Buying gives you customers, machines and sales history from day one, but you must check the real numbers, machine age and lease terms. Building lets you choose the location and equipment, but it takes longer and costs more before any income. ProfitDrawer's laundromat guide budgets up to $171,000 to buy a small existing store, as an example, and suggests asking any seller for bank statements and utility bills.
Side by side:
| Buy existing | Build new | |
|---|---|---|
| Income | From day one | Only after opening |
| Location | Already chosen | You choose |
| Machines | Inherited, may be old | New, your choice |
| Main risk | Overpaying, weak records | Cost and time before income |
Before you buy:
- Ask for bank statements, water, sewer, gas and electric bills, and repair receipts, not only the seller's summary.
- Compare the water bill with the sales claimed. Water use rises and falls with washes, so the two should line up.
- Check machine ages and the lease: it should run long enough to pay back your investment, with clear repair terms.
Before you build: confirm zoning, plumbing, gas and wastewater permits for the address before you sign a lease.
A lower cost start: wash and fold or pickup and delivery, which the guide budgets from about $2,900.
In the guide's monthly example, a store with $12,200 in sales and $9,800 in costs keeps $2,400 before taxes. Have an accountant review any purchase.
Source: How to Start a Laundromat Business (ProfitDrawer guide) · Updated
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General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Check the rules for your state and your situation.