Dog Wash - Good Idea?

We are thinking about installing an outside Dog Wash at our Car wash as another revenue generator. Has anyone done this?

I have thought of doing the same thing. But having looked to far into it. I'll have to check back later on to see what others thing about it.

Would it be under any type of cover at all? It may be a good idea but in the NE as we both no you will only get spring, summer, and part of the fall. If you have any questions feel free to contact us.

At this point we are thinking of a tent-like covering or a awning. We would not be interested in washing dogs in the late Fall or Winter; the car wash is busy enough during the cold months. Our car wash is located in the NH lake regions where there are a lot of vacationers with dogs. We're hoping that these customers bring their stinky dogs to our place before travelling home. We're trying to determine if it is really worth the investment.

A lot of camp grounds are looking into dog washes also for the same reason you are i think it could be a good revenue generator.

If you're going to implement any business plan, wouldn't it make more sense to form it around what the customer might want instead of only what brings you income when you need it most?

Well, everything we do is based on what the customer wants. That's the only way to run a business. Adding another service for our customers benefits both parties.

I have had clients that toddled with the dog wash idea, none of them did it.

I love dogs but don’t own them anymore because they can stink up a house.

Dog washes are in a box, but I won’t visit a wash with one because the idea of working besides someone who is cleaning their dirty, stinking, slobbering and possibly flea-bitten dog isn’t particularly appealing to me. Of course, I could conceivably be in the minority.

Does it make money? Arguably, most people love their dogs more than their cars.

How big is the dog population in your market?

Hi Robert, The dog population is huge in our area, for both tourists and locals. We just purchased the dog wash and it will be delivered shortly. It will be on the outside of our engine room, in an airy, fenced-in area, under a awning, far from the wash bays. Since the summer is a bit slower, car wash wise, this will (hopefully) be successful.

In the memorable words of the first equipment distributor I met and spoke with, "build it and they well come."

Bow Bow

Hey Robert, We did build it, and they did come. We made more money in one month, with the dog wash, then we did with our 4 vac isles and vending combined. There was also a big spread in the newspaper about it. All in all, it's a good thing and we're happy we did it. Bow Wow.