I am looking at locations for my first wash and have seen the two styles individually but am curious about the pros and cons of each and which is best/most profitable in specific situations. I'm looking at a .8 acre lot at an intersection with a light and high traffic volume with the closest wash about 3 miles away.
Express Conveyor vs. In Bay Automatic
- Thread starter Robert613
- Start date
tdlconceptsllc
Well-known member
Find a spot farther away than 3miles for sure is a start. What's the traffic count?
Traffic count is too low to support $3M+ investment for an EE tunnel. What is the trade area pop?
Plus the biggest difference between the two is do you want to to be an employer? Employees are a whole different ball game if you've never had them before.
Plus the biggest difference between the two is do you want to to be an employer? Employees are a whole different ball game if you've never had them before.
tdlconceptsllc
Well-known member
To me a IBA would be the only thing I would consider with that traffic count and would be hesitant doing that with competion that close unless there not meeting demands at peak times. Deffiently would not put a express in you need 25k+ a day in traffic to support that.
washnshine
Well-known member
The other thing is if your competition is an express exterior and you decide to put in a touchless IBA, you can capture those customers that prefer touchless and don’t use the EE. Probably your biggest shot at differentiation being so close.
tdlconceptsllc
Well-known member
What kind of competition do you have?
.8a on an intersection is a premium lot. I’d be hesitant to build out an IBA on it. Unless the land is being developed for other reasons I’d pass.
An express would be high risk there. Even if the competition wasn’t there I wouldn’t do an express on that site unless there isn’t a better road within 15min that someone can build another wash on
IBA is a smaller investment and will be far less issues
Express has a very high ceiling but most people have no idea what they are doing and lose their ass. Even if you hire a full time manager and compensate them well it will take a good chunk of your time. Without an experienced manager expect to work 60+ hours a week
good luck!
An express would be high risk there. Even if the competition wasn’t there I wouldn’t do an express on that site unless there isn’t a better road within 15min that someone can build another wash on
IBA is a smaller investment and will be far less issues
Express has a very high ceiling but most people have no idea what they are doing and lose their ass. Even if you hire a full time manager and compensate them well it will take a good chunk of your time. Without an experienced manager expect to work 60+ hours a week
good luck!
Greg Pack
Wash Weenie
I will say if you opt for IBA, set it up where it could be easily converted down the road
I really appreciate the advise and this has certainly opened my eyes. I was recently laid off a few weeks ago and am looking to start my own business but I'll have to search for either a new location for a wash or choose another business entirely. It's only been 2 weeks since the being laid off but I'll admit I'm pretty discouraged and hate not working.
