Brought to you by PDQ Manufacturing.

No two car washes are the same. From location to added features to pricing, every car wash owner has an individual sales strategy. There are, however, five secrets that all successful car wash owners know will help maximize revenue.

1. Carefully calculate the base wash price

There is an exact operator cost for a single car wash. Once everything from utilities to chemicals used is factored in, retailers will be able to pinpoint the ideal costs for each vehicle’s wash. Use this to calculate a base car wash offering, while making sure to include a solid profit margin. There are a few secondary factors that will help price car wash options, including location.

2. Price car washes for the area you serve

Location, location, location—it’s critical in just about every industry. The car wash industry is no different, which is why pricing should take location into consideration.

If a car wash serves an affluent area, customers will be able to afford a higher priced wash. Do some research and learn what competitors are charging in the surrounding area. Lowballing will negatively affect gross margins, but pricing a wash aggressively, especially if you have added features and options, will increase sales.

3. Add features to enhance the wash

Car wash owners can increase revenue per vehicle by upselling features that allow patrons to customize their wash experience. A few features that PDQ offers with its all-new Tandem Surfline to boost revenue and customer satisfaction include:

• Front Bug Prep: PDQ’s exclusive Front Bug Prep can increase revenue without adding time to the wash process. Customers love this feature, which focuses on hard-to-clean areas like the windshield, backsides of mirrors and the front of vehicles.
• 3X Color Foam System: The 3X Color Foam Applicator can apply three-color foam solutions to the vehicle, captivating the attention of your customers. Any Snapchat or Instagram user is sure to take a colorful picture and add it to their story.
• Super Sealant System: Protect the surface of the vehicle with our Super Sealant System. This option protects the clear coat and helps maintain vehicles’ shine, and is an excellent revenue generator.
• TriPlex Wheel Cleaning System: PDQ’s TriPlex Wheel Cleaning System takes tire scrubbing to a new level. During the process, each tire receives a chemical application allowing for dwell time and the wheel receives an intense bi-directional rotational scrubbing, which is followed by a full-wheel, high-pressure blast to ensure optimal cleanliness.
• Overglow High Gloss Application System: Put the shine back in to your profits with this system.  Customers will enjoy the look of a colorful, thick sheet of solution draping their vehicle, and retailers will love the additional revenue.

4. Turn an errand into an experience

Delight customers with an exciting light show that differentiates your wash from competitors. PDQ’s ProGlow Illumination System is a great example that illuminates car wash bays day and night. The system can be programmed to display multiple color combinations of flashing patterns or constant colored illumination to reflect any brand image. A glow from a wash bay can be a highly effective marketing tool to draw more attention to your wash site, encouraging consumers to take notice and keep existing customers coming back again and again.

5. Incentivize customers to purchase a membership

A loyalty program is a great way to gain new customers and keep current customers engaged. In addition to the bottom-line impact, the combination of a loyalty program and corresponding software allows car wash owners to truly understand their customers. First, connect with customers. Next, engage them with a loyalty program. Finally, optimize strategies based on the insights gained.

Turn these five secrets into strategies and boost your car wash revenue. Reach out to us for more information on carwash solutions or support.