Running multiple car wash businesses is a great way to increase your revenue, but it’s also a bit overwhelming if not done correctly. If you currently own a car wash and you’re considering opening another, or if you’re considering opening more than one at the same time, there are a few things you can do to make running multiple car washes manageable.
The Benefits of Owning Multiple Car Washes
Before we dive into the technicalities of how to manage multiple businesses, let’s take a look at some of the advantages of owning more than one car wash.
- Different locations offer access to different (and more!) customers
- The same marketing material can be used for all locations, as long as it’s tweaked according to which car wash it’s for
- You’ll put your business skills and experience to use more than once
- The most obvious benefit: an increase in revenue
How to Manage Multiple Car Washes
Sure, the benefits of owning more than one car wash sound great, but what happens when you lack organization? The dream can quickly crumble under your feet. To keep that from happening, consider these tips.
Keep One Set of Records
Customer receipts, costs, and income can be a lot to keep up with for one business, but when you add in additional locations, it can become a nightmare. Keep yourself organized by only using one book for all your locations. Then when tax season rolls around, you won’t be scrambling between each different set of records trying to figure out how much money you made and how much you spent.
Utilize Your Calendar
Having one calendar – whether it’s online, on your phone, or on paper – between all your car wash locations will make it easier to keep track of what needs to be done when. Include marketing events, staff meetings, business closings, and when you’re supposed to repair your car wash equipment.
Link Your Bank Accounts
Between checking, savings, and business bank accounts, there’s a lot of money to track. While you should definitely maintain a separate account for your business, your budget will be easier to handle if that account is with the same bank as, and linked to, your personal accounts.
Delegate Duties
You’re an entrepreneur; you can do it all, right? While that may be true, it’s definitely not easy. Even if you know you’re the best person for certain tasks, by delegating some of those tasks, you free yourself to focus on more important aspects of your business. Delegating allows you to adequately balance your time between work, family, and relaxation. Balance is one of the keys to being a successful entrepreneur; without it, you’ll quickly get burnt out and want to quit.