# How do I calculate the profit on one laundromat wash cycle?

Add up what one cycle costs you in water and sewer, water heating, electricity and a repair set-aside, then subtract that from the vend price. In ProfitDrawer's laundromat guide, a large front load washer uses 25 gallons at $0.015 a gallon ($0.38), plus $0.30 for hot water, $0.07 of electricity and $0.40 for repairs: $1.15 a cycle. At $5.00, each cycle leaves $3.85 toward rent, staff and profit.

**The guide's example cycle (use your own utility rates):**

| Cost per cycle | Amount |
|---|---|
| Water and sewer: 25 gallons x $0.015 | $0.38 |
| Hot water heating | $0.30 |
| Electricity for the machine | $0.07 |
| Repairs and parts set aside | $0.40 |
| **Total cost per cycle** | **$1.15** |
| Price | $5.00 |
| **Left per cycle** | **$3.85** |

That $3.85 is not profit yet. It has to cover rent, staff, insurance and other fixed costs first.

**Then check the month:** in the guide's example, 1,800 wash cycles at $5.00 and 1,600 dryer cycles at $2.00 make $12,200 in sales. Rent $3,500, utilities $3,000, repairs $600, staff $2,000 and insurance and other $700 total $9,800, leaving $2,400 before taxes.

**To get your own numbers:**

1. Read gallons per cycle from the machine specs.
2. Use the water, sewer, gas and electric rates on your own bills.
3. Set aside a repair amount per cycle from past repair receipts.
4. Compare water use with wash sales each month; a big gap can point to a leak or a sales problem.

- Source: [How to Start a Laundromat Business (ProfitDrawer guide)](https://profitdrawer.com/guides/how-to-start-a-laundromat-business.html)
- Updated: 2026-10-29
- Published: 2026-10-29
- Category: Pricing and profit
- Canonical: https://profitdrawer.com/answers/how-do-i-calculate-the-profit-on-one-laundromat-wash-cycle.html
- Publisher: ProfitDrawer (https://profitdrawer.com)