INSIDE
FOURTH QUARTER 2014 | VOLUME 85
THIS ISSUE
3 President’s Message 4 Reasons to Join the MCA 6 Reclaim Retrofit, Part 2 11 MCF Profit Returns 12 Waiting Line Management 15 To Keep or Shred
Financial Documents
18 MCA Member News
Phone: 800-610-4512 Email: walilko.h@gcsionline.com www.midwestcarwash.com 120 N. Washington Square Suite 110A Lansing, MI 48933
Reclaim Retrofit Part 2, Page 6
MIDWEST CARWASH ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS PRESIDENT
PAUL COFFMAN Breton Auto Wash
VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH CHATEL Ride the Tide Carwash
SECRETARY/TREASURER ROB DAVIS Vaughan Industries
DIRECTORS KEN ALLMACHER Allmacher LLC/Vcard SHANE ANDERSON Carlovers Car Wash/ The Campbell Group LYNNETTE PEPPLER Mr. P’s Wash World, Inc.
MCA is a membership organization that promotes the interests of Midwest Carwash Operators through interaction, education and information. The Finish Line is a quarterly newsletter published by the MCA. Opinions expressed by guest writers do not necessarily reflect views of the MCA. Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement or approval of the product or service advertised. All articles submitted with be considered for publication and accepted at the approval of the editor and MCA Board. The MCA reserves the right to edit submissions for accuracy, clarity and length. Please send address changes, membership inquiries, and advertising requests to the address listed above.
Advertising Index Belanger, Inc.....................................................................OBC Diamond Shine......................................................................3 DRB Systems, Inc................................................................14 Hamilton Manufacturing...................................................4 Mackinaw Administrators LLC..........................................8 Major Brands Oil................................................................18 Michigan Cleaning Fund...................................................11 Oscar W. Larson Co............................................................17 PDQ..................................................................................10 Warsaw Chemical Company..........................................16
SHERYL TURNER Belanger, Inc.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Midwest Carwash Association 120 N. Washington Square, Suite 110A Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: 800.610.4512 Fax: 517.371.1170 www.midwestcarwash.com
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FROM THE PRESIDENT By Paul Coffman Breton Auto Wash
What Membership Means to Me
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t was a quiet afternoon and I was sitting at my desk doing my “owner” stuff when one of my employees came to my office and asked me two questions that really made me think: • Why did I join the Midwest Car Wash Association? • What does membership mean to me? Since I had joined the MCA in the 90’s, I had to think back to how my membership and participation in the association came to be. I had been approached by one of the members of the MCA and was simply asked to join. He told me about the Expo which interested me because I felt it was another way to meet others like me, a car wash operator, make connections with vendors and strengthen my network. He also told me that he thought I would be able to make a difference by serving on the Board someday, offering my ideas and opinions to help make the MCA better for its members and future. These were things that I was missing and that I needed to give me a better sense of community, belonging and interaction in the industry. I also felt that letting my customers know that I am a member of the MCA would help with my credibility and integrity in the community my washes operate in, and showcase my washes as a reliable service in good standing with the organization that is the authority of this industry in the region.
unthreatened. The association itself, as its core value, is to help its members thrive. The association is laying a new path beginning in 2015 to increase its community. By community not only do I mean the number of members in the association, but the interaction and belonging that come with being a member of the community. The MCA has had the Expo and the Bill Boal Golf Outing for many, many years. That is no longer enough. There need to be more opportunities to connect and to learn. When you receive your membership renewal, please take a moment to review some of the things that are already planned for next year. These member benefits will not only benefit you on a business level, but a personal level as well. I am looking forward to seeing all of you during the course of the year and hearing more about what the MCA can do for you. ~Paul
It was then that I was able to answer the other question, what membership means to me. Interaction, belonging, and community are all linked to connection. Connecting car wash operators and industry vendors all together whether they already knew each other or not, the MCA gives them a common bond aside from being in the same industry. This industry is highly competitive. Come to think of it, in this economy, are there any industries that are not? Yet we can come together, share, and walk away from an interaction Fourth Quarter 2014
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Diamond Shine Car Wash Solutions Grand Blanc, MI Office: 810.406.3300 Cell: 810.624.3069 www.diamondshine.com www.facebook.com/pages/Steves-Car-Wash-Chemicals/688995957777618 @stevecwchemical http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOfZgCQN3bA4vyeHDI7EqsQ
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Don’t miss anything the MCA has to offer...
