Coin-Operated Laundry
Quarters add up faster than you think
Bottom line
Worth studying, but do not buy without strong local proof.
Coin-operated laundromats are self-service facilities where customers wash and dry clothes using commercial machines. They operate with minimal staff, often unattended, and generate steady cash flow in densely populated areas. Modern card/app payment systems are replacing quarters but the model remains the same.
How It Works
Customers load machines with coins, cards, or app payments. Washers run 30-45 minute cycles, dryers 30-60 minutes. Revenue is purely transactional — more loads = more income. Adding wash-dry-fold services and pickup/delivery can significantly increase revenue per location.
BizBite verdict
Worth underwriting
Coin-Operated Laundry maps to the Laundromat model. The category can work for acquisition buyers, but the right answer depends on source freshness, verified economics, and the specific red flags below.
Why it may work
- +Attractive 30% estimated margin profile
- +Category usually has strong acquisition-financing fit
- +Lower labor intensity than many SMB categories
- +SBA dataset shows 69 recent comparable loans
Be careful
- !Source link status has not been verified yet
- !No last-checked date yet
- !Capex-sensitive model
Category operating model
Laundromat
Revenue drivers
- • Washer and dryer turns per day
- • Average vend price by machine size
- • Wash-and-fold or pickup/delivery attachment
- • Vending, ATM, detergent, and ancillary sales
- • Hours open and neighborhood density
Key risks
- • Old machines can create a near-term capex bomb
- • Short lease term can destroy acquisition value
- • Utility costs can quietly compress margins
- • Turns/day claims are easy to exaggerate without machine-level proof
What you need to believe
- The location has durable renter/student/urban demand.
- Machine replacement needs are reflected in the purchase price.
- Lease control is long enough to recover the acquisition premium.
- Reported cash sales are verifiable enough to underwrite.
SBA 7(a) data
Real acquisitions in this category
Change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 812310 · Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
Deal size distribution
Deal flow over time
Financing profile
Recent comparable deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | WA | $286K | $337K |
| Mar 2026 | NY | $1.1M | $1.3M |
| Mar 2026 | NY | $2.2M | $2.6M |
| Mar 2026 | CA | $3.4M | $4.0M |
| Mar 2026 | CA | $3.7M | $4.4M |
| Feb 2026 | TX | $1.3M | $1.6M |
| Feb 2026 | MO | $828K | $974K |
| Feb 2026 | CA | $5M | $5.9M |
| Jan 2026 | MO | $474K | $558K |
| Jan 2026 | AZ | $378K | $444K |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.
Deal Calculator
Priced off $75K SDE — can this deal service its own debt?
SDE = revenue × margin estimate for this niche; it includes owner compensation, so budget your salary out of cash flow. Excludes working-capital injection, capex reserves, and taxes. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower.
Pros
- +Cash-based business with immediate revenue collection
- +Minimal labor — most laundromats run semi-unattended
- +Recession-resistant — everyone needs clean clothes
- +Add-on services (wash-fold, delivery) increase revenue
Cons
- -Utility costs (water, gas, electric) are significant
- -Equipment replacement is expensive ($3K-$8K per machine)
- -Location dependent — needs dense residential area
Best For
Semi-absentee owners who want a cash-flow machine in urban areas
Operating Costs
Major costs are utilities (water, gas, electricity), lease, equipment maintenance and replacement, insurance, and an attendant for busy hours. Utility costs can be 25-35% of revenue.
Where to Buy
Find laundromats and laundry businesses for sale
Industry resource for laundromat acquisitions
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
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Ready to Buy? Start Here →
Largest business-for-sale marketplace in the US
SBA loans and business acquisition financing — get funded fast
ROBS financing — use retirement funds to buy a business tax-free
Bookkeeping for small business owners — hands-off financials
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