Do you need to be a petrol head to take on a franchise in the automotive sector? No…..and yes. It's true that most of the skills involved can be taught - but what can't be taught is passion. However impressively a franchise stacks up on paper, passion is the fuel that drives the hard work and dedication is fundamental to every successful business.

Ecowash mobile franchisee Sue Taylor gets many calls from people considering a franchise. "Some ask hundreds of questions about every tiny detail of the business, yet they're stumped when I ask them to name their favourite car," she says. "If you don't like cars enough to have a favourite how are you going to motivate yourself to get out of bed to clean them every day?"

Taylor was working in a job she hated when an Ecowash franchisee happened to drop into her office. "My partner and I had often talked about starting our own business but it had never taken shape until then," she says. "We were intrigued by the concept of washing cars without water and decided to investigate - and we more or less made our minds up on the spot. We both love cars and I've always enjoyed making my own car look good. We also like the environmental aspect."

In just five years, Ecowash mobile has become the world's leading mobile waterless franchise with over 120 units in Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the US. Founders Jim Cornish and Stewart Nicholls planned to build a franchised business from the outset and Cornish believes that developing systems from scratch helped them to grow fast. "Our goal was to create a model that Stewart or I would want to buy," says Cornish.

"Our parameters were a lifestyle business that's renewable and sustainable and also happy - you've got to have a good head space. Our franchisees control their own hours and, when they get out in the evening, they don't take work home with them. And Ecowash is all about happiness - taking a dirty car and making it clean."

Ecowash mobile produces its own line of products and, in the early days, franchisees saw this as the greatest benefit. Today, thanks to the dedication of Cornish and Nicholls, it's the brand; last year they invested four times the amount they received in advertising levies....

Read the full article in the current issue of Franchising out now in newsagencies.