But I'm not saying it can't be done. There may be a niche establishment that would make it worth your while. But they are going to have to really want better results than what a drive through car wash will give them, and as a business, keeping costs down is a priority. Most aren't going to care about the baggy test or swirl marks. If you want some steady repeat business, an idea I would suggest is go to businesses where employees have their cars parked out front all day, and offer the cheap wash/wax/wheels and tires. Just find one person at the establishment to coordinate/liason for you and schedule a reoccurring day of the week that you could return regularly. Offer the liason an incentive like half off if he gets at least a certain number of people wanting it that day. We would make it a minimum of 4 cars for us to show up, but of course it's up to you on what you are willing to drive out for. We charged $40 per car (in Hawaii) and left envelopes with the liason, who would have the payments in the envelope with the plate numbers and car description written on the outside. Then those people get to walk out of work to a freshly waxed car. Took us about 15 minutes each car and usually did 4-6, which would all be done way before lunch. We ended up not doing a lot of business like that though, only because we would be booked solid for usually two weeks at a time with full details.
One good location that I was venturing to do myself (until weather started not cooperating and I got into some road work for welding) are smaller independently owned gyms. I was going to one where my good friend was friends with the owner and dating the manager there. The owners usually make good money and have nice cars that they like to spend money on. I tried to arrange detailing his truck, but it got hail damage and he was waiting on repairs and a new hood to come in, then weather kept pushing it off and I never got to it before winter came. But the deal was, I would detail and maintain his truck for free, and he would let me advertise at his gym and do my "wash wax wheels and tires" in the parking lot for patrons. They would get their car washed and waxed while they work out. I would charge $30, and could knock them out about two an hour. Then could schedule full details to other interested people. That's $480 if I put in 8 hours of work in a day.