Opening a Car Wash with Help from a Pro

Starting in a new business venture as a novice can be a daunting expedition, but expert consultation and advice can help navigate challenges and make for smoother sailing. On this week’s episode of the Building Management podcast, James Bridges, development analyst for Iron Fox, shares his expertise in getting new car washes up and running.

Bridges has helped entrepreneurs open car washes from Maryland to South Carolina. His talent is in real estate site selection, volume estimation to determine site viability, equipment selection, and maintenance training. He and the Iron Fox team will even consult with partners on best practices and policies to implement long after the grand opening.

“We try to be a complete partner,” Bridges said.

He revealed that there’s more to running a car wash than meets the eye. Different municipalities have different water chemistries. Sometimes the water is too hard and other times too soft, so getting it just right requires a bit of art and science. And since the red clay of the South differs from the dirt in the East, the part of the country will inform the best equipment for soil removal.

When it comes to the solvents used inside the car wash, Bridges explained that there have been tremendous improvements in car waxes, detergents, and cleaning solutions to produce a better-looking car. “Cleaner, Drier, Shinier,” is his refrain.

Asked about handwashing his own vehicles, Bridges said: “I always take my cars to the different car washes.” He trusts his automobiles to the same wash tunnels he’s helped kickstart since, in his words, you need to sample what you’re selling.

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