I have been in the car wash business for over 35 years, having owned and operated a full service tunnel with 6 self serve bays and a separate self serve with 12 bays. Owning a car wash is not much different from owning a restaurant. If you want to make more money at your car wash then you first have to provide a good product and customer service. You must be consistent, polite with customers, keep the place clean (since we are in the business of "clean"). For example, no matter which McDonald's you go into - the food is consistent, establishments are clean and service is the same - with a smile.
Car washes provide a service to the customer while utilizing products in the car wash process. Not enough can be said about using good products and good equipment.
Unlimited car wash clubs have added a new dimension to car washing. Unlimited car washing has changed the dynamics of profit for most any car wash. A wash may be doing 10, 30 or 50 cars per/hour (and more), however how much more can it cost to wash another 20, 30 or 40 cars per hour ? The help is already there, lights are already on and other costs are fixed. The only adder is more water, chemicals and electric to run the equipment. It probably costs around $1.00 per car to run the additional cars. Your wash is busier and more busy establishments attract more customers. In addition, the car wash owner is getting paid monthly. Statistics have shown that the average unlimited customer washes 2.5 to 3.0 times monthly. Some will abuse and come in alot, but also alot will come in occassionally and perhaps once per month and even less. The not so frequent washers pay for the frequent customers.
Second item to talk about is converting your the vacuum on your site to make more money. All self serve car washes have a vacuum or two that are low revenue producers. Customers generally prefer to use certain vacuums - closer to the road, closer to vending machines, etc. These vacuums seem to make more money than some other vacuums. Why not convert a low revenue producing vacuums to sell something else such as Tire shine and air (combo) for tires. More money could be made if you could vend another product or two - something different.
Crown Equipment and Distributing manufactures Vacuum tire shine conversion kits. Convert your vacuum to dispense Tire Shine or Tire Shine and Air (Combo). We also have kit that converts a vacuum to dispense Tire Shine and Air for tires. . So, instead of previously only selling vacuuming from a low producing vac and making little money, you can now sell value added services. It is almost a no brainer. We provide all needed materials to make the conversion - pumping system, hoses, applicators, bracket to hold hoses, new decals, including a five gallon pail of tire shine.