Find a Job You Really Want In
Walter White Was Wrong: Examining A1 Carwash’s Financial Performance
Breaking Bad remains an iconic television series, captivating audiences with the complex dynamics between characters like Walter White and Skyler White. Fans continue to debate their loyalties—whether to Walt or Skyler—especially as their conflict escalates over the revelation of Walt’s illegal activities.
One pivotal moment is Skyler’s realization that Walt is involved in the meth business, setting off a series of events that leads her to seek a way to launder Walt’s drug money.
Her solution? The purchase of A1 Carwash, the same establishment where Walt once worked.
Recall the intense scene from the pilot episode where Walt confronts Bogdan, declaring, “F**k you and your eyebrows,” in a moment that sets the tone for the series.
Skyler ultimately negotiates the car wash for $800,000, a steal compared to the initial $20 million asking price.
Now, let’s delve into the key questions:
- Can A1 Carwash generate sufficient revenue to effectively launder Walt’s illegal earnings?
- Could the car wash have allowed Walter White to exit the meth business and live a comfortable life?
At Zippia, we explored these questions and created a hypothetical financial analysis of A1 Carwash.
Here are the findings:
Monthly Revenue: A1 Carwash would have generated approximately $62,700 each month.
Monthly Expenses: Estimated monthly expenses were around $31,297.22.
Monthly Profit: Consequently, A1 Carwash would have netted approximately $31,402.78 in profit each month.
Thus, the answer to both questions is affirmative.
A1 Carwash could have easily provided enough income for the White family to lead a comfortable life, independent of Walt’s questionable dealings.
The White family’s potential annual income would have been around $376,830.
Here’s a deeper look at how we reached these figures.
First, it may surprise you to learn the extent of revenue generated by car washes in the U.S. The United States Census Bureau estimates that consumers spend approximately $5.8 billion each year at car wash businesses, with an average car wash servicing nearly 20,000 vehicles annually.
In a desert city like Albuquerque, residents often find their cars in need of frequent washing due to the arid environment, contributing to A1 Carwash’s high service volume.
A1 Carwash reportedly sees “an average of 19 cars an hour,” as quoted by Skyler White in Season 4, Episode 2: “Thirty Eight Snubs.”
If you’re curious about A1 Carwash’s offerings, you can find it listed on Yelp, complete with customer reviews and service details. For convenience, here’s a summary of their services:
Services
- Platinum: $15
Includes HotShine® Carnauba Wax, N1 Protectant, Wheel Polish, Repel Shield, Underbody Wash, and Tire Shine.
- Service#1: $12
This wash package includes:
HotShine® Carnauba Wax, Repel Shield, Underbody Wash, Tire Shine, and Wheel Polish. - Service#2: $9
This wash package includes:
Repel Shield, Underbody Wash, and Tire Shine. - Simple Wash: $6
This wash package includes:
T3 Conditioner.
Monthly Revenue
To determine seasonal trends, we analyzed car washes in Albuquerque and found that demand remains high throughout the year, especially in desert environments.
Recall the scene in Season 1, Episode 1, where Walt begrudgingly cleans a student’s car? It turns out Bogdan’s frustration was justified; he was short-staffed, and many Albuquerque residents prefer a thorough drying after a wash to prevent dirt accumulation.
With Skyler’s data point of 19 cars per hour, we calculated the daily and monthly service volume:
19 cars/hour × 11 hours/day = 209 cars/day
209 cars/day × 30 days/month = 6,270 cars/month.
Given the service price range of $6 to $15, we estimated an average customer expenditure of $10 per car.
Thus, the monthly revenue can be calculated as follows:
Monthly Revenue Calculation
(Amount per car) $10 x (Number of cars per month) 6,270
= $62,700 monthly revenue.
Monthly Expenses
To estimate monthly expenses, we considered typical costs incurred by car washes similar to A1 Carwash:
- Labor
- Materials
- Other Expenses (Insurance, Maintenance, and Taxes)
By calculating costs per car in each category and multiplying by the total number of cars serviced, we derived the total monthly expenses.
1. Labor: According to Department of Labor statistics, car washes typically spend about $1.24 per car.
Labor cost calculation:
Labor Cost
Cost per Car = $1.24
X
No. of Cars = 6,270
Total Labor Cost per Month = $7,774.80.
2. Materials: Research from car wash franchises indicates an average material cost of $0.64 per car for cleaning supplies.
Material Cost
Cost per Car = $0.64
X
No. of Cars = 6,270
Total Materials Cost for Month = $4,012.80.
3. Other Expenses: Operational costs (water, gas, insurance, taxes, etc.) contribute significantly, averaging about $2.25 per car.
Other Expenses
Cost per Car = $2.25
X
No. of Cars = 6,270
Total Other Expenses per Month = $14,108.
Adding these costs together provides the total monthly expenses:
Total Monthly Expenses
Labor + Materials + Other
= $31,297.22.
Profit
Now, calculating the monthly profit is straightforward:
Profit Calculation
Monthly Revenue – Monthly Expenses = Profit
$62,700 – $31,297 = $31,402.78.
A1 Carwash would have generated $31,402.78 in profit each month!
This translates to an impressive annual profit of approximately $376,830 for the White family while they operated the car wash.
Annual Profit = $376,830
Conclusion
In summary, the White family could have lived exceptionally well solely from the car wash profits. Yet, Walter chose a different path.
Remember Walter White’s declaration:
“I’m not in the meth business. I’m in the empire business.”
And let’s not forget—it was Skyler’s idea to buy the car wash. Indeed, she was right; Walter could have left behind his illicit activities.
Author
Kavita Pillai is a former writer and researcher for the Zippia Career Advice blog. Her research and writing spanned understanding the relationship between income and age to reports on the gender pay gap and monthly BLS jobs report. Kavita graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in English and earned her PhD from the University of Missouri-Columbia in English Language and Literature.