Join Today!
The Midwest Carwash Association looks forward to working with you throughout the rest of this year and 2015. Become a member of the MCA and take full advantage of our members-only benefits. In 2015 you can expect to get more than ever before as there are some big changes for the MCA with increased activities and opportunities for members to keep informed and get involved!
New in 2015: • • • •
Beer tasting and round table in the Grand Rapids area. Location, topic and speaker to be announced. Beer tasting and round table in the Detroit area. Location, topic and speaker to be announced. Detroit Tigers outing More events in the works!
We would love to hear from you – your ideas and feedback help shape and make the MCA, your MCA. Please feel free to contact any Board Member or use the contact information below.
Returning events and activities: • The Annual MCA Expo: June 23rd – 24th at FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, MI. Special perks for attendees! • The Annual Bill Boal Golf Outing: A great opportunity to network with MCA members and Vendor Members in a relaxed setting. • Become a Board Member sharing your experience and insight. • MILD/MCA Workers Compensation Fund: This is an active members-only benefit. If you have any questions regarding membership please do not hesitate to contact our office or any MCA Board Member.
GET INVOLVED! Join the MCA Board The MCA is extending an invitation to you to have an active role in your association and industry as a member of the MCA Board of Directors. Each year the MCA looks to its members for individuals who are willing to be decision makers in advancing the direction of the association; provide input in developing our goals, policies and services; and to act as representative of the MCA to help the MCA membership expand always in all ways. Eligibility for the MCA Board requires that you are a paid member in good standing of the MCA for 2014 and directly involved in operating or owning a car wash or provides services or products specific to the car wash industry. New Board Members are voted in by the current Board Members. If you would like more information about what it’s like to be a MCA Board Member or become a Board Member, please call Paul Coffman at 616-940-3752 or email at: mcacarwashguy@gmail.com.
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2015 Associate Membership Form Company Name _________________________________________________________ q Renewal
q New Member
Other Business Name (if applicable) ____________________________________________________________________ Business Type (check all that apply)
q q q q q q q
Conveyor In-Bay Automatic Oil-Lube Chemical Distributor Carwash Mfr. Equipment Mfr.
q q q q q q
Detail Shop Self-Serve Credit Card Processor Insurance Provider Soap Mfr. POS
Other _____________________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________________________________________ City _____________________________________ State ______________________________ Zip _________________ Contact Person _____________________________________________________________________________________ Phone ________________________________________
Fax ______________________________________________
Email _____________________________________________________________________________________________ (Please provide an up-to-date email to ensure that you receive all MCA communications)
q Operator Member Annual Dues $150
q Supplier/Distributor/Manufacturer Member Annual Dues $150 PAYMENT METHOD q Check payable to MCA
Check # _________
q VISA
q MasterCard
q Discover
q Amex
Credit Card Number: ________________________________________ Expiration: _____________ Code: ____________ Name: _______________________________________ Signature: ____________________________________________ MAIL FORM AND PAYMENT TO :
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Midwest Carwash Association 120 N. Washington Square Suite 110A Lansing, MI 48933 Or Fax to 517.371.1170 Page 5
QUESTIONS?
Contact Hillary Walilko at walilko.h@gcsionline.com or call 1.800.610.4512
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Reclaim Retrofit Install Process Exposed, Part 2
By Buzz Glover Editor’s Note: In the last issue of Finish Line, we examined the real-world savings water reclaim systems offer car wash operators.
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year-to-year water-bill summary, with and without reclaim, illustrated the financial impact. This month, we take a closer look at the install process.
