Add a pet wash

by Mike Dancha

Tired of trying to run a business in a recession? How about taking a simple, virtually risk-free venture into a $14 billion market that has been recession-proof for the last five years? Add a pet wash. That’s right. The pet industry is huge, and while many of us eat hamburger instead of steak and take staycations in tough times, it seems most of America’s pet owners still do whatever it takes to keep Fido and Puff clean, well fed and groomed. Being lovable and loyal, pets, especially dogs, are considered to be family members with no expense being spared to keep them safe and healthy.

When it’s snowing, raining, too cold or too hot to wash the family car, the car wash business is especially poor. On the other hand, the pet wash business is not weather related. Whether it’s cold or wet, pet owners can come in day or night and give their dog a complete wash, conditioning, treat for fleas or ticks, and blow-dry their pet in the safety and comfort of your heated or air conditioned pet salon. Complete, standard, or custom turnkey heated salons can literally be dropped in place and be operational with plug-and-play simplicity. You have the water, drains and electricity already. For an estimated $1,500 in electrical and plumbing hook ups, you can be up and running in no time.

And, in these times, many dog owners are looking for alternatives to taking Fido to a $40 wash at a pet grooming facility. Now for a fraction of that price, they can get a self-serve wash 24/7. And, they can do it without making or waiting for an appointment. Plus dog owners will love the fact there’s no wrestling their pet in the home bathtub, no cleaning up the bathroom after Fido shakes water all over and no risk of calling a plumber to snake dog hair from the trap.

Choose the Best Fit for You

Getting into the pet wash business, particularly if you already run a car wash, is a pretty simple task. After all, it really is a parallel business to car washing in just about every respect. There are several ways to get the equipment you need. You can buy the tubs, sprayers, chemicals, water heater, room heater and blow dryers separately; then wire and plumb the system yourself. You can retrofit a “spare” accessible room in your current facility, or you can build your own separate small building.

A real easy approach is to look at turnkey pet wash salons that can literally be dropped on-site and simply connected to your existing water, electrical and sewer lines. One choice is the Wet Noses Clean Paws Pet Wash from NuStar Inc. A car wash machine manufacturer in Minnesota, this new line of pet salons and pet grooming products is an affordable, drop-in and-go option.

With single or double bay standard size aluminum and glass salons, these buildings can be leased or purchased, with prices in the $30,000 to $42,000 range. They come pre-wired and pre-plumbed, so installation is a snap. As mentioned earlier, if you need to hire out the final installation, plumber and electrician costs have averaged under $1,500, depending on the location. With complete custom build capability; if you don’t like the look or size of the two standard models, NuStar can build a pet wash salon to your specifications. Want a drop-in salon that matches the exterior of your existing car wash, or do you have just enough room to drop in a small pie-shaped salon? It can be done.

With simple maintenance like you do at a self-serve car wash, you can greatly diversify your business without learning a whole new business. Some pet wash manufacturers have buy, lease or rent to own options to lower your risk factor even further. What could be easier? Take a chew out of this $14 billion a year market!

Fun & Easy to Operate

Not all pet wash salons are alike, but the higher quality units come with a heater or optional air conditioner to maintain a pleasant interior temperature no matter what the weather conditions are outside. One pet wash manufacturer’s unit has an interior electrical fan and six foot sliding patio door to help clear the building of any foul pet odors.

When your customer arrives at your pet wash, the pet is simply led up the incline ramp into the tub and secured using an anchor leash. Designed at an appropriate height, the pet can easily be moved and positioned so washing him is a breeze and not a backbreaking chore. Located close by is a vending machine where your customers can purchase a throw-away apron to protect clothes and doggie treats to reward the pet.

To activate the pet wash, simply put cash, coin or credit card into the control box. The owner can change the charge rate using the control box. The amount of money entered will dictate the amount of time available to use the pet wash. Most owners are charging $7 to $8 for 10 to 12 minutes of time, which is more than enough time to complete a wash and dry.

First, rinse down the pet and apply the tearless shampoo for hand washing. Turning the dial on the control box delivers a specific blend of water and shampoo through the easy to use sprayer. All cleaning products and water are heated to body temperature so the wash is an enjoyable experience for the pet.

After shampooing, the pet will again be rinsed off so that a conditioner and a flea and tick product can be applied. If the pet has had an unexpected run-in with a skunk, use the skunk deodorizer to neutralize the odor. Vacuum off the excess water and then blow-dry Fido. He now is well-groomed and attractive for a fraction of what his owner would pay a dog-groomer! Lastly, don’t forget to use the “tub cleaner” and give the pet a well-deserved “doggie treat.”

