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18 Best Automatic Mobile Car Wash Franchises [Cost, Fees]

Do you want to start a car wash business but lack ideas? If YES, here are 20 best automatic mobile car wash franchise opportunities for sale and their cost. Americans are known to be very particular about their cars and would not mind spending thousands each year to protect their cars from damage, this is why the auto detailing and car wash industry is topping $7 billion in revenues.

In fact, as of 2017, car wash revenues in the U.S. reached approximately $7.12 billion. The car wash franchise industry is made up of companies that practice waterless car wash (eco wash), touchless wash, automated wash, steam wash, water wash and a host of others. If you want to be part of this industry in the United States, here are 18 best car wash franchises you can buy into.

18 Best Automatic Mobile Car Wash Franchise Opportunities for Sale and the Cost

  1. Mr. Clean Carwash

Mr. Clean is a car wash franchise that is dedicated to the washing and maintenance of vehicles. They pride themselves in maintaining the showroom shine of your exterior, or detailing and freshening up the interior. They equally have a host of wash packages ranging from a quick shine to an allover detail.

Mr. Clean Carwash is operated by Agile Pursuits Franchising Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Procter and Gamble (P&G), which also franchises Tide Dry Cleaners. In addition to both interior and exterior wash services, some Mr. Clean Carwash facilities offer oil changes and other maintenance services.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment – $2,417,500 to $3,271,000
  • Net-worth Requirement – $2,500,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $700,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $35,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – 5%
  1. Green Shine Waterless car-wash services

Green shine is the country’s first waterless car wash franchise. The company started in response to the need for water conservation while washing cars because the average water wash uses a lot of water to wash a single car. One report says: “a home car wash can go through 80 to 140 gallons (300 to 530 liters) of water, whereas a wash at one of its garages will take about 30 to 45 gallons (115 to 170 liters).”

GreenShine came up with a solution on how to conserve water while giving cars a pristine clean wash. The simple concept behind Green Shine is using idle parking time while owners leave their cars to carry out other activities such as shopping, working, entertaining, studying, etc. to provide first class ecological hand car wash and detailing services, without moving the car from its parking spot

Green Shine has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover franchise fee, startup costs, equipment.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment – $22,700 to $49,100
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $31,720
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $19,900
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 5%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – 1%
  • Veteran Incentives – 10% off franchise fee
  1. Fleet Clean USA

Fleet Clean USA is a mobile commercial truck washing company that was founded in 2009. They have been in the truck washing industry for many years and have dedicated thousands of hours to learning the intricacies of the field. Fleet Clean USA is the fastest growing provider of mobile commercial fleet-washing services in the United States.

Offering an environment-friendly, high-tech, hand-brush washing and pressure cleaning for businesses, Fleet Clean was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, and it is now servicing more than 1,000 companies in 18 states. Fleet Clean began franchising in 2013 and is projected to grow by 25 percent by the end of 2017.

Fleet Clean USA offers in-house financing to cover equipment, and it has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, accounts receivable, payroll etc.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment – $100,875 to $346,375
  • Net-worth Requirement – $100,000 to $150,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $100,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $20,000 to $75,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 8.5%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – 1.5%
  • Veteran Incentives – $5,000 off franchise fee
  1. DetailXPerts

DetailXPerts is an environmentally friendly mobile vehicle wash and detailing business and it also the world’s first eco-friendly steam car detailer franchise. The company was born in 2002, when Emmanuel Williams, founder and chief executive officer of DetailXPerts was sitting and watching cars go by in the company of his 8 year old son. Suddenly, his son asked why cars were not washed with steam. Emmanuel Williams had no answers, but he started looking for them till he came up with a workable solution.

In 2006 his first eco car detailer shop opened in Indianapolis. According to him, using steam conserves precious natural resources. Instead of the 40 gallons it takes to hand wash a vehicle in the traditional conveyor car wash; DetailXPerts car detailer technicians will need only two gallons to wash 15 vehicles.

DetailXPerts has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover
franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable and payroll.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment – $81,000 to $160,000
  • Net-worth Requirement – $300,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement – $35,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $35,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee – 6%
  • Ad Royalty Fee – 2%
  • Veteran Incentives – 50% of travel expenses to attend Discovery Day
  1. Tommy’s Express car wash

Tommy’s express car was is a high performance, state-of-the-art car wash facility. For over forty-five years they have been in the business of building the best systems and processes to create outstanding car washes.

Tommy’s express has four innovative building options for their franchisees which are; Express, Flex, Gas, and Mini. To keep things simple, they build all Totally Tommy washes to be virtually identical in services, menu, and equipment. All architectural plans are included with the facility and adjusted to comply with local codes. They also provide one month of training at their headquarters as well as one week of on-site training.

