The Federal Way News located in Washington State recently wrote an article that car wash operators and charity organizers ought to perk up to. It’s that time of year again when community organizations and small groups come out in force washing cars to raise money for their varied causes. While many smaller organizations depend on the funds raised by these makeshift carwashes, they can hurt business for professional carwashes, and it turns out that they’re bad for the environment too. According to the article:

…before you send all that oily, soapy water down the storm drain, Federal Way’s Surface Water Management Division and the Puget Sound Car Wash Association (PSCWA) want to remind you that not only is this very harmful to wetlands, streams, and lakes, but it is also a violation of state, local, and federal pollution laws.

Unlike the sanitary sewer systems, water that runs into the storm drains goes directly to lakes, streams, and wetlands with little or no treatment.

Runoff from car washes is highly toxic to aquatic life and is one of the reasons that streams are not as healthy as they should be. [read more...]

At the end of the day, professionally operated carwashes are typically more environmentally friendly than non-professional washes. The article recommends that fund raising groups team up with professional washes who will donate some of the proceeds. From a marketing standpoint, while not likely to make as much money when donating proceeds to charity, a car wash that works with community service groups has an excellent way to generate free advertising and positive publicity while attracting new customers.

Research pays. Prospective carwash investors and seasoned small business professionals alike will find valuable information in the library resources listed below. Resources here represent not only classic small business library books but also the best new professional carwash industry information.

While carwashing and auto detailing subjects are covered thoroughly and creatively, environmental realities driving the future conservation economy are also represented. The topics covered range from investor basics to sustaining the successful family business. But you’ll also find business plans, funding and tax advice, recommendations on equipment, location, marketing, and employee practices, and much more. Important resources below are starred. Keep in mind that for the most up-to-date information, these library books are also beneficially supplemented by regular reading of popular industry magazines, influential periodicals, and online resources such as MVExpo.com.

Book reviews for these resources are welcomed, as are suggestions for smart additions to an essential library for small business owners. Feel free to post below.

Car Care Related Resources

Chidakel, Myer R. Starting and Managing a Carwash. Washington, DC: Small Business Administration, 1967.

Circeo, Louis J. Microbial Investigation at Central Vehicle Wash Facilities. Atlanta: Georgia Institute of Technology College of Architecture, 1992.

Internal Revenue Service. Market Segment Specialization Program (U.S.): Car Wash Industry. Washington, DC: United States Department of the Treasury, 1998.

*Paisner, Marshall B. Sustaining the Family Business: An Insider’s Guide to Managing across Generations. Reading, MA: Perseus Books, 1999.

*Sandlin, Eileen Figure. Entrepreneur Magazine’s Start Your Own Automobile Detailing Business: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success. Irvine, CA: Entrepreneur Press, 2005.

SBAO Fact Sheet. Mobile Power Washing and Environmental Regulations. Ohio EPA and the Small Business Assistance Office, 2001.

Scholze, Richard J. Central Vehicle Wash Facilities (CVWF) Solid Residuals Management, USACERL Technical Report 96/59. Champaign, IL and Springfield, VA: US Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Engineering Research Laboratories, 1996.

*Simeral, Chris. Entrepreneur Magazine’s How to Start a Car Wash: A Step-by-Step Guide to Success. 5th ed. Irvine, CA: Entrepreneur Magazine Group, 2002.

Small Business Resources

American Bar Association. Legal Guide for Small Business: Everything a Small-Business Person Must Know, from Start-up Employment Laws to Financing and Selling a Business. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2000.

Business Plans Handbook: A Compilation of Actual Business Plans Developed by Small Businesses Throughout North America. 13th ed. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Inc., 2006.

Heath, Gibson. Getting the Money You Need: Practical Solutions for Financing Your Small Business. Chicago: Irwin Professional Publishing, 1995.

Goldstein, David B. Saving Energy, Growing Jobs: How Environmental Protection Promotes Economic Growth, Profitability, Innovation, and Competition. Berkeley: Bay Tree Publishing, 2007.

J.K. Lasser Institute. How to Run a Small Business. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994.

Kanter, Rosabeth Moss. World Class: Thriving Locally in the Global Economy. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.

Naisbitt, John. Global Paradox: The Bigger the World Economy, the More Powerful Its Smallest Players. New York: W. Morrow, 1994.

Price, Courtney H. 101 + Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions from Entrepreneurs. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1999.