The NuStar Inc. salon has a maintenance room located in the back. This 5.5-foot by 6.5-foot room is locked when not in use and houses all of the equipment and care products needed to make the pet wash work. Incoming water line, electricity and “grey water” runoff pass through this room. In addition, access to this room allows removal of the money from the day’s sales and any maintenance required to the control system.

What You Don’t Know Can Bite You

Want to know more? If adding a pet wash to your existing business has some appeal, it can be simple and very affordable, but there are some items you need to check out before you jump in with all four paws.

The first thing on your TO DO list is to stop in at your City Hall. Every municipality is different, so there is really no way to second-guess what you will need to do to move forward. There may or may not be permits. If your city considers a pet wash to fall into a “vending equipment” category, you probably won’t need a permit. There may be sewer or drainage requirements. Adding a salon could impact your property taxes. Stop in and talk with your City Manager or Planner and get what you need to know and do in writing. Then, figure out your true costs of these requirements.

Here are some additional points to consider:

• Will your new pet wash be on a main thoroughfare, visible to cars and dog walkers passing by?
• Does your car wash have a good base of loyal customers who could become pet wash customers as well? Have you surveyed your customers to get some “primary research” on their thoughts of having a neighborhood dog wash? This would be an inexpensive and simple thing to do. If you open one, would they use it? Do they know other pet owners who would? You might consider offering “pre-opening” incentives even before you install the pet wash.
• Can you obtain the rate of dog ownership in the area? Are there a number of apartments or condos nearby that allow pets? Apartments and condos are good prospects, as these buildings probably do not have appropriate facilities for washing a pet. Your City Manager or Planner may have some census data. Also check with county, state and federal statistics.
• Does your car wash have enough space for a drop-in building and extra parking?
• Are there complementary businesses nearby that reinforce a pet wash business, such as pet food superstores, vet clinics and dog parks?
• Is the car wash owner an absentee owner or is he or she on-site daily? Pet washes do need daily care.

If your city has approved the NuStar Pet Wash, you will need room to accommodate a single bay (7-foot by 14-foot) or a double bay (8-foot by 16-foot) building. These buildings include a 5.5-foot by 6.5-foot equipment room. You’ll need five 20-amp circuits, a one-inch water line and one and one-half inch sewer evacuation line. That’s it.

You Do the Math

According to NuStar Inc., depending if you own the pet wash or lease it, payback is generally less than three years. This is based on $850 to $1,000 gross profit per month, charging an average of $7.50 per wash.

A nice surprise is, there are no hidden expenses when car wash owners have added a pet wash. The Wet Noses Clean Paws salon comes standard with a six-gallon water heater, so water and utility costs are minimal. Consumables such as shampoo, flea and tick treatment and conditioner costs are also minimal. Equipment maintenance costs have been minimal as well. Once operational, the pet wash has to be cleaned and checked daily. Daily maintenance labor should include waste hair/fur removal, deodorizing the tub and room, keeping chemical containers full and removing money from the day’s receipts and vending machines. Being an absentee owner is not feasible, as owner or employee must check the facility daily.

Another nice surprise is there may be some hidden profits. In addition to people washing their dogs and other pets, the salons are great for washing golf clubs, patio furniture and other large household items that are too difficult to wash in a tub at home.

Cross-selling Opportunities are Almost Endless

Tying promotions in with the pet wash can double your profits. If you are a car washing business, perhaps a book of five car washes earns a free pet wash. Say you are a convenience store. You can run specials on groceries or gas with a paid pet wash. Or say a $50 purchase of groceries in your store earns a free pet wash. Put your Web site address in the window offering free online coupons. Or create and build your own loyalty programs, selling all your services and goods.

The cross-selling opportunities are almost endless, regardless on what your “other” business is.

Throw Yourself a Bone

With all the talk about reinventing oneself, going back to school, taking online classes, here is a fast, easy and affordable way to take advantage of the experience, business, location, processes and operations you already possess! Take what you already have and move it into a new, seemingly recession-proof industry. It’s a quick and almost painless way to diversify and grow your business. You may find that helping folks take care of their pets themselves brings some rewards money can’t buy! And other rewards money can buy!

Mike Dancha is a veteran of both car wash and pet wash sales, distribution, franchising and operations at NuStar Inc. in Shakopee, Minn.