Equipment Financing for Startup Car Wash

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.

Reply by a lender
from Eastern Illinois University in 900 E Diehl Rd, Naperville, IL 60563, USA

I would be happy to connect. We have financed many car washes over the years. There are a wide variety of financing options that would be available to you including SBA and equipment financing. Certainly having a strong equity partner / guarantor would help, but it sounds like your loan request is relatively minimal so there should not be a lot of need for outside support. You can reach me here or directly at redacted

Reply by a professional
in Philippines

Hey ^redacted‌, I am partnered with a trusted lender who specialize in equipment financing. Happy to make an introduction. Please send me an email at redacted

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