Today we’d like to introduce you to Beau Watson.
Hi Beau, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started washing cars the day I got my driver’s license at 17. I took a job at a local car wash because I loved cars and it beat working fast food. What began as a high-school job quickly turned into a career. By 18, I was an assistant manager, and by 19, I was given my first store to run.
From the beginning, I was all in. Car washing is a feast-or-famine business, and I learned early that the people willing to outwork everyone else tend to win. Over the next nine years, I was asked to take over struggling locations and bring them back to life. In total, I turned around three underperforming sites for the same company. I didn’t do anything magical—I put in the hours, learned every detail of the operation, knew my customers by name, and set extremely high expectations for my team. On the operations side, I was relentless about performance, consistency, and accountability.
After managing four sites, building training programs, and becoming the senior leader in Western North Carolina, I was given the opportunity to take over the Atlanta district—a region that had cycled through multiple district managers and consistently underperformed. I moved to Atlanta and took responsibility for nine full-service washes and roughly 240 employees. That role accelerated my learning exponentially. Managing nine site leaders meant dealing with labor, mechanical issues, customer claims, marketing, and day-to-day fires—every single day. Over the next 18 months, we significantly increased sales and ultimately turned the district profitable.
After 17 years with that company, I made the decision to leave. I had a six-month-old daughter at the time, and I realized there was more to life than nonstop work. I’m incredibly grateful for that organization—it taught me the car-wash business from the ground up.
Afterward, I worked for the largest express car wash operator in the country and later directly for an investor who acquired seven express, full-service, and detail locations. That acquisition was chaotic—broken equipment, understaffed sites, no systems, no processes. But fixing those problems over the next year gave me complete confidence that I could build and operate something of my own.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak, and in February 2024, I began networking with car-wash business brokers and real-estate professionals. After making numerous offers, we acquired our first two sites—one in Round Rock and one in Georgetown—on January 1, 2025. Shortly after, an opportunity came up between those two locations that was too strategic to pass up, and we acquired our third site on April 1.
Today, we own and operate three car washes in the Round Rock and Georgetown area. We live in Georgetown, and we are fully local—locally owned, locally operated. I’m on site every day, and there’s a good chance customers will meet the owner when they visit, which is rare in this industry.
We rebranded all locations to Peak Shine Car Wash in July, and since then we’ve earned over 680 five-star reviews, won Best of Round Rock, and placed Top 3 in the Georgetown car wash category. Our focus now is simple and unwavering: bringing the Summit of Clean to our community through hard work, high standards, and genuine local ownership.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not even close. It’s been anything but smooth.
Running failing car washes with someone else’s capital is very different from owning them outright. When the money is yours, every decision carries weight, and every mistake is amplified. While we used creative financing to acquire our three locations, keeping the business afloat required personal sacrifice. I ultimately sold my entire rental property portfolio to support the company and ensure we could continue operating and improving the sites.
One of the biggest challenges has been access to capital. Finding a bank or lender that believes in your vision as much as you do is incredibly difficult. My résumé opens doors and gets conversations started, but it doesn’t guarantee support. Ironically, capital would allow us to serve our community even better—improving facilities, staffing, and customer experience—but we’ve heard far more “no’s” than “yes’s.”
Some of that falls on me. In hindsight, one of my biggest mistakes was not securing bank financing immediately after acquisition. SBA lenders are far more receptive at the point of takeover than they are six or seven months later, especially when a turnaround is still in progress and losses are part of the story. Timing matters more than most operators realize.
We also delayed our rebrand longer than we should have. The cost of replacing all signage across multiple sites pushed us to wait, and that decision hurt our early branding and marketing momentum.
Entrepreneurship is often romanticized, but the reality is rejection—constant rejection. On average, I hear “no” three times a day. My expertise is operating car washes: training people, building culture, fixing systems, and delivering a great customer experience. Instead, a significant amount of my time has been spent chasing capital, which has pulled me away from the very things that make the business stronger.
