Mobile Car Wash Market Opportunities in California

The current lack of industry leaders represents ancar wash becomes an accepted method, everyone
exceptional opportunity for a large and organizedwill start using it, very similar to what happened with
mobile car wash company to achieve regionalDomino's Pizza in the early 1980's. During the last
domination and eventually dominate the Southernrecession, many small time operators have ceased
California carwash market. The best place to start abusiness while only a few continued to expand. Overall
regional assault on this market would be tooverhead has come down in the industry in the
concentrate North and West of Los Angeles;following areas:LaborCost of New
Chatsworth and Simi Valley to Malibu and Tarzana toEquipmentSuppliesAdvertising and Printing CostsPaging
Santa Barbara. Once these relatively competition freeand Dispatch ServiceLinen ServiceAlthough a mobile
markets are won Los Angeles, San Diego, Riversidecar wash company will experience a 20% drop in
and San Bernardino counties could be dominated by agross profits during the next reversionary economic
steady city-by-city methodology. From there theperiod, a mobile car wash company's cost will drop
company should include neighboring regions and Sun30%. For an average crew, that is only about 10-15%
Belt States. By setting up each territory next to anof their daily gross income, or $40-50 per day. During
existing territory, they will, brick by brick, build anthis time, the company would be advised to branch out
impenetrable wall to ward off would-be competitors.in their advertising and marketing efforts on a much
Utilizing their satellite offices, they can build that wallmore grassroots level to compensate for any losses,
rapidly by connecting each area. As this occurs, we willby doing car wash fundraisers for non-profit
have achieved regional and eventually national nameorganizations and schools. When the economy returns
recognition and proceed to other long-termto California following the end of the next business
goals.Market DescriptionThe Company attempting thiscycle, the strategy of the mobile car wash company
would need to have satellite offices in three states inshould be ready for a quick upward climb. California is
the West including operations in Las Vegas, Phoenix,home to some of the largest truck fleets in the world,
Tucson and Reno. However the company mustincluding some of the following fleets:Vons Grocery
concentrate most of its efforts in Santa Barbara,Chain (the largest truck fleet in the world, responsible
Ventura and Los Angeles counties. California should befor transporting their own product) - El Monte,
the mainstay, and rightfully so, with over 30 millionCARyder Transportation Systems (the world's largest
registered vehicles. The other state operations wouldtruck rental and leasing corporation ) - Five Regional
remain quite small but necessary to obtain a FederalOffices in Southern CaliforniaCalifornia Highway Patrol
Trademark status (interstate commerce is required)(the largest public entity law enforcement fleet in the
and to have a workable launching point for massiveUnited States)USPS (more mail jeeps than anywhere
rapid roll out when the time comes. In California it wouldelse in the country)Federal Express (more vans in CA
be important to dominate the markets in the followingthan anywhere else in the world)Trucking Companies
cities.GoletaSanta(300+ in the Los Angeles area alone)Utility Related
BarbaraVenturaOxnardCamarilloThousandCompanies, such as the telephone companies, gas
OaksWestlakeAgouraCalabasasMalibuSimicompanies, and cable franchises (50,000 + vehicles
ValleyChatsworthWoodlandalone)Although while in an economic recession, a
HillsTarzanaValenciaEncinoIt is also recommended tomobile car wash operation has an advantage and can
have many other cities with operations even if only aexperience a phenomenal growth, more than tripling in
few units and one manager stationed there. Althoughsize. As the economy in California improves after the
we have little or no competition in these cities, it wouldfuture drop, so will sales revenues of each outlet,
be too presumptuous to say that we dominate thetherefore providing the necessary cash flow to
areas:Van NuysRiversideSanexpand with the market. The mobile car wash sector
DiegoPhoenixTucsonReno, NVLas Vegas, NVWhenleads the local economy by six months because it is
setting up crews in new territories, a marketing scoutdealing with the disposable income of their clients and
should fly over the city and look for large fleets ofthe amount of cash in their pockets at any given time.
vehicles, big industrial centers and expensive residentialAs that amount of money increases so does their
areas. By initially securing large truck fleets, it will givewillingness to spend it. Since the average basic car
the new operation a quick customer base. Theywash is around $10.00, people are more apt to buy
should then look for retail centers close to expensivesuch services when they have less money available
housing and offer their services to store owners as athan a $200 microwave. As their pocket money
convenience. While washing shopkeepers' cars, they(disposable play money) increases they will more
would make contacts in the parking lot of shoppersfreely spend that money; this increases the operational
and go to their homes to wash additional cars. Theunits kill ratio from 40% to 60% to 80%. (Kill ratio =
word of mouth would spread from there.Market Sizenumber of people out of ten when asked, choose to
and TrendsCalifornia is very large and could presentlyget their car washed, 4 out of 10 = 40%.).Any
support between 950-1998 units from San Diego tocompany considering rolling our a mobile car wash
San Francisco. Eventually, as the idea catches on,nationwide service needs to be thinking here and
there could be five times as many units. It has beenlooking at the weather and love of cars in California as
our experience in many cities, that once this type ofa starting point.