Coin-Operated Laundry
Quarters add up faster than you think
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.
Avg Revenue
$250K
Profit Margin
30%
Acquisition Multiple
2x - 4x
Startup Cost
$100K - $500K
Difficulty
3/5
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.
Revenue Range
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
Quick Facts
- Category
- physical
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Acquisition Price
- $500K - $1.0M
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Coin-Operated Laundry
$250K/yr • 30% margins • 2x–4x multiple
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