How does a car wash make money?
Show all answers
The Secret: What changed the economics of modern express car washes?
Unlimited monthly wash memberships. Express chains push 'unlimited' memberships billed monthly. Recurring revenue smooths out rainy weeks, and many members wash less often than the price assumes. Source: Mister Car Wash investor relations
Why They Stay: Why do members keep the plan even when they rarely wash?
A license-plate reader makes it effortless, and the card charge is small and automatic. Plate recognition means no payment step at the gate. Low-friction autopay plus a small monthly charge is easy to forget, which is the core of subscription retention. Source: Mister Car Wash investor relations
Why They Leave: Why do car washes push unlimited memberships so hard?
Members bring steady monthly revenue whether or not they wash. At Mister Car Wash, the largest US chain, members made up about three-quarters of wash sales in 2025. A monthly fee smooths out rainy weeks, and many members pay for months when they barely use it. Source: Mister Car Wash – 2025 Form 10-K (SEC)