Many mobile car wash operators would like to add de-ionized water to their cleaning process. However before you do this you need to understand the reality of the return on investment. You must also realize how the de-ionization process works.
De-ionizing tanks take the water and clean it from 16 parts per million to 1-2 parts per million. They usually last for 2,000 gallons if a water softener is put in line before the de-ionization system. De-ionizing tanks are usually rented. They typically require a $100 deposit. They consist of two tanks side by side. One contains an acid wash solution and the other contains a filter, which catches solution and whatever attaches itself to the acid solution though ion polarization. This works great and the water is totally free of contaminants; in other words; no water spots. Spray off a black car in the sun and simply walk away. It costs $30-60 to recharge the tanks and $40 (approximately) to rent them. Since they only last about ten days with regular washing or ten car lots, it gets kind of expensive. It would cost the average crew $190 per month for such service if you were washing personal cars. If you were doing two to three car lots per day, it would cost: 250 Gallons Per Lot X 3 Car Lots Per Day = 750 Gallons Per Day. 750 Gallons divided by 2000 Gallons To A Recharge = 3.5 Days Until A Recharge.
If you wash car lots on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings, that's four days per week times four weeks per month. That equals sixteen days per month. Let's look at the numbers; 16 Days Per Month divided by 3.5 Recharge Interval = 4.6 Recharges Per Month times $50.00 Cost Per Recharge or $210.00 Per Month +190.00 Cost To Use Tanks On Route = $420.00 Total De-Ionizing Costs Per Month.
Many competitors will swear by de-ionizing tanks. That's because they are lazy. They don't feel like drying the cars. Let's say they have a truck payment. See break down below of Competitor A: Truck Payment $ 250.00; Insurance $125.00; De-Ionized Water $190.00; Printing And Advertising $100.00; Supplies $150.00; Labor $1,000.00; 20 Working Days X $50.00 Per Day = Total Expenses $1,815.00. You can see very quickly how adding additional costs of De-Ionized water filtration can significantly impact the cost. Now lets look at his income; Income Of Competitor A: $150.00 Average Income X 20 Working Days = $3,000.00 Total Income. $3,000.00 Total Income - $1,815.00 Total Expenses = $1,185.00 Total Profit Of Competitor A.
I guess competitor A is not only too lazy to dry cars, but also not making enough money to be a viable business model. Not much of a competitor with those kinds of margins, is he? There are problems with de-ionized water. There is usually dirt on the car, which re-ionizes the water, which means it can then spot. Especially whatever doesn't blast off with the pressure washer; For instance: dirt in cracks, door jams, trunk jams and inside rear view mirrors. When you walk away, water, which drips from these places leaves drip marks, very noticeable white lines. It looks horrible on black and it makes customers irritated. On car lots, the cars are new and are rinsed off twice per week. There is no road grime because the cars don't move. On personal cars there is road grime and the cars must be hand washed and soaped. To rinse a car with soap with de-ionized water takes twice as long and that means twice as much water, which means you can only do one-half as many cars before refilling your water tank. This will cost you travel time to fill up with water. It also means that unless you are washing pretty clean cars with only dust and bird droppings, you will expense twice as much on recharging your tanks. In other words, your $190 becomes $380 per month.
You must think of these things when choosing to go de-ionized water on your mobile car wash rig. Pencil out the costs, keep the pencil sharp and be serious about your costs. If you are rocking your local market and can afford the additional costs to help streamline your efficiency and you have additional work you are not getting to then it might make sense, but do not fool yourself with the numbers, stay reality based.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
affordable house cleaning Wilmette ..If you are a franchisee of a large franchise system;... Read More
Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who... Read More
When working from home, it is usual to find that... Read More
IntroductionIt is widely recognised that Email and the Internet is... Read More
Would you rather have one good client paying you five... Read More
To wash an airplane there are many items you will... Read More
Many mobile pressure-washing companies turn to government contacts to make... Read More
Just recently, I took a break and caught "The Return... Read More
Most smart entrepreneurs and all large corporations have Employee Relations... Read More
Maximum efficiency in the cleaning industry is a key to... Read More
Most doctors never distinguish the difference between customers and patients.... Read More
Many job applicants want a job but often do not... Read More
Completion not Perfection Five Keys To Doubling Your Productivity and... Read More
The reason we Franchisors call it an exclusive territory is... Read More
Tammy, a skilled and gifted horticulturist, called me to discuss... Read More
If you really want to earn more money with your... Read More
Paper Shredding Business Opportunities are blossoming up everywhere because in... Read More
All franchises must meet the legal definition of a franchise... Read More
If you are worried about how many different business cards... Read More
So you want to get into the auto detailing business... Read More
Whether your target audience is in your neighborhood or across... Read More
More sales and more profit. Isn't that what you want... Read More
Many years ago, I had warned the carwash industry of... Read More
Many physical therapists in private practice have the appearance of... Read More
Incorporation in Nevada has become an attractive option for savvy... Read More
quick home cleaning Northbrook ..The FTC Franchise Rule maybe changed, as the Federal trade... Read More
Many mobile pressure-washing companies turn to government contacts to make... Read More
If you really want to earn more money with your... Read More
Shopping for a franchise is easy if you know what... Read More
Some things in business are relatively easy to measure ?... Read More
Many job applicants want a job but often do not... Read More
If you are a small business you know that you... Read More
You're a small business owner with a hot new product... Read More
Office support services can range from basic data entry to... Read More
What is Business Valuation? The term business valuation is the... Read More
Most doctors never distinguish the difference between customers and patients.... Read More
Database Problems in MarketingI have been working on a direct... Read More
While driving through Pennsylvania farmland, you have probably noticed an... Read More
No, I'm not talking about gambling or dairy cows ?... Read More
Sexual Harassment is a disturbing part of employment life in... Read More
There were only an estimated 1800 active franchisors in this... Read More
It behooves every professional mobile auto detailer to stay up... Read More
When a regulator finds a target to go after to... Read More
There is a continual trend we are seeing which I... Read More
There is a Batting Cages Business for those people who... Read More
There are both fixed and mobile detailers. Consumers often will... Read More
We have all seen the mobile washing units cruising our... Read More
Whether it has been thrust upon you by external market... Read More
There are many factors to be considered when you are... Read More
The choice of financing is an important determinant of whether... Read More
Small Business |