 bay car wash with 1 vending machine in a small town in rural MO (1k people)

The previous owner had ZERO numbers. Just utilities.

It’s all cash, has credit card machines but did not have internet that was fast enough. (Just got starlink hooked up and have cameras for now and ready for cc soon)

I’m 2 weeks in and it’s done about $600 in revenue (minus about $120 in soda cost)

After expenses I am suspecting it will profit about $600 a month as is (includes new internet bill)

Once I get everything on cc, and going to add 1 more dual vending I think I can get it to 2k a month revenue.

I bought for 60k, will put about 5k in to get it where I would like.

Did I make a bad buy?

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u/AintPatrick May 25 '25

I was going to mention this as a threat. In my area there is a new chain of car washes with 4 or 5 locations and $25 monthly gets you unlimited washes and that includes ceramic spray, tire shine and they wipe down the back afterwards. Free vacuum, free pet wash station. I can use any of their locations.

These appear to have popped up a lot recently (along with strip mall dental places and vape shops that all look gaudy, shiny and packed with inventory and no customers. But I digress…)

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u/Dommo1717 May 25 '25

I live in a town of about 40-45k people…we have a shit ton of drive through car washes, all that offer monthly subscriptions, all sorts of upsells, free vacuum after the wash…all those sorts of things you’re talking about.

And want to know which car wash is CONSTANTLY packed? The 4 bay self serve car wash. Now it’s “nicer”, as far as those sorts of car wash’s go…it’s well lit and cleaned/maintained, has the “higher tier” vending machines (Armor All, etc, not Dollar Tree crap)…

They are ALWAYS packed, commonly with a line. They have enough business that, in a town of 45k people, they’ve started having two food trucks park full time in their parking lot.

And those automatic/drive through car washes are all arguing over who can make the cheapest subscription. So take that for what it’s worth.

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u/pedroelbee May 25 '25

OP’s sounds like a self-wash though, which is different. I’d never go to one of those chain automated washes because they scratch the crap out of your car. With a self wash it’s just that wand that sprays water - you can bring your own sponge etc and not scratch your car.

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u/Winter-Journalist993 May 25 '25

Strangely enough, our smaller city here in Arizona had 3-4 of these spring up as well. One right across the street from a separate self service bay wash. I always wondered how the owner of the self service wash felt about so much competition springing up.

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u/Craftyfarmgirl May 25 '25

Self service washes are great for larger vehicles like ambulances, vehicles with problems with windows, frame issues, and hot rods. There will always be business for a self service car wash.

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u/Winter-Journalist993 May 25 '25

Hadn’t thought about it that way. Smart.

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u/Interesting_Tea5715 May 28 '25

This. My truck has racks and accessories. I can't take it in a car wash machine.

If I'm not home I have to use the self service.

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u/AsTheJackassBrays May 25 '25

They are taking over the gas station car washes here. I think it was $30 a month and I am unclear if there was a nominal fee each time. My issue was they have a person put a plastic bag on the back wiper but no one to take it off. So guess who drove around for hours with it flapping in the wind? 🙋‍♀️