Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners Revenue Benchmarks
The average coin-operated laundries and drycleaners business in the United States generates $257K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 9,580 coin-operated laundries and drycleaners businesses in the U.S., employing 38,225 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $28K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners Business Actually Do?
Self-service coin-operated laundromats. Consolidating category as chains buy independents.
Who buys: Apartment dwellers without in-unit laundry, students, low-income households.
Average Revenue
$257K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$64K
per year
Total Businesses
9,580
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$21K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$28K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
2.9
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners Charge?
Coin-op laundromats earn per wash + dry cycle with vending revenue supplementing.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Wash (top-load) | $2.50–5.00 |
Wash (front-load large) | $4.00–9.00 |
Dry cycle (30 min) | $1.50–3.50 |
Wash-and-fold service (per lb) | $1.75–3.50/lb |
Monthly gross per machine | $150–350/washer |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete coin-operated laundries and drycleaners business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a coin-operated laundries and drycleaners business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the coin-operated laundries and drycleaners industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Supplies & materials | $16 | $42K | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $98K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $28K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $14K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $56K | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $21K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
8.14%
openings/year
Closure Rate
9.64%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+4.12%
annual
Businesses Closed
2,199
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $150K
Break-Even
52 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a coin-operated laundries and drycleaners business do?
- Self-service coin-operated laundromats. Consolidating category as chains buy independents. Apartment dwellers without in-unit laundry, students, low-income households.
- How much do coin-operated laundries and drycleaners charge?
- Coin-op laundromats earn per wash + dry cycle with vending revenue supplementing. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average coin-operated laundries and drycleaners make per year?
- The average coin-operated laundries and drycleaners business generates $257K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $21K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many coin-operated laundries and drycleaners businesses are there in the US?
- There are 9,580 coin-operated laundries and drycleaners businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 38,225 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a coin-operated laundries and drycleaners business?
- Startup costs for a coin-operated laundries and drycleaners business typically range from $30K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the coin-operated laundries and drycleaners industry?
- The average employee in the coin-operated laundries and drycleaners industry earns $28K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The coin-operated laundries and drycleaners industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 4.1% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (8.1% entry vs 9.6% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 60% of coin-operated laundries and drycleaners businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 2,199 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the coin-operated laundries and drycleaners industry earns $27,726/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 9,905 establishments employing 38,545 people, the typical business has about 4 employees. Most businesses in this industry are small operations — often owner-operated with minimal staff.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The coin-operated laundries and drycleaners industry has declined 32% since 2000 (from 33,004 to 22,298 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners revenue with other industries: