copperhens
New member
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2024
- Messages
- 3
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Hi everyone. I’m a new member here.
Some background on me; I just finished college with a bachelors degree I may never end up using. I have always worked multiple part time jobs that add up to 40-50 hours a week. In my spare time, I like to fix cars so I’m mechanically inclined. A lot of my time is spent working at a farm, the other working hours have been at a car wash.
I’ve worked at this car wash for a year now. It’s family owned, and the building and equipment is only a few years old. From what I understand, they built this automatic wash thinking it was going to be a hands offs investment but it’s been more work than they expected and they want to sell it.
It’s a two bay automatic car wash off of a busy freeway. One touchless, and one soft touch. I read the traffic is 30k cars a day, and on really busy days the car wash will do 200 cars, slower days maybe 70. It is completely automatic. However, there are a number of people who get confused during the process which is why there is an attendant here at all times. Is it possible to have an automatic self serve wash and to just be on call after hours so it can be open 24 hours?
Am I crazy to consider buying it? I’ve enjoyed working here. I work by myself 30 hours a week (I would do full time if I could but for their insurance I have to stay part time) and I’ve gotten to know the customers, and the equipment. It’s also local to me. This could finally be my in to having a full time job and working towards my own business and investment.
There are a couple big things to consider for me. I’ve never taken out a business loan because I definitely can’t afford the place on my own. I have great credit and no debt.
The wash also has had some issues the current owners have gone to court over. The people who built it seemed to have cut corners. For example, they ran 1.5” pipes instead of 2” pipes for water feed which made the water tanks fill up too slow to keep up. They are working to resolve these issues before it’s sold.
There are of course mechanical things that break like water hoses bursting or sensors going bad. What are normal intervals for parts to be replaced? The owners have been quite frustrated with the repairs. I’d say either wash bay is down a couple days a month depending on the issue.
Id say I’m friends with the owners, and see them regularly. I will bring this idea up with them, but I want to become more informed from other car wash owners before I do.
Some background on me; I just finished college with a bachelors degree I may never end up using. I have always worked multiple part time jobs that add up to 40-50 hours a week. In my spare time, I like to fix cars so I’m mechanically inclined. A lot of my time is spent working at a farm, the other working hours have been at a car wash.
I’ve worked at this car wash for a year now. It’s family owned, and the building and equipment is only a few years old. From what I understand, they built this automatic wash thinking it was going to be a hands offs investment but it’s been more work than they expected and they want to sell it.
It’s a two bay automatic car wash off of a busy freeway. One touchless, and one soft touch. I read the traffic is 30k cars a day, and on really busy days the car wash will do 200 cars, slower days maybe 70. It is completely automatic. However, there are a number of people who get confused during the process which is why there is an attendant here at all times. Is it possible to have an automatic self serve wash and to just be on call after hours so it can be open 24 hours?
Am I crazy to consider buying it? I’ve enjoyed working here. I work by myself 30 hours a week (I would do full time if I could but for their insurance I have to stay part time) and I’ve gotten to know the customers, and the equipment. It’s also local to me. This could finally be my in to having a full time job and working towards my own business and investment.
There are a couple big things to consider for me. I’ve never taken out a business loan because I definitely can’t afford the place on my own. I have great credit and no debt.
The wash also has had some issues the current owners have gone to court over. The people who built it seemed to have cut corners. For example, they ran 1.5” pipes instead of 2” pipes for water feed which made the water tanks fill up too slow to keep up. They are working to resolve these issues before it’s sold.
There are of course mechanical things that break like water hoses bursting or sensors going bad. What are normal intervals for parts to be replaced? The owners have been quite frustrated with the repairs. I’d say either wash bay is down a couple days a month depending on the issue.
Id say I’m friends with the owners, and see them regularly. I will bring this idea up with them, but I want to become more informed from other car wash owners before I do.