Small Business Administration. The State of Small Business: A Report of the President Transmitted to the Congress. Washington, DC: U.S. G.P.O, annual publication.

Small Business Sourcebook. 22nd ed. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Company, 2006.

Smith, Jeanette. The Advertising Kit: A Complete Guide for Small Businesses. New York and Toronto: Lexington Books, 1994.

Government agencies help fund, regulate, and benefit from carwash industry successes. Below are some governmental and related organizations with which small business professionals regularly cooperate.

If you have questions about contacting these organizations or can offer stories from previous experiences working with local, state, or federal small business and governmental agencies, feel free to post below.

Funding and Business Ideas

US Small Business Administration (SBA)
http://www.sba.gov/index.html

America’s Small Business Development Center Network (ASBDC)
http://www.asbdc-us.org/

US Postal Service (USPS)
Direct Mailing Services
http://www.usps.com/directmail/welcome.htm

Wages and Taxes

US Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Wages by Area and Occupation
http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm

US Department of the Treasury
IRS Audit Technique Guide (ATG)
Retail Industry Service Stations, including Carwashes (published August 2005)
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=141494,00.html

Occupational Safety, Environmental, and Transportation Issues

US Department of Labor
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
National Alliance with the International Carwash Association (ICA)
http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/ica/ica.html
Chemical Safety at Carwashes
http://www.carcarecentral.com/

US Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Commercial Carwashes as Service Buildings
http://www.eia.doe.gov/
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cbecs/pba99/service/service.html

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance and Repair Publications
http://www.epa.gov/oecaagct/avmm.html
Carwash Strategy Recommendations
http://www.epa.gov/nps/nps_edu/stopx2.htm and then

US Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
http://www.tfhrc.gov/
FHWA Cost of Corrosion Study
http://www.corrosioncost.com/home.html

State and Local Government Agencies Contact Information

State and Local Government on the Net
http://www.statelocalgov.net/

Conventions and tradeshows are valuable opportunities for carwashing professionals to interact with one another. Shows are a great way to make personal contacts — putting faces with names — while also being venues that facilitate product demonstrations and investor education as well as sales and business purchases. Listed here are important regional, national and international shows that cater to the carwashing industry. We’ve also included the biggest conventions that involve the related auto, gas and convenience store markets.

For those of you who are experienced tradeshow participants, feel free to provide stories about your tradeshow experiences or suggest other worthy venues.

2007

February 18-19
Southwest Carwash Association
Arlington, TX
http://www.swcarwash.org/

February 20-22
Western Petroleum Marketers Association (WPMA)
Las Vegas, NV
http://www.wpma.com/

March 7-8
CARWACS and Convenience U Show (Canadian Carwash Association)
Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Road, Toronto, ON
https://www.convenienceu.ca/

Southeast Petro-Food Marketing Exposition
Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach, SC
http://www.sepetro.org/

March 14-15
Midwest Petroleum and Convenience Tradeshow (M-PACT)
Indianapolis, IN
http://www.m-pact.org/

March 26-28
International Carwash Association (ICA) Car Care World Expo
Las Vegas, NV
http://www.carcarecentral.com/

April 3-4
Votre dépanneur Conférence & Expo
Sheraton Laval, Quebec
http://www.votredepanneur.com/

April 11
Connecticut Carwash Association Mini Expo
Marriot Courtyard, Cromwell, CT
http://www.wewashctcars.com/

April 19-21
Heartland Carwash Association Products & Equipment Show
Des Moines, IA
http://www.heartlandcarwash.org/show.html

April 24
New England Carwash Association Annual Table Top Show
Sheraton Braintree Hotel, 37 Forbes Road, Braintree, MA
www.newenglandcarwash.org

April 26-29
Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA)
Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, AZ
http://www.sigma.org/

May 23-24
C-Store Canada Conference & Expo
Calgary RoundUp Centre, Calgary, Alberta
http://www.c-storecanada.com/

July 29-31
Australian Car Wash Association Convention
Conrad-Jupiters, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
http://www.carwash.org.au/

September 17-19
Midwest Car Wash Expo
Novi, MI
http://www.midwestcarwash.com

September 23-26
Southeastern Carwash Convention & Expo
Peabody Orlando and Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
http://www.secwa.org/

October 7-9
Western Car Wash Association Convention & Tradeshow
Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
http://www.wcwa.org/

October 15-17
Northeast Regional Carwash Convention
Atlantic City, NJ
http://nrccshow.com/

October 30-November 2
Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show
Las Vegas, NV
http://www.semashow.com/

November 6-9
National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS)
Atlanta, GA
http://www.nacsonline.com/

Carwash professionals can keep up with industry news by reading magazines and journals. We include a sampling of resources here that are designed around your carwashing interests. These resources help you understand the changing shape of the industry and keep a pulse on the best, newest business ideas. Popular resources are starred, but we recommend you read widely to grow your business! If you have comments or additional resource suggestions, feel free to provide them below.

