Many years ago in my career I had founded and run a series of automotive service franchising companies. I started with mobile car washing, truck washing, and mobile oil change services. Business was good, as we are a nation of cars. Today, we still are, cars, cars, cars, everywhere; Gasoline Cars, Electric Cars, and soon Flying Cars and Hydrogen Powered Vehicles too. Not long ago, I was asked by an entrepreneur if I thought that a mobile oil change franchising company was still a viable company to start in the present period? I put a little thought into this and considered all the future challenges and opportunities. Let’s talk shall we?
Okay so, is this a feasible business model today and into the near future (five to ten years)? Yes, I believe so, mobile auto-services tend to do well, and there are many who are looking to start a small business with the new Trump Administration. Reciprocating engines are not going away, and even EVs need battery conditioning services, lubrication for wheels, etc. Hydrogen cars also have moving parts, air-filters, heat shields, etc. Tires will still need car, balancing, and rotating.
What sort of service vehicle is needed for the franchisees doing the work and servicing the vehicles? Should one use a truck, trailer, or van? Well, vans tend to do well with mobile oil-change, and the fleet business is the best of all, and sometimes it means a trailer is needed for extra storage tanks for new oil and used oil, and parts; belts, windshield wipers, oil filters, air cleaners, etc. Working in low-hanging parking structures can be a tough thing to worry about, so sometimes trucks are not the best option, and some vans are too tall, for instance the Sprinter Van, which is roomy but too tall for parking structures.
One great benefit today that we didn’t have back in the nineties is easy use mobile-pay and easy internet ordering efficiencies, which makes it possible to stay efficient even doing one’s and two’s for individual cars. Of course, in the future Self-driving cars may drive themselves to get an oil change, or they can drive to the franchisee in the middle of the night for a discount, and the service vehicle can make that work perhaps by renting an auto parking lot at night. I think there are lots of good things about this industry looking forward. Please consider all this and think on it.
