As a retired entrepreneur, often up and coming college students or future business people will shoot me an email and ask me questions. Not long ago someone emailed me and asked me what satisfaction did I get out of building my business - a mobile car wash franchising company?
Well, one of the benefits of being an entrepreneur, winning the game and then retiring as such is that you have to answer to no one, which I certainly like, the freedom I mean. Why did I retire and sell my company? I got tired of the lawyers, regulators and the like, trying to tell me how best to serve my franchisees and customers and how to run my business. It is so onerous and hypocritical for a nation that prides itself on Freedom and Free Markets to act as we do here.
Back to what I did love about building my company - Yes, I got satisfaction on designing and building a perfect business, that did not pollute, was inexpensive to the consumer and dominated every city we took it too. I believe it is so much more efficient than a carwash, actually, I know it is, as it saves water, time and at a lower cost, less overhead and no need to drive to the car wash, it comes to you.
Plus, I enjoyed doing the car wash fundraisers and being part of every community and making a difference in people's lives, helping families, schools, youth groups, sports, you name it. It is fun and a great thing really.
Did my business solve a problem for the consumer, for me, for our team, employees and the whole (community)?
YES! It did solve a problem, because most people did not enough time in a day, and the whole 2.2 kids, college degree, 9 to 5, credit card debt, white picket fence, SUV or mini-van way of life - no one has time to wait in line at a carwash. Also, many cities are in level II droughts, and our methods in the mobile car wash business prevented storm water discharges, while employing HS and College kids - teaching them respect, customer service, value of money, hard work ethic, etc.
Indeed, I have changed so many lives for the better, I have lots of letters from people who have worked for us, franchisees, non-profit groups, parents, community leaders. The business is a problem solver, as it unites businesses, schools, family and community. Simply by putting the dirt on the car back where it belongs, and making people very happy that they have a clean car - it makes people smile.
Why did I start my business, what were my goals?
I started the business to get the wealth I needed to fix the world and it takes money to do that.
Can anyone get into the business?
The business is easy to get into, in fact many illegal aliens with no money get into it. Although not legally and they do not collect the wash water affluent, which bothers me, as it does not comply with the local NPDES rules, it is unfortunate that these folks do not understand that. The rules are not enforced very well and many times those who have come from other places, well they do not care, they have no vested interests in our society or civilization. Maybe as time goes on they might, but in the beginning usually not.
Does it make sense to franchise a mobile car wash business like I did?
Franchising is very litigious and over regulated, the regulators ruin that most perfect business format, with rules that get between the franchisor and franchisee relationship. Lawyers look to sue franchisors and steal the money that is needed to run the system, that hurts the customers, franchisors and franchisees, and helps the lawyers. Who are in my humble opinion professional parasites and should be (Caesar-ized).
But the mobile car wash business does not have to be franchised, someone could start it like I did in the beginning, grow it to 50 units and offer services in 20-30 cities, without too much problem, "IF" the labor is available and if they are careful not to exploit the labor. It is hard to find good honest hard working people you know?
Sincerely, Lance.
