How To Create a Laundromat Business Plan in 7 Steps

If there’s one thing in life that remains constant, it’s that there’s always laundry to be done. Laundromats provide an essential service to those who don’t have washers and dryers in their homes. If you’re looking to start a company of your own, a laundromat business can be a stable and lucrative choice.

In the United States, about 95% of new laundromats survive for at least five years from their opening date, which is a much higher success rate than for other types of small businesses. Additionally, experts valued the US laundromat industry at $6.8 billion in 2025, with the average laundromat owner generating about $150,000 in revenue per year.

Read on to learn more about the laundromat industry and how to create a business plan to get started.

What is a laundromat business? 

A laundromat business provides laundry services to customers in a community or commercial enterprise who may not have access to a washer or dryer on-site in their homes, buildings, or offices. Laundry businesses often cater to college students or urban dwellers living in apartments. They typically include machines that are coin, credit, or mobile app-operated. Laundromat services may also include add-on services like dry cleaning to meet customer needs. 

What types of services do laundromats provide? 

A laundromat may offer a variety of services, such as:

• Self-service laundry. The most traditional offering, a self-service laundromat allows patrons to come and go independently and use washers and dryers on their own time.

• Wash-and-fold service. With a wash-and-fold service, an on-site staff member does laundry for a customer, who picks it up later.

• Pickup and delivery. To execute pickup and delivery services, you or your staff go directly to a client’s home or business to collect their dirty garments, clean and dry them at the laundromat, and then return them to the customer. 

• Dry cleaning. Some laundromats offer dry cleaning services on-site or as part of a partnership with a local dry cleaning business to attract additional customers. 

• On-site products. For convenience, some laundromats sell laundering products on-site, like detergent, stain remover, or dryer sheets. Some modern locations also feature items like vending machines for customers to patronize while waiting. 

How to write a laundromat business plan 

1. Start with an executive summary
2. Move on to a company overview
3. List products or services offered
4. Conduct a market analysis
5. Plan out logistics and operations
6. Put together a financial plan
7. Create a marketing plan

Whether you’re looking to start a new business, expand, seek funding, or simply share your vision with other stakeholders, a business plan can be a valuable tool. It can help crystallize your mission, your services, and your path to profitability. It’s also a necessary document if you’re looking to get a loan or secure outside investment.

While there may not be a one-size-fits-all laundromat business plan template, there are several key elements you’ll want to include in your own. Follow these steps to ensure yours is thorough and leaves no stone unturned:

1. Start with an executive summary

The executive summary is a one-page description of your laundromat business that includes a high-level overview of your product offerings, laundry services, target market, competitive advantage, leadership structure, mission statement, and financial plan. Since it should sum up all your sections in a concise and easily digestible format, write this summary at the very end of drafting your laundry business plan.

2. Move on to a company overview

Your company overview explains how you’ll execute your concept in detail. For a business venture like a laundry facility, there are many different business models to choose from, such as a self-service wash-and-dry center for residential community members; a private laundromat that services an office or residential building; or a large-scale industrial or commercial laundry that supports bulk cleaning of restaurant or hospital linens.

The company overview explains which laundromat format you plan to operate and how it will work. It should include your company name, location, legal structure (limited liability company, partnership, or corporation), mission and values, business objectives, and leadership and management team. 

3. List products or services offered 

Let’s say you plan to launch a self-service wash-and-dry laundromat that also serves as an arcade in an effort to target young patrons in a major city. You intend to include arcade games like pinball, as well as a Ping-Pong table designed to foster community and fun while people wait for their laundry.

In this case, your products and services section will include a detailed list of the laundry services you offer, a list of games, any additional services like pickup and delivery, and products you sell like snacks and detergent. Include a price list showing how you intend to charge for services (per load) and entertainment (per 30 minutes, per game, etc.), and how you’ll accept payment (whether you run a coin-operated laundry business or accept card or app payments).

4. Conduct a market analysis

The market analysis will spotlight your market research about the laundry industry and highlight industry trends and forecasts. For your laundry-arcade concept, this could include a competitive analysis (of other local laundromats, as well as any similar joint-venture wash centers that include a special attraction) plus a SWOT analysis that shows strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

This section should also include information about the population density of the area you’re catering to and demand for laundry services like self-service laundry, which may impact the number of laundry machines and the type of laundry equipment you acquire. Provide an overview of your target market and potential customers as well. In the example of the laundromat-arcade, your target market might be urban dwellers between 22 and 40 years old.

5. Plan out logistics and operations 

The logistics and operations component will encompass the raw materials and supplies you need to operate your laundry business. Here, you’ll list the specific models, types, and number of washers and dryers, as well as the types of arcade games you plan to include. List suppliers and manufacturers, as well as information like inventory management and maintenance costs.

Alternatively, you may opt to buy an existing laundromat that already has this infrastructure in place but requires renovations. In that case, you would include an overview of the changes you plan to make, such as any updates to existing machinery or foundational elements. 

6. Put together a financial plan

The financial plan will delineate the money you need to get your laundry business up and running and provide an overview of your sales strategy. If you’re just getting started, include financial projections based on your pricing and industry trends to explain how money will flow in and out of your business. Also include any business capital you have on hand, and whether you’re seeking additional funding and how. Use these metrics to explain your path to profitability and how you plan to have a sustainable business.

If you’ve been in business for a while, your financial plan should include your cash flow statement, balance sheet, and income statement instead of projections.

7. Create a marketing plan

A laundry business plan will also include a marketing strategy that explains how you plan to promote your laundromat and attract new local customers.

Since laundry businesses are location-specific, start with efforts that help you get local traffic. Set up your Google Business Profile and Bing Business Profile so customers can find you online. Leverage local SEO strategies so you appear in local search results for location-specific or “near me” queries in your neighborhood, city, or town. Create a website so customers can find a detailed list of services, products, and prices before they make the trip. You can also include photos, customer testimonials, booking options, and an FAQ page on your site. Shopify can help you create a secure and seamless website in minutes. Additionally, you may want to target social media channels that your target audience frequents, using photos and videos to showcase the details of your business.

It’s also important to detail what your broad messaging will be—whether you plan to market yourself as an eco-friendly laundromat or an affordable option for price-conscious customers, explain those branding guidelines here.