Everybody loves the convenience of a good, thorough car wash, which is why this industry is expanding as the demand for these services grows. So, if you’re looking for a great franchise opportunity in a profitable industry with a scalable business model, owning a car wash franchise might be right for you.
In this blog, we will look into the different types of carwash franchise businesses out there and how to get a car wash franchise based on your goals as a franchisee.
Insights Into Car Wash Franchise Ownership
If you’re looking into franchising opportunities, one of the top trending franchise industries is the car wash market. As more and more vehicles hit the road, the car wash industry is only going to grow. Vehicle owners are also becoming increasingly aware of the need for regular care and maintenance, making car washes an integral part of people’s car care routines today.
In fact, according to recent industry data, the car wash market is expected to reach $43.68 billion by 2029 with a 5.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
With this kind of growth all over the world, this industry is one of the best to jump into as a prospective franchisee.
Many of the top car wash franchises also provide plenty of support to facilitate successful franchise development from the start. There are plenty of business models to choose from, whether you’re in the market for a quick-service express car wash, a mobile car wash, or a business that appeals to your personal sustainability goals with environmentally conscious services.
Why Should I Invest in a Car Wash Franchise?
There are several key reasons to own a carwash franchise that make this industry among the best for anywhere from beginner franchisees to seasoned business owners.
These advantages include:
- Increasing Market Growth and Demand – The car wash market will continue to grow, largely due to the increase in vehicle ownership. Also, innovations in car wash technology will make these facilities increasingly efficient through automation, and developments in eco-friendly solutions like steam cleaning will attract more environmentally conscious customers.
- Recurring Revenue Models – One of the main benefits of owning a car wash franchise is recurring revenue to provide you with a steady income. Many loyal customers of car wash franchises like Tommy’s Express and Mr. Clean can purchase memberships, subscriptions, or upsells to maximize profits while getting top-tier service with every visit.
- Scalability and Brand Support – Most car wash franchises offer sufficient initial and ongoing training, franchise marketing assistance to help you reach local audiences, and consistent operational support.
Types of Car Wash Franchise Opportunities
There are also multiple types of car wash franchise opportunities available to potential franchisees, depending on the kind of business model that appeals most to you.
Automatic Car Wash Franchise Opportunities
Many people enjoy the efficiency and speed of automatic car washes, which operate on three primary models, including:
- Touchless: These car washes operate with high-pressure water jets and detergents to clean vehicles without the use of cloth or brushes, mitigating the risk of scratches.
- Tunnel: Many are more familiar with this traditional automatic car wash model, which uses rotating brushes, water jets, cloth strips, and detergent to clean vehicles.
- In-bay: The car wash loads the vehicle into a bay where it remains in place as robotic arms complete the washing process, potentially saving space in locations like gas stations where space is limited.
Mobile Car Wash Franchise Opportunities
For a carwash franchise with lower start-up costs and increased overall flexibility, consider getting into the mobile car wash industry.
Unlike automotive car washes, mobile services come to the customer where they are. Professionals can show up at a customer’s workplace, home, or even while parked at a business the customer is patronizing. They bring all of their equipment and efficiently work to provide a complete cleaning, leaving no mess behind.
With so many people jumping into convenient on-demand services, mobile car washes are becoming increasingly appealing to people who don’t want to make the trip to a facility. The lack of a facility also means reduced initial and upkeep costs while potentially expanding your service area.
Full-Service vs. Express Car Wash Franchises
You may also wonder whether it’s worth it to invest in a full-service or express car wash franchise. Well, it really all comes down to what kind of initial investment you’re willing to make and whether you want to incorporate more manual labor or automated solutions.
Generally, the cost of a full-service car wash is lower than what you would pay for an express car wash with the latest features, with full-service businesses starting at around $1.5 million to $3 million.
Meanwhile, you can expect to pay around $4.5 million to $7.9 million to invest in an express car wash, depending on the types of systems and features included, along with the size of the facility.
For example, Tommy’s Express, an automatic quick-service wash, is one of the fastest-growing franchises in this industry, with an average gross sales of $2,092,628 for stores after their third year of operation.
Meanwhile, mobile franchise Spiffy earns an average annual revenue of around $664,000 per location.
With full-service car washes, you must also pay for employees to equip your facility, but having real people provide personalized services could appeal to customers looking for more through detailing and cleaning with tailored customer service.
In the end, the profit margins for full-service and express car washes are around the same (20% to 35%), with the average annual revenue falling around $1.8 million for both. However, the reduced labor expenses of express car washes could further boost profitability.
How Profitable Is Car Washing?
The big question that many aspiring franchise owners likely have is, “Just how profitable is car washing, anyway?”
For the most part, the profit margins for a car wash depend on the type of car wash you own and manage.
You’ll find higher margins for self-service car washes, which sit around 50-60%, while full-service car washes are toward the lower end with average margins of 20-30%.
Of course, earning potential will also depend on other factors, including:
- Location: Areas with more customers will naturally bring in more revenue.
- Pricing: Competitive pricing could also attract more customers while covering labor, maintenance, and other expenses.
- Add-ons: Detailing, memberships, state-of-the-art technology, and other components will further impact profitability.
Car Wash Franchise Cost: What Should I Expect?
Before looking at the various car wash franchise opportunities out there, you’re likely to ask: How much does it cost to open a car wash?
Initial Investment Breakdown
When determining car wash franchise cost, you need to first look at initial investment requirements, including:
- Franchise fees that each franchise charges, which typically fall in the tens of thousands
- Equipment and construction to build facilities and develop automatic car wash systems or equip employees
- Real estate and lease considerations if you intend on developing a physical location
Automatic vs. Mobile Car Wash Franchise Cost
You should also consider mobile vs. automatic car wash franchise costs.
