Self-service car wash bays

Local drivers, people whose vehicles are too big or too dirty for a drive-through wash, and anyone who wants to wash their own car, truck, boat or trailer.

Customers pay for wash time through coin, token or card machines. You earn more with busy locations, good equipment, add-ons like vacuums and vending, and well-judged pricing.

• Basic mechanical and plumbing know-how
• Reading a business's books before buying
• Organized routines for cleaning and restocking
• Managing suppliers and repair people

• Wastewater rules: check with your municipality and provincial environment ministry about sewer discharge, oil and water separators and any permits that transfer with a site
• Winter: frozen lines and bays can close a site, so check heating, winterizing costs and how the seasons affect takings
• Environmental history of the land, since a site assessment may be wise before buying
• Commercial general liability and property insurance, plus cover for theft and vandalism
• Ageing pumps, boilers and payment machines can mean large repair bills, so get equipment inspected first
• Check whether you need a municipal business licence and when GST/HST registration applies

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $100,000 to $400,000, depending on whether you buy or lease, the site's condition and its equipment. Get pumps, boilers and payment machines inspected before committing.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on location, number of bays and season. Winter closures can affect takings, so check how seasons have affected the site's past results.

Check wastewater rules with your municipality and provincial environment ministry, including sewer discharge, oil and water separators and transferable permits. Consider a site assessment for the land's environmental history, and check winterizing costs and business licensing.