Equipment Financing for Startup Car Wash

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March 17, 2026

by a searcher from University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School in Philadelphia, PA, USA

I’m in the process of building a car wash and exploring financing options for equipment. The total equipment cost is approximately $230k, representing ~17% of the total project cost. Given that this is a startup with no operating history, I’m trying to understand what financing options are realistically available. Are SBA loans (or non-SBA equipment financing) viable in this scenario? Would having a partner with strong credit/liquidity as a guarantor materially improve financing terms or approval likelihood? Any insights, lender recommendations, or firsthand experiences would be greatly appreciated.
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Reply by a searcher
from New York University in Connecticut, USA
If you have a strong relationship with you local bank this is a good option. If not try reaching out to Live Oak.
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Reply by a searcher
from University of Cincinnati in Long Beach, CA, USA
Thanks ^redacted‌ -- Edward, equipment funding is always available, the cost of those funds will range all over the map whether it's a broker or principal. I have no experience with car wash equipment, but on the machine tool side I can refer two tier one providers: 1) Geneva Capital - David Boike / redacted 2) US Bank - Stanley Krukowski Jr. / redacted As a Start-up, Approval will depend highly on your credit history. Good luck--gw
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