Do you want to start a truck wash business? Like the other businesses, it requires hard work and dedication to make the business successful. Here’s everything you need to know to start a truck wash company to determine whether it’s the right step for you.
Business Insider calls the trucking industry a hidden giant. Over 80% of the commercial transportation industry is trucking. Additionally, there are roughly15.5 million trucks operating in the US. Thus, opening a truck wash guarantees numerous clients.
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“The appearance of your truck is another important part of how people perceive your business. A clean truck is both for safety and so your truck does not look or sound like it’s falling apart. You want to inspire confidence in your customers, ” saysHenry Albert. This allows a business to come off looking more professional because they care for their vehicles.
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However, physical appearance isn’t the only reason to maintain your tractors and trailers. Clean trucks can show that you understand the importance of well-maintained equipment. Additionally, it can lengthen the life of your vehicles as well. This helps you avoid rust and other issues that develop from dirty exteriors.
The good old-fashioned method of cleaning with soapy water, brushes, and manpower. Manual truck washes still exist due to the thorough results they produce. Furthermore, they offer a more personal, interactive experience than automatic truck washes. There are three types of manual car washes.
This type of truck wash runs from a stationary location. A company that remains in one location has the ability to offer full-service truck cleaning. However, choosing a location becomes the most important part of a fixed-site. Selecting the right area offers stability and steady traffic that profits the business.
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Mobile businesses have always been popular due to their convenience and flexibility, andmobile truck washesare no different. The biggest appeal of this system is that you bring the wash to the customer. This allows you to work around the client’s schedule and attract more business due to the ease of a mobile company.
Self-service truck washes allow drivers to clean their trailers themselves. This business supplies the proper equipment and cleaning materials. This process is similar to a fixed-site truck wash except the customer works on the vehicle.
The benefit to this type of business is the ability to save money on personnel. Due to the drivers cleaning their own trucks, there is no need to hire employees to wash. However, the one requirement for this company is theupkeep ofthe equipment.
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A huge upside to the automatic truck wash – speed. Manually washing a truck and trailer can take up to three hours. However, automated equipment can wash three units in an hour.
Additionally, the use of mechanical equipment allows business owners to save on labor costs. The one downfall is the quality lacks at times. Here are the most common express truck wash systems.
The rollover, or gantry truck wash system is used mostly for washing truck and other large vehicles like buses and tractors. It uses high pressure and brushes that are usually on mechanical frames. The vehicle will enter the truck wash until it reaches a pre-established location. The gantry then moves back and forth over the vehicle to clean it.
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The biggest con to this type of system is the numerous moving parts. This means that you need to keep up with the proper maintenance to ensure a quality truck wash. For example, if the machine breaks due to negligence, it wastes both time and money for the business.
The drive-through truck wash system is extremely useful for large fleets due to the speed at which is washes. This process can clean a normal-sized bus in about 90 seconds. However, in order to get the best results, this wash applies friction with brushes in order to scrub the vehicle clean. This might lead to scratches along the exterior from the bristles.
Before investing in a drive-through truck wash you have to make sure it is practical for your location. It requires a large amount of money to start-up and choosing the area will determine how many clients you receive.
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Finally, a touchless truck wash is the last type of automated system. It is touchless because there is no scrubbing with brushes or similar tools. Instead, the machine sprays cleaning chemicals and water on the surface of the truck. This prevents any damage from occurring to the body.
However, if a truck is covered in mud or other grime, a touchless can’t always remove everything. The touchless system relies heavily on the combination of chemicals to wash vehicles.
Every system has a list of pros and cons. However, doing the proper research will allow you to choose the best option for you.
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With any business, there are alwaysstart-up costs, andthe truck wash industry is no exception. See ’s startup cost summaries for both mobile and fixed site truck washes.
Understanding who your target audience will be is one of the first steps to opening a truck wash. If you start from scratch, you might need a market researcher. However, if you join a franchise, that research has already been done. This allows you to determine the best way to market to your potential customers.
Alternatively, if you are willing to put in the hard work and do the market research yourself, start by learning about your competition. Visit their locations and see what they are doing well and where they can improve. Additionally, you can collect data by making phone calls, surveys, and interviews. If done properly, this allows you to cut back on some of the start-up costs.
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Obtain a quality feasibility study by an industry expert such as to ensure your investment is protected and you are assured of a profitable location for your truck wash business.
The location of your business is one of the most important and costly things to consider. Selecting the right area can make or break your company. Contemplate whether or not you should be located next to a gas station, or a truck stop. For a truck wash business, remember you are washing large vehicles, so you need to have enough space to work efficiently. The cost runs anywhere from $200K – $400K to establish a fixed site.
A mobile business is an option that saves money in the beginning. With this method, location doesn’t matter because the employees will go to the customer’s location. However, this means you will need more employees to service the number of clients. The money will then go toward gas and transportation.
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Every business requires risk-taking. With the trucking industry, insurance is extremely important for companies. Most owners carry professional liability insurance because it protects your small company against errors and negligent services to your customers. However, the cost of this can be anywhere from $500 to $15, 000 a year.
Depending on the truck wash you might also need to consider commercial property insurance to protect from potential damage to your facility, equipment, or money due to unforeseen events. Overall, insurance may be costly, but this covers the company in the event something goes wrong.
Before opening a truck wash, secure proper licensing and permits, which normally costs $150 to $200. Permit costs varies depending on the state where you start your business. A few of the fees include annual business license taxes, new license application fees, and state business fee. However, a few specific requirements for truck wash businesses arewater drainage and environmental and safety permits.
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Promoting your company is one of the most important steps when you open a business. With a multitude of avenues to advertise your truck wash, you can utilize TV, radio, magazines, and social media. Considering the digital age, social media is one of the most prominent.
A truck wash business is very visual. This means advertising on a visual platform and digital marketing allows you to attract more customers. Once you have a steady flow of traffic the reputation and brand recognition spreads through your area. However, that does not mean you should ever stop promoting yourself.
Who exactly are you advertising or selling to? Finding the right target market can either make or break the bank. This goes hand and hand with the Advertising and Promoting section. Once you know who your common customer will be you can tailor your advertising toward that group. Here are somepotential clients.
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The trucking industry by itself could give you enough clients. There is an endless amount of companies, from truck rental to delivery trucks. In order for these businesses to continue having a steady flow of clientele, they have to keep their trucks clean. Check to see if you have any local UPS, FedEx, or Amazon facilities.
Think of companies like Pepsi or Coca-Cola. Each of these companies in 2013 reported having over 15, 000 trucks. Overall, they will generate plenty of business, but you need to have the resources to maintain a large account. If you don’t, consider looking at smaller, local companies like grocery or hardware stores. Since they are well-known they know the quality and appearance of their trucks affect their brand’s reputation.
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