Because of their advanced technology, automatic car washes typically require higher capital than mobile car washes with more staff. However, their automation and efficiency allow for increased volume, which translates to increased overall revenue.
On the other hand, mobile franchises are more cost-effective to launch and run, with low barriers to entry.
Which model you choose really comes down to whether you want an easier start to your franchise or higher long-term earnings.
Ongoing Expenses
Finally, another factor to consider is the cost of maintaining your franchise.
Some ongoing expenses you can expect include:
- Utilities
- Labor
- Chemicals
- Marketing
- Maintenance and replacements for equipment and supplies
Where Do Car Washes Generate the Most Revenue?
So, where do car washes generate the most revenue? Here are a few factors that influence income for various franchises:
- Traffic: The more vehicle traffic an area sees, the more business your car wash will get, especially if you have an expansive service area or a highly convenient centralized facility.
- Urban vs. Suburban Facilities: Urban areas will naturally have more vehicle traffic than suburban or rural areas, further influencing revenue.
- Seasonal Demand: Another factor to think about is seasonal demand, with winter and summer often seeing more washes due to everything from road salt and grime to dirt, droppings, and bugs.
How to Get a Car Wash Franchise
Want to dive into this industry? Let’s explore how to get a car wash franchise with these fundamental steps:
- Research the top car wash franchises, including some of the most reputable brands (some of which we’ll list below).
- Compare franchise costs and fees and compare their potential earnings.
- Evaluate the locations where car washes generate the most revenue, which we’ll also get into below.
- Secure financing options if needed, which could include SBA loans, bank loans, equipment financing, and other opportunities.
- Apply and meet all franchise requirements, which you should easily learn through the franchise’s website or downloadable materials.
Best Car Wash Franchise Opportunities in 2025
If you’re not sure which car wash franchise is worth the investment or commitment, here are some of the best options available, some of which are relatively new and localized but gradually expanding to nationwide locations:
Monkey Shine
Total Initial Investment Cost: $166,950 to $786,300
Franchise Fee: $5,000 to $25,000
Royalty Fee: 3%
A branch of Grease Monkey, an oil change and vehicle service franchise, Monkey Shine is a combination of an express and self-serve car wash business and vehicle maintenance business. It’s a highly cost-effective option that can make it easy to get started as a car wash franchise owner.
Spiffy
Total Initial Investment Cost: $91,300 to $149,150
Franchise Fee: $40,000
Royalty Fee: 7%
For one of the most cost-effective mobile car wash franchise opportunities, consider Spiffy, which is known for its eco-friendly services. Spiffy also uses a proprietary mobile app to optimize its customer experience.
Mr. Clean Carwash
Total Initial Investment Cost: $2,417,500 to $3,271,000
Franchise Fee: $35,000
Royalty Fee: 6%
If you want to own a car wash franchise attached to a widely recognized brand, a Mr. Clean Carwash franchise is another solid option. Customers can get everything from a superficial cleaning of their vehicle’s exterior to complete detailing both inside and outside, and like Spiffy, it comes with its own app to boost customer engagement and tailor each experience.
Green Shine Waterless
Total Initial Investment Cost: $22,700 to $49,100
Franchise Fee: $7,995
Royalty Fee: 5%
What makes Green Shine stand apart is its eco-friendly, waterless model that keeps people’s vehicles clean without wasting as much water as other car wash franchises. Customers simply leave their vehicles where they are, whether at work, out shopping, or completing other tasks, while mobile employees efficiently clean the vehicle on the spot.
Fleet Clean USA
Total Initial Investment Cost: $158,375 to $321,375
Franchise Fee: $30,000 to $75,000
Royalty Fee: 8.5%
Fleet Clean USA specializes in cleaning fleets of trucks and other commercial vehicles. Unlike other mobile car wash franchise opportunities, Fleet Clean USA offers a couple of different models: traditional franchising to give you an efficient path to ownership under the Fleet Clean USA brand and, alternatively, a manage-to-own program that can support your own business if you don’t meet the initial investment requirements of traditional franchising.
Tommy’s Express
Total Investment Cost: $2,318,927 – $4,817,217
Franchise Fee: $50,000
Royalty Fee: 4%
One of the top automatic car wash franchise opportunities is Tommy’s Express, which uses highly efficient quick-service car washes to provide a thorough cleaning. This franchise has locations across the U.S. and provides plenty of support, including ongoing training.
DetailXPerts
Total Initial Investment Cost: $103,500 to $240,100
Franchise Fee: $35,000
Royalty Fee: 6%
Another eco-friendly option, DetailXPerts provides mobile car wash services using steam car detailing methods. It provides a great opportunity to appeal to socially conscious customers, and you benefit from plenty of flexibility through its work-from-home model.
Successfully Grow Your Car Wash Franchise With Ignite Visibility
There are plenty of carwash franchise opportunities you can choose from to establish your success as a franchisee, and Ignite Visibility can help you further secure that success.
Ignite Visibility provides a full host of franchise marketing solutions for car washes and many other types of franchise businesses, whether you need franchise SEO, email marketing, lead generation optimization, or sales enablement.
With our help, you’ll be able to:
- Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote your franchise
- Set clear marketing goals to guide your strategy
- Continually monitor and track your campaigns based on your goals
- Regularly optimize your marketing and branding for sustained peak performance
- And more!
If you like that idea, contact us today, and we’ll connect you with one of our marketing experts to help you develop your car wash franchise.
