What CosmétiCar does

CosmétiCar, operating through its legal entity COSMETICAR INTERNATIONAL (SAS registered in Le Rove, France; RCS Salon-de-Provence 484 122 452; share capital €57,500), is a French franchise network founded in 2003 by Florian Benoit that pioneered waterless vehicle cleaning in France. The company provides mobile on-site car wash and detailing services delivered at customer homes, workplaces, and parking locations, eliminating the 150–250 liters of water typically consumed per wash. Its core technology is a proprietary waterless washing method using biodegradable cleaning products co-developed since 2005 with a laboratory partner in Provence, applied via specialized microfibers and manual techniques. The portfolio has expanded to include ozone-based cabin disinfection, agricultural and recreational vehicle cleaning, boat washing under the CosmétiBoat sub-brand, and semi-trailer tarp cleaning (Pro'Baches).

The business operates through a three-layer revenue model: (1) franchise fees and royalties from independent agency operators using the brand and method; (2) B2C transactional revenue from individual consumers booking mobile washes; and (3) recurring B2B revenue from corporate fleet clients — including car rental companies, dealerships, logistics firms, and event agencies — supported by the proprietary Happy Fleet digital fleet management tool launched in 2022. The network comprises approximately 100 agencies across mainland France, with international presence in Switzerland and Spain, and is structured for territorial exclusivity based on a ~30,000-inhabitant density model.

The company has positioned itself as the French category leader in residential waterless car washing, citing 25 million liters of water saved annually across the network and consecutive "Meilleure Franchise de France" recognition alongside IREF and Capital Magazine accolades. Pricing is quote-based and varies by service tier (basic wash, VIP interior/exterior, polishing/ceramic, fleet subscription, sanitation). The leadership team is founder-led, with Florian Benoit as PDG and Christophe Arend overseeing network development; no external venture or private equity investment has been disclosed.

Name

CosmétiCar

Legal name

COSMETICAR INTERNATIONAL

Website

https://cosmeticar.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CosmétiCar is a French franchise network founded in 2003 operating 100+ agencies that deliver mobile, waterless car wash and fleet management services to individual consumers and corporate clients across France, Switzerland, and Spain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Rove, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees and Royalties: CosmétiCar generates revenue through franchise fees from independent agency operators who pay for the right to use the brand, methodology, training, and ongoing support. The franchise model involves initial investment and ongoing royalties based on agency performance.
2. Mobile Car Wash Services (B2C): Direct revenue from individual consumers who book waterless car wash services delivered at their preferred location. Services range from basic exterior wash to comprehensive interior/exterior detailing packages.
3. Fleet Management and Corporate Services (B2B): Recurring revenue from businesses requiring regular vehicle cleaning and fleet management services. Corporate clients include fleet managers, car rental companies, dealerships, and logistics firms requiring scheduled cleaning services.
4. Specialized Services: Additional revenue streams including agricultural equipment cleaning, camping-car/motorhome services, sanitary disinfection treatments, and semi-trailer tarp cleaning (Pro'Baches offering).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CosmétiCar provides waterless car wash and vehicle cleaning services through a franchise network of 100+ agencies across France (with operations in Switzerland and Spain). Services are delivered on-site at customer locations (home, workplace, parking) using biodegradable products, microfibers, and manual application, eliminating water consumption entirely per wash. Offerings span individual consumer detailing, vehicle renovation (polishing, ceramic treatment), ozone cabin disinfection, and corporate fleet management with a proprietary digital tracking platform.

Product overview

CosmétiCar operates as a franchise network offering waterless car washing and vehicle cleaning services. The core offering is the Lavage Auto Sans Eau service, supplemented by interior and exterior cleaning modules. Additional services include vehicle renovation (polishing, ceramic treatment), cabin disinfection with ozone technology, fleet management, and specialized cleaning for agricultural machinery, boats (CosmétiBoat), and recreational vehicles. The network operates through two models: mobile agencies that travel to customer locations and fixed centers (Centre Fixe) for customers preferring brick-and-mortar locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CosmétiBoat Riviera: Specialized boat washing and cleaning service using waterless eco-responsible methods, extending CosmétiCar's expertise beyond automobiles to marine vessels.
• Health Services
• Happy Fleet by CosmétiCar

