episode 0059- the car wash hustle: skip the rental properties and buy car washes instead with nathan polatis

In this episode, we sit down with an entrepreneur who took an unconventional path. From initially moving to the Philippines to start laundromats, to flipping houses, to buying and fixing rundown self-serve carwashes, all with little to no cash of his own, Nathan Polatis has learned to get creative every step of the way.

He now owns two car washes and shares every detail: how he finds off-market deals, the smart improvements that boost revenue, and why car washes might be one of the most underrated business opportunities out there. If you've ever been curious about the "boring business" world of car washes, this episode breaks down exactly how it works, and why you might want in.

Show Highlights:
1- Nathan walks us through his background that led to becoming a real estate and car wash investor, including starting a laundromat business in the Philippines. (9:10)
2- We discuss how Nathan got his foot in the door with real estate investing. (13:15)
3- How did Nathan land his first car wash deal? (21:20)
4- How does Nathan vet a run-down self-serve car wash to ensure it will be a good deal? (27:50)
5- What are some lessons learned and improvements made as Nathan has learned this business? (31:10)
6- We discuss the possibility of adding an automatic touchless car wash and the potential implications. (40:05)
7- How did Nathan know what sorts of chemicals, soaps, etc. he wanted to add to his washes? (47:45)
8- Just how lucrative is owning a car wash? Nathan gives us some numbers. (49:30)
9- How often does Nathan visit the car wash to check on it? (54:15)
10- What is Nathan’s vision with his YouTube channel? (56:00)
11- Where can we learn more from Nathan? (57:35)
12- Listener question: How do you negotiate a deal from a retiring car wash owner? (59:20)

Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusiness
Follow Nathan on YouTube: @therevestor

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