What's new
By:
Car Wash Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Time to hire a General Manager?

lighthousecarwash

lighthousecarwash

Active member
Operators with multiple washes...when did you decide it was time to hire a General Manager? What responsibilities do you let them take on, and what's a good place/website to post the position? Did you make them follow you around for months trying to teach them everything or let them fight through some of it on their own? I'm at the point where I need help keeping up with maintenance, repairs, and phone calls. I can't seem to leave town for a weekend anymore with the multiple washes. I'm also curious what salary range you pay a GM and is there any bonus structure, or percentage of ownership. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
 
Had 4 locations . One with Gas , Tunnel and Store, One with Tunnel and 8 SS Bays and 2 Tunnel only. Each had a more experienced employee who could assist other locations for repairs. If I went out of town I was largely available by phone for emergencies and If I could not resolve an issue or call in an outside contractor for help the lost business was part of the cost of my vacation.
 
What kind of wash?

I've got two decent volume SS/IBAs but I've lost a bit of my drive and my wife has been on me about dialing it back. I hired a guy that could do it all, but he left for greener pastures quickly. I started him at 25/hr and within six months of carwash experience he took a service job at Mr carwash starting at 75K annually. I even offered him a chance at ownership with owner financing and he said he has no desire to own another business. I'd be happy to bring him back at 75K, maybe even 100K because he was one that I could have truly stepped away from the business

Second guy I hired had years being an assistant manager at both an oil change and then an express tunnel so I thought this guy would be ideal. Turns out he couldn't fix anything beyond a hose or brush replacement. I had him do heavy cleanup (acid washing) mostly because he lacked the technical ability to fix stuff and I turned into the repair guy. Not really what I planned because if something broke I had to fix it but he was GREAT with customers and took a great deal of cleaning work off me. The guy should have been in sales. Wasn't paying him very much but he was in his late 50s and the cleaning up took its' toll and he retired with VA disability in October. I was paying him 22.00/hr. with no benefits.

Currently no manager but getting ready to transition out of ownership so haven't bothered hiring a replacement. If I could find a great manager who could essentially replace me I'd be glad to pay them 100K/yr and continue to own the washes
 
A common problem. Each of us has our own issues and we are all not superman despite our own thoughts. In my case adding a third wash took me into continual semi-controlled 7 day a week chaos, because I did not bring on a GM. Just keep on trying to find your correct answer. Maybe a GM, perhaps strong individuals at each store. My answer for many years of doing it all, was wrong and cost me personal lifetime and underperforming car washes.

What will it cost per hour? Depends on where you are. Regardless of that, a lot more than minimum. I was surprised at first glance looking at the wages mentioned previously. Thinking about it those are proper. If you do not have a plan or someone to help, perhaps a GM, it's going to cost more in lost business, because customers will feel the neglect.

Three self serves, two in Bays, an Express flex.
 
Just asked a guy in the tunnel business. Their site managers start 50-57K a year and techs start at roughly 18-22/hr. plus benefits. But keep in mind tunnel operation for big companies is a little different and can be systemized. They have chemical people that keep that stuff dialed in, techs that do anything more than a minor repair, etc.

In my mind the problem with mediocre pay is potentially high turnover. As in the case of my first manager. He had no experience in the car wash business when I hired him but he was a sharp guy and a go getter. I taught him the basics, and he ran with it. The company that hired him recognized the potential there. Thats the quality of people I want, but apparently 50K (no real benefits) wasn't enough to retain him.

There is no system in place to train here so it takes months of hands on to train a replacement. It's almost discouraging to think about training another.
 
Two years ago, I employed a strong local manager who could do carwash mechanical and was paying him about $18 an hour, no benefits. In today's market he would-be worth more. It is going to cost better than mediocre money for good and longevity. It means that you have to gross more and charge more so that you can afford good people. The trend today is for realistic pricing and finally the onus being a quarter business is almost gone. Credit cards have helped a lot with that.
 
Thanks for the replies. I have 3 locations, 5 IBA's and 15 self serve bays. I have 2 people that currently empty trash and wash down bays. I let them do minor repairs like foam brush heads and bay hoses, but don't let them get to involved. Biggest reason is that I feel that it takes away from the washes being clean. I want a GM that I can start training and actually up our game. I want to start doing more daily check lists to try and cut down on calls. Test wash every day in every IBA, make sure App is functioning, open and check changers....etc. I'm willing to give them a vehicle, like a minivan with contractor shelves that I can keep stocked with IBA spare parts. I hate keeping 3 sets of spares and still have to run to other locations to get a part once in a while. If they are answering the customer's calls, then I would provide a cell phone as well. I would want them to have access to all the backend credit card sites so they could issue refunds and check on the status of customer's accounts on our App. I think I could pay someone $70K or better if they are the right fit. As mentioned above, my biggest fear is that I spend months getting someone to the point that I'm ready to turn them loose and then they jump for some other situation. Would it be worth hiring an assistant GM so you have someone in waiting if needed? Just a lot to start thinking about.

Thanks,
 
One idea that I have seen work very well is to offer some extra incentive as a part of the pay package. An incentive based on revenue or a share in ownership can be the extra motivation for someone to think more long-term about a position working at a car wash or detailing business.
 
Greg Pack said:
What kind of wash?

I've got two decent volume SS/IBAs but I've lost a bit of my drive and my wife has been on me about dialing it back. I hired a guy that could do it all, but he left for greener pastures quickly. I started him at 25/hr and within six months of carwash experience he took a service job at Mr carwash starting at 75K annually. I even offered him a chance at ownership with owner financing and he said he has no desire to own another business. I'd be happy to bring him back at 75K, maybe even 100K because he was one that I could have truly stepped away from the business

Second guy I hired had years being an assistant manager at both an oil change and then an express tunnel so I thought this guy would be ideal. Turns out he couldn't fix anything beyond a hose or brush replacement. I had him do heavy cleanup (acid washing) mostly because he lacked the technical ability to fix stuff and I turned into the repair guy. Not really what I planned because if something broke I had to fix it but he was GREAT with customers and took a great deal of cleaning work off me. The guy should have been in sales. Wasn't paying him very much but he was in his late 50s and the cleaning up took its' toll and he retired with VA disability in October. I was paying him 22.00/hr. with no benefits.

Currently no manager but getting ready to transition out of ownership so haven't bothered hiring a replacement. If I could find a great manager who could essentially replace me I'd be glad to pay them 100K/yr and continue to own the washes
Click to expand...
I am in the same boat. Wife is retiring and I am looking to scale back (or sell). Would like the first avenue but will entertain both. Hard to find competent people with a good head on their shoulders. Best people I have met have been trained and mentored by the owner for at least 6 months and then paid a salary that will keep them around long term. Finding basic cleaners to keep bays and property clean is much easier than people with mechanical skills as the best can work for an HVAC or plumber with better long term options.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top