Over the years, the profession of washing cars in Spain has become increasingly demanded, but beyond what they can charge for a vehicle washing the question is: Is a car laundry room really profitable? The answer is Manuel, a Palma entrepreneur who started ten years ago cleaning cars in the garage of his house for his friends and now invoices every month between 10,000 and 15,000 euros. Today, he assures that this business is not only profitable, but has more future than most imagine
In an interview for the YouTube channel by Adrián G. Martin, Manuel explains firsthand the secrets of handwashing by hand, the investment necessary to start, the profitability he leaves, and also the bureaucratic obstacles that almost force him to close. “I received a letter that said I had to close the place. They even came the police. All for an urban infraction that I didn’t even know,” he recalls.
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A veteran mason does not cut when talking about what he earns in the work: “Here I win 1,300 euros, but I leave their backs, young people do not want this work, it is hard and poorly paid”
“One day we get to bill 1,600 euros. Normally, we work between 300 and 500 daily,” he says while describing a trade that requires record, strategy and a lot of labor.
“To wash three cars a day to sign with an American company”
Manuel started in a place of just 60 square meters and two cars inside. “I started washing two or three cars a day, until I saw that the answer was very good and decided to throw myself fully,” he recalls.
Over time, the business evolved towards more detailed washing, up to two hours per vehicle, with prices that are around 70 and 80 euros. The key, says Manuel, is to differentiate himself: “It is not just about cleaning, but about offering an experience for the client to say ‘Wow, my car is like new’.”
The great jump came when he signed with an American company that supplies exclusive products and specialized training. “In the United States you can wash cars in the middle of the street with a van. Here it is prohibited, but that marketing mentality is what we want to bring,” he says.
His last movement has been to launch a subscription model, still uncommon in the sector. For 15.90 euros per month, the client accesses an express washing, while by 45.90 he obtains a complete service. “I don’t like forcing with permanence, I prefer that the client return because he compensates for him,” he says. In just two months it already has 18 subscribers.
A very profitable business, but with a lot of bureaucracy
The profitability is high, with margins from 70% to 75%. Despite this, the bureaucracy almost ruins the project. An urban infraction related to signs and a lodge of the premises caused that it had to close for weeks. “We lost money, but in the end we could show that everything was in order and we could reopen,” he explains.
As explained, the cost to start around 10,000 to 15,000 euros. From there, the key is to reinvest in machinery, products and digital marketing. The biggest expense, he acknowledges, are the salaries and rent of the premises, whose price in downtown areas of Palma can shoot up to 8,000 euros per month.
The business is also demanding at the physical level. “It is a very hard job. Very heat, back pain, be bent over. Not anyone endures,” he admits. Unlike an automatic washing tunnel, which requires an investment of more than 200,000 euros, manual washing relies on specialization and personalized treatment.
The future of the sector and the vision of Manuel
Manuel does not conform to what was achieved. Its new bet is the distribution in Spain of a ceramic treatment for bodies, capable of repelling water, resins or bird excrements. Prices range from 500 euros for one year of protection to 1,200 for five. “It is what has the most potential right now,” he says.
In addition, it plans to open an exclusive place for subscribers, with automated check-in by QR code, and even an academy to train new entrepreneurs. “This is an ant work: although at first you make two cars, do them well. It is not about being the cheapest, but of valueing your work time,” he advises.