*The International Carwash Association’s Annual Membership Directory and Buyers’ Guide: A comprehensive list of the best car care professionals, including owners, operators, suppliers and buyers
401 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2200
Chicago, IL 60611
Available exclusively to ICA members, including in a searchable online format.
http://www.carcarecentral.com

*The International Carwash Association’s Study of Consumer Car Washing Attitudes and Habits (triennial editions available online)
401 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2200
Chicago, IL 60611
http://www.carcarecentral.com

America’s Car Care Business Magazine
10040 East Happy Valley Road, Unit 2033
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
http://www.americascarcare.com/

*Auto Laundry News
2125 Center Avenue
Suite 305
Fort Lee, NJ 07024-5859
Car Washing and Auto Detailing Info.
http://www.carwashmag.com

Auto Services Operator (ASO) Magazine
P.O. Box 53227
Indianapolis, IN 46253
http://www.asomag.com

Car Care Council
42 Park Drive
Port Clinton, OH 43452
www.carcarecouncil.org/

Modern Car Care
c/o Virgo Publishing Inc.
3300 N. Central Avenue
Suite 2500
Phoenix, AZ 85012
http://www.moderncarcare.com/

Northeast Carwasher
c/o Media Solutions
44 Spruce St.
Clifton Park, NY 12065
http://www.northeastcarwasher.com/

*Professional Carwashing & Detailing
13 Century Hill Drive
Latham, NY 12110-2197
For news about carwashing, detailing, and oil/lube shops.
http://www.carwash.com/

*Self-Service Carwash News
Jarret J. Jakubowski, Publisher/Editor/Owner
19 White Hills
P.O. Box 6341
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
616.949.5618
jjjsscwn@comcast.net

St. Louis Carwasher
c/o Media Solutions
44 Spruce St.
Clifton Park, NY 12065
518.877.6779

Wash Street Journal
Southeastern Carwash Association
184 Business Park Drive,
Suite 200-S
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
http://www.secwa.org/page/1307.html

WashTrends
Mid-Atlantic Carwash Association/Next Wave Group, LLC
550M Ritchie Highway, #271
Severna Park, MD 21146
http://www.mcacarwash.org/WashTrends/index.html

Convenience Store Decisions
3331 Street Road #410
Bensalem, PA 19020
http://www.csdecisions.com/

Convenience Store News
770 Broadway, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10003
http://www.csnews.com/csn/index.jsp

CSP - Convenience Store / Petroleum
1100 Jorie Blvd. Suite 314
Oak Brook, IL 60523
http://www.cspnet.com/ME2/Default.asp

C-Store Canada Magazine
1839 Inkster Blvd.
Winnipeg, MB R2X 1R3
http://www.c-storecanada.com/

Detailer’s Digest
13258 92nd Street N.
Largo, FL 33773
http://www.mobile-technews.com/

Inc.com
Online daily resource for entrepreneurs and small-business owners.

Inside Self-Storage
http://www.insideselfstorage.com/

Journal of Petroleum Marketing
770 Broadway, 4th Place
New York, NY 10003
646.654.4500

Journal of Small Business Management
Official journal of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), includes entrepreneurial research and the free exchange of small business ideas.
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com

Mobile Tech News & Views
13258 92nd Street N.
Largo, FL 33773
727.581.4060

National Advisory Group
Convenience Store and Petroleum Marketers Association
2063 Oak Street
Jacksonville, FL 32204-4492
904.384.1010

National Association of Convenience Stores
The NACS Magazine
1600 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3436
http://www.nacsonline.com/

National Oil & Lube News
1617 27th Street, Suite 130
Lubbock, TX 79405
http://www.noln.net/

National Petroleum News
2101 S. Arlington Heights Road, Suite 150
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
http://www.npnweb.com/

O&A Marketing News
559 South Harbor Blvd. Suite A
Anaheim, CA 92805-4525
http://www.kalpub.com/OANews/oa_news.html

June Warren Publishing, Ltd.
Canada’s Oil and Gas Publisher
6111 - 91 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6E 6V6
http://www.junewarren.com/

What’s in a business sign? A lot actually. A good carwash sign can make a business thrive. The owners of Elephant Car Wash in Rancho Mirage, California, know that their pink elephant carwash sign gets a lot of attention locally, but when they recently decided to give the sign a makeover, they found themselves in the national spotlight as well.

