If your passion lies in building an eco-friendly business, then a waterless car wash franchise could be your calling. Thereโs certainly a demand for this service, thanks to an increasing number of people actively seeking out businesses that do more to help the planet. However, not all waterless car washes are as green as you might think. And some are more popular and profitable than others. Hereโs everything you need to know.
What Is a Waterless Car Wash Franchise
Washing cars without using water? It sounds like an ambitious plan, and yet it is totally doable if the business model is right. You clean cars using a range of waterless wash and wax products, not the traditional soap and water methods. Specific cleaning sprays and foams are used to soak into the dirt and grime and then emulsify. Instead of rinsing off the emulsified residue with water, simply wipe the vehicle clean using soft microfiber cloths to achieve a bright and sparkling finish.
Is It a Good Business Opportunity?
If you want to buy a car wash franchise, a waterless car wash business has a lot going for it, provided you pick the right partner with the best waterless system. This type of business can be profitable thanks to the lucrative green car wash market. Moreover, people are often willing to pay more for environmentally friendly services. And if you choose a mobile car wash franchise, you have lower overhead costs.
However, some franchises are more profitable than others, as some people still doubt the effectiveness of a water-saving car wash. So, consider joining a well-established franchise like DetailXPerts, recognized for its trusted brand and marketing support.
Your car wash location is important, too. People in drought-hit areas will welcome this type of car wash. And to scale profitably, secure contracts with car rental fleets or fleet businesses, such as delivery services, bus companies, taxi services, or logistics providers, that need regular vehicle cleaning.
Advantages of a Waterless Car Wash
No Water Wastage
The traditional methods of washing vehicles, like using a hosepipe or a pressure washer, have always been associated with high water consumption. Therefore, a business that recognizes a problem within its industry and offers a solution is off to a great start. This โthinking outside the boxโ will help you to set your car wash apart from the competition.
Popular in Places With Water Restrictions
Geographical location can make all the difference to the success of a waterless car wash. Many states now restrict the use of water. Decades of drought conditions have led to an urgent need for action. States such as Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and California are all striving to reduce water usage. Therefore, opening a waterless car wash in a drought-hit area can be seen as taking positive action in a climate emergency. If you choose the right location, such as California, it can be a profitable venue for an eco car wash business.
Mobile Car Wash Opportunities
You can also target customers who want the convenience of having a car wash delivered to their door. You can easily operate the waterless car wash and market it as a thriving business in the lucrative mobile car wash industry. Moreover, you are not reliant on a water supply or a wide range of specialized detailing tools. You will simply need to use specific waterless detailing products and soft cloths to clean the cars. However, bear in mind that your customers may often want more than an exterior clean. Therefore, you may need to invest in more car detailing equipment so you can extend the range of services you offer.
Disadvantages
Lack of Customer Confidence in a Waterless Car Wash
A car wash that doesnโt use water is something new and different. Therefore, it can take time to build consumer trust and confidence because not everyone is familiar with waterless detailing products and their effectiveness. Some people are likely to have concerns about waterless cleaning products scratching their car paintwork. You will need to convince them that you only use approved products that clean effectively without scratching paint or wheel finishes.
Social media is a great way to explain the concept and show people what you do. For example, using Facebook for business will help raise awareness and explain how you go about washing a car without water. Other useful social media platforms include Instagram for small business and promotional campaigns, which will also help build consumer confidence in your car wash business.
Not as Fast as an Automatic Car Wash
A waterless car wash shares similarities with a hand car wash. You do the detailing work by hand to achieve a clean and polished finish. Although it is an effective way to remove road dirt and grime, a waterless car wash is a more time-consuming process than some of the other car washes. It can take 20 minutes to an hour to clean a car, depending on the vehicle and its condition. This simply isnโt fast enough for some people.
Note, customers who want their vehicles washed in 10 minutes or less are not going to be your target market. If you want a high turnover of customers in a short space of time, a touchless car wash franchise may be a better opportunity for you.
Labor Costs Can Affect Profits
An automatic car wash or a self serve car wash franchise requires minimal or no staff to oversee the service. This is not the case with a waterless car wash. You will need employees to be hands-on when it comes to cleaning the cars at your car wash. This requires you to train and build a reliable team to clean your customersโ cars. They will need to be familiar with the right techniques, tools and products to ensure detailing work is carried out effectively.
Not All Waterless Car Wash Products are Eco-Friendly
Waterless wash products claim to clean, shine and protect a vehicle. However, what are the ingredients of these cleaning products? Make sure they have anti-abrasion properties; otherwise, you risk damaging paintwork.
Also, if you are marketing your business as an eco car wash franchise, ensure your waterless detailing products are biodegradable. You will also need to use generous amounts of these products each time you clean a vehicle, so factor this into the pricing strategies for your car wash business.
