Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated) Revenue Benchmarks
The average drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) business in the United States generates $391K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 14,721 drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) businesses in the U.S., employing 84,682 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $31K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Drycleaning and Laundry Business Actually Do?
Businesses providing dry cleaning (chemical solvent) and laundry (wash-and-fold or wash-only) services. Many now offer pickup/delivery routes.
Who buys: Professionals with dress-code work, busy households outsourcing laundry, restaurants and hotels (linens).
Average Revenue
$391K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$68K
per year
Total Businesses
14,721
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$31K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$31K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
4.4
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated) Charge?
Dry cleaners charge per item; wash-and-fold is per pound.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Dry-clean shirt | $3–7 |
Dry-clean pants | $7–12 |
Dry-clean dress | $10–25 |
Dry-clean suit | $15–30 |
Wash-and-fold laundry | $1.75–3.50/lb |
Wedding dress preservation | $150–400 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete drycleaning and laundry business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) 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 drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) 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 | $63K | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $149K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $42K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $21K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $84K | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $31K | 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 Drycleaning and Laundry Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $150K
Break-Even
35 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) business do?
- Businesses providing dry cleaning (chemical solvent) and laundry (wash-and-fold or wash-only) services. Many now offer pickup/delivery routes. Professionals with dress-code work, busy households outsourcing laundry, restaurants and hotels (linens).
- How much do drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) charge?
- Dry cleaners charge per item; wash-and-fold is per pound. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) make per year?
- The average drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) business generates $391K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $31K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) businesses are there in the US?
- There are 14,721 drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 84,682 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) business?
- Startup costs for a drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) business typically range from $30K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) industry?
- The average employee in the drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) industry earns $31K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) 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 drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) 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 drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) industry earns $30,735/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 15,498 establishments employing 91,736 people, the typical business has about 6 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated) industry has declined 32% since 2000 (from 33,004 to 22,298 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Drycleaning and Laundry Services (except Coin-Operated) revenue with other industries: