A typical laundromat in the US and Canada that's still open after three years brings in $15.3k a month ($183k a year) and keeps about $30 of every $100. That leaves about $55k a year.
The top 10% make more than $33k a month. The bottom 10% make under $7.1k.
Thinking of starting a laundromat?
- Typical cost to start
- $182k
- Still open after 3 years
- 79%
Monthly revenue by year
For businesses still trading at each point.
| Year | Bottom 25% | Typical | Top 25% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $3,900 | $6,400 | $10,600 | $16,800 |
| Year 3 | $10,200 | $15,300 | $22,900 | $33,000 |
| Year 5 | $12,800 | $19,900 | $30,800 | $45,700 |
Year 3 monthly revenue
How much does it cost to start?
Typical cost to start: $181,800.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Washers & dryers | $104,500 |
| Fit-out & plumbing | $43,200 |
| Lease deposit & legal | $15,900 |
| Payment system | $6,800 |
| Working capital | $11,400 |
Where the money goes
Share of revenue for a typical business in year three.
How many survive?
79% are still trading after three years, and 66% after five. These are the reasons owners gave for closing:
What the successful ones do
- Signed 10+ year leases with capped rent reviews
- Added wash-and-fold and commercial accounts
- Replaced machines with card-only, low-water models
How to start one, step by step
Verified laundromats on HumDays
Suds & Co Laundrette
Suds & Co runs 22 card-only machines on a long lease with capped rent reviews, and has added wash-and-fold accounts for steady volume. It has stayed profitable through years of rising utility costs.
Lavanderia Sole
“Card-only machines cut my cash handling to zero.”
Why Fresh Fold closed: $3 left on every $32 order
Fresh Fold had happy customers and lost money on almost every order. Each $32 order cost $12 in courier fees, each new customer cost about $50 in ads, and the average customer ordered 2.1 times before stopping. Growth made the losses bigger, and growth was the plan.
Questions people ask
Is a laundromat profitable?
Usually, if it survives. A typical laundromat in the US and Canada keeps about $30 of every $100 in sales by year three, which on typical sales leaves about $55k a year. 21% close within three years.
How much does it cost to start a laundromat?
The typical cost to start is $182k. The biggest items are washers & dryers and fit-out & plumbing.
How long until a laundromat makes a profit?
A typical business had its first profitable month after 9 months. Side-hustle starts took about two months longer.
Why do laundromats fail?
The most common reason owners give is “lease terms & rent increases” (34% of closures), followed by “utility costs” (26%).
Is a laundromat seasonal?
Steady, slight winter peak. Survivors plan cash around the quiet months.
Ask laundromat owners
How many years are left and whether you can renew. Every buyer who looked at my laundrette asked about the lease before anything else.
Who pays for water and drains. Our utility costs went up twice in one year and the lease said that was our problem.
We went card-only. Fewer break-ins, no cash runs, and we can see every wash by the hour.
As a customer I walk past the coin-only places now. I never carry coins any more.