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How to Start a Landromat Business

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Coin-Operated Dryer

A laundromat is a great small-business idea for the new entrepreneur. Because the business can be owned and operated by a single person, it means that there is no need to find, hire and manage staff. This in turns means no payroll or wages to pay. This business model allows the business owner to start small with only a minor investment and grow his business as he is ready.

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    Difficulty:
    Moderate

    Instructions

      • 1

        Find a location for your laundromat. Features to look for include a large number of residential areas nearby, plenty of foot traffic and availability of parking. Laundromats are especially useful in areas with a lot of apartment buildings, colleges or other multi-family facilities.

      • 2

        Examine your competition. Are there other laundry facilities in the area? Is there room for another? What services or benefits could you offer that they do not? Consider expanded hours, tailoring and repair services, and free wireless Internet access to draw customers.

      • 3

        Buy or lease a building for your business. A laundromat will require moderate to extensive electrical upgrades in most buildings. You will need an electrician to install dedicated circuits for your machines, which will usually mean expanding the power to the building, so include these costs in your budget.

      • 4

        Get a business license from your local state department. A list of these departments for each state can be found in the Resources section of this article. While you are completing this step, inquire whether your state requires any special permits for laundry facilities.

      • 5

        Purchase or lease equipment (see Resources for suggestions). Start with a smaller number of washers and dryers than you think you need, and add more as demand requires. This will allow you to use some of the revenue from your business to buy equipment as you go along.

      • 6

        Define your services. Most laundromats are automated, but you may choose to offer dry cleaning or tailoring as well, depending on your local market. If you decide to do so, you will need to hire employees who can perform these services.

      • 7

        Market your laundromat. Place fliers in community spaces at local apartment buildings and colleges. Consider holding a special event on opening day to draw crowds and help spread the word. This could be as simple as free laundry service or free snacks to customers on that day.

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    Resources

    • Photo Credit Wiki Commons

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