THE INSTALL PROCESS When I was researching the merits of using a reclaim system, one of my biggest concerns and curiosities was the install process. I first needed to know where I could fit the reclaim pump stand into my already jampacked equipment room. This knowledge allowed me to better understand which manufacturers’ footprints were better suited for the space I had available. I settled on a unit that only took up a space measuring 48”x16”x84”. This turned out to be ideal as it could be located comfortably behind a boiler and presented no major problems that required existing equipment to be moved or repositioned.
Sewer The location of sewer tie-ins became a bit more complicated. My distributor was adamant about not tying in my self-serve bays, and I needed to locate where my in-bay automatic sewer drains could be connected. I called a local plumbing company that had a drain locating service. We were able to determine that the drains came in right near the entrance of my equipment room door and that they were approximately 48” deep. This created some concern for the excavator; he originally thought that he would need to do all the digging by hand. Unbelievably, he was able to fit his bucket through the equipment room door and, after the concrete floor was saw-cut and jack-hammered, they were able to dig most out with a few scoops of a huge bucket.
A look at the new home for the settlement tanks. Digging out the space for the sewer tie-in.
Reclaim Tanks
Electric
Once the equipment-room floor was dug out and the sewer lines were exposed, they began to saw cut the asphalt in the new location for the three new 1,500-gallon reclaim tanks. The saw cut covered an area approximately 30’x30’. Once the saw cutting was complete the large excavator began jackhammering and digging a square pit approximately 12’ deep — a new home for the three large settlement tanks. Stone was dropped into the bottom of the pit and measured and leveled to make sure risers and
I actually was lucky that there were no major plumbing or electrical location issues either. The unit required two electrical services: one 230V 30amp service to run the pump and one 120V 20-amp service to run the control voltage. I had room in my electrical box, and ran service through conduit to the area designated for the new unit. Finish Line
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tanks, once installed, would be flush with the new pavement. Once the pit was near completion, digging went underneath the sidewalk saving the existing concrete work, but exposing the foundation wall where the equipment room had already been excavated and exposed. A small strategic hole was placed in the foundation to allow the plumbing of four small pipes — two pipes to draw reclaim water from the last settlement tank (a second for redundancy) and one for the existing in-bay automatic drains to be plumbed to the first tank; the last pipe was plumbed to the middle tank to accommodate odor-eliminating ozone injection.
set into place. After placement, there is some quick plumbing that allows the wastewater to flow from tank one to tank two and then to tank three. The tops and risers are put in place with the manholes bolted into position. The remaining plumbing is completed, and the pit is back filled with gravel. The leveled gravel is now ready for concrete or blacktop.
The tanks in position and ready to be back-filled.
Adjustments
Hole in foundation to accept new plumbing pipes.
After plumbing was stubbed out, the exciting part started. Two trucks carrying the three tanks arrived. Each tank is divided into two roughly even compartments. There are holes in the walls between them to improve the settlement process. The tanks are carefully lifted off the truck with a crane and
Once the tanks are installed and properly plumbed, the equipment distributor will come in and do the final hookups to the unit that is already in place. Use some caution here, because there are certain intricacies that are particular to each individual car wash equipment manufacturer with regard to using reclaim. You should try to discover your car wash equipment manufacturer’s specific information about using reclaim in the discovery stage so there are no big surprises. I had to tweak my equipment in a few areas for the reclaim system to work properly and for it to not stress the equipment or pumps. New wash recipes will need to be programmed and chemical use will need to be reviewed for reclaim compatibility. I did most of this through phone calls to both the manufacturer of the reclaim equipment and the chemical distributor. Next, the reclaim system has to be primed. This just consists of running the wash with fresh water for a few hours (or days, depending on how busy the wash is). This will fill the tanks and, when each tank is full and the last tank’s check valves and inlet are covered with wastewater, you are ready to start saving a bunch of water and money.
Reclaim Part 2 cont. on page 8 Moving the settlement tanks into position.
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Reclaim Part 2 cont. OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER Wash Quality
CONCLUSION
I really have not noticed a large decline in wash quality. However, I have noticed spotting in doorjambs and worse spotting left by water that drips from mirrors and crevices. So, in some respects, you can blame the reclaim for some deterioration in wash quality.
