[mark.laycock1@ntlw]

am thinking of opening a car wash ive seen a few old petrol station that look good to start this.

how would i get started,? as anyone done this before.

[drive surgeon]

is work no good mark?

[BDCS]

I know the formula - old petrol station, 2 buckets and a slack handfull of East Europeans 

[drive surgeon]

at least its winter dough hey mak?

[drive surgeon]

i had an idea years ago to run a topless car wash,  with girls in skimpy knickers,  not sure the council would have agreed tho,  would have made a killing tho!

[mark.laycock1@ntlw]

no very busy. had a chat with someone to day he had a unit cleaning cars and making a forture.

[drive surgeon]

you mainly cleaning drives mark?  or chewy removal for councils?

[Chris Galloway]

i had an idea years ago to run a topless car wash,  with girls in skimpy knickers,  not sure the council would have agreed tho,  would have made a killing tho!

why dont you keep them covered up with T shirts!  However they are likely to get wet..

maybe a bikini girls!

Prob be best to check out the competition in the area (car washing outfits/car wash machines).

[mark.laycock1@ntlw]

next year am going to do everything i can with washing there is alot of work out there so a big marketing campagin next year.

[drive surgeon]

washing what mak?  cars?

[mark.laycock1@ntlw]

sorry what i can use my washer for am adding alot to my business next year. maybe car washing who knows.

how about you ds

[drive surgeon]

maybe council work? have you thought of doing commercial fleet pressure washing work?

[mark.laycock1@ntlw]

what work do you do as with power washing?

[drive surgeon]

commercial and domestic washing. drives forecourts etc

[mark.laycock1@ntlw]

your welcome to come with me ds. send me your contact details. mark

[drive surgeon]

where to mark?

[mark.laycock1@ntlw]

on washing jobs if you like

[drive surgeon]

well i do that already mark, why what you thinking?

[mark.laycock1@ntlw]

if i need help on some jobs

[drive surgeon]

why what jobs do you do , big ones?

[drive surgeon]

you chokker blok mark>?  would you want any work if i needed a sub in the new year?  might be getting some big jobs

[Malcal]

Had a similar idea myself as I whatched 4 lads in an old petrol station. When I saw a station for rent I found out the rent is £1000 a week. So with sewage, water, elec, wages & rates on top of the rent you need to clean about 700 cars a week to break even. I think I'll stick to cleaning windows., unless someone can offer any tips.
Regards Mal

[drive surgeon]

good idea mal, think its too much hard work!

[billyc]

 When i set up with my ex business partner we started with a valeting bay in a shopping centre- i still operate this business-

The problems i have encountered along the way are  having staff you can trust- mainly a cash business- hard graft - and over the last couple of years- the wash and bucket brigade have destroyed the pricing structure.

We pride ourselves on doing the job right but valeting businesses sprout up all over the place.

Cant see how some survive when you have to pay tax/ni etc.

We replace our washmitts etc at regular intervals- i wouldnt send my car to some of the set ups u see around.

Just renewed our lease and now have to decide which way to continue the business.
 
Ii have managed thru this business to obtain work for our pressure washing service......

This week have been doing refrigeration sanitation on nights and looks like i will get more of this in the near future...

Just finished our ninth supermarket.....so looks like the business may change direction



Currently have the gutter vac but may be looking to sell to purchase osprey steam cleaner for sanitisation. Just need to sound out the effectiveness of this machine.

Needs to be able to shift grease and grime and spillages of milk - yoghurt etc

Recently parted company with someone who worked for me for 5 years
let me down big time and have now lost trust in people who dont have ownership in the business. Sick of people taking the p.
Business partner was a waste of time and have had around 30 staff fall by the way side.
Just turn up for work  prefer cash in the hand - do all they can for you to sack them and offer no value.
Currently trying to source a new partner...... but not yet convinced this may be the answer..
Do i stick or twist -stay on my own and  scale down the business


regards

Billy

[BDCS]

I agree - car washes, everywhere manned by grubby looking, immigration dodging slovacs and kosivans. I am in Dover so you can imagine how many there are round here !
 Drives are slow at the moment, windows are a dead loss as everyone who gets made redundant starts, poles and the other immigrants will do them for peanuts.
 I stood back and looked at what was happening, thought what does everyone have and nobody wants to do ? Drains are now the direction I persue - you need to spend about 20k to do it properly but I have got to the point where human excrement smells like money 
 I have an osprey machine that I bought for gum removal and have only used a couple of times but its a good piece of kit

[billyc]

 I agree sometimes you have to take a step back and have a look at your self and competition....
The refrigeration i am doing is for a major supermarket chain and will only employ professional based people with the relevant method statements - insurances etc.
Money is good and will be looking to build on this .



Just now have to decide whether to build the business as a one man band and continue to put money in pockets of others

regards
Billy

[clinton]

Billy

Do you do the car washes in manchester or stockport near us

[billyc]

Shopping centre in  Oldham-

Ran one in Bury for a while-too much competition

Regards
Billy

[drive surgeon]

billy you have email from me?    have you read it?

[clinton]

Thanks billy

Thought you might have run the one in stockport called the no 1 car wash

Hows your gutter vac

[juanmraz]

great idea of business opening car wash!! really a great job..

[creweexcel]

yes there is still good business out there for car valet bays if the site is on good passing road.  4 years ago i had a valetting bay in a main dealers looking after the garage and they let us bring in passing trade with 1 person working for me . it was the best business i had up to then rent free space , low overheads and high returns garage paid weekly, then the garage closed , good times over.

[billyc]

billy you have email from me?    have you read it?

Yes and i have replied to your e mail address

Regards

Billy

[ARCHWAY VALETING]

am thinking of opening a car wash ive seen a few old petrol station that look good to start this.

how would i get started,? as anyone done this before.


are you a splash and dash boy yet ?

[JandS]

Don't you have to manage the waste water as well and not just let it go down the drain.
They're starting up and closing down round here regularly, think environmental health stop them so they move to another disused building and set up again.
Mainly Asians doimg it and wouldn't trust them with mine.
Used to be a very popular well run one round here called IMO but think it was franchise.
Used to queue for it especially at w/e.
Think you'd need a fair bit of money behind you to get started properly.

John

[JandS]

Don't you have to manage the waste water as well and not just let it go down the drain.
They're starting up and closing down round here regularly, think environmental health stop them so they move to another disused building and set up again.
Mainly Asians doimg it and wouldn't trust them with mine.
Used to be a very popular well run one round here called IMO but think it was franchise.
Used to queue for it especially at w/e.
Think you'd need a fair bit of money behind you to get started properly.

John

[mark.laycock1@ntlw]

am still interested just looking for on good site.