Scored car wash listings.
Anonymized observations from real car wash acquisitions evaluated against the four-pillar framework. Each entry reports what was observed and what happened. Neutral evaluation; no recommendations.
3 scored listings
Q1 2026
01 · Upper band
Express tunnel, 4,800 active members, Sun Belt market
Observed: Membership at 62% of total revenue with 24-month cohort retention data showing 3.8% monthly churn. Chemical and utility burden at 10.4% combined. 15-year lease with two 5-year renewals. Equipment averaged 4 years old.
Outcome: Signed at 6.1× EBITDA. SBA lender confirmed DSCR at 1.31× on normalized earnings. Closed without repricing.
Composite →02 · Mid-band
Flex-serve wash, 2,100 members, mixed retail and membership
Observed: Membership at 38% of revenue with retail and vacuum revenue comprising the balance. Chemical cost at $0.95 per car. Lease 10 years remaining. Equipment averaged 7 years old with two conveyors due for roller replacement.
Outcome: Initial ask 6.4× EBITDA. Buyer repriced to 5.1× after normalizing for churn rate, equipment capex reserve, and chemical cost at run-rate rather than trailing trough. Closed at 5.1×.
Composite →03 · Lower band
Self-serve and in-bay automatic, no tag system, lease under 8 years
Observed: No membership program. Revenue primarily coin and cash with no independent verification system. Equipment 12-year average age. Lease 7 years remaining with no renewal option documented.
Outcome: Buyer submitted LOI at 4.2× SDE. SBA lender declined to underwrite due to unverifiable revenue and lease shortfall. Deal terminated at underwriting.
Composite →
Listings above are anonymized composites pending the publication of consented case studies. Each scored listing has its own URL — citable, shareable, long-tail-SEO eligible. Composites preserve the structural pattern without identifying the specific deal, seller, or broker.
How to read these
What each scored listing reports.
Band placement
Where in the multiples band the deal sat — upper, mid, or lower third. Tied to the structural conditions in the Atlas.
Observed
The specific structural conditions documented in diligence — the four pillars applied to the specific deal.
Outcome
What happened — closed, repriced, financing fell through, walked. We report. We do not claim the score "told you to" do anything.