Bubble Bath Car Wash

What Bubble Bath Car Wash does

Bubble Bath Car Wash is a San Antonio-based express car wash operator founded in 2008 by a local family as the city's first express car wash in the Medical Center area. The company operates 18+ company-owned retail locations across the San Antonio metropolitan area, offering a tiered wash menu (Bubble Basic $10, Bubble Shine $15, Bubble Wheels $20, Bubble Glow $25) delivered through an express tunnel system with water reclamation (5-micron filtration reducing freshwater use to 19-36 gallons per vehicle), certified biodegradable chemicals, and solar-powered operations. In 2023, Bubble Bath was acquired by QuikTrip Corporation, a multi-state convenience and fuel retailer, and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary leveraging QuikTrip's retail fuel network for a Member Rewards Fuel Card that delivers 5¢-25¢/gallon discounts to unlimited members.

The company operates a hybrid revenue model combining one-time Pay-by-Wash transactions with monthly recurring Unlimited Club memberships priced from $20.99 to $38.99. A dedicated B2B Fleet Discount Program serves commercial and government accounts (10+ vehicles) with tiered volume pricing across Pay-by-Wash and Unlimited billing, securing accounts across healthcare (Cardinal Health, UTHSC), government (Bexar County, multiple municipal police departments, Housing Authority of Bexar County), nonprofit (Meals on Wheels, Children's Shelter), and corporate (Chick-fil-A) segments. Customer acquisition is primarily through direct-to-consumer walk-ins, online membership enrollment, and localized grand-opening promotions at new sites, supported by organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) and SEO for "car wash near me" searches. Marketing emphasizes eco-friendly operations, fuel-discount integration with QuikTrip, and community impact through The Bubble Bath Promise (supporting Meals on Wheels, K9s for Warriors, the DoSeum, and Grace for Vets). Following the QuikTrip acquisition, the brand is now expanding geographically, with a new San Antonio location opened at Nacogdoches & Higgins Rd. in 2025 and preliminary approval for its first standalone St. Louis location in 2026.

Name

Bubble Bath Car Wash

Legal name

Bubble Bath Car Wash

Website

https://thebubblebathcarwash.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bubble Bath Car Wash operates 18+ express car wash locations across San Antonio, offering tiered wash packages, monthly unlimited memberships, and a B2B fleet program, with a fuel discount integration via its 2023 acquisition by QuikTrip Corporation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Express Car Wash Services

NAICS

Car Washes (811192)

akta.pro primary industry

Fleet/Vehicle & Equipment Exterior Washing (Residential/Light Commercial) (HSAEAMAL)

Keywords

• Express car wash
• Car wash subscriptions
• Commercial fleet washing
• Eco-friendly car wash
• Unlimited car wash club

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Unlimited Car Wash Club Memberships: Monthly recurring subscription memberships (Glow, Wheels, Shine, Basic tiers) offering unlimited washes at any location with additional fuel discount perks via the Member Rewards Fuel Card at QuikTrip.
2. Pay-by-Wash (Single Vehicle): Individual one-time car wash purchases at four package tiers (Glow $25, Wheels $20, Shine $15, Basic $10) for non-members.
3. Fleet Program Billing: Volume discount commercial accounts with either Pay-by-Wash (per-vehicle per-wash billing) or Unlimited flat monthly fee per vehicle. Includes monthly billing with usage reports.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bubble Bath Car Wash operates an express car wash chain in the San Antonio area, providing tiered single-wash services (Basic, Shine, Wheels, Glow), a monthly Unlimited Car Wash Club subscription with integrated QuikTrip fuel discount perks, and a Fleet Discount Program for commercial vehicle accounts with Pay-by-Wash or Unlimited billing options. The company differentiates through eco-friendly operations including water reclamation, biodegradable chemicals, and solar power, supported by 18+ physical locations.

