What this guide covers
Combine population and traffic data with actual access routes, nearby services and market observations. Record the source and date of every piece of information. The outcome is an option to develop further and a list of risks to reflect in the budget.
What does a regional analysis cover?
Start with a simple question: who is expected to visit this car wash, and on what occasion? A local resident, someone returning from work and a driver visiting a nearby shop may follow different routes and have different expectations. Draw the realistic catchment area, allowing for junctions, road barriers and available routes.
People and daily routes
Look at nearby housing, workplaces and services. Describe how the planned site fits into customers' everyday journeys.
Location accessibility
Assess the entrance, visibility and ease of returning to the route. Proximity on a map does not always mean a short or straightforward journey.
Available services
Identify which needs the local market already serves and where you can offer customers a specific convenience or additional function.
Regional analysis organises the market case. In parallel, the site, utilities and development potential must be assessed. A location with strong demand may require costly works that change the option's viability.
What data is useful?
Statistics Poland's Local Data Bank helps describe population, housing and changes in the surrounding area for specified territorial units. For each figure, record the area, year and indicator definition. Compare data at the same territorial scale and check the available metadata.
| Information | What it helps assess | What it cannot establish on its own |
|---|---|---|
| Population and housing | The size of the surrounding community and the direction of change. | How many residents will become car wash customers. |
| Shops and workplaces | Potential opportunities to visit during everyday journeys. | Whether customers can reach the site conveniently and return to their route. |
| New developments nearby | The possible future direction of the area's development. | Whether the planned development will be completed on schedule. |
| On-site observations | Current use of roads and services. | A complete picture of a season or annual sales. |
Keep a source sheet. If some data is older, supplement it with observations of current conditions. Put an announced housing development or shop in a separate scenario; do not treat a future development as an existing source of visits.
How do I interpret traffic volumes?
GDDKiA's General Traffic Survey covers traffic parameters on surveyed road sections, including annual average daily traffic. It provides useful background for analysis, but does not measure entries onto the site. Record the year, road section identifier and definition of the measure alongside the figure.
Check the dominant direction of traffic relative to the entrance. Consider turning, making a U-turn and exiting when the road is busy. If most traffic is on the opposite side, verify the actual route to the site.
Do not convert all passing traffic into washes using a fixed, universal percentage. Describe any customer acquisition assumption as a scenario and identify the observations that support it. Only then link it to the financial analysis of the project.
What should I check in the local market?
Your own observations of operating sites help describe the services available: number of bays, equipment, payments, clarity of instructions and access convenience. Record facts visible to customers. Appearance and a queue observed once do not reveal revenue.
| Example observation | Possible interpretation | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, 16:00–17:00: customers waiting at the bays. | A possible increase in demand after work. | Repeat the observation on another Friday and record the weather and bay availability. |
| Tuesday, 10:00–11:00: low utilisation. | A quieter time of day or an effect of conditions. | Compare other times and another day with similar weather. |
| Saturday, 11:00–12:00: the vacuum area is busy. | Additional services may need sufficient space. | Check how long spaces are occupied and how the area affects vehicle circulation. |
The times in the table suggest ways to vary observations. Adapt them to daily routes in your area. Record the date, weather, observation period and unusual events. This helps avoid drawing conclusions about the whole market from one visit.
What should the analysis produce?
Finish the analysis with a brief decision sheet: arguments for the location, limitations, unknowns and the next task. Present a baseline option and explain what would need to change to justify a larger or smaller site.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does regional analysis predict profit?
Assessing the surroundings provides assumptions for a model. Financial results still require complete costs, financing terms and sales scenarios for the specific project.
Does the presence of other car washes rule out a location?
It does not settle the question on its own. Available services, demand, access and how the planned site will meet real customer needs must all be assessed.
Can I compare several locations?
Yes. Use the same criteria, data periods and observation methods. For each site, also show the technical conditions and costs that need checking.
Sources and materials
Prepared by TIXE. The example times and situations in the table illustrate an observation method; they are not a study of a particular market or a sales forecast.
Prepared: 13 October 2026. Photos and illustrations from TIXE materials.
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