Financial requirements

  • Franchise Fee – $40,000
  • Royalty – 4%
  • Brand Development – 1%
  1. Sonny’s CarWash Factory

Sonny’s car wash factory is a one-stop shop with all the car wash equipment, parts, education, software, and car wash innovations. Sonny’s has been washing cars since 1949 and has over 70 years of automatic car wash equipment operations experience in their bag.

Sonny’s is the world’s largest manufacturer of conveyorized car wash systems. They don’t just assemble car wash equipment, they actually manufacture entire car wash systems right here in the USA. This means that Sonny’s customers get the benefit of higher quality, direct delivery, and industry-leading service.

Sonny’s also prides itself with selling more conveyorized car wash equipment than anyone in the world which allows them to be instantly market responsive with new product innovations, better equipment quality, delivery, and service.

Financial requirements

  • Cash Required – $500,000 to $1,000,000
  1. Monkey Shine car wash

Monkey Shine car wash provides general public automobile and light truck washing services through one or a combination of the following formats:

  • (I) in-bay automatic car washes in single and multiple bay configurations which use touchless and friction washing technologies
  • (2) express tunnel car wash operations in single and multiple bay configurations in both touchless and friction washing technologies
  • (3) self-service car washes in multiple bay configurations where the customer washes their vehicle using wand technology. The company started in 2007 and it started franchising the same year.

Monkey Shine Franchising, LLC is offering franchise for the operation of a car wash facility under the service mark “Monkey Shine”. The franchisee pays an initial franchise fee of $5,000 per Self-Serve car wash, and a maximum of $25,000 for an Automatic Car Wash bay.

The initial franchise fee is $25,000 for an Express Tunnel Car Wash, and if the franchisee combines a Self-Serve or Automatic Car Wash with an Express Tunnel Car Wash, the maximum initial franchise fee is $25,000.

Financial requirements

  • Total Estimated Initial Investment – $166,950 to $786,300
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $5,000 to $25,000
  • Royalty – 3% of Gross Receipts
  • Advertising Contribution – Up to 1% of Gross Receipts
  1. Super Wash

Super Wash, Inc. is the nation’s premier turnkey car wash company that was founded in 1982. They have been a part of the development and construction of over 700 car washes nationwide. Arranged in Morrison, Ill., this dynamic auto wash foundation now works around 350 Super Wash auto wash territories in 21 states across over America.

There are currently approximately 350 combination self-serve and brushless automatic car washes operating under the Super Wash® trademark in 21 different states from coast to coast. Super wash started franchising in 2001.

Financial requirements

  • Initial Investment – $468,000 to $1,000,100
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $9,000
  • Term of Agreement – 10 years
  1. Superior Wash

Superior Wash is a mobile fleet truck washing company. It was established in 1989, and has expanded through the United States and Canada, now washing more than 47,000 vehicles per week system-wide. Superior Wash is headquartered in Oakland Park, Florida.

With over 25 years of truck washing experience, Superior Wash has expanded in experience and commitment to excellence. Superior Wash is an experienced leader in truck washing services industry and they offer satisfaction, safety and pocket friendly fees.

Superior Wash is now one of the fastest growing franchises because of the strong relationship they have built with their clients based on their concept. Superior Wash employs over 100 people who are dedicated to customer service, operations, safety, environmental maintenance and quality control issues.

Superior Wash Inc. provides outstanding support for its franchise network to include; complete training, accounting services, quotes, written sales proposals, 24/7 direct connect to our support staff, complete equipment package etc.

Financial requirements

  • Liquid Capital Required – $30,000
  • Net Worth Required – $150,000
  • Total Investment – $70,000 to $90,000
  • Franchise fee – $21,500
  1. Team Blue Hand Car Wash and Detail

Team Blue is a high quality, Eco-Friendly 100% hand wash, wax, and detail service that was co-founded in 2008 by Jeff Haas and Jason Haas. Team Blue’s goal is to be the first national car wash brand that washes cars the old-fashioned way … only with hands to provide a higher-quality wash and the tender loving care the vehicle deserves.

They pride themselves on having no tunnels, no conveyors, and tunnel automated machines that can cause damage to cars. The company has established a customer-first culture built on team values, team support and team pride. Their patrons get to enjoy a clean and beautiful waiting area with plenty of flat screen tv’s, free wi-fi, and complimentary Starbucks coffee.

Franchise Costs

  • Cash Investment – $150,000
  • Investment Range – $369,400 to $524,900
  • Franchise Fees – $45,000
  1. Cactus Car Wash

In 1996, the first Cactus Car Wash was built by Frank Lynch with a simple goal of providing outstanding car wash experience to its customers. At Cactus Car Wash, the customers relax in a comfortable lounge while the high-tech trained staff cleaned their cars quickly and thoroughly. Their waxing and detailing services satisfies the most ardent car-lovers. Before long, Cactus Car Wash became the most popular car wash in Charleston, SC.

