| If you are in the parking business and own or | | | | recently raised monthly rates there was only |
| manage parking lots you may want to think on | | | | one complaint about the free increase.BUYING |
| some additional concepts to increase lot | | | | A FRANCHISEYou can also buy a franchise if |
| revenues. Whether you are looking to add | | | | you're serious about adding detailing as a |
| value for your customers, expand your | | | | permanent source of revenue. One type of |
| customer base, or simply increase your | | | | company which lends itself well to a model |
| revenue, the addition of a car wash and/or | | | | for your operations is the Detail Guys based |
| detailing service to your parking facility | | | | in Reno, Nevada offers mobile detail units, |
| may be the answer. There are many options | | | | training, marketing and computerized software |
| available to you if you want to provide these | | | | in one complete package. Each unit has a |
| services. You can contract with a local | | | | re-claim device, central vacuum system and |
| independent company in your area with a good | | | | enclosed lockable trailer. Visit their web |
| reputation, co-market with a detail shop | | | | site at; The Detail Guys and "brother" |
| nearby who will service your lot, buy your | | | | company The Car Wash Guys set up franchises |
| own unit and run it in-house or purchase a | | | | in 23 states to serve 110 markets |
| franchise name and equipment from a national | | | | nationwide.DOING IT YOURSELFIf you opt for |
| company.INCREASED REVENUEWhichever route you | | | | the do-it-yourself route, following are some |
| choose, it is possible to increase daily | | | | suggestions regarding equipment. You'll need |
| income, if you hire the labor or contract | | | | a pressure washer with cold and hot water, |
| out. "Car washing and detailing not only | | | | hot if you also want to occasionally wash |
| provide value for your customers, but also | | | | down the lot or parking structure. For cars |
| maximize the per space value of your lot," | | | | you need 1800 psi that will take an 8hp motor |
| commented Philip Hutcheson, owner of The Car | | | | with a belt driven pump. (We do not |
| Wash Guys franchise in Nashville, Tennessee, | | | | recommend direct drive.) Ask for a cat pump, |
| who currently had Central Parking in | | | | operators say they have nine lives. You'll |
| Nashville as a client. "It's all about | | | | also need at least 50 feet of non-maring 3000 |
| convenience and saving customers time. We're | | | | psi single braided hose or a reel and a wand. |
| only washing their cars, but that can give | | | | Always operate a wand of less than 24 |
| them time to do other things they want to | | | | inches - less chance to ding a car, which is |
| do," said Hutcheson.HIRING A CONTRACTORIf you | | | | parked too close or over spray cars already |
| choose to hire a local company to handle the | | | | washed or cars you are not washing. You |
| job, then try to be respectful of their time. | | | | need a 200-gallon water tank. All this can |
| You may wish to start out one day a week. | | | | be mounted on an industrial Cushman cart. |
| For example - Wednesday is car wash day. You | | | | Make sure the cart has four wheels, since |
| collect the money and park the cars in car | | | | water moves and weights 8.2 pounds per |
| wash row. The local company arrives at the | | | | gallon. That's 1,640 lbs! Insurance is not |
| desired time and washes, waxes and details | | | | only an important factor to look at when |
| the cars and returns the keys to you. Make | | | | hiring a contractor, it's essential if you |
| sure the mobile operator is licensed, | | | | plan to run the operation yourself. You'll |
| insured, maintains quality employees, shows | | | | want to get a liability policy of at least $1 |
| up on time and has some sort of re-claim | | | | to $2 million.HIRING EMPLOYEESYou will need |
| device for wastewater.To reach your revenue | | | | to hire experienced labor or your employees |
| goal, increase services to more days and more | | | | will need some type of formal training. A |
| hours a day as the work catches on. It will | | | | company called Detail Plus in Portland, |
| build slowly, but will give you an edge and | | | | Oregon offers training courses at your place |
| higher average ticket charge per car. A | | | | of business and videotapes and manuals. For |
| typical financial arrangement with a detail | | | | more information, visit With professional |
| service can net you $2 to $5 per car for a | | | | training and profit incentive bonuses of |
| wash and wax and as high as $15 per car for a | | | | 10-15% for employees, you may be able to put |
