learn<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen you use the Lean Startup Method to start a new business, you will experiment with numerous product concepts and strategies to enhance your services. Using the cheapest, most efficient means to market your goods is a crucial part of the lean startup strategy. You begin accumulating expertise in the car washing industry right away, albeit more gradually than with the traditional startup method. Because the traditional method requires you to write and stick to a business plan before you fully grasp how to manage your car wash business effectively, the Lean Startup Method is the more reasonable startup method of the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first phase is the build<\/em> phase. During this phase, you'll go out and speak to people in your community to find out what difficulties they have with existing car wash businesses, identify a problem you can address, and then build a solution that satisfies the needs of your client base. Are there not enough car washes in your neighborhood? Do your customers only have access to a self-service car wash? Do customers want to see a different type of car wash, such as an automatic car wash? Are residents familiar with automatic car washes or premium services?<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe measure<\/em>, or test, phase comes next. During this phase you test the solution you created in the prior phase. This will tell you whether your solution will work for your car wash business. Do people enjoy the services you offer? Do your customers enjoy the products you're using? Have you earned any money from your services? What is your most popular service or package?<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe last phase is the learn<\/em> phase. This phase gives you vital information on how pleased your customers are with your goods, services, and the entire consumer experience of your car wash business. How do people perceive the quality of the services you provide? Which of your packages do they prefer? How does your car wash stack up against other car washes in the area? If one of your ideas or services fails, you can toss it aside rather than wasting additional time and money on something that isn't succeeding. You will have a more successful car wash business if you can concentrate on lucrative and effective services and products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Why use the Lean Startup Method?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWould you purchase a product if you knew it was 80% likely to fail in a year? It seems ridiculous when asked that way, but that\u2019s the reality of starting a company with the traditional method. Four out of every five small businesses that start using the traditional method fail within the first year of business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you start a car wash the traditional way, you take major financial risks without performing market research or learning about the industry; you just jump in and hope it succeeds. However, as a business owner who implemented the Lean Startup Method to establish your business, you will keep testing fresh ideas and services with your customers, providing them with solutions that satisfy their car washing needs based on their input. When you start a car wash using the Lean Startup Method, build a community for your car wash business that will ultimately become your client base, giving you an edge over other car wash businesses that adhere to the traditional startup method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you use the Lean Startup Method, your startup costs are much lower than when you use the traditional startup method. The traditional method assumes you have the funds to pay hefty launch expenses on your own. The Lean Startup Method enables you to learn about the car wash industry and effectively operate your car wash business. Your car wash business has a higher likelihood of surviving far beyond its first year if you don't add the stress of needless financial risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How can I say with such certainty that the Lean Startup Method will provide your car wash a higher chance of success than the traditional startup method? That's simple. I've used the Lean Startup Method to launch five different businesses over the last eight years. I was successful in selling three of these companies, and I continue to manage the other two to this day. I've assisted hundreds of individuals in starting successful businesses, and I can assist you in starting your car wash, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>How do you use the Lean Startup Method to start your car wash?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen establishing a new business, I always follow the lean startup principles of build<\/em>, measure<\/em>, and learn<\/em>. The Lean Startup Method will lower your car wash's initial expenses while also ensuring that it has sound business foundations and that you have all the tools and knowledge necessary to run a profitable car wash. This is a better choice than the unstable business foundations and substantial startup costs involved with the traditional startup method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Build<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nDuring the first phase, the build<\/em> phase, you'll devise a strategy and begin building your car wash. You accomplish this by recognizing a problem that members of the community have with other local car washes and within the industry, finding an opportunity to offer a solution, producing a solution, and forming a client base for your car wash business.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis critical stage allows you to determine if your car wash ideas are sound and whether your solutions meet the needs of your community. The build<\/em> phase's purpose is to provide a strong business foundation for your car wash and ensure you have the information and resources you need to thrive in the car wash industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Step 1: Identify a problem<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe first step is to find a problem that many people have that you feel you can remedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, you can't just start providing car wash services and expecting people to purchase them. That\u2019s not a viable business strategy. New car washes pop up every day, and consumers aren't going to throw money at every new small business that emerges. A more successful business strategy is to provide customers a compelling reason to procure your services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finding a compelling reason might be challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To begin, you must identify a pain point<\/em>, which is a business concept that describes an issue that many people have that causes them enough pain or discomfort that they seek out a solution to it. Typically, consumers will either design a solution for themselves or pay someone else to do it. You want your car wash to be the solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBut you can't just replicate the sales strategies and services of other car washes in the neighborhood. Instead, you must pinpoint local consumer needs that your car wash can uniquely address. Are people in your region seeking full-service car wash or automatic car washes only to discover that there isn't one within several miles? Do people seem to be receptive to the idea of a self-service car wash? Is there a high concentration of car washes in the neighborhood that all use the same outdated sales tactics? Do all the car washes in your neighborhood provide the same service packages? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take an interest in the problems expressed by local vehicle owners. Their needs and desires, as well as the information they offer up to you, will benefit your car wash in its early stages. Do customers want a full-service car wash? Do other car washes overlook car-detailing services? Do consumers want greater choice in the products sold at car washes so they can use them at home? Do consumers desire waterproof waxes, air fresheners, or other premium products? Do customers prefer a traditional car wash with nice employees and excellent customer service versus an automated system with no human interaction?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After speaking with numerous people, some common problems should emerge, and you could add questions about them in future surveys. Ask about the extent to which these problems bother consumers. Inquiring about other car washes will provide you with information about the car wash industry, consumer satisfaction with other car washes, vehicle cleaning products and services that are currently popular in your area, and services that people expect from a new car wash. You can decide on a problem to attempt to resolve based on this feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>How do you choose which problem to focus on?<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThe Lean Startup Method unfortunately doesn\u2019t include a simple formula for determining which problem to solve. However, the following three suggestions should help you easily choose your problem:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Choose a problem that a large number of people share. Is there a lack of car washes in the area? Do they not sell the products and services that customers really want? Do people want more self-service or automated car wash options?<\/li>
- Choose a problem that causes “pain.” You don't want to resolve a problem that no one is concerned with. In fact, if no one is concerned with it then it isn't really a problem! The more trouble a problem causes people, the better it is for your car wash business. Do people want a quick, automated car wash that allows them to clean their vehicle and then go about their business? Do they want more car-detailing services?<\/li>
- Choose a problem that you believe you can solve. If customers want a cutting-edge touchless car wash with all the bells and whistles, this isn't an easy challenge for you to tackle right away. What you can provide, though, are personnel that can wash cars for customers, making easy work of keeping their vehicles clean.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
The primary objective of this phase is to choose a problem that impacts a large number of people, causes pain or difficulty in their lives, and for which they are desperate enough to pay for a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n