I started my own shop six months ago.
It is in a small strip center (Glass storefront with a 10'x10' overhead door on the side). 40,000 cars per day (!) traffic count. The zip code is in the 97th percentile of household incomes in the US.
The space is rented - $1300 per month for rent and Common Area Maintenace - and has about 1200 square feet. Room for two cars and plenty of space to move around.
Including Deposits, insurance, advertising, tools and supplies, the cost of Startup was just over $23,000. I had six months of operating capital in reserve, to lessen the frustration of potential slow days. Monthly fixed, recurring costs appear to be just about $1600.
The business is quite successful. But please understand a few basic principles of MY idea of success: I've owned bigger businesses in the past, and I do NOT want this one to grow...
For the foreseeable future, I intend it to be just me... I'm liking it that way just fine!
I'm booked about a week in advance, doing about one full detail per day. I can do 7/8 cars per 6 day week. I'm good, but I'm not fast! I charge $165- $225 per vehicle, averaging $200...
Eventually, I'll have a $150k sales goal (with parttime help) and will expect to NET 80/90k.
In my book, that's not bad for washin cars - and no Corporate Bulls**t!
Jim