Available Waterless Car Wash Franchises and Costs
A waterless car wash business is nothing like a tunnel system or an in-bay automatic, which uses gallons of water to remove the dirt and grime. If you want to go waterless or explore alternative low-water wash systems, itโs important to gather all the details. The thing is that some waterless car wash companies might use cleaning products that are not always eco-friendly. So, while they reduce water usage, thatโs not to say they are totally โgreenโ.ย Keep this in mind when youโre doing your research. Here are some franchises:
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DetailXPerts
DetailXPerts is as good as a waterless car wash. This eco-friendly mobile car wash franchise is committed to saving every drop of water possible. It uses a steam cleaning system instead of waterless wash and polish cleaners. The concept is green and effective: cleaning an average-size car with about 1 pint of water. And thereโs little to no water runoff when youโre cleaning trucks and fleets (a lucrative sector).
Founded in 2002 and franchising since 2008, DetailXPerts has built a strong global presence. The executive team has a lot of experience when it comes to supporting franchisees. Not only does the brand tap into the fast-growing green market, but it also offers the convenience of mobile detailing. Customers schedule a car wash at the home, office or wherever is most convenient. Additionally, as a franchisee, you can leverage digital trends in franchising and utilise its online booking tool to reach more customers and increase your sales.
Initial investment ranges from $103,500-$165,000. The franchise fee is $240,100.
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No-H2O
No-H2O markets its franchise as โdry cleaning for cars.โ Detailers use a range of waterless products that emulsify dirt, grease and contaminants. Then the detailer uses high-quality microfiber cloths to absorb and remove the dirt for a spotlessly clean finish.
No-H2O has been franchising since 2013. It has a large market share with 60 franchise units around the world, from the USA to Ireland. According to the companyโs research, No-H20 detailers have saved around 5 million gallons of fresh water in the last five years.
No-H2O has secured contracts with some of the worldโs largest automotive rental businesses, such as Hertz, Europcar and Sixt. It also produces its own waterless products. There are different sprays for paintwork, wheels, tires, glass and the interior. These are also biodegradable products that donโt contaminate the environment.
Initial investment ranges from $135,000-$165,000. The franchise fee is $49,500.
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Green Shine
You could partner with Green Shine if you want to own a waterless car wash service. Green Shine is a mobile car wash that promotes itself as an eco-friendly vehicle detailing business. You donโt have any storefront or overhead costs. This can help keep the initial investment lower than some of the other automotive business opportunities.
Green Shine has been franchising since 2011. The company welcomes work-from-home parents looking for their next challenge. You can run the business part-time, at weekends and evenings.
Initial investment ranges from $53,000-$166,000. The franchise fee is $24,900, although it has been lower during limited-time promotions.
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Eco Car Care
If you are unsure about investing in a waterless car wash business, there are other options. For example, you can become a waterless mobile detailer for Eco Car Care. It is not a traditional franchise program. Nevertheless, there are opportunities for independent contractors to make money in this sector. Eco Car Care finds the clients on your behalf and then pays you to clean the cars using the branded Eco Car Care range of products.
Eco Car Care offers a flexible work opportunity if youโre looking for either part-time work or a full-time job. All you need is a vehicle to get to your clients and use the brandโs waterless car wash supplies. You can bring in extra cash if you sign up for the companyโs affiliate program and sell the brandโs waterless products.
Initial investment ranges from $500-$1500 for detailing tools and a waterless wash kit. However, youโll need to add vehicle costs to this to start a mobile detailing business.
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Go Waterless
There are additional waterless car wash opportunities available outside the US. For example, Go Waterless uses plant-based products to clean cars. The companyโs mission is to save 2 trillion liters of water that would otherwise be wasted each year on car washes.
The geographical location of your waterless car wash service can often determine its success. Can your waterless car wash help tackle a water crisis? Think global. For example, changing weather patterns and recurring droughts are causing acute water scarcity in India. Therefore, a waterless car wash has the potential to do well in this country. The lucrative target market is car owners who seek an environmentally friendly way to wash cars without using a drop of precious water. Investment prices are available on request via the companyโs official website.
Conclusion
There are one or two reputable waterless car wash franchises out there. And more opportunities may arise as people become more familiar with the effectiveness of waterless wash products. That said, it is worth expanding your focus to the broader green car wash market. Demand for environmentally friendly services continues to grow as more people seek sustainable ways to care for their cars.
If youโre looking for a water-conscious car wash, check out DetailXPertsโ unique and scalable opportunity. Using steam cleaning technology, our system achieves incredible results while conserving water. We also offer startup assistance and advice, plus ongoing support to help you build a thriving business in the competitive car wash industry.
