Pet Wash Part II:
Equipment — Determine What’s Included
By Trent Walter

The standard tub style is set-up for one to two people to wash the pet.

With this tub, the customer has good control over the dog since the wash area is significantly smaller and boxed in on three sides.

In the May issue of Auto Laundry News, we discussed utilities, security, parking, and signage as they relate to pet wash facilities. This month, we take a closer look at equipment packages and vending. We will also examine the potential legal liabilities that could arise from operating this business.

TUB PACKAGES

There are several different style tubs and tub packages available on the market. Buyers should consider more than just how much the tub costs. Make sure to consider the tub style, the control centers, meter box functions, and the items included in the equipment package.

Style
The standard tub style is set-up for one to two people to wash the pet. This tub has a long ramp and large wash area able to accommodate large and small pets. One hundred square feet of floor space per installed tub is recommended. Other tubs are available and designed with only one open side. The customer has good control over the dog since the wash area is significantly smaller and boxed in on three sides. This is an excellent selection for a location with limited floor space. This style tub requires less than 60 square feet of floor space. The only drawback to this tub is the ability to wash very large dogs. The limited wash space can make it difficult to wash pets over 150lbs.

Control Centers
There are two basic control center packages available on the market, one is attached to the tub and the other is separate on a wall-mount frame. Both styles function well, but if plans call for installing multiple tubs, using a remote control center would be better. Over time, large amounts of chemicals will be used. It would be advantageous to run multiple draw lines off the same 5-gallon or 15-gallon pail of material, cutting the time spent refilling the small containers inside the tub’s control center. On the flip side, if only one tub is going to be used, having everything in the same room will save daily maintenance time. Another solid benefit: one tub is a good selection if there is limited utility room space.

Meter Boxes
Meter boxes come with a variety of options — coin acceptors, bill acceptors, and credit card systems. I recommend having all three on the meter box. Owners with credit card and bill/coin acceptors on their meter boxes are averaging over 60 percent of their transactions through credit cards. Average tickets are $2 higher than meter boxes with only bill/coin acceptors. Start-up times of eight to 12 minutes cost from $5 to $8 with average tickets at $10.

When getting a quote for a tub package, be sure to ask what is included. Never assume any items are included at no extra cost. Inquire about added cost for start-up chemicals, menu signs, strainers, tempering valves, pet safety ties, spray wands, spray wand hangers, and tub mats. If not budgeted for, these items could add $500 to $700 to the cost of an equipment package.

VENDING

There are several items that can be vended using drop-shelf vendors or mega vendors. Common items are dog treats, towels, antibacterial wipes, and plastic ponchos for the customer. Making room to mount a few single or three-column drop-shelf vendors is a wise choice. Single drop-shelf vendors start at $300 and three-column units at $750.

HOUSEKEEPING

When building a pet wash center, you want to design it primarily for the customer’s convenience and secondly for easy of maintenance and clean up. The walls could be finished with ceramic tile or plastic wallboard. Make sure the walls and ceiling are constructed of a material that can handle the humid conditions and periodic wash downs. The floor can be as simple as painted concrete with texturing or something more elaborate such as patterned tile. Whatever the choice, make sure it can withstand being wet for long periods of time and will wash down easily.

Do not have electrical or water utility outlets inside the pet wash area. Customers will bring in their own blow dryers or extractors to dry their pets instead of using the owner’s equipment. Some customers will even bring their own hose to complete the final rinse step from the water outlet provided. Don’t laugh — several current owners have actually experienced this. If these outlets are provided in the pet wash area, make sure there is a way to lock them out or disconnect service.

LIABILITIES

This is an important issue to address. As an owner of any business, it is vital to be aware of the risks and potential liabilities you might be exposed to. Before pricing tubs and estimating construction costs, call your insurance agent and lawyer to discuss your plans.

If adding onto a current establishment, there may be no need to increase insurance liability coverage. Most car washes carry a minimum of $2 million in liability coverage, which should be plenty for the entire operation. Keep in mind, some smaller insurance companies don’t have policies to cover this type of operation and they may not be able to offer coverage. When a company is found that will offer you coverage, do not forget to mention a recordable security system will be included, which may call for a discount.

After dealing with the insurance agent, contact your lawyer. Discuss the venture with him, and brainstorm on issues that might arise and steps you can take to mitigate risk. The most common items are animal bites and injuries to an animal or another customer on the pet wash owner’s premises.

Pet wash centers use a tub disinfectant that helps keep bacteria levels down. Unfortunately, the disinfectant can be harmful to pets. Make sure you have proper signage alerting the customer to this fact.

BE PREPARED

All new projects will have unforeseen challenges. As an owner, do everything possible to minimize these occurrences by carefully planning before the project commences. Doing your homework will get you started in the right direction. Try to locate a pet wash center in your region and discuss any concerns with the owner. Contact a pet wash equipment distributor if no local or regional resources can be located; it is an excellent way to review plans with someone who owns and operates a pet wash. With the help of an owner and a distributor, you will be well on your way to owning and operating a successful pet wash center.

Trent Walter is general manager of Ashland, OH-based National Pride Equipment Inc. You can visit the company on the web at www.nationalpridecarwash.com.