Products and services

• Lavage Auto Sans Eau (Waterless Car Wash) Core waterless car wash service performed at customer locations (home, workplace, or designated site) using biodegradable products and microfiber cloths, eliminating water usage entirely per wash.
• Nettoyage Extérieur (Exterior Cleaning) Exterior vehicle cleaning including body wash, wheel and rim cleaning, and window treatment performed using waterless methods.
• Nettoyage Intérieur (Interior Cleaning) Interior vehicle cleaning encompassing dashboard dusting, carpet vacuuming, window cleaning, and seat shampooing.
• Rénovation de Véhicules (Vehicle Renovation) Vehicle renovation services including polish application, seat pressing/shampooing, and headlight lens restoration.
• Lustrage et Traitement Céramique (Polishing and Ceramic Treatment) Body polishing, lustre treatment, and ceramic coating for premium vehicle surface protection and shine enhancement.
• Désinfection et Purification Habitacle (Cabin Disinfection) Vehicle cabin disinfection and purification services, including ozone treatment, odor elimination, and decontamination; backed by Certibiocide certification.
• Gestion de Flotte Automobile (Happy Fleet) Corporate fleet management and maintenance services with real-time digital vehicle tracking, visual damage documentation, RSE sustainability reporting, and scheduled multi-site cleaning for corporate vehicle fleets.
• CosmétiBoat (Boat Cleaning) Waterless boat and vessel cleaning service extending the eco-friendly washing concept to marine vehicles, operated under the CosmétiBoat Riviera sub-brand.
• Lavage Machines Agricoles (Agricultural Equipment Cleaning) Eco-friendly waterless cleaning service for agricultural machinery and equipment such as tractors and farm vehicles.
• Lavage Camping-Car et Van (Motorhome and Van Cleaning) Specialized waterless cleaning service for recreational vehicles, motorhomes, vans, and summer/spring preparation.
• Pro'Baches (Semi-Trailer Tarp Cleaning) Semi-trailer tarpaulin cleaning service for logistics and transport companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25 million liters of water saved annually across the network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SimplébominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite development and hosting partner responsible for the cosmecticar.fr website creation and maintenance. Simplébo provides the technical infrastructure for online presence and agency directory functionality.
• GandiminorOthersDomain name registrar and technical hosting services for cosmecticar.fr website infrastructure.
• PublicomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAix-en-Provence based communication agency providing web development and communication services.
• Partner Laboratory (Provence)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2005 with a laboratory in Provence for developing and manufacturing proprietary biodegradable cleaning products used across the entire franchise network.
• Club DiamantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness partnership with Club Diamant, providing networking and business development opportunities for franchise network.
• SuperHerautminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partnership with SuperHeraut for promotional and business development activities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Maaco: North America's largest auto refinishing and paint franchise network with 500+ locations. Comparable franchise-based auto appearance services model with multi-tier service offerings, though focused on paint/refinishing rather than washing.
• Ziebart: International franchise specializing in vehicle appearance protection (undercoating, rust protection, detailing, tinting) with 400+ global locations. Comparable franchise auto-services model and B2B fleet client base, though offering broader protective services.
• Mister Car Wash: Largest car wash company in North America with 500+ express wash locations. Comparable car wash brand at scale with subscription-based customer programs; serves as a useful benchmark for what scaled car wash franchise economics could look like.

Direct peers

• DetailXPerts: US-based eco-friendly auto detailing franchise network specializing in water-conserving methods and mobile service. Closely comparable business model: franchise-based, eco-positioned, on-site vehicle cleaning, multi-tier service packages.
• Eléphant Bleu: Largest car wash chain in France with hundreds of fixed and high-pressure wash locations. Directly comparable to CosmétiCar as a French car wash brand competing for the same consumer and fleet customers, though Eléphant Bleu uses traditional water-based methods.
• MobileWash: On-demand mobile car wash app service operating across US markets. Comparable in delivering car wash services to customers' preferred locations via mobile units; represents a digitally-enabled direct competitor in on-site car washing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cosm-ticar-france-officiel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CosmétiCar