Parking Business, the Details on Increasing Lot Revenue

If you are in the parking business and own orwas only one complaint about the free
manage parking lots you may want to think onincrease.BUYING A FRANCHISEYou can also buy
some additional concepts to increase lot revenues.a franchise if you're serious about adding detailing
Whether you are looking to add value for youras a permanent source of revenue. One type of
customers, expand your customer base, orcompany which lends itself well to a model for
simply increase your revenue, the addition of ayour operations is the Detail Guys based in Reno,
car wash and/or detailing service to your parkingNevada offers mobile detail units, training,
facility may be the answer. There are manymarketing and computerized software in one
options available to you if you want to providecomplete package. Each unit has a re-claim device,
these services. You can contract with a localcentral vacuum system and enclosed lockable
independent company in your area with a goodtrailer. Visit their web site at; The Detail Guys and
reputation, co-market with a detail shop nearby"brother" company The Car Wash Guys set up
who will service your lot, buy your own unit andfranchises in 23 states to serve 110 markets
run it in-house or purchase a franchise name andnationwide.DOING IT YOURSELFIf you opt for
equipment from a national company.INCREASEDthe do-it-yourself route, following are some
REVENUEWhichever route you choose, it issuggestions regarding equipment. You'll need a
possible to increase daily income, if you hire thepressure washer with cold and hot water, hot if
labor or contract out. "Car washing and detailingyou also want to occasionally wash down the lot
not only provide value for your customers, butor parking structure. For cars you need 1800 psi
also maximize the per space value of your lot,"that will take an 8hp motor with a belt driven
commented Philip Hutcheson, owner of The Carpump. (We do not recommend direct drive.) Ask
Wash Guys franchise in Nashville, Tennessee, whofor a cat pump, operators say they have nine
currently had Central Parking in Nashville as alives. You'll also need at least 50 feet of
client. "It's all about convenience and savingnon-maring 3000 psi single braided hose or a reel
customers time. We're only washing their cars,and a wand. Always operate a wand of less than
but that can give them time to do other things24 inches - less chance to ding a car, which is
they want to do," said Hutcheson.HIRING Aparked too close or over spray cars already
CONTRACTORIf you choose to hire a localwashed or cars you are not washing. You need a
company to handle the job, then try to be200-gallon water tank. All this can be mounted on
respectful of their time. You may wish to startan industrial Cushman cart. Make sure the cart has
out one day a week. For example - Wednesdayfour wheels, since water moves and weights 8.2
is car wash day. You collect the money and parkpounds per gallon. That's 1,640 lbs! Insurance is
the cars in car wash row. The local companynot only an important factor to look at when
arrives at the desired time and washes, waxeshiring a contractor, it's essential if you plan to run
and details the cars and returns the keys to you.the operation yourself. You'll want to get a liability
Make sure the mobile operator is licensed, insured,policy of at least $1 to $2 million.HIRING
maintains quality employees, shows up on timeEMPLOYEESYou will need to hire experienced
and has some sort of re-claim device forlabor or your employees will need some type of
wastewater.To reach your revenue goal, increaseformal training. A company called Detail Plus in
services to more days and more hours a day asPortland, Oregon offers training courses at your
the work catches on. It will build slowly, but willplace of business and videotapes and manuals. For
give you an edge and higher average ticketmore information, visit With professional training
charge per car. A typical financial arrangementand profit incentive bonuses of 10-15% for
with a detail service can net you $2 to $5 per caremployees, you may be able to put together an
for a wash and wax and as high as $15 per carexcellent crew.ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUESYou'll also
for a full detail.A WIN-WIN-WINHere's an exampleneed to learn a little about car wash wastewater.
of how a parking facility can partner with a detailEven if you are hiring a company on contract,
service. Tim Morse, co-owner of The Car Washyou should at least be aware of the
Guys franchise in Oklahoma City, washed andenvironmental laws pertaining to waste water.
detailed cars for SunPark, a private parking facilityThe basic law is this: do not allow wash water
near Oklahoma International Airport. He washedrun-off to enter a storm drain. Block off storm
their shuttle buses for free in exchange for usedrains and vacuum unevaporated water into a
of a storage room to keep supplies in for hisholding tank for proper discharge into the sanitary
mobile detailing service. SunPark receives asewer. You or your contractor will need to locate
percentage of each car washed and detailed. Thisa drain which is connected to the sewer
relationship provides a win-win-win - for thetreatment plan within your property or drive the
customers and both businesses involved.SunParkwaste to a nearby gas station, for example, to
was bought by new owners in 1998. The previousput in their R.V. dump. This BMP-Best Management
owners had offered a basic wash and wax as anPractice is consistent with nearly all NPDES-National
added service, explained Manager Larry DeLuca.Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems permits.
"We took it a step further. We now also offerFor additional information, visit and search under
car detailing and oil change which have been wellwater pollution.CO-MARKETING/NETWORK OF
received by our customers. Our agreement withSERVICESIf you utilize the services of a gas
The Car Wash Guys allows us to offer detailing atstation, this will also be an excellent opportunity to
a competitive rate to what our customers couldco-market with another business, perhaps even
find elsewhere in the city, just with thehelp send them business. It pays to have a
convenience of having it done while they'renetwork of local businesses such as lock-out
away," he explained. When travelers arrive, theyspecialists, tow companies, or maintenance
are given a card inviting them to select additionalservices. Remember you are in the automotive
services besides parking during their trip. Theybusiness even though you just park them.A
indicate their return date and if they desire aNATIONWIDE RESOURCEThe Car Wash Guys is
detail or car wash. Their cars are prepared thecurrently working with numerous parking garages
day before they return, waiting for them all shinyaround the country. We'd be happy to talk with
and clean. "The word of mouth about theyou if you are interested in adding services to
additional services that you don't receive at theyour facility. We can also serve as a resource to
airport has helped increase our business as ahelp locate an independent detailing contractor or
parking option of choice," commenteda franchisee if one is located in your area. The
DeLuca.With Hutcheson's work in Nashville, for theCar Wash Guys set up training centers for their
monthly tenants, the cost of a wash or detail isfranchisees in Columbus, OH; Nashville, TN;
added to their monthly fee as an ongoing service.Orlando, FL; San Antonio, TX; Oklahoma City, OK;
Washes can also be used as an incentive toOverland Park, KS; Denver, CO; Palm Desert, CA;
customers, i.e. two free car washes a month. ASacramento, CA; Bozeman, MT; Portland, OR;
lot owner can mark up contracted services forLewiston, ID; Reno, NV; and Scottsdale, AZ. The
additional profit or add them as an incentive toCar Wash Guys was founded in 1979 and now
retain long-term customers.For a parking companywashes just about everything from cars, trucks,
in Tucson, Arizona, The Car Wash Guys teamboats and aircraft to windows, buildings, graffiti
washed every car in the structure once a monthremoval and more.Best wishes on your plans to
and extends a special group rate of $4.00 per carmaximize revenue as a parking professional. Just
to the lot owner. The customers were so happyremember, success can be found in the details!
to have the added "free" service that when theThink on this.
lot owner recently raised monthly rates there