Electric Use You will be running a 5-HP motor or larger non-stop, 24 hours a day. This will cause your electric bill to increase significantly. In my case, I attribute roughly $100 a month. This subtracts from the total savings of the system.
Effects on Equipment
Installing a reclaim system is a straightforward process, and the savings can be significant. Hopefully you have a better understanding of what it takes to install a water reclaim and its advantages.
Buzz Glover owns two car washes in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA. He is also the author of Car Wash Business 101, The #1 Car Wash Start-Up Guide available on Amazon.com and www.carwashbusiness101.com. This article was reprinted with permission. The articles in this series first appeared in Auto Laundry News.
Use of a water reclaim system is said to be harsh on pumps and spray tips. The newer technology that is available in reclaim systems has reportedly eliminated much of this. For over two years (knock on wood), my pumps have been performing well. I do, however, change out my tips twice a year now instead of once. This is more to ensure good wash quality because I have not seen any significant wear on tips that would require them to be changed more often.
Tank Pumping You must also factor in getting your reclaim tanks pumped when necessary. This can add $2,000 to $4,000 annually in tank-pumping expenses.
Michigan Car Wash Association C & C Underwriters along with Mackinaw Administrators, LLC have worked together in order to provide a comprehensive insurance package for members of The Midwest Carwash Association Our program is available for:
Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana Through years of experience we have come to appreciate that no one likes to wait until the end of the year for a possible dividend. We are pleased to provide you with an opportunity to purchase insurance that rewards you for your safety record and good experience at the inception of your policy. Credit may be given based on your experience and which results in premium being reduced right up front, so you start saving immediately!
We would welcome the opportunity to provide you with a quote! Please contact: Dale Hourigan, C & C Underwriters 734-422-7850 dhourigan@ccunderwriters.com
Settlement tanks installed and ready for new blacktop.
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Fourth Quarter 2014
WIN BIG!
EXPO 2015 June 22 - 24
FireKeepers Casino Hotel
More details coming soon www.MidwestCarWash.com
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Michigan Cleaning Fund Announces Profit Return Back to Members!
C
ongratulations Michigan Cleaning Fund Members! The Michigan Cleaning Fund is pleased to announce a profit distribution of $1,300,000 to be returned to Fund members! This represents an average return equal to 50% of a member’s annual premium. As a member-owned program, all premium collected that’s not used for claims and administrative expenses is returned back to members. Since its inception in 1981, the total profits returned are over $18,000,000. The Michigan Cleaning Fund, a member owned self-insured workers’ compensation program, has several distinct advantages over most standard insurance carriers. The MI Cleaning Fund’s excellent performance has insulated its members from the turbulence of the traditional insurance marketplace. From substantial profit returns to aggressive claims handling, the Fund is the most cost-effective workers’ compensation option for its members year after year. Most importantly, Fund members receive stable yet competitive upfront pricing. This competitive pricing, along with the MI Cleaning Fund’s selective approach to underwriting new members, is designed to save members money on the total cost of workers’ compensation over the long term. By focusing on accident prevention and proper claims management, Fund members continue to keep their costs down as low as possible. The Fund offers its members numerous safety resources and loss control programs that are specific to the cleaning industry. Some of the Fund’s educational training focuses on creating a safety culture in the workplace, by working with owners/supervisors on proper claims handling, accident investigation, return-to-work programs and making every employee accountable for safety on the job. The Fund works with loss control specialists who provide sound guidance and cost-saving solutions on safety and loss prevention for its members. In addition to safety, workers’ compensation claims
are treated with great diligence in the way they are handled. The Fund is very loss sensitive and sees every claim dollar being spent as their money. The Fund controls these costs by fighting fraudulent claims and by requiring claim settlements to be authorized by a board of trustees, comprised of Fund members. Participants of the Fund must be a member of the Michigan Institute of Laundering & Dry Cleaning or Midwest Carwash Association. The majority of payroll must fall into one of the following classifications: dry cleaning, industrial laundry and uniform, coinoperated laundry, car wash, carpet cleaning, and commercial janitorial. Congratulations on another exceptional year! If you’re not currently a member, you’re missing out on the many benefits the Michigan Cleaning Fund has to offer. Please contact Regency Group for more information or www.micleaningfund.org. The Michigan Cleaning Fund is an active MCA member benefit administered by the Regency Group.