“If you looked at it right now, because of the cold weather - it was so harsh to the sign,” said Anthony Antonis, who co-owns the car wash with his brothers, Michael and John. “It’s such a pillar of the community.”

The car wash serves about 200 cars daily and doubles that number on the weekends, he said.

Customers may not know the business’s name, but they know the elephant. “I hardly remember the name; I just call it the car wash with the big elephant,” said Palm Desert resident Eve McCulloch. It’s a hot spot for photo opportunities, manager Gary Deines said.

“Every night, I see someone taking a picture,” he said. [read more...]

What’s that? People stopping to take a picture with your business sign? That’s right, it’s become something of a landmark. When completed, the restored sign will have new neon lights and cost about $9,000 — a small price to pay for the media punch this sign packs.

Chicagoland Carwash Association
P.O. Box 298
Lockport, IL 60441
www.chicagolandcarwash.org

Connecticut Carwash Association
2214 Budd Terrace
Niskayuna, NY 12309
www.wewashctcars.com

Carwash Operators of New Jersey, Inc.
2214 Budd Terrace
Niskayuna, NY 12309
www.cwonj.com

New York State Carwash Association
2214 Budd Terrace
Niskayuna, NY 12309
www.nyscwa.com

Ohio Carwash Association
P.O. Box 9113
Canton, OH 44711
www.ohiocarwash.com

Carwash Association of Pennsylvania
3225 W. St. Joseph St.
Lansing, MI 489178
www.pacarwash.org

Puget Sound Car Wash Association
6351 Seaview Avenue Northwest
Seattle, WA 98107
www.charitycarwash.org

Heartland Carwash Association
P.O. Box 932
Des Moines, IA 50304
Includes Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
www.heartlandcarwash.org

Mid-Atlantic Carwash Association
550m Ritchie Highway #271
Severna Park, MD 21146
Includes Maryland, District of Columbia, Delaware, and Northern Virginia. Holds regular conferences.
www.mcacarwash.org

Midwest Carwash Association
3225 W. St. Joseph St.
Lansing, MI 48917
Includes Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
www.midwestcarwash.com

New England Carwash Association (NECA)
c/o The Association Advantage
591 North Avenue, #3, 2nd Floor
Wakefield, MA 01880
Includes Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Holds regular meetings, including tradeshow.
www.newenglandcarwash.org

Northeast Regional Carwash Group
PO Box 646
North Chelmsford, MA 01863
Includes New York and others. Holds annual tradeshow.
800-287-6604
978-250-8938

Rocky Mountain Carwash Association
PO Box 9831
Denver, CO 80209-0831
Includes Colorado and others.
www.rmcwa.com

Southeastern Carwash Association
184 Business Park Drive, #200 S
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Holds annual tradeshow and educational meeting.
www.secwa.org

Southwest Carwash Association
4600 Spicewood Springs Rd.
Suite 103
Austin, TX 78759
Includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Holds quarterly meetings plus annual tradeshow.
www.swcarwash.org

Western Carwash Association
10535 Paramount Boulvard, Ste. 100
Downey, CA 90241
Holds annual tradeshow and other meetings.
www.wcwa.org

International Carwash Association
401 N. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611 USA
Serves the global community of auto detailing and carwash operators, manufacturers, and suppliers by providing useful products and services. Their annual convention is the industry’s preeminent event.
www.carcarecentral.com

Australian Carwash Association
PO Box 352
Glen Huntly
Victoria 3163 AUSTRALIA
Provides a forum for members to exchange information and promote the Australian carwash industry. Emphasizes public awareness of commercial carwashing’s environmental benefits. Biannual convention welcomes exhibitors.
www.carwash.org.au

Canadian Carwash Association, including its Western Chapter
5-2325 Hurontario St, Ste 194
Mississauga, ON, L5A 4K4 CANADA
Promotes responsible growth and prosperity in the carwash industry. Informs members of pertinent legislation, auto industry recommendations, and environmental issues. Participates in CARWACS, the Canadian convenience, gas and carwash tradeshow, and hosts an annual golf tournament.
www.canadiancarwash.ca