Starting a wash and fold business is one of the most accessible, profitable, and scalable ways to break into the laundry industry, especially with today’s tech-forward tools.
Whether you’re a side hustler, entrepreneur, or an established laundromat owner, understanding how to start a wash and fold business the right way can set you up for long-term growth and income.
In this guide, we’ll break down every step to launch, operate, and scale your service and explain why Laundry Lockers can simplify your operations while giving your customers the 24/7 convenience they want.
Why Should I Start a Wash and Fold Laundry Business?
The demand for convenient laundry services is growing, especially in urban areas and among busy professionals. Starting a wash and fold laundry business can offer:
- Low overhead (especially from home or using lockers)
- Recurring revenue from weekly customers
- Flexible models you can start solo or scale with a team
- Wide appeal to apartment residents, college students, families, and businesses
It’s also recession-resilient. People always need clean clothes, making laundry a steady, reliable industry.
Wash and Fold Business Models: From Home, In-Store, or Lockers?
There are several ways to operate your wash and fold service:
- From Home: Great for solo operators starting small. You handle laundry out of your own washer/dryer setup. Simple and affordable, but limited by your capacity.
- In-Store: Traditional laundromat drop-off model. You need a physical storefront, staff, and extended business hours. Higher startup costs and overhead.
- With Laundry Lockers: A modern, scalable model. Customers drop off and pick up laundry via lockers located in apartments, gyms, or offices. No storefront required. Minimal staffing. Maximum flexibility.
To grow your laundry business efficiently, discover proven strategies to maximize laundry business revenue through innovative, tech-forward solutions.
Step-by-Step: How to Start a Wash and Fold Business
Ready to get started? Here’s how to start a wash-and-fold laundry business step by step:
1. Do Market Research
Start by pinpointing exactly who your ideal customers are. Are you targeting busy apartment dwellers, college students juggling classes, or professionals in office parks who need quick laundry turnaround?
Research nearby competitors offering wash and fold services; note their pricing, hours, and service options.
Identify gaps you can fill, such as 24/7 drop-off access or eco-friendly detergents. Survey potential customers or local property managers to understand their biggest laundry frustrations, maybe they want faster service, better packaging, or contactless pickup.
This insight helps tailor your offerings and marketing to meet real demand and stand out in your area.
2. Make Your Business Official
Register your business with the appropriate state or local agency and choose a legal structure that fits your goals, whether that’s an LLC for liability protection, a sole proprietorship for simplicity, or another entity.
Research local zoning laws to ensure your chosen location (home, commercial space, or locker-based) complies with regulations.
3. Get Equipment
Depending on your model, you may need:
- Commercial washers/dryers (for high volume)
- Laundry carts and hampers
- Cleaning supplies and detergents
- Access to a vehicle (if offering pickup/delivery)
Startup Costs: Quick Estimate
Actual costs vary by city and setup. This list is meant to help you budget the essentials and see where Smart Laundry Lockers fit.
| Item | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Basic equipment & supplies (detergent, hampers, scales, bags, shelving) | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Licenses, permits & insurance | $200–$800 |
| Marketing launch (Google Business Profile, flyers, door hangers, local ads) | $300–$600 |
| Pickup/delivery (fuel & maintenance using an existing vehicle) | $0–$300/mo |
| Smart Laundry Lockers (hardware per 3-door tower + low monthly software) | Custom quote • ROI models ≈ 11 weeks |
Lockers let you scale without front-desk staff or new storefronts. As orders grow, add towers and manage everything in the Laundry Lockers app.
4. Define Your Services and Pricing
Decide how you will charge customers, whether per pound of laundry, per individual load, or through subscription packages offering weekly or monthly service.
Consider offering tiered pricing for add-ons like delicate hand-washing, hang-drying, stain treatment, or express turnaround to increase revenue. Structuring your pricing this way not only appeals to different customer needs but also helps improve your overall laundry profit margin.
Be sure to create clear, easy-to-understand service menus that outline what’s included in each option, so customers know exactly what to expect and there are no surprises. Transparent pricing builds trust and helps reduce customer inquiries or disputes.
5. Choose a Staffing or Self-Serve Model
Start solo or hire help based on demand. Laundry Lockers can help you stay lean by reducing the need for front-desk staff or constant monitoring.
6. Promote Your Business
Use local SEO, Google Business Profile, flyers in apartment buildings, partnerships with gyms, and social media. Highlight the convenience and quality of your service.
How Laundry Lockers Simplify Wash and Fold Operations
Laundry Lockers transforms your daily operations by automating pickup and delivery, streamlining management tasks, and providing 24/7 convenience for your customers.
No Front Desk Required
No need to hire staff just to collect or return laundry. Lockers do the work for you.
24/7 Customer Access
Your customers drop off and pick up laundry anytime—before work, after the gym, or late at night. That’s the convenience competitors can’t beat.
Expand Without Storefronts
Want to grow into new neighborhoods? Just install lockers in more locations; no need to lease a building or hire a team.
Powerful Laundry Management App
Track orders, communicate with customers, and streamline workflows from one platform. Download the Laundry Lockers app to see how easy it is.
Running a Wash and Fold Business from Home? Lockers Unlock Growth
If you’re starting a wash and fold business from home, Laundry Lockers gives you a clear path to grow.
- Install lockers in high-traffic spots like college dorms or apartment complexes
- Get consistent, passive laundry drop-offs without needing to meet customers
- Deliver cleaned clothes back to the lockers on your schedule
This lets you grow your customer base without moving into a laundromat or hiring staff. Lockers act like mini storefronts, without the cost.
Build a Smarter Wash and Fold Laundry Business with Locker Technology
Starting a wash-and-fold laundry business doesn’t have to mean long hours and high overhead. With the right tools and tech, you can:
- Launch quickly
- Serve more customers
- Work more efficiently
- Scale across locations
Laundry Lockers is the modern infrastructure built for today’s laundry entrepreneurs. Whether you’re starting out or scaling up, our locker system and laundry management app help you grow faster and more profitably. Ready to build your laundry business the smart way? Contact us today to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Startup costs depend on your setup and growth goals. Some operators begin small—using existing washers and dryers or shared laundry spaces—and scale with Smart Laundry Lockers as volume increases.
Laundry Lockers’ typical installations see a net yearly income of around $79,000 with ROI achieved in as little as 11 weeks (based on a 4-tower setup). This model eliminates the need for front-desk staff or extra retail space, helping you grow faster with minimal overhead.
Laundry Lockers’ self-service system automates the entire drop-off and pickup process. The integrated software and Laundry Lockers app manage customer communication, payments, and order tracking, so you can scale efficiently without additional staff or storefronts.
Laundry Lockers are smart, self-service lockers designed for laundry and dry-cleaning pickup and delivery. They’re installed in apartments, offices, gyms, schools, and retail spaces to extend service reach and allow 24/7 customer access. Each locker connects to cloud-based management software, making it easy to monitor orders and expand into new locations.
Can you send me some info on your laundry lockers please? I am thinking of buying some for our laundromat.