Your Association Workers’ Compensation Program
giving back an average premium return of
50%
• Exclusive to the Carwash Industry • Dedicated Claims Management • Competitive Up-Front Pricing • Return of Profits - Over $16.9 Million Start Saving Today! administered by
Call for a detailed quote.
800.686.6640
micleaningfund.org endorsed by MIDWEST CAR WAS H ASSOCIATION
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Easing the Sting for Customers Waiting in Line
Line management systems reduce the frustration for vehicle owners waiting to get their cars washed
E
very business – car wash or otherwise – knows that keeping customers waiting too long is a recipe for poor customer service. Not only can excessive waits cause customers to become upset and agitated, but it also costs the business in the form of lost revenue and poor customer reviews. Fortunately for car washes that regularly deal with waiting lines of cars and trucks, a little organization and a better system for informing drivers as to their progress can bring calm and quiet to an area that is too often in upheaval. Not only does wait line management—also known as queue management—reduce the aggravation levels of customers and offer the potential to increase profits, but it also benefits the employees who receive the brunt of complaints from angry customers kept too long waiting. At the same time, the latest systems improve operational efficiency through the accurate tracking and evaluation of wait times and processes. For this reason the latest in “wait line management systems” are now being installed by forward thinking car wash owners who see the advantage of keeping customers happy by keeping the lines moving quickly. “We had a system designed that uses a timer to keep the pace up so we could handle more cars,” says Tom Magazzine, owner of Station Auto Wash – a family owned and operated full-service car wash and express detailing center in Purcellville, VA. “The timers work very effectively. People get their work done quickly and then they move on. Customers really like the whole concept because they don’t have to wait so long.”
Longer Waits = Greater Frustration and Lost Income One of the quickest way to lose potential customers is to make them wait too long to make the purchase. By themselves, long wait lines create discontent among customers. “How long do I have to park here before I get to wash my car?!” is an oft heard sentiment. Not liking to be “kept in the dark,” people want answers. Without them, they get angry. Adding to this frustration are environmental issues such as hot temperatures, exhaust fumes, and traffic noise. Then there are individual issues such as a medical condition,
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a gnawing hunger, or problems that the customer has carried over from work or home. Added together, you have a recipe for revolt. This frustration translates into lost income, as some drivers eventually pull out of the queue and spend their money elsewhere. At a minimum, unhappy customers will complain about the long wait to their family and friends. Today, that complaint can reach much further through review sites like Yelp, Angie’s List, and even individual blogs. “News travels fast, but bad news travels faster,” notes Terry Lang, owner and founder of Alzatex, Inc., an Aloha, Oregon-based manufacturer of high technology timing systems that serve the military, medical, sporting, education and car wash industries. “Not only that, but it takes about ten good reviews to outweigh one bad one. No owner or manager can afford to let complaints about waiting in line too long tarnish an otherwise solid reputation.” Customer frustration from unknown wait durations further hurts a car wash business when that resentment gets taken out on employees. These workers can only take so much before they lash back; risking immediate customer alienation. Either that or the employee eventually becomes discontented and looks for employment elsewhere. At the same time, poor wait time management accounts for losses on the balance sheets. “Without the accurate tracking of wait times, management cannot improve operations within that aspect of doing business,” explains Lang. “Unknown delays in any part of a process add up to wasted opportunities in the form of lost sales and cost overruns.” “In the car wash business we often gave time away for free by letting people waste too many minutes in the vacuum and detailing bays because we had no way of timing how long they kept their cars or trucks there while they leisurely toweled them off,” says Magazzine. “But if you give anything away for free, then people don’t value it. I had to find some way of speeding the process so those stuck back in line wouldn’t become aggravated, leave, and then never come back.”
