Car Washes Revenue Benchmarks
The average car washes business in the United States generates $682K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 15,640 car washes businesses in the U.S., employing 156,419 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $31K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Car Washes Business Actually Do?
Automated or self-serve car washes offering exterior wash, drying, and detailing services. Modern model is unlimited monthly membership rather than single-wash tickets.
Who buys: Vehicle owners maintaining appearance and paint.
Average Revenue
$682K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$68K
per year
Total Businesses
15,640
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$55K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$31K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
4.7
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Car Washes Charge?
Car washes charge per wash with tiered packages and monthly memberships now common.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Basic exterior wash | $8–14 |
Deluxe / premium package | $15–30 |
Full detail | $100–300 |
Monthly unlimited membership | $20–45/month |
Vacuum stations | $1–3 per session |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete car washes business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a car washes business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the car washes industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Supplies & materials | $16 | $111K | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $259K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $74K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $37K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $147K | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $55K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
10.42%
openings/year
Closure Rate
9.1%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.4%
annual
Businesses Closed
12,052
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Car Washes Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $150K
Break-Even
20 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a car washes business do?
- Automated or self-serve car washes offering exterior wash, drying, and detailing services. Modern model is unlimited monthly membership rather than single-wash tickets. Vehicle owners maintaining appearance and paint.
- How much do car washes charge?
- Car washes charge per wash with tiered packages and monthly memberships now common. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average car washes make per year?
- The average car washes business generates $682K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $55K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many car washes businesses are there in the US?
- There are 15,640 car washes businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 156,419 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a car washes business?
- Startup costs for a car washes business typically range from $30K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the car washes industry?
- The average employee in the car washes industry earns $31K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The car washes industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.4% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (10.4% entry vs 9.1% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 62% of car washes businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 12,052 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the car washes industry earns $31,171/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 19,151 establishments employing 182,694 people, the typical business has about 10 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The car washes industry has declined 2% since 2000 (from 138,176 to 135,684 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Car Washes revenue with other industries: