Coin-Op Laundry Route
Quarters that roll in while you sleep
Bottom line
Strong cash-flow candidate with manageable operations.
A coin-op laundry route is a collection of standalone washer/dryer machines placed inside apartment buildings, small hotels, or dorms under revenue-sharing agreements with property owners. Operators own the machines, collect the coins (or contactless payments), and pay the landlord a percentage. Routes typically generate $80–$200/machine/month with minimal owner involvement after setup.
How It Works
You place washers and dryers in multi-unit residential buildings or small hotels. Residents pay per cycle ($2–$4.50/wash, $1.50–$3/dry). You collect cash weekly or monthly, split 15–25% with the building owner, and maintain the machines. Modern operators add credit card readers and app-based payment to boost revenue 20–30%.
BizBite verdict
Contact broker
Coin-Op Laundry Route 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 55% 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 $77K 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
- +True passive income — machines run 24/7 without you
- +Low skill barrier to entry; no license required in most states
- +High margin once machines are paid off (50–60% net)
- +Contactless payment upgrades dramatically increase revenue
Cons
- -Machine maintenance costs can spike unpredictably
- -Building owners can cancel agreements or switch providers
- -Cash theft is a real risk without modern payment upgrades
Best For
First-time operators who want truly passive income without real estate
Operating Costs
Main costs are machine repair/parts, route driver time (2–4 hrs/week per 20 machines), and the revenue share to building owners (15–25% of gross).
Where to Buy
Search laundromat and coin-op route listings nationwide
Industry association with broker referrals and deal resources
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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