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Knowledge is Power Wait line management systems address these issues by coordinating wait times in order to help shorten them. Just as important, they keep those in line appraised of just how long the wait is. This immediately provides the customer with a great sense of reassurance. Now they know how long the wait will be and can look forward to the end. They also regain some sense of control of that time. “Keeping customers accurately appraised of their wait time gives them reassurance, so that they don’t second guess their reason for buying from you,” says Lang The data to provide this knowledge is collected and broadcast through several components of hardware and software within a line management system. Basic systems include a “take-a-number” ticket dispenser; hard-wired buttons that service personnel use to advance numbers; and flashing indicator lamps placed over service windows or vacuum bays to identify which spot is now open. More advance systems serve several spaces and incorporate wireless buttons. The Alzatex system, for one, also offers a controller with SD card memory for
capturing wait times, number of people waiting and several other events. As part of the system, that information is stored and organized in software that enables owners to handle all aspects of queue management in real-time and make adjustments where needed. Information provided by such systems can include the: service type (as identified by letter codes); estimated wait time and number of clients still waiting; current ticket number for the client being served; total clients served per hour or per day; and minutes taken to serve each client. Such knowledge helps improve operations and the bottom line. In the case of full-service car washes, some of this information gets displayed in the waiting areas. “Through accurate notice of the ‘time interval to service,’ these systems transform wait time into free time,” notes Lang. “Customers can then open a book, make telephone calls, or surf the Web on their smart phones,”
offered “off the shelf” for applications such as the postoffice or bakeries. How could that carry over to a car wash? This issue has now been addressed through systems that utilize customized engineering to link up of the various hardware and software components in manner tailored to meet the specific needs of even the most unusual application. “We built a new car wash, and we wanted to introduce a new concept in self service where people could do their own interior work in an indoor facility,” explains Magazzine. “They pull in and have everything they need: vacuums, air, towels, and chemicals. But it was almost too convenient, so some motorists would take too much time to the frustration of those waiting behind them. We had to do something.” “I searched on line for timers and found Alzatex, so I called them up,” continues Magazzine. “I talked directly to the engineers and told them about my situation and how I wanted the timing system to improve my operations. They then designed a system just for me that could help me handle more cars without alienating customers.” “We charge $5 for the initial 12 minutes allotted for each car, but then charge for any additional minutes,” explains Magazzine. “The system starts beeping at the end of every minute after the initial 12 as a reminder that each extra minute costs them another dollar. Before we got the new system some folks would hang around for 45 minutes, but now we handle as many as 20 cars per hour per space. This has created a very profitable revenue stream for us while easing the frustration of waiting customers.” “As for customer feedback, it’s been unanimous,” continues Magazzine. “We have yet to have a single complaint. Everybody who has used the system says they will come back and use it again.” Given the many benefits that wait line management brings to the table, these systems deserve serious consideration by other car wash operators that now have the opportunity to employ them as a competitive advantage. “We started with the system in two bays, but it worked out so well that we installed it in six,” says Magazzine. “It’s operating flawlessly. We expect our way of doing this will catch on in the industry.” For more information, contact Alzatex, Inc.; 6400 SW 213th Avenue; Aloha, OR 97007; (503) 642-9693; (888) 808-4452; Fax: (503) 649-6539; sales@Alzatex.com or www.Alzatex. com.
Queue Management in Practice If anything has delayed the wide adoption of wait line management systems, it is the fact that customization has been lacking. Until recently, such systems were only
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A Message from 2.4 Million Car Wash Customers:
“We Like to Save Time with FastPass from DRB Systems” ®
FastPass gives busy customers the quick, convenient and simple buying experience they want at a car wash. That’s why 2.4 million customers already have FastPass windshield stickers on their vehicles. It’s also why car washes that have installed the FastPass RFID system have grown nearly three times faster than those that haven’t.*
0
Without FastPassss
• The easiest and fastest way to identify monthly
used with the SiteWatch Automatic Recharge Module® (ARM®) for monthly passes and the Xpress Pay Terminal® (XPT®) self-pay station.
25.5%
9.1%
in less than two seconds by reading windshield tags without even requiring customers to lower their windows.
• Provides the most seamless buying experience when
National Average 2011-2014
10%
• A wireless acceptance system that clears transactions
pass customers.
