If you are in the parking business and own or manage parking lots, you may want to think about some additional concepts to increase parking revenue. Whether you’re looking to add value for your customers, expand your customer base, or simply increase your revenue, adding a car wash and/or detailing to your parking lot may be the answer. There are many options available to you if you wish to provide these services. You can hire a reputable independent local business in your area, co-market with a nearby retailer that will service your lot, purchase your own unit and operate it in-house, or purchase a franchise and equipment from a national supplier. business.

INCREASE IN INCOME

Whichever route you choose, it is possible to increase daily revenue, whether you hire or subcontract labor. “Car wash and detailing not only deliver value to your customers, but also maximize value per space on your lot,” said Philip Hutcheson, franchise owner of The Car Wash Guys in Nashville, Tennessee, who currently owned Central Parking in Nashville as a customer. “This is about convenience and saving customers time. We’re just washing their cars, but that can give them time to do other things they want to do,” Hutcheson said.

HIRING A CONTRACTOR

If you choose to hire a local company to handle the work, try to respect their time. You may want to start one day a week. For example, Wednesday is car wash day. You collect the money and park the cars in the car wash row. The local company arrives at your desired time and washes, waxes and details the cars and returns the keys to you. Make sure the mobile operator is licensed, insured, has quality employees, is on time, and has some sort of sewage recovery device.

To reach your revenue goal, increase services to more days and more hours per day as work increases. It will build slowly, but it will give you an advantage and a higher average charge per ticket per car. A typical financial arrangement with detailing can net you anywhere from $2 to $5 per car for a wash and wax, and up to $15 per car for a complete detail.

A WIN-WIN-WIN

Here is an example of how a parking facility can be associated with a detailed service. Tim Morse, co-owner of The Car Wash Guys franchise in Oklahoma City, washed and detailed cars for SunPark, a private parking lot near the Oklahoma International Airport. He washed his shuttle buses for free in exchange for the use of a storage room to hold supplies for his mobile cleaning service. SunPark receives a percentage of each car washed and detailed. This relationship provides a win-win situation for both the customers and the companies involved.

SunPark was purchased by new owners in 1998. The previous owners had offered a basic wash and wax as an added service, manager Larry DeLuca explained. “We went a step further. We now also offer car detailing and oil change which have been well received by our customers. Our agreement with The Car Wash Guys allows us to offer detailing at a competitive price to what our customers might find elsewhere places in the city, just with the convenience of doing it while they’re away,” he explained. When travelers arrive, they are given a card inviting them to select additional services besides parking during their trip. They indicate their return date and if they want a detail or car wash. Your cars are prepared the day before your return, waiting for you all sparkling clean. “Word of mouth about the extras you don’t get at the airport has helped grow our business as a preferred parking option,” DeLuca said.

With Hutcheson’s work in Nashville, for monthly renters, the cost of a wash or detail is added to your monthly fee as an ongoing service. Washes can also be used as a customer incentive, ie two free car washes per month. A lot owner can increase contracted services for additional profit or add them as an incentive to retain long-term customers.

For a parking company in Tucson, Arizona, The Car Wash Guys team washes all the cars in the structure once a month and offers a special rate of $4.00 per car to the parking lot owner. Customers were so happy to have the added “free” service that when the lot owner recently increased the monthly rates, there was only one complaint about the free increase.

PURCHASE OF FRANCHISES

You can also buy a franchise if you really want to add detail as a permanent source of income. One type of company that lends itself well as a model for your operations is Reno, Nevada-based Detail Guys, which offers mobile detailing units, training, marketing and computerized software in one complete package. Each unit has a recovery device, a central vacuum system and a locked trailer. Visit their website at; http://www.detailguys.com. The Detail Guys and “sister” company The Car Wash Guys established franchises in 23 states to serve 110 markets across the country.

DO IT YOURSELF

If you go the do-it-yourself route, here are some suggestions regarding equipment. You will need a pressure washer with hot and cold water, hot if you also want to occasionally wash the lot or parking structure. For automobiles you need 1800 psi which will take an 8 hp motor with a belt driven pump. (We do not recommend direct transmission.) Ask for a jack pump, the operators say they have nine lives. You will also need at least 50 feet of unmarked 3000 psi single braided hose or a reel and wand. Always operate a wand shorter than 24 inches: Less chance of hitting a car, parked too close, or spraying on cars already washed or cars you’re not washing. You need a 200 gallon water tank. All of this can be mounted on a Cushman industrial cart. Make sure the cart has four wheels, since water moves and weighs 8.2 pounds per gallon. That’s 1,640 pounds! Insurance is not only an important factor to consider when hiring a contractor, but it is essential if you plan to run the operation yourself. You’ll want to get a liability policy of at least $1 to $2 million.

EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT

You will need to hire experienced labor or your employees will need some form of formal training. A company called Detail Plus in Portland, Oregon, offers on-the-job training courses, videotapes, and manuals. For more information, visit http://www.detailplus.com. With professional training and 10-15% earnings incentive bonuses for employees, you just might be able to put together a great team.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

You’ll also need to learn a bit about car wash wastewater. Even if you are hiring a contract company, you should at least be aware of the environmental laws related to wastewater. The basic law is this: Do not allow wash water to enter a storm drain. Block storm drains and vacuum unevaporated water into a holding tank for proper discharge to the sanitary sewer. You or your contractor will need to locate a drain that is connected to the sewer treatment plan on your property or take the waste to a nearby service station, for example, to place in your RV dump. This BMP-Best Management Practice is consistent with almost all NPDES-National Pollution Discharge Elimination Systems permits. For additional information, visit http://www.epa.gov and search on water pollution.

CO-MARKETING/SERVICE NETWORK

If you use the services of a service station, this will also be a great opportunity to co-market with another business, perhaps even help send business to them. It pays to have a network of local companies, such as lockout specialists, towing companies or maintenance services. Remember that you are in the automotive business even if you only park them.

A NATIONWIDE RESOURCE

The Car Wash Guys is currently working with numerous parking lots across the country. We would be happy to speak with you if you are interested in adding services to your facility. We can also serve as a resource to help locate an independent detailing contractor or franchisee if you are in your area. The Car Wash Guys established training centers for their franchisees in Columbus, OH; Nashville, Tennessee; Orlando, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, OK; Overland Park, Kansas; Denver, Colorado; palm desert, ca; Sacramento, Calif.; Bozeman, M.T.; Portland, Oregon; Lewiston, I.D.; Reno, Nev.; and Scottsdale, AZ. The Car Wash Guys was founded in 1979 and now washes just about everything from cars, trucks, boats and planes to windows, buildings, graffiti removal and more.

Best wishes on your plans to maximize income as a parking professional. Just remember, success can be found in the details! Think about this.