INDUSTRY TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

• Industry Automation - One of the main trends we are seeing in the car wash industry right now is in the investment of automated equipment to speed up processes and create higher sales volumes. This also has the effect of reducing the high labor costs associated with running a car wash. The new soft touch frictionless units are the most popular automated equipment at this time.
• Tighter Restrictions on Home Car Washing - Increased water restrictions are causing less people to be able to wash their car at home. Municipalities are also beginning to outlaw contaminated water from entering storm drains, thus reducing the number of home car washes and increasing the demand for commercial car washes
• Changes in Consumer Habits - The number of consumers who use commercial car washes is expected to increase as consumer “free time” decreases.
• Credit Cards at Self-Service Car Wash Bays - As the trend toward a cashless society continues, more and more self serve car washes are installing credit card machines to provide convenient payment options for customers

“Here what our customers have to say”
I became interested in owning my own business several years ago. I didn’t have a lot of expertise in a particular industry and wasn’t sure what was a good industry for me to get into. A Murphy agent suggested the car wash industry because there was no special skills or real expertise needed. Now I have a nice car wash business with a reputable name and a good career. With the advice of Murphy, I have been able to make this business very profitable.

“Here’s what our brokers have to say”
Like all business ventures, starting a business in the car wash industry is not without risk. As a broker who has both worked in the industry and completed numerous sales transactions in the car wash industry we help our clients understand those risks and give them inside advice on how to minimize those risks. We also understand how important it is to take advantage of the trends going on in the industry. For instance, the current trend in the industry now is to lower direct labor costs by investing in more automation equipment. Another trend we are seeing more of in the industry is using advanced reclaimed water technology to further reduce costs. By making the buyer aware of new trends such as these, we can show them how to increase their profitability when they start their new business.