Car Washer

1. Tell me about your business? How many years in business? Who are the principles? What is their experience in the car wash industry? Do they own and operate car washes, if so how many and what kind? Why did they make the decision (to/not) be in this business? What and how do I benefit from their decision?

2. Who do you represent? Why did you select them? What enables them to offer me a competitive advantage? Who are some of their key accounts? How long have they been in business? Describe your relationship and the support you get that will benefit my business.

3. If I were to select you as my provider what tools and or assistance would I receive as it relates to; Design, consultation with engineers/architects, meeting with and representing me in front of government boards, sitting with my lawyer and any other member of a team I put together? Is there a cost for this service? If so how much? What success have you had in these areas? Would you demonstrate and validate your statements?

4. How do I do business with you? Terms and conditions of sale? Deposits, refunds, payment, guarantees? Will you provide me financial references, vendor and or primary bank relationship?

5. Who is your customer? How do you serve him? What references can you provide me?

6. What is the normal time line required for equipment manufacturer? Delivery? Installation time?

7. Regarding the equipment and installation what are my responsibilities? Yours? Do you have a list that clearly delineates each of our responsibilities? Will you acknowledge and have this as part of our agreement?

8. Based on my site what will you do as to site review, financial projections and suggestions as to which type of wash and the methodology of wash (friction/touch free)? Do you offer various types of systems? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each system, mechanically or financially?

9. Based on what I have shared with you what do you feel is the best approach to my market? Why do you feel this way? Are there similar locations to mine and if so now that they are up and operating have that meet the stated projections? Does your customer feel they have met their expectations? If they (have or have not) why.

Assuming we have gotten through the "address", and now the "interview" stage, and are comfortable with the answers the next stage is to begin creating our car wash. What type, where located, how big, how costly, what kind of return and timing.

10. How and why would you lay out my property? What would you project the total cost to be?

11. I have been told that "highest and best use" is the mantra for all real estate investments. Based on what we have discussed, does what I am proposing meet that requirement? Will the income projected support the investment?

12. You have suggested a certain approach to my market, although I have done a SWOT analysis, how competitive will I be to other car washes? What threats are there that you know about that could affect my business? What opportunities?

13. What is the life expectancy of the equipment you have proposed? What programs do have that will minimize downtime? Do you provide cost per car programs for maintenance and chemical? What is my commitment? Yours?

14. Car washing is a cash business, what systems are you recommending that will enable me to manage and track the variable expenses of my business? What are the costs? What is the benefit?

15. Although we have spoken about service and maintenance, how far from my operation is your service facility? Will you guarantee a certain response time? Will you consider a program guaranteeing a certain uptime? If so tell me how it works?

16. One of the items needed to assure adequate financing is a good business plan. What assistance will you provide? Is there a cost? Will you meet with my bankers if required?

17. I know you can't legally control competitive locations from being placed in my market however what can I rely on from you to keep me informed and competitive?

18. What assistance will you provide for marketing? Is there a cost? Are there any co-op advertising dollars available? How do they work? What are the various advertising and or public relations mediums I should be using?

19. What assistance will you provide for training? Is there a cost?

20. Do you have complete service manuals and install drawings? When may I receive and review them?

21. Do you have contractors that you recommend? Will you assist me in making that contact?

22. Will you walk through all the mechanical requirements of your system with my team?

23. I understand that some of the equipment you will provide comes from a number of various suppliers will all equipment be guaranteed the same?

24. As you can well imagine this is a very significant investment what ongoing assistance can I rely on.

25. Why should I buy from you?

☛ At Delta Sonic Car Wash Systems our business portfolio is diversified which can create a challenging management environment. Are you able to effectively manage unrelated business units?

☛ Because Delta Sonic Car Wash Systems is a diversified organization, we offer a wide range of opportunities for career growth. Where would you like to see your career in 5 years?

☛ Clear communication is key to our success at Delta Sonic Car Wash Systems. Describe to me your communication style and why you think your style will be a fit here.

☛ At Delta Sonic Car Wash Systems we offer a wide range of products and services. How do you plan to positively impact our business, if hired?

☛ Because Delta Sonic Car Wash Systems has a large geographic footprint, we have to accommodate a variety of time zones. Do you have experience working for clients and co-workers in multiple time zones?

☛ Have you ever been employed through a company merger or acquisition? If so, tell me about your experience.

☛ Delta Sonic Car Wash Systems puts a lot of focus on our local and global impact so we seek to hire those with the same values. What do you know about our company values, and how do they align with your personal values?

☛ We have many strong competitors. In your opinion, what does Delta Sonic Car Wash Systems do to stand out from the rest?

☛ Typical "corporate culture" is something that we work hard to avoid here at Delta Sonic Car Wash Systems. Tell me about your ideal workplace culture.

☛ Tell me about a time that you have helped a co-worker accomplish an important goal.

☛ When have you been asked to perform a function or complete a task in which you had little or no experience in doing?

☛ Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.

☛ How would you describe your work ethic?

☛ After receiving information from your supervisor, how do you ensure you properly communicate this information to your team?

☛ Describe your working relationship with your previous or current colleagues.

☛ What makes you the best candidate for this position?

☛ Tell me about a time when you created a unique idea or solution, and it was rejected by your colleagues. How were you able to bounce back?

☛ When have you had to be extra thorough in completing tasks?

☛ We are asking for 8 years of industry experience and you have just 5. Why do you think you are qualified for this position?

☛ When have you shown great integrity at work?

☛ What causes you to feel dissatisfied on the job?

☛ Do you believe you are a leader? When have you led a team?

☛ How do you evaluate success among your team members?

☛ What are you reading right now?

☛ How do you collaborate with others to solve problems?

☛ What would you do if a client asked you about a product or service and you were unsure of the answer?

☛ How long have you been looking for a job?

☛ What tools help a team to function at its best?

☛ What is the most important thing you're looking for in a company?

☛ What are your salary expectations?

☛ Do you have any questions?

☛ When was the last time you used your sense of humor to diffuse a situation at work?

☛ How do you manage your time?

The car wash industry has elements of retail, service, and manufacturing involved in turning out the end product of a clean vehicle. Dealing with customers is like a retail business, managing employees is more like a service operation, and keeping the place running smoothly with all of the equipment to take care of is very similar to running a manufacturing facility. Because of the basic nature of this complex business, a manager’s job is particularly challenging.

After working for over 20 years in this industry and being involved in the recruiting, initial training, and ongoing development of managers at all levels, both new to the business and experienced, here are six (6) major challenges that make a car wash manager’s job very difficult to accomplish. Lest you get a little depressed reading this, please know that I will give you some solutions for these issues at the end of this answer.

☛ MANAGER NOT A MATCH FOR THE JOB

☛ INDUSTRY IMAGE

☛ RECRUITING SUPPORT NOT PROVIDED

☛ PHYSICAL NATURE OF THE WORK

☛ VARIABLE HOURS

☛ BASE PAY

This question is geared up to allow you to talk about people in your life who you might find interesting or inspiring.

With each actor you choose, think of several examples of how the work they've done has influenced or inspired you - and how you can bring this back to your career.

There were only 28 babies in 2013 called Gary - could you remember this for an interview question?

There were only 28 babies in 2013 called Gary - could you remember this for an interview question?

Remember - if you're naming people because you think they'll make you sound intelligent you won't get anywhere if you've just said a name to sound impressive but don't actually have a clue who they are.