Happy Anniversary to Howco!  Follow Our Story of 55 Years of Helping Others Achieve Success in the Car Wash Industry 

by Howco Marketing 

Founded in 1969, Howco, Inc., has designed, built, serviced, and supplied car washes for more than five decades. As Howco celebrates its 55^th year in business in 2024, we offer this brief historical timeline from how we started to what we have become, highlighting significant benchmarks along the way. We also celebrate our wonderful car wash customers and incredible team members who have made this successful journey possible.  

1969 

After working for another car wash distributor and building his own wash in Charlotte, NC, Charles “Charlie” Howard Sr. founds Howco Inc., becoming a Hanna car wash systems distributor to his and other washes in the Carolinas, most of Virginia, and contiguous parts of Georgia, Tennessee, and West Virginia. 

It is initially a one-man company run out of a 10’x10’ equipment room at his car wash, with Charlie handling sales, installation, and maintenance for his Howco customers. 

1971 

Howco moves into an office and hires its first full-time employee, Joyce Draper, who remained with the company until her retirement in 2015. Charlie’s son Chuck graduates from college and joins the family companies full-time. 

1972 

Howco purchases a tin shed as its first warehouse and a repurposed telephone truck to serve as its service truck.  

1983 

Howco builds its first official headquarters in Charlotte as half office, half warehouse.  

1984 

With business booming, Howco quickly outgrows its offices and moves into its current 90,000-square-foot warehouse on South Boulevard in Charlotte. 

1986 

Charlie Howard passes away, and son Chuck steps into the role of CEO. At this point, Howco exclusively distributes Hanna equipment, offering only conveyorized systems. 

1990 

Adding to its equipment line of Hanna conveyorized systems, Howco becomes a distributor of Jim Coleman Company self-service and in-bay automatic wash systems. 

1999 

Current Howco Service Manager Frank Donaldson joins the company as a technician. 

2003 

Howco acquires Andretti Enterprises and its Hanna distributorship in the Mid-Atlantic, expanding its territory to Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., eastern Pennsylvania, and additional portions of Virginia. 

2004 

Howco purchases its third aircraft (Charlie Howard was a pilot, as is Chuck) and hires a full-time corporate pilot to better serve its widespread customer base. 

2008 

Howco purchases Thomas CW Equipment. 

2009 

Service Manager Frank Donaldson receives the inaugural “Star Award” from Jim Coleman Company/Hanna, recognizing outstanding service. 

2015 

Howco receives three awards from industry partners during The Car Wash Show in Las Vegas, including the Diamond Award from Coleman Hanna Car Wash Systems. These are just three of many industry awards and accolades the company has received over the years from equipment and chemical suppliers, as well as various trade associations. 

2017 

Howco serves as a founding member of N1 Buying Group. 

2018 

Howco adds additional vendors and suppliers to its equipment and chemical lineups to extend more offerings to its customers. 

2024 

Howco celebrates its 55^th year in business, having served more than 1,000 car wash customers in 14 states since its inception. 

When asked about the growth, success, and longevity of Howco, owner and CEO Chuck Howard states, “It’s the people. Our employees are highly trained and very knowledgeable and experienced in every aspect of the car wash business. We’ve spent more than five decades helping operators, investors, entrepreneurs, and others plan, develop, and operate successful car wash businesses of all types. Our goal is to save our customers time and money in every phase of building and maintaining a car wash. 

“The cornerstone of Howco is our people, offering their dedication and knowledge to help others be successful in the car wash business.” 

Here’s to another 55 years!