Don’t Do It Alone: Howco’s Construction Guidance Takes the Complexity Out of Your Car Wash Build

by Chuck Howard, CEO / Howco Inc.

Building or expanding a car wash is one of the most complex undertakings in the industry, and one of the costliest to get wrong. Howco's full-service construction consultation is customized to protect your investment and your timeline, guiding your project from initial concept through certificate of occupancy.

Everything Considered. Nothing Overlooked.

Howco advises on every phase of car wash construction, including:

Site selection advice.

Site analysis, including demographics, traffic counts, ingress and egress, and other known or discovered factors.

Choosing the type of car wash, i.e., self-serve, express, full-service.

Creation of a proforma and financial plan, which includes an equipment budget and recommended equipment package for that budget.

Construction recommendations based on contractors with whom Howco has worked, or advice on others to be vetted.

Advising your approved general contractor and sub-contractors.

Engineering and architectural coordination.

Bid review.

Drafting assistance services coordinated with engineering professionals.

Site visits and pre-construction meetings.

Testing, adjustments, and opening day presence.

Whether you're a first-time investor entering the car wash market or an established operator expanding your footprint, Howco gives you a seasoned team working with your best interests in mind, without requiring you to become a construction expert overnight.

Flexible Services, Tailored to You

No two projects are the same. That's why Howco's construction guidance is fully customizable. You can engage the full suite of services for a complete advisory experience or select individual components à la carte. Howco can step in at any stage of the process — you define the scope, and we deliver.

Every project kicks off with a collaborative meeting between you, Howco, and your dedicated Project Manager to align on goals and identify exactly where you need support.

Protecting Your Bottom Line

Construction projects rarely go exactly as planned. Unforeseen delays, change orders, and material backlogs can quietly drain time and money. Howco's team conducts ongoing plan analysis to surface these issues before they become expensive problems, so the cost of our services is ideally offset by the savings we generate.

Howco works across new builds, conversions, and facility updates.

Build Your Team. Build Your Business.

Your Car Wash Success® demands a trusted network of advisors across legal, real estate, engineering, equipment, chemicals, and operations. Howco is ready to be your construction consultant from day one. Contact us today to discuss your project.

Howco is a car wash distributor and development partner serving operators across equipment selection, site planning, chemical programming, and ongoing operational support since 1969. To learn more about how Howco can support your current or next car wash project and deliver Car Wash Success®, contact our team. You can also visit Howco.com for informative podcasts with Howco team members and more helpful articles.