Cactus Car Wash expanded into the heart of Atlanta in 1998, but today, Cactus Car Wash has seven successful locations in Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta and Charleston. Cactus Car Wash operates on a “flex-serve” model that offers customers traditional full-service car washing, exterior-only express car washing, and a variety of special detailing and restoration options.

Financial requirements

  • Initial Investment – $2,370,000 to $3,805,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $45,000
  • Liquid capital required – $600,000
  • Net worth required – $750,000
  • Royalty Fee – 5.5%
  1. Spot Not Car Wash

Spot Not Car Wash is a high-pressure spray brushless automatic car wash, that has full-featured, self-service wash bays. Each facility offers canopied, lighted vacuum areas where customers can either get assistance or wash their cars by themselves, whichever they prefer. Spot Not Car Wash franchise is an all cash business that requires very few employees and can easily be set up with the given resources. Spot-Not offers high pressure spray frictionless automatic/self-service car wash.

Financial requirements

  • Liquid capital required – $200,000
  • Net worth required – $300,000
  • Investment – $622,000 to $1,100,000
  • Franchise fee – $25,000
  1. Wash My Car

Wash My Car is a mobile car wash franchise that washes cars on the spot where they are parked. Wash My Car prides itself as an ecological mobile car wash service and a green franchise. This car wash franchise promises its franchisees 60 percent profitability in a short while, and exclusivity in their city within a radius of 20 km.

  • Initial Investment – $7,180 – and Up
  • Initial Franchise Fee – $7,180
  1. GeoWash car wash

GeoWash is an ecological mobile car wash system that gives customers an innovative, 100% service-oriented, convenient and safe experience. The simple concept behind GeoWash is using idle parking time while owners leave their cars to carry out other activities, such as shopping, working, entertaining, studying, etc. to provide a first class ecological car wash service, without moving the car from its parking spot.

GeoWash is currently expanding to various countries through franchises, providing a comprehensive ecological vehicle wash service, while taking active part in the efficient management of water.

GeoWash partners have access to the most comprehensive know-how and support package including; exclusive rights in selected regions, marketing and technical training with videos and all the tips & tricks, operations management training, international advertising, permanent assistance and support etc.

Financial requirements

  • Initial Investment – $150,000 to over $200,000
  1. EcoWash Mobile

EcoWash is a waterless car washing system that was founded in 2004. It was one of the few automotive cleaning providers that utilize waterless washing system that was still yet unpopular then. It was also a global leader in mobile car washing.

After a few years of inception,  EcoWash converted into Nanotek, with a new focus of utilizing liquid polymer nano- technology. It has since then expanded into providing a professionally designed, waterless washing system that not only lifts off dirt and debris but also provides a protective layer. EcoWash was founded less than 10 years ago and has been a global phenomenon ever since.

Currently, Nanotek is looking to expand continuously throughout the world, Including many U.S. States like Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Financial requirements

  • Liquid capital required – $50,000
  • Net worth required – $250,000
  • Investment – $180,700 to $290,750
  1. Goo 3-Minute Express Wash

Goo 3-Minute express wash started the business of washing cars since 1945. They are an independently owned business that specializes in the sales and service of the latest car wash systems and innovations. They have been in business for years and are committed to developing the highest quality car washes and car wash products around.

From the smallest car wash part to a complete turnkey project, the team at Goo Goo Car Wash can meet all of their customers car wash business needs. Their franchises are currently available in all 50 states.

Financial requirements

  • Liquid capital required – $300,000
  • Net worth required – $2,000,000
  • Investment – $1,500,000 to $3,300,000
  • Franchise fee – $96,000
  1. MagicWater Car Wash

MagicWater Car Wash’s concept is to offer a car wash service that utilizes a HyperPlasma effect that prevents paint surface from getting destroyed during a wash, and helps vehicles maintain a clean surface without having to be washed often. Magic Wash prides itself in using specially formulated chemicals to remove tough dirt and grime.

Beside this service, their original-franchise centre will offer a special engine, gear-box and car battery upgrading program (service) to keep the technical characteristics of your car up on top for over 200,000 km, without aging the mechanical characteristics.

Financial requirements

  • Initial Investment – $455,000 to $3,236,000
  1. Magic Hand Carwash

Magic Hand Carwash began as a small family business in Melbourne in 1994. Now a national franchised network of stores across Australia and the United States, Magic Hand Carwash has washed more than five million cars. According to them, their success is based on their dedication and obsession for consistently delivering quality clean car wash, and warm, friendly customer service.

The initial franchise and training fee of the car wash provides franchisees with the license to run a Magic Hand Carwash for the agreed time period and also allows Magic to establish their business across state and national boundaries. This fee covers location selection, lease negotiation, training of team to open site, opening assistance, Magic Hand Carwash intellectual property etc.

Financial requirements

  • Initial capital investment – $300,000 to $500,000 for shopping center sites
  • Initial capital investment – $600,000 to $1,000,000 for café sites
  • Ongoing royalty fee – 8%
  • Marketing fee – 2.5%