Three numbers that define the economics of the franchise
These figures often appear in franchise presentations with no explanation of where they come from. Below is the mechanics of each one, so that you do not have to take a number on trust but can recalculate it for your own city.
How revenue is calculated
The calculation rests on a simple formula: number of bays × average cars a day × average ticket × 30 days. The realistic ranges the network works with: from 30 to 250 cars a day per bay (depending on the city and the location) and an average ticket from 180 to 400 ₽ (depending on the set of functions and the region). These are not guaranteed figures but the boundaries within which you have to find a realistic value for your own site — based on the traffic you assessed when choosing the location.
A worked example
Take a two-bay site as an illustration, with an average flow of 80 cars a day per bay and an average ticket of 250 ₽ — conservative rather than inflated values within the network's ranges.
This is an illustrative calculation, not a guarantee of any particular revenue — the real figures depend on your city, your location and the season. That is exactly why a personal the financial model is built for a specific site, rather than taking a network average.
A flow of 30 cars a day and a flow of 250 cars a day give revenues that differ eightfold with the same number of bays. A network-wide average hides that spread and is useless for planning a specific site.
What exactly the 5% royalty pays for
The royalty is not a subscription for the brand but payment for the network's working infrastructure: updates and support for the software and the CRM, legal and technical support, access to purchasing terms for chemistry and spare parts, and taking part in the network's shared marketing strategy. Because the royalty is calculated on turnover rather than as a fixed sum, in low-traffic months the payment falls proportionally along with revenue — the franchisee does not pay a flat rate regardless of how busy the site is.
What the operating costs (≈35%) are made of
The share of these costs in revenue is fairly stable at steady utilisation, but it grows noticeably in winter in cold regions because of heating — worth building into a month-by-month calculation, not only an annual one.
Why payback is “from 6 months” rather than an exact number
The payback period is derived from the site's revenue, and revenue depends directly on the flow of cars, which varies greatly between cities and even between districts of the same city. Two sites with the same number of bays and the same investment can pay back in 6 months and in 14 months — the only difference is the real traffic of the location. That is exactly why “from 6 months” is the lower realistic boundary at good utilisation, not a guaranteed term for any address.
Calculate payback for your city and traffic →How not to go wrong when calculating on your own
Three common mistakes when calculating franchise payback: (1) assuming an optimistic traffic figure at the top of the range instead of a conservative estimate; (2) forgetting seasonality — a winter month and a summer month bring different revenue; (3) ignoring the rise in heating costs in a cold climate. It is safer to calculate three scenarios — conservative, working and optimistic — and to rely on the conservative one when making the investment decision.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the royalty in the GEIZER franchise?
5% of the site's gross revenue. The royalty is paid on turnover — with low traffic in the first months the payment is proportionally lower.
What is the profitability of a GEIZER self-service car wash?
About 60% of revenue after operating costs (around 35%) and the royalty (5%) — a calculated figure, not a guaranteed income: the exact number depends on utilisation and regional costs.
How is the revenue of a self-service car wash calculated?
By the formula: number of bays × average cars a day × average ticket × 30 days, with ranges of 30–250 cars a day and a ticket of 180–400 ₽.
How long does the GEIZER franchise take to pay back?
The guide is from 6 months at high utilisation; that is the best case rather than the typical one, and it is not a promise. The exact term is calculated for a specific site.