The laundromat industry is evolving. Today’s most successful laundry owners aren’t relying solely on self-service customers — they’re expanding into wash-dry-fold, commercial laundry and pickup & delivery services to generate new revenue and build a more resilient business. Whether you’re opening a new laundromat or renovating an existing location, planning for full-service laundry can significantly increase your long-term profitability.
Here are some key considerations when planning a full-service laundry operation.
Start With the Right Lease
Your location is one of the biggest factors in your business’s success. Before signing a lease, work with professionals who understand the laundromat industry and commercial real estate. Look beyond rent and negotiate terms that protect your investment. For example, make sure your lease prevents another laundromat from opening next door or within the same shopping center. Even a well-run operation can suffer if direct competition moves in nearby.
Design Your Laundry for Growth
Adding wash-dry-fold and commercial laundry services requires more than additional machines — it requires dedicated workspace. Plan space for sorting and processing customer orders, folding and packaging finished laundry, clean and soiled linen storage and staff workflow. If you plan to serve hotels, vacation rentals, spas, salons, restaurants or healthcare facilities, you’ll also want to dedicate space for a flatwork ironer. These machines professionally finish sheets, pillowcases and table linens while allowing you to take on larger, higher-value commercial accounts.
Invest in a Point-of-Sale System Built for Laundry
A modern point-of-sale (POS) system is one of the most valuable tools for running a successful full-service laundry business. It gives customers the convenience of scheduling wash-dry-fold services online, making secure payments, tracking their order status and arranging pickup and delivery — all from their computer or mobile device. At the same time, it simplifies day-to-day operations by streamlining order management, employee workflows, scheduling, deliveries and payment processing.
Choose Equipment That Supports Full-Service Laundry
While standard vended washers and dryers may work for residential wash-dry-fold services, commercial accounts demand greater flexibility and consistency.
Look for commercial equipment that offers fully programmable wash cycles, chemistry integration and enhanced programming capabilities. These features help remove body oils, food stains and heavy stains more effectively than standard vended cycles while delivering consistent results for every customer.
Girbau Commercial’s GS-Series Washers with Genius Control provide the flexibility to switch between self-service and commercial programming, allowing one set of equipment to efficiently serve both sides of your business.
Choose High-Speed Extraction Washers
High-speed soft-mount washers with extraction speeds between 350 and 450 G-force remove significantly more moisture during the spin cycle. This improves drying times, lowers utility costs and gets more turns per day on each washer and dryer in your laundromat.
Add a Flatwork Ironer to Expand Commercial Opportunities
If commercial laundry is part of your growth strategy, a flatwork ironer can quickly become one of your most valuable pieces of equipment. Many modern ironers eliminate the need for dryer conditioning or wax application, simplifying operation while reducing labor and energy costs. Because linens can often move directly from the washer to the ironer, you’ll also shorten processing times and improve overall productivity.
Consider Ozone
Ozone technology is an effective way to improve cleaning performance while reducing operating costs. By sanitizing laundry and activating wash chemistry in cooler water temperatures, ozone systems help lower natural gas and water heating expenses while improving stain removal and reducing fabric wear. The result is cleaner laundry, enhanced sanitization and greater efficiency throughout the wash process.
Pickup and Delivery Adds Additional Revenue
Pickup and delivery continues to be one of the fastest-growing segments of the laundry industry. Busy families, working professionals and commercial businesses increasingly value convenience, making delivery services an excellent way to diversify revenue.
When launching pickup and delivery, start with a manageable service area determine the routes that work best for your business, invest in employee training and utilize your current POS system to manage scheduling and customer communication. Start small with a handful of residential customers or key commercial accounts to refine your processes before expanding.
Partner With an Experienced Laundry Equipment Distributor
One of the smartest investments you can make isn’t equipment — it’s partnering with an experienced laundry equipment distributor. A knowledgeable distributor does much more than supply machines. They can help evaluate potential locations, design an efficient store layout, recommend the right equipment for your business goals, plan utility requirements and optimize workflow to maximize productivity. Just as importantly, they can help you plan for future growth, ensuring your laundry is built to adapt as your business expands. With experience gained from helping countless laundromats succeed, the right distributor can identify opportunities, avoid costly mistakes and guide your project from concept to opening.
Build a Laundry Business Designed for Long-Term Success
Adding full-service laundry isn’t simply about offering another service — it’s about creating multiple revenue streams that strengthen your business for years to come. With thoughtful planning, efficient equipment, the right technology and guidance from experienced laundry professionals, your laundromat can serve more customers, improve profitability and stand out in an increasingly competitive market.
Whether your goal is to expand into wash-dry-fold, commercial laundry, pickup and delivery or all three, planning today will position your business for greater success tomorrow.