Mission and vision statements are standard elements in car wash business plans. They are critical elements of an organization’s strategic planning.  An organization cannot become very successful without a strategic direction as provided by these statements. In fact, according to Management Study Guide, studies have discovered that organizations that have clear and meaningful vision and mission statements have more returns in shareholder benefits than organizations that don’t. Vision and mission statements are so important that they are one of the first things discussed in business school. Continue reading and learn more why  vision and mission statements are essential when drafting your car wash business plan.

What’s the Difference Between Vision and Mission Statements?

A vision statement defines what the founder wants the organization to achieve over time. This is in terms of growth, employees and so on.  On the other hand, a mission statement is for a shorter time frame than a vision statement. It talks about how the organization will achieve its vision.  It defines what the organization does, how it is done, and who it is done for.  In a nutshell, your vision statement identifies your car wash business’ future state while your mission statement defines your car wash business’ current state.

One Direction for Your Car Wash Business Plan

img src:farm4.static.flickr.com

The presence of a vision and mission statement in your car wash business plan ensures that your organization has one common goal. They help your car wash business focus on what is really important. It is too easy to lose sight of your organization’s objectives with the day-to-day challenges of operations. Moreover, they remind everyone, including you, of your organization’s real purpose.

With clear and meaningful vision and mission statements, your car wash business employees can all work together for one common goal that will benefit themselves and your car wash business. This helps build a strong team and establish your organization’s culture. It is important that you spend the time to make sure that your car wash business’ vision and mission statements are clear to your stakeholders and employees. This will save you time and resources in fixing alignment, employee engagement and undesirable cultural behaviors in the future.

One Message for Your Car Wash Business Image

Your car wash business plan’s vision and mission statements also communicate your organization’s who, what and why to other individuals and organizations. It is one thing for your car wash employees to be passionate about the services your car wash offers. It is another thing for them to clearly understand the framework of what drives the organization. A clear understanding is crucial to effectively communicate your car wash business’ message to your customers. Both statements in your car wash business plan help you build better communication and closer relationships with your customers, suppliers and partners. They also serve as a public relations tool. Without them to guide you, you will not be able to convey one consistent message to the public.

Personnel Recruitment and Retention

Jennel Evans, CEO of Strategic Interactions, Inc, writes on Psychology Today that the absence of vision and mission statements is a lost opportunity for attracting talent and engaging and retaining employees.  Your vision and mission statements should be part of your recruitment process. Making them a part of your job postings helps you attract the right people for your car wash business. You can even take it further and ask your applicants during interviews how they can contribute to the organization in achieving its mission and vision. This will ensure that they understand what your car wash business’ plans and goals are and enable them to think of ways towards achieving those.

Your mission and vision statements also provide motivation for your employees. Without their guidance, your car wash employees will be all over the place without a clear focus. Clear and concise vision and mission statements let your employees know what is expected of them. This way, they will have a sense of purpose and in a sense, improve employee satisfaction. Keeping your employees engaged and satisfied is one way of enhancing employee productivity. Retaining your car wash employees will then be a cinch.

Budget Allocation

Budget allocation img src: pixabay.com

Another critical aspect of your car wash business that needs the guidance of your vision and mission statements is your budget and financial assumptions. It can especially help when you have a tight budget. Both statements of your car wash business plan can provide guidance when you are making tough decisions in budget allocation.  They can make it easier for you to decide which projects to prioritize and which ones you should put on the backburner.  Waste of resources and money can definitely be avoided.

Conclusion

Vision and mission statements, indeed, are essential to your car wash business plan. According to one Journal of Economics, “They are critical parts of strategic management. You probably will not find a management book that does not mention the importance of these two elements.” History tells us that visions are behind every company’s success. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Henry Ford are some examples of great visionaries. Clear, concise and meaningful vision and mission statements will surely guide your car wash business in focusing on its purpose and conveying a consistent message to your customers.

Still finding it hard to create your car wash business plan’s vision and mission statements? Perhaps a car wash franchise can help you out. You will not just be assisted with your business strategies but you will also have the strong company’s vision and mission guiding all aspects of your car wash business plan every step of the way.

Enjoyed this post? Sign up for our newsletter to receive more valuable business and franchise info, ideas, and extras!