We’ll have to resort to language if you want a quick estimate of how much it will cost to construct a car wash.
In a nutshell, “it depends.”
This is not a joke, despite how it reads. Due to the wide range of factors at play, it would be fruitless to attempt to estimate the typical price of establishing a car wash business whose centrepiece is a car wash bay. The final cost will be determined by a number of factors, including but not limited to the following: the size of the wash bay, the number of vehicles to be washed daily/weekly, the amount of water to be used, the weight of the application, the number of simultaneous washdowns, and whether or not multiple bays will be used.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Car Wash Business in Australia?
The time and money required to set up a commercial car wash might easily exceed a year. Costs associated with constructing a car wash from the ground up (a so-called “greenfield investment”) on a normal site in the manner of an Automatic In-Bay Car Wash with 3 Self-Serve Bays are around $700,000, plus an additional $400,000 to $450,000 for equipment.
These figures include for everything from initial land acquisition and design to final touches like plumbing, wiring, installation, and, of course, soaps, waxes, and other car wash chemicals.
Because of the widespread acceptance of the self-service car wash concept, this precise configuration is also taken into account. However, not everyone want to own a commercial enterprise with many bays. Trade Enviro provides solutions starting at $2,300 for applications such as smaller specialty detailers or onsite cleaning of plant equipment for current businesses managing their fleets.
Costs Associated with a Local Car Wash
A smaller car wash bay, such as one used to keep a business’ fleet in tip-top shape and in compliance with local ordinances, can be built for far less money. While basic portable wash bays may be purchased for less than $2,000.00, a high-end, heavy-duty wash bay equipped with a whole treatment system can cost anywhere from $20,000.00 to $90,000.00 or more.
Vehicle wash facilities are created specifically for each client and their specific function, hence their costs fluctuate widely.
A Moveable Wash Bay Vs. a Stable One
Whether you want a permanent car wash bay or a more transportable option should be your first thought when designing a car wash bay.
Because of space constraints, there are some of them that just cannot be changed. Sometimes you’ll have more leeway to choose, but it doesn’t make the choice any less weighty or complicated.
You may, for instance, save money by ignoring the aesthetics of a vehicle wash bay if you just require it for internal corporate usage. Aesthetic improvements to your car wash operation may boost prices initially, but they are likely to pay off in the long term if you are planning a commercial firm.
Transportation-Dependent Washing Stations
Affordable alternatives to permanent washrooms can be found in mobile units. Their efficiency is comparable to that of permanent washrooms, and they may be installed with less restrictions than some specialised permanent models.
In most cases, a council permission is not needed for a wash bay system to get started so long as no trade wastes are being discharged into the sewer, but you should still check with your local regulator to be sure. As a result, you may have a specific area for washing down vehicles and storing all wastewater for disposal by a certified liquid waste remover. That’s the least expensive option with pricing beginning at $1890; the catch is that you’ll have to pay ongoing pump out fees afterward. These setups are perfect for short-term or low-volume uses.
The lack of an integrated method for treating wastewater is a major downside of such a stripped-down system. You will still need to improve the standard mobile wash bay to conform to the rule and prevent complete pollution of the environment if local regulations demand that you retain, treat, or recycle the wastewater instead. An oil/water separator, pump, and controller make up the bulk of a typical wash bay treatment system.
A permanent place to clean up
A concrete slab wash bay is an alternative that will cost more up front but will last much longer. Civil ground works, plumbing, drainage, and treatment installation for a concrete slab wash bay can mount up compared to the cost of a portable option. In addition to the money needed to purchase supplies. Concrete-based wash bays require careful consideration of several elements. For instance, there are several drainage options for enclosed vs open-air wash bays.
For open-air wash bays without roofs, we provide stormwater diversions systems; for roofed wash bays, we provide screened wash bay drainage pits. For this reason, a roofed wash bay will just have to deal with washdown water, but an uncovered one will have to deal with both wash water and rainwater (link to diversion systems here). Again, things like civil works, treatment procedures, slab size and application utilisation might affect price. As before, the final price tag will be context-specific.
It may cost $6000 for a basic treatment system, and $25,000 and above for a recycling system. If you want to get the most out of your water, you need to make a bigger investment, and if you want to keep costs down, you’ll have to use more of it right there on the premises.
Conclusion
Washdowns are a cornerstone of vehicle maintenance and environmental protection, thus car wash bays are a must for every company that uses cars or machinery in its daily operations. Furthermore, despite the high cost of construction, a vehicle wash may turn a healthy profit. Depending on the size and scope of your first investment, as well as the car wash equipment and water treatment units you choose, the initial cost of getting your business off the ground might vary widely.
To run well, a business must employ trustworthy service providers. Trade Enviro provides high-quality services at reasonable prices, together with in-depth knowledge and assistance from trained professionals and friendly service representatives. In addition to providing a variety of products, water treatment, including full reuse systems, and more, we also offer submissions to and approval from the relevant local councils.