Car Wash Volume Increase 20%
FastPass RFID
Learn more about how you can offer your customers a better buying experience with SiteWatch FastPass from DRB Systems. Contact DRB Systems at 1-800-336-6338, or visit www.drbsystems.com for more information.
With FastPass
* Comparison figure based on blind StatWatch reports from over 600 anonymous car washes.
USING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE YOUR CUSTOMER’S EXPERIENCE
800-336-6338 Green, Ohio / www.drbsystems.com © Copyright 2014. All rights reserved DRB Systems
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To Keep or Shred - A Simplified Guide Which Financial Documents Should You Keep on File... ...And for How Long? Provided By Money Source Financial Services
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ou might be surprised how many people have financial documents scattered all over the house on the kitchen table, underneath old newspapers, in the hall closet, in the basement. If this describes your financial "filing system", you may have a tough time keeping tabs on your financial life.
Bank statements. If you have any fear of being audited, keep the last three years' worth of them on file. You may question whether the paper trail has to be that long, but under certain circumstances (lawsuit, divorce, past debts) it may be wise to keep more than three years of statements on file.
Organization will help you, your advisors ... and even your heirs.
Credit card statements. These are less necessary to have around than many people think, but you might want to keep any statements detailing tax-related purchases for up to seven years.
If you've got a meeting scheduled with an accountant, financial consultant, mortgage lender or insurance agent, spare yourself a last-minute scavenger hunt. Take an hour or two to put things in good order. If nothing else, do it for your heirs. When you pass, they will be contending with emotions and won't want to search through your house for this or that piece of paper. One large file cabinet may suffice.
Your annual Social Security benefits statement. Keep the most recent one, as it shows your earnings record from the day you started working. Please note, however: if you see an error, you will want to have your W-2 or tax return for the particular year on hand to help Social Security correct it.2
You might prefer a few storage boxes, or stackable units sold at your local bigbox retailer. Whatever you choose, here is what should go inside: Investment statements. Organize them by type: IRA statements, 401(k) statements, mutual fund statements. The annual statements are the ones that really matter; you may decide to forego filing the quarterlies or monthlies. When it comes to your IRA or 401(k), is it wise to retain your Form 8606s (which report nondeductible contributions to traditional IRAs), your Form 5498s (the "Fair Market Value Information" statements that your IRA custodian sends you each May), and your Form 1099-Rs (which report IRA income distributions).1 In addition, you will want to retain any record of your original investment in a fund or a stock. (This will help you determine capital gains or losses. Your annual statement will show you the dividend or capital gains distribution.)
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Mortgage documents, mortgage statements and HELOC statements. As a rule, keep mortgage statements for the ownership period of the property plus seven years. As for your mortgage documents, you may wish to keep them for the ownership period of the property plus ten years (though your county recorder's office likely has copies).
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Federal and state tax returns. The IRS wants you to hang onto your returns until the period of limitations runs out - that is, the time frame in which you can claim a credit or refund. The standard IRS audit looks at your past three years of federal tax records. So you need to keep three years of federal (and state) tax records on hand, and up to seven years to be really safe. Tax records pertaining to real property or "real assets" should be kept for as long as you own the asset (and for at least seven years after you sell, exchange or liquidate it).3 Payroll statements. What if you own a business or are self-employed? Retain your payroll statements for seven years or longer, just in case the IRS comes knocking. Employee benefits statements. Does your company issue these to you annually or quarterly? Keep at least the most recent year-end statement on file.
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To Keep or Shred cont. Insurances. Life, disability, health, auto, home... you want the policies on file, and you want policy information on hand for the life of the policy plus three years. Medical records and health insurance. The consensus says you should keep these documents around for five years after the surgery or the end of treatment. If you think you can claim medical expenses on your federal return, keep them for seven years. Warranties. You only need them until they expire. When they expire, toss them. Utility bills. Do you need to keep these around for more than a month? No, you really don't. Check last month's statement against this month's, then get rid of last month's bill. If this seems like too much paper to file, buy a sheet-fed scanner. If you want to get really sophisticated, you can buy one of these and use it to put financial records on your computer. You might want to have the hard copies on file just in case your hard drive and/or your flash drive go awry.
