Franchise Owners Are Cleaning Up Big Time with Tommy's Express

When Texas franchise owner Joseph B. began looking beyond his existing businesses, the distinctive design of a Tommy’s Express Car Wash caught his attention. But the decision to enter the car wash industry was about more than architecture. After pandemic-related shutdowns disrupted parts of his existing portfolio, he wanted to diversify into a business that could continue operating under different conditions. He opened his first Tommy’s Express location in El Paso, Texas, in June 2021, and has since expanded to six locations, with his daughter, Taylor, working alongside him.

The appeal of the model lies partly in its operational simplicity. Rather than managing a restaurant menu, perishable ingredients and complex food preparation, owners oversee automated wash tunnels, customer service, equipment maintenance, staffing and local marketing. Tommy’s Express uses a standardized operating approach and offers franchisees training and support through Tommy University, along with guidance on site selection, construction and grand openings. The model still requires active management, but it gives operators a different set of daily responsibilities from those found in food service or hospitality.

Recurring memberships are another important part of the business. Through the TommyClub program and mobile app, customers can subscribe to unlimited washes rather than paying for each visit individually. The company reports that about 70% of revenue comes through the app, creating a recurring revenue stream alongside individual wash sales. Memberships can help reduce dependence on daily customer traffic, although results remain subject to local demand, operating costs and the ability to retain subscribers.

Matt Nagelkirk, Vice President of Franchise Development at Tommy’s Express, says the concept offers multi-brand operators an alternative to adding another business that resembles their existing restaurants, fitness centers or hotels. The company manufactures its own wash equipment, blends detergents and develops its point-of-sale systems and app in-house. Franchisees also receive ongoing marketing and operational guidance, while a national call center handles member care. That combination of technology and structured support is designed to help owners manage a business in an industry that may be unfamiliar to them.

For franchise operators considering recurring-revenue models, the Memberships and Subscriptions feature available through Gorilla Dash can help organize subscription programs and related customer information. It is a separate platform from Tommy’s Express, but the broader operational lesson is relevant: predictable customer relationships require clear processes as well as a compelling service. Joseph B.’s expansion from one car wash to six illustrates how diversification can create a new growth avenue, provided owners understand the investment, operating demands and customer expectations of the industry they enter.