

‘However, previous business history and basic mechanical abilities are preferred,’ says Chris.Ĭhris says a laundromat with 20 washers and dryers will cost around $350,000 to $400,000. There are no industry certifications required to open a laundromat. If you're running a basic laundromat without any extra services, you might even keep your doors open 24/7.

According to figures from Laundrylux, 50% of laundromat sales are made on Saturdays and Sundays. Keep in mind that most people do their household chores after work or on weekends, so plan your operating hours accordingly. You can help to grow your bottom line by offering services such as wash and fold, dry cleaning and delivery – though this will naturally require more staff to be on site. Finally, there should be someone in charge of accounting and administration. There are other janitorial tasks to consider as well, from mopping the floors to wiping down the washers and dryers. If you're opting for a coin-operated laundromat, you'll need someone to empty the coin boxes daily. While installing a card system can cost up to $40,000, it can boost overall sales – especially as people often don't carry cash these days. ‘You also need to look at the location from a physical standpoint – how easy it is to get in and out, the parking options available and the existing utilities, which will impact construction costs.’Ĭoin-operated laundromats are a dime a dozen, but many businesses are switching to more hygienic, cashless systems in light of Covid-19. ‘The number-one thing we look out for is renter-occupied households, and those with a household income of typically under $50,000,’ says Chris. Given a regular customer won't own washing and drying equipment themselves, working-class neighborhoods, areas with many rental apartments or near college campuses make sense. You need to understand an area's demographics. The checklistĪre you planning to open a standalone establishment or a chain of laundromats? And have you considered the possibility of running a hybrid business – so, combining your laundromat operations with, say, a cafe? This will help you diversify your income stream and broaden your customer base. We ask him about the basic requirements for opening a laundromat. The prerequisitesĬhris Brick is the director of national sales development at Laundrylux, a US-based company that provides commercial laundry equipment, business solutions, financial support and marketing services.

The laundry world is awash with possibilities. As the model is easy to operate, you can choose to run it full-time or as a side hustle, or perhaps even combine it with a second business, such as a cafe, a salon or even an arcade. What's more, it offers plenty of flexibility. In fact, that same data from the Coin Laundry Association points to a 95% success rate over a five-year period. It's also a reliable source of income, as you can expect a steady stream of customers at any time of the year. Running a laundromat is fairly straightforward – the equipment is easy to maintain, labor costs are low and there's no inventory involved. So it's unsurprising that laundromats rake in some serious money – in the US, they can each generate up to $300,000 in revenue per year, according to the Coin Laundry Association. Being able to do your laundry at home is a luxury. For instance, in places like New York City, apartment rental company Renthop estimates that only about 20% of apartments have the infrastructure required for installing washer and dryer units. The basic fact is that people need clean clothes and many people – especially apartment dwellers – don't own a washing machine or a tumble dryer. The humble laundromat can be a highly lucrative business. Today, you'll find them on every busy street in urban centers all around the world. The first modern laundromat opened in Texas during the Great Depression in 1934, drawing customers with the promise of low-cost laundry. The laundromat – also known as a launderette – is a self-service facility that lets members of the public wash and dry their clothes using commercial-sized machines that are built to handle constant use and heavy loads.