It’s frustrating. It’s exhausting. But it’s also part of the journey—and one I’m fully committed to seeing through.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Peak Shine Car Wash is a locally owned and operated express car wash brand serving the Round Rock and Georgetown communities. We specialize in fast, high-quality exterior washes with a strong focus on consistency, value, and vehicle protection—supported by some of the best unlimited membership programs in the market.
What sets Peak Shine apart is that we are operator-led, not investor-led. This business wasn’t built in a boardroom—it was built by someone who has spent nearly two decades running car washes at every level. That experience shows up in the details: how our sites are run, how our equipment is maintained, how our teams are trained, and how our customers are treated. We don’t experiment with fundamentals—we execute them with discipline.
From a customer standpoint, value and convenience are where we truly stand out. Our unlimited membership programs are designed for real life—Texas weather, busy schedules, and people who want a consistently clean car without thinking twice. We also offer convenient and economical fleet programs for local businesses, allowing companies to keep their vehicles clean, professional, and road-ready without managing receipts or one-off payments.
Operational excellence is the backbone of our brand. We obsess over wash quality, equipment uptime, preventative maintenance, and protective finishes—including premium waxes and graphene-enhanced surface protection that help vehicles stay cleaner longer and resist UV damage. Clean, shiny, dry cars—every time—is our standard.
In addition to our express locations, our Round Rock site offers full-service car washing for customers who want a more hands-on clean. That combination allows us to serve a wider range of needs, from fast in-and-out convenience to a more thorough, traditional experience.
People matter just as much as process. Peak Shine is also a place to build a career. We’re a growing company with clear standards, hands-on leadership, and real opportunity for advancement. Our team works directly with ownership, receives ongoing training, and plays an active role in the success of the business.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is authenticity. I’m on site every day, and customers regularly meet the owner—something that’s increasingly rare in this industry. Since rebranding in July, we’ve earned over 680 five-star reviews, won Best of Round Rock, and placed Top 3 in Georgetown’s car wash category. Those results came from trust, consistency, and accountability.
What we want readers to know is simple: Peak Shine isn’t trying to be the biggest chain—we’re focused on being the best local car wash. Whether you’re a daily commuter, a business owner with a fleet, or someone looking for a career with a company that cares, Peak Shine is built to serve this community the right way.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I’ve been fortunate to have a small but incredibly strong support system behind me, and this business would not be where it is today without them.
First and foremost, Jake Bartholomew deserves enormous credit. He’s not only my business partner, but a close friend. Over the last 12 months, we’ve worked relentlessly side by side to stabilize, improve, and rebuild these locations into places we’re genuinely proud of. His commitment, resilience, and belief in what we’re building have been critical—especially during the toughest stretches.
My family has also played an essential role. My wife has been the foundation that allows me to do what I do. She keeps our household calm and grounded and takes incredible care of our daughter, Wynnsday. Knowing that my family life is stable and supported gives me the ability to stay focused and present at work. My daughter, even at a young age, has been a powerful reminder of why this journey matters.
My mom has been a constant source of support as well. She’s helped with bookkeeping, offered sound business and life advice, and kept me balanced during a period that demands a lot personally and professionally. Her guidance has helped me stay disciplined, grounded, and aligned as the business continues to grow.
Last—but certainly not least—is my longtime friend Jerjuan Edwards. There is truly no way I’d be where I am today without his daily counsel. His perspective, honesty, and willingness to challenge my thinking have helped me navigate decisions, pressure, and uncertainty. That kind of support is rare, and I don’t take it for granted.
Entrepreneurship can feel isolating, but I’ve never done this alone. The people around me—personally and professionally—have played a direct role in the success of Peak Shine, and I’m deeply grateful for each of them.
Pricing:
- Base Wash – $9 or $19 monthly
- Summit – $15 or $26 monthly
- Apex – $21 or $33 monthly
- Peak – $27 or $38 monthly
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thepeakshine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peakshinecarwash/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peakshinecarwash/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peak-shine-llc
- Other: https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/round-rock/profile/car-wash/peak-shine-car-wash-0825-1000240734
