Top Laundromat Ownership Tips from Experts: Actionable Takeaways from Laundromat Resource Podcast 216
Whether you’re considering buying your first laundromat or are looking to optimize an existing business, the most successful owners know that continual learning and adaptation drive results. Episode 216 of the Laundromat Resource Podcast with host Jordan Berry and industry veteran Waleed Cope delivers a treasure trove of actionable insights for laundromat owners. Here are the top takeaways for current and future laundromat owners—and, most essentially, how to put them to work in your business.
1. Understand the Current State of Pickup & Delivery—and Proceed with Caution
Waleed Cope reveals there’s a flood of new entrants in the pickup and delivery market, from gig-based platforms to homegrown operators. This means increased competition and pressure on profit margins.
Practical Application:
If you’re considering offering pickup and delivery:
Do a detailed local market analysis. Identify not just traditional laundromat competitors but also gig-based service providers in your area.
Set realistic expectations. Recognize it may take time before your investment pays off. Prioritize operational excellence and customer service to differentiate yourself.
Diversify, don’t depend. Don’t rely solely on pickup and delivery; ensure your self-service operations perform strongly as well.
2. Never Underestimate the Power of Customer Experience
Both Jordan and Waleed agree that exceptional customer service is the differentiator in a crowded market. Clean stores, attentive staff, and small touches—such as folding socks with special straps—create deep customer loyalty.
Practical Application:
Train your staff to greet and assist every customer; help them carry in bags, answer questions proactively, and resolve issues with empathy.
Invest in your environment. Well-lit, meticulously clean, and inviting spaces make a lasting impression.
Implement small “wow” moments. For example, Waleed’s team uses sock straps to keep laundry organized, which customers value—and remember.
3. Focus on Throughput: Maximize How Fast Customers Complete Laundry
Throughput—the speed at which customers get in, do laundry, and leave—directly impacts your capacity for higher revenue. Waleed likens it to how fast a drive-thru or restaurant serves each customer.
Practical Application:
Monitor peak hours. Build your store to handle your busiest times rather than average flow. More machines mean less waiting, happier customers, and higher income.
Design for flow. Arrange machines, folding tables, and payment stations to minimize bottlenecks.
Track and optimize. Use your POS or card system’s data to identify slow points and address them.
4. Innovate with Data—And Share It to Power Industry Growth
Access to anonymized, aggregated performance data empowers owners to benchmark expenses, revenue, and utility costs, keeping everyone competitive—even against larger corporate players.
Practical Application:
Leverage technology. Install payment systems that collect useful business metrics—turns per day, transaction size, peak hours, etc.
Regularly review KPIs. Don’t just collect data—use it to drive decision-making.
Share data responsibly. Participate in owner networks or forums (like the Laundry CEO Forum) to benchmark performance and negotiate better prices with vendors.
5. Customize Everything for Your Customer—Not Your Ego
Successful laundromats are tailored to local needs, not the owner’s dream. Make strategic decisions based on what your clientele wants and values.
Practical Application:
Survey your customers. Ask how you can improve their experience and what services they value.
Monitor the competition. Visit other laundromats, take notes on their offerings, and notice gaps in their customer service or product selection.
Let your data inform improvements. For example, if a majority of your users request extended hours or a particular amenity, test rolling it out.
6. Invest in Networking and Continuous Education
Industry conferences and forums aren’t “extra”—they’re essential. Owners who connect with peers and learn from experts reap massive ROI in insight and innovation.
Practical Application:
Attend events like the Laundry CEO Forum. One good idea or introduction can pay for the entire event (and then some).
Join digital communities. Forums and webinars provide a rich source of current best practices and industry benchmarks.
Follow leaders in the space. Stay plugged in by listening to podcasts, newsletters (like Wash Weekly), and social channels from experts such as Waleed Cope and Jordan Berry.
7. Be Patient and Diligent with Business Deals
Lease negotiations, acquisitions, and buildouts all take time—rushing can mean bad terms and costly mistakes.
Practical Application:
Give yourself ample time for negotiations, financing, and buildouts, especially if you’re targeting end-of-year deadlines for depreciation benefits.
Don’t rush into bad deals to beat a clock; quality, not speed, is the goal. A strong foundation pays off for years.
8. Adopt a Growth Mindset—Question “The Way It’s Always Been Done”
The most successful laundromat operators consistently challenge assumptions about location, store size, and operations.
Practical Application:
Don’t limit yourself to the conventional wisdom, e.g., the “store must be within 30 minutes of home” or “weekend business is all that matters.”
Think outside your market. Analyze owners who operate in different geographies or scales—what can you adapt to your context?
Empower your team to bring new ideas and improvements to the table.
Final Thoughts
The laundry industry is changing fast—but, as this episode proves, the foundations of success remain: understand your market, obsess over customer experience, harness data, and network relentlessly.
Take one or two of these tips and apply them to your business this month. Over time, your results—and reputation—will skyrocket.
Looking for more?
Make sure to connect via laundromatresource.com for updates, and check out upcoming live Q&As and the Laundry CEO Forum for even deeper dives.
Join us on November 21 – 24, 2025: Laundromat Accelerator Hawaii Event : https://laundromatresource.com/hawaii
Implement just a few of these tips, and you’ll see measurable improvements in your customer traffic, retention, and profits—whether you’re buying your first laundromat or running your twentieth!