Product overview

Bubble Bath Car Wash is an express car wash operator offering a tiered wash package system with four levels (Bubble Basic, Bubble Shine, Bubble Wheels, Bubble Glow), an Unlimited Car Wash Club subscription program, a Fleet Discount Program for business customers, gift cards, and a Member Rewards Fuel Card that integrates with QuikTrip's fuel station network. Founded in 2008 and acquired by QuikTrip in 2023, the company operates multiple express car wash locations in the San Antonio area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bubble Glow Package Premium-tier single-wash package featuring ceramic wax, rain coat protectant, tire shine, bubble shower, hot carnauba wax, undercarriage wash, reflection polish, triple foam conditioner, turbo dry, and soft wash process; single wash priced at $25, or unlimited for $38.99/month.
• Bubble Wheels Package Mid-tier single-wash package including tire shine feature; single wash priced at $20, or unlimited for $31.99/month.
• Bubble Shine Package Entry-level premium single-wash package including undercarriage wash; single wash priced at $15, or unlimited for $28.99/month.
• Bubble Basic Package Base-tier single-wash package including turbo dry feature; single wash priced at $10, or unlimited for $20.99/month.
• Unlimited Car Wash Club Membership Monthly recurring subscription program offering unlimited washes at any Bubble Bath Car Wash location, with tiered fuel discount benefits (5¢ to 25¢ off per gallon) at participating QuikTrip stations via the included Member Rewards Fuel Card; four subscription tiers: Basic ($20.99/mo), Shine ($28.99/mo), Wheels ($31.99/mo), and Glow ($38.99/mo).
• Fleet Discount Program Volume-discount pricing program for business fleets of 10 or more vehicles with two billing models: Pay-by-Wash (per-vehicle per-wash billing) or Unlimited flat monthly fee per vehicle; flexible monthly billing, usage reports, and supports varied fleet types including cars, trucks, vans, semis, tow trucks, and dually trucks; tiered by fleet size (10-50, 51-100, 101+ vehicles).
• Gift Cards Gift cards available for purchase, redeemable for Bubble Bath Car Wash services with up to 16% added value promotional bonus.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water usage reduced to 19-36 gallons per vehicle via water reclamation systems
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• K9s for WarriorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBubble Bath Car Wash partners with K9s for Warriors, the Nation's largest provider of service dogs for veterans, as part of its 'Serving Those Who Serve' community agenda.
• Grace for VetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBubble Bath is a member of Grace for Vets, a national nonprofit organization that provides veterans and service personnel FREE car washes on Veterans Day, aligning with the brand's military community commitment.
• Meals on WheelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBubble Bath supports Meals on Wheels as part of its community agenda focused on 'Supporting Our Neighbors', demonstrating compassion and kindness toward fellow San Antonians.
• The DoSeumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBubble Bath Car Wash is dedicated to programs like the DoSeum that foster imagination, innovation, and education to create new opportunities for youth as part of the 'Nurturing the Next Generation' tenet.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Quick Quack Car Wash: Fast-growing express car wash franchise with unlimited membership model and strong brand identity. Operates 200+ locations primarily in the western and southern U.S., directly comparable on format, pricing structure, and customer experience.
• GO Car Wash: Multi-site express car wash operator with a subscription-led revenue model in select western U.S. markets. Comparable in offering tiered unlimited memberships and operating company-owned retail storefronts.
• ZIPS Car Wash: Express car wash chain operating across the southern U.S. with a similar tiered wash menu and unlimited membership program. Comparable operating model with regional overlap in Texas markets adjacent to Bubble Bath's San Antonio footprint.
• Brown Bear Car Wash: Seattle-based express car wash chain with strong environmental positioning (water reclamation, biodegradable products) similar to Bubble Bath's eco-friendly claims. Closest peer on sustainability messaging and tunnel-only exterior wash format.
• Take 5 Car Wash: Largest express car wash chain in North America with a similar unlimited-membership, exterior-only tunnel model. Operates hundreds of locations across the U.S. and is the most direct competitive comparable for Bubble Bath's core service offering.
• Tommy's Express Car Wash: Franchise-based express car wash operator with similar tunnel technology and unlimited membership tiers. Comparable in operational format, customer base (subscription-driven), and franchise/site expansion model.
• Mister Car Wash: Largest publicly traded car wash operator in North America with an express exterior wash model and Unlimited Wash Club subscriptions. Operates 500+ locations across the U.S., representing the scaled version of Bubble Bath's subscription-driven model.
• Splash Car Wash: Regional express car wash operator in the Northeast U.S. with unlimited membership programs and eco-friendly positioning. Comparable service offering and subscription-led revenue model.
• Delta Sonic: Regional express car wash and oil change chain in the Northeast U.S. with membership and fleet-style programs. Comparable express wash format and tiered service offering, though with geographic distance from Bubble Bath's Texas base.

Broad incumbents

• RaceTrac: Large convenience store and fuel retailer operating car washes alongside fuel stations — analogous to QuikTrip's broader retail strategy that enabled the Bubble Bath acquisition. Relevant comparable for parent-level strategy and bundled fuel/car wash economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BubblebathCW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bubble-bath-carwash
• Instagraminstagram.com/bubblebathcw

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Bubble Bath Car Wash