Car Wash Industry Resources

International Car Wash Association
Car Wash Start-Up Guide
Guide with contact information for manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of car wash equipment and supplies, industry publications, profiles and more.

Car-Wash-Equipment.Net
About Car Wash Equipment
Overview of car wash types, equipment, and processes.

HowStuffWorks
Description of how car washes work.

 www.sba.gov
The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

www.asbdc-us.org
Hosted by leading universities, colleges, and state economic development agencies, and funded in part through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, approximately 1,000 service centers are available to provide no-cost consulting and low-cost training.

www.score.org
SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

 A few books worth reading

Start Your Own Car Wash and More

Description - This step-by-step guide walks you through the four different types of car washes and points out the advantages and disadvantages of each. The guide also provides expert advice on equipment, day-to-day operations, advertising, financing, and getting the required permits

We found this book, while basic, to be helpful if you are just starting out and looking for more information to start a car wash. 

 So, You Want to Own a Car Wash: Finding and Evaluating Retail Site Locations for Car Washes

Description - This book is a must-read for anyone who is new to the car wash industry or for experienced operators thinking of expanding their operations. Gaudreau explodes the 6 most common myths about the car wash business, provides a big-picture overview of what is happening in all 8 segments of the industry, and shares a wealth of information on the 20 most critical variables to consider when building or buying a car wash location. Some of the variables include evaluating capture rates from traffic counts, understanding the impact of the surrounding competition, and detailing the process on how to get a new site approved for a car wash.

A lot of good information is in this book that will help if you are starting or researching a location for your car wash. 

 The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

While not about car washes, the E-Myth is a great book for anyone wanting to start a business and discusses what it takes to make a business successful and strategies on how not to become a slave to your business.