24/7 yes or no

[ChuckB]

There is no doubt that each laundromat has different dynamics, but we all have 24 hours in the day.

Some choose to be open 24/7 many do not. What has been your experience with 24/7 {please give a demographic of your service area and the services your offer:eek::eek:.

[William]

I am 24/7. I have quite a bit of additional security but I could use more. I average $100 from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am. That is $3,000 per month! I would have to have alot of problems to give it up!

[MichaelCa]

Thats impressive Howard.

I know I would want to do it in the area i'm buying as it is low-crime & it would fit my business model/plan - but the problem is the zoning controls.

I would guess that many are constrained from doing so for the same reason.
The latest closing allowed is 11:00pm for "neighborhood commercial" zoning designation.

6 of 7 Mats there close at 10pm, one is open til 11pm ...the result?

all the others are dead by 9:30pm, but the 'Late' one is busy til the very end.
seems PPL remember things like that...and use it.

I have a feeling some close earlier out of habit & convenience.

[Rondo]

There was only one store in my area that was 24/7 and about 6 months ago he gave up. He made a killing from 10 pm - about 2 pm but had his change machine ripped off the wall about 3 times in a short period of time and started closing at 10 pm like the rest of my area.

[mike]

Looking at William's figures, I would just remind all that the $100. a night is probably not all profit.
Utilities must be deducted (gas, electric and water/sewer) leaving maybe $75.
And, not all of that is business that he would not have if he closed at night, some of his customers would come during the day.
Coupled with the possibility of vandalism, each owner must think about it long and hard !
.................................o.k...... I'm done, not enough money for me !

[pete f]

I do both. Factors are strange. If you build a nice late nite biz then it keeps your mat busy and the chances of problems less, as the place is full of people all the time. I did have 1 mat I tried 24/7, after 1 dryer fire, 1 coin changer sawed into, and the final staw, the security stuff all got ripped off when the back office was broken into. That was years ago, i am smarter now, but still close that mat at 11pm. The guy down the street is 24/7 and has a nice late nite crowd. I am rethinking my situation. If you beef up security you can 24/7 anywhere. Alarms on the coin boxes, FL tops, soap/snack/coin changer, digital remote cameras. Lots of big locks. I know of a person who has a couple mats in places you would not walk at nite, 24/7 It can be done, if it is worth it to you, and you do it right.

[buddy]

I am not allowed to run unattended according my lease. Also since I am new to this business I would be very nervous running it unattended.

I am nervous as it is even with the attendants since I don't go there everyday. I keep wondering what's going on, how many machines are down, etc. etc.

[Gary C]

no way! they do it between 6am and 10pm or they don't do it.

Gary

[Mungo Spike]

I tried 24/7 when I opened my place ... what a pain in the butt.

My place is attended, so by the time I finished paying an attendant and the utilities, I don't think I was making anything. And the people who are willing to work the midnight shift in a laundromat are not the most reliable folks around ... frequently the midnight guy would call out for one reason or another - and I would have to stand the shift myself.

I figured out that I'm making the serious money between 7:30am and 11:30pm (last wash at 10pm). I open at 6:00am on the weekend. No more midnight shift - so I save money and sleep a lot better.
Cheers...

[Lar Hylobates]

5 AM to 11:30 PM

The freaks come out at night@

[vohraajay]

real early like 5 close real late like 12...no need for 24 hr. may not be worth it for few customers. I know a laundromat owner that has keypad entry during non-business hours. but customers have to register with them and then they'll get a code to enter 24hrs.