Two new super-high-solids tire dressings from Warsaw Chemical
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MEGA SHINE and DOUBLE SHINE Both of these new dressings feature two to three times the normal solids for a more highgloss shine. Mega Shine is a solvent-based dressing while Double Shine is a VOC-compliant water-based dressing. Finish Line
Both are designed for online tire shine applicators. Both bond to the tire, creating excellent anti-sling properties. Both deliver superior performance. Find out more today at warsaw-chem.com. Page 16
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MCA Member News Mike Jacques Joins PECO Car Wash Systems Auburn Hills, MI – PECO Car Wash Systems has announced that Mike Jacques has joined the company to further develop their growing business in the Eastern United States and Canada. Mike Jacques comes with a wealth of experience within the industry, having spent the last 17 years at a major tunnel manufacturer. Mike Jacques was instrumental in contracting negotiations, developing territories and managing accounts. Mike Jacques joins PECO Car Wash Systems as a Business Development Manager to continue his recent success providing business services to many car wash companies in Eastern US and Canada. Mike advised “I am excited to start a new challenge with PECO and look forward to working within the PECO team to further develop their already extensive product and service to the car wash industry. I am fortunate to be joining such a respected company that prides itself on top quality customer care.” Gilbert Rietsch, Jr, President of PECO said, “We expect Mike Jacques to be a key addition to PECO and our commitment to keep growing our business in the Eastern US and Canada.”
MacNeil Wash Systems Introduces Industry’s Premier Virtual Tunnel Configurator Prospective car wash investors looking to visualize their dream of either an express or full-service tunnel now have a truly advanced and cutting edge technology tool in the MacNeil Carwash Configurator, a software-based virtual simulator from MacNeil Wash Systems. Developed exclusively for MacNeil distributors and sales associates, the state-of-the-art configurator enables clients to build and customize both threedimensional perspective and plan-view layouts of a car wash tunnel with a simple series of clicks and drag-and-drop movements where the future owneroperator can move various components of the wash into place and expand and contract the tunnel based on planned space availability. For international customers, an added bonus to the system includes the ability to align right- and/or left-hand layouts to accommodate driver-directional patterns.
Major Brands Oil Company is pleased to provide our customers with the Simoniz line of car wash products. Simoniz USA is an industry-leading manufacturer of cleaning and protection products for auto dealerships and professional car washes. Liquid High Foam Detergents
Whitewall and Wheel Cleaners
Drying Agents
Rust Inhibitor
Polishes, Sealants & Glass Treatment Major Brands Oil Company is also an Oil and Lubricant distributor of Quaker State, Shell, Pennzoil and other major brands. For any questions or inquiries please call Major Brands Oil Company.
462 West 23rd Street Holland, MI 49423 1.800.968.9000 616.392.5936 MajorBrandsOil.com
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Ryko Solutions CEO, Steven L’Heureux, sees the new configurator as an industry game changer. "The car wash investors of today are more sophisticated than ever," L'Heureux said. "They are expecting the most advanced and easy-to-use tools so that they can simply, quickly and accurately work with our
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MacNeil cont. distributors to move through the process of building their facility. This configurator completes the beginning of the ownership experience for the customer by adding those necessary elements of speed and precise design." Integral to the new tool is an “overlap� feature, which creates an internal proof of the tunnel rendering to root out any design flaws or tunnel configuration errors so that they can be easily edited. Upon completion, the eye-catching tunnel illustrations can then be exported in a colored jpeg format and immediately handed to the client or emailed to the
Fourth Quarter 2014
customer for other uses, such as obtaining financial approvals. For further simplicity, the program has been designed to allow distributors to place orders directly from the software application, rendering the sales process more efficient.
Do you know of an MCA member who deserves recognition? Contact Hillary Walilko at 800.610.4512 or walilko.h@gcsionline.com with the details and we will feature it in a future edition of MCA Members Corner.
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PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LANSING, MI PERMIT NO. 664
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