| full detail.A WIN-WIN-WINHere's an example of | | | | together an excellent crew.ENVIRONMENTAL |
| how a parking facility can partner with a | | | | ISSUESYou'll also need to learn a little |
| detail service. Tim Morse, co-owner of The | | | | about car wash wastewater. Even if you are |
| Car Wash Guys franchise in Oklahoma City, | | | | hiring a company on contract, you should at |
| washed and detailed cars for SunPark, a | | | | least be aware of the environmental laws |
| private parking facility near Oklahoma | | | | pertaining to waste water. The basic law is |
| International Airport. He washed their | | | | this: do not allow wash water run-off to |
| shuttle buses for free in exchange for use of | | | | enter a storm drain. Block off storm drains |
| a storage room to keep supplies in for his | | | | and vacuum unevaporated water into a holding |
| mobile detailing service. SunPark receives a | | | | tank for proper discharge into the sanitary |
| percentage of each car washed and detailed. | | | | sewer. You or your contractor will need to |
| This relationship provides a win-win-win - | | | | locate a drain which is connected to the |
| for the customers and both businesses | | | | sewer treatment plan within your property or |
| involved.SunPark was bought by new owners in | | | | drive the waste to a nearby gas station, for |
| 1998. The previous owners had offered a | | | | example, to put in their R.V. dump. This |
| basic wash and wax as an added service, | | | | BMP-Best Management Practice is consistent |
| explained Manager Larry DeLuca. "We took it | | | | with nearly all NPDES-National Pollution |
| a step further. We now also offer car | | | | Discharge Elimination Systems permits. For |
| detailing and oil change which have been well | | | | additional information, visit and search |
| received by our customers. Our agreement | | | | under water pollution.CO-MARKETING/NETWORK OF |
| with The Car Wash Guys allows us to offer | | | | SERVICESIf you utilize the services of a gas |
| detailing at a competitive rate to what our | | | | station, this will also be an excellent |
| customers could find elsewhere in the city, | | | | opportunity to co-market with another |
| just with the convenience of having it done | | | | business, perhaps even help send them |
| while they're away," he explained. When | | | | business. It pays to have a network of |
| travelers arrive, they are given a card | | | | local businesses such as lock-out |
| inviting them to select additional services | | | | specialists, tow companies, or maintenance |
| besides parking during their trip. They | | | | services. Remember you are in the automotive |
| indicate their return date and if they desire | | | | business even though you just park them.A |
| a detail or car wash. Their cars are | | | | NATIONWIDE RESOURCEThe Car Wash Guys is |
| prepared the day before they return, waiting | | | | currently working with numerous parking |
| for them all shiny and clean. "The word of | | | | garages around the country. We'd be happy to |
| mouth about the additional services that you | | | | talk with you if you are interested in adding |
| don't receive at the airport has helped | | | | services to your facility. We can also serve |
| increase our business as a parking option of | | | | as a resource to help locate an independent |
| choice," commented DeLuca.With Hutcheson's | | | | detailing contractor or a franchisee if one |
| work in Nashville, for the monthly tenants, | | | | is located in your area. The Car Wash Guys |
| the cost of a wash or detail is added to | | | | set up training centers for their franchisees |
| their monthly fee as an ongoing service. | | | | in Columbus, OH; Nashville, TN; Orlando, FL; |
| Washes can also be used as an incentive to | | | | San Antonio, TX; Oklahoma City, OK; Overland |
| customers, i.e. two free car washes a month. | | | | Park, KS; Denver, CO; Palm Desert, CA; |
| A lot owner can mark up contracted services | | | | Sacramento, CA; Bozeman, MT; Portland, OR; |
| for additional profit or add them as an | | | | Lewiston, ID; Reno, NV; and Scottsdale, AZ. |
| incentive to retain long-term customers.For a | | | | The Car Wash Guys was founded in 1979 and now |
| parking company in Tucson, Arizona, The Car | | | | washes just about everything from cars, |
| Wash Guys team washed every car in the | | | | trucks, boats and aircraft to windows, |
| structure once a month and extends a special | | | | buildings, graffiti removal and more.Best |
| group rate of $4.00 per car to the lot owner. | | | | wishes on your plans to maximize revenue as a |
| The customers were so happy to have the | | | | parking professional. Just remember, success |
| added "free" service that when the lot owner | | | | can be found in the details! Think on this. |