# Car wash and detailing setup guide

> Set up a car wash or detail shop on SmartPOS Hub - wash packages, vehicle-size prices, crew commission, bookings, fast checkout, tips and wash clubs.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/car-wash/overview/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

This guide sets up a **car wash, express tunnel, full-service wash or detailing shop** on SmartPOS Hub. You finish with wash packages priced by vehicle size, add-ons, detailing services that can be booked online, crew with commission, a view of today's cars, a fast checkout with tips, and wash club memberships.

## Who this guide is for

- **Express tunnel washes** that sell a few packages very fast.
- **Full-service washes** with interior cleaning and a crew per car.
- **Detail shops** that book long jobs (interior detail, paint correction, ceramic coating) by appointment.
- **Mobile detailers** who take bookings and payments on a phone.

![Services overview with appointments today, still to come, arrived or in service, completed, requests to confirm and done today, the next appointment and staff load today](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/services-overview.CTHvc9_u.png) (web app page: `/services`)
*Services › Overview: today's cars, what is in service and how busy each crew member is.*

## What you will set up

1. [Turn on Services and Bookings](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/car-wash/step-1-turn-on-services-and-bookings/): sites, modules and opening hours.
2. [Wash packages and add-ons](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/car-wash/step-2-wash-packages-and-add-ons/): tunnel packages, vehicle-size prices, detailing services and retail.
3. [Crew, hours and commission](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/car-wash/step-3-crew-hours-and-commission/): staff, services they do, working hours and commission.
4. [Bookings and the queue](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/car-wash/step-4-bookings-and-the-queue/): online booking, walk-ins, check-in and today's line.
5. [Fast checkout, tips and wash clubs](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/car-wash/step-5-fast-checkout-tips-and-memberships/): POS, gratuity, memberships and gift cards.
6. [Daily operations](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/car-wash/daily-operations/) and the [go-live checklist](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/car-wash/checklist/).

## How the pieces fit together

| You want to… | Where it happens | Module or setting |
|---|---|---|
| Sell an express wash in one tap | **Sell › POS** | Product without stock |
| Charge more for an SUV | Variable product with **Vehicle size** | Core |
| Book a 4-hour detail | **Services › Services**, booking page | Services module |
| See who is waiting | **Bookings**, **Services › Overview** | Services / Bookings |
| Pay crew commission | **Services › Staff**, **Services › Reports** | Services module |
| Add a tip | **Gratuity** product | Core |
| Sell a monthly wash club | Membership product, customer group | Core (Recurring invoices optional) |

**Note:** 
Things SmartPOS Hub does not do for a car wash: licence-plate recognition, tunnel controller integration and automatic unlimited-wash checks. Sell and track memberships as described in [step 5](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/car-wash/step-5-fast-checkout-tips-and-memberships/).

## On a phone

The whole web app works in a phone browser, and staff can use the **SmartPOS Business** app ([Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smartposhub.business)) to sell and see their appointments in **My day**.

![Services overview on a phone with Copy booking link, Staff calendar and New appointment buttons and tiles for appointments today](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/services-overview-phone.DY_m12pb.png)
*Services overview in a phone browser.*

## Related guides

  - [Services module](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/services/) — Service menu, staff, appointments and commission.
  - [Bookings](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/bookings/) — Calendar, walk-ins and the online booking page.
  - [Variable products](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/variable-products/) — Prices per vehicle size.
  - [Booking payments](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/booking-payments/) — Deposits to confirm online bookings.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I set up wash packages?

Quick tunnel washes are products without stock (Express Wash - Basic, Shine, Ceramic…). Longer jobs such as detailing are services in the Services module with a duration, price and the crew who perform them, so they can be booked.

### Can a package cost more for an SUV or a truck?

Yes. Make the package a variable product with a Vehicle size variation (Car / Sedan, Small SUV / Crossover, Large SUV / Truck / Minivan). The cashier taps the package and picks the size.

### Can customers book a detail online?

Yes. With the Services module on, you get an online booking page. Customers pick a service, a time and optionally a staff member, and you can ask for a deposit to confirm.

### How do I see the cars waiting today?

Bookings and Services › Overview show today's appointments, who has arrived or is in service, and today's arrivals with Check in and No-show buttons. Walk-ins can be added too.

### Is there a tip button?

There is no separate tip field. Create a product called Gratuity without stock and add it to the sale; with a price of 1.00 the quantity is the tip amount.

### Can I sell monthly wash club memberships?

You can sell a membership as a product (for example Full Service Club, monthly) and use a customer group for member prices. There is no automatic unlimited-wash check or plate recognition. With the Recurring invoices module, you can let the monthly invoice be created automatically.

### Does the crew earn commission?

Yes. Each staff member in Services has a commission percentage or amount, and Services › Reports and Reports › Service Staff Report show what each person earned.

### Can I sell air fresheners, drinks and towels too?

Yes. They are normal products with stock on the same POS screen.

### Can I run two wash sites?

Yes. Each site is a business location with its own sales, stock and staff hours.

### Which plan do I need?

The POS and products are in every plan. The Services and Bookings features depend on your plan. Settings › Package Subscription shows what is included.