Questions for laundromat veterans!

[Cap0319]

Hello!

This is my first post, If some of you could give me some insight I would greatly appreciate it!

What Boiler brands are best and how much does it cost? and installation?

What do you think of this Washer

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/FCCW3000ES.html

And how about the matching dryer?

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/FCGD3000ES.html

Tell them you saw their link on Coinwash.com

I realize they aren't Dexters but I am looking into opening a laundry in a town with almost no competition and I don't have alot of startup capitol.
I've located a high traffic location that used to be a laundromat and doesn't require anything (wiring, plumbing still in place) other than machines and a boiler.

The old owner didn't pay their bills and used the place like their personal bank account, and our water and sewer rates are pretty high - which leads me to my last question, what is everyone paying for a cubic foot of water and sewer?

any info will be appreciated!

[pete f]

what is the population of ther town? 1 mile demographics? Most homestyle laundries do not make much money, though they can work in some cases. If you are just going to stick a few of these in a home hot water heator will work.

[Silent Roo]

If you have ANY amount of usage they will not last more than 2 years. They are a home model. They are not built to run more than 2 loads a day on average. They are a ok machine for the homeowner (I would point to others as better)

I am a distributer for several brands. I can tell you what Grandpa Always said. Nothing Runs Like a DEERE. And It is ALWAYS cheaper to buy 1 quality item then three cheap versions.

I consistantly see people putting these sort of machines in and watch them run to kinkos to Photocopy Out of order signs!!!

I have been doing this 20 years and have NEVER heard someone say, It was a great decision to put in the homestyle machine in my coin Laundry.

If it is all you can afford look at used dryers and used equipment. You can pick up used w74/75 that still have a lot of life in them and would be a FAR better choice.

As to boilers. Depends on the equipment mix. If you are talking a few machines you can probably get away with a local guy and water heater as mentioned above. Also look into instant hot water heaters depending on demand they could be a good option. Smaller mats can use them somewhat succesfully.

[Cap0319]

Demographics: 6-7,000 permanent residents --50% renters
multiple low income apts and developments

the town grows to around 20,000 in the summer (big WDF possibility)

probably 5 mile area

if they are home models, why do they come with coin chutes and marketed as commercial?

even so, if I put 10 of these in and make some cash, I will be very interested in adding another 10 "true" commercial units

tell me if I sound crazy?

also- how do sewer tap-in fees apply to an existing laundromat that is changing hands with no equipment? is there no tap in fee because the sewer is already attached or do they do some funky per machine fees?

[Andy]

There should be no sewer and water tap for existing taps. You might have to pay a fee or deposit to get the water ON if it isn't already.

I am not far from Port Clinton, will you be near the lake?

[Cap0319]

the mat will be about 500 feet from the shore.

where are you in MI?

[pete f]

what are your expectations as far as gross income?
Homestyle may work in a small town no other mat type area. Is not the best set up, bigger hard mount is where the money is spent, and made. As for tap fees, I would not expect a town of 6000 to even have them, but who knows. Ask the code/zoning/permit and water/sewer dept about any fees involved, we can not tell you what they are.

[Cap0319]

geez pete, I wasn't looking for you to tell me what my fees will be, I'm just looking for some info to compare to.

anyways, I'll be looking for 6k - 10k gross per month, depending on the time of year

tap fees are a big issue around here, we are a rapidly growing area.

this would be the only mat in town, the closest other mats are at least 3 miles out of town. (not really far, but for convenience, why leave town?)

and as I said before the machines I posted a link for will be the machines I'll start with, I'm not expecting to only use these machines for the next 15 years -they would be for starting out.

[laundryboy]

These are the same as a wascomat WE16. Do a search, you will NOT find many positive remarks. That said, the first laundry I purchased had/has these units. You must take good care of ANY soft-mount machine. I'm in Toledo and have no problem showing you that machines after several years in a LOW volume store. I have two other stores that do in one week what this location does in 3-4 weeks.

I recently replaced 4 with used dexter T300's. If I keep this store, I will eventually have none of these soft mount units.

Send me a private message if you want my phone number.

[Andy]

There should be no sewer and water tap for existing taps. You might have to pay a fee or deposit to get the water ON if it isn't already.

I am not far from Port Clinton, will you be near the lake?

Monroe, MI

[Cap0319]

Andy-

I love everything about MI, other than the left hand turns and the U of M football team.... go bucks!

Laundryboy,

Thanks for the info, how long did those units last? I'm willing to trade some headaches for low startup costs.
(I need to make some cash, build my business credit, and then get some real machines)

Could I tour some of your stores sometime?

[Silent Roo]

As far as tap charges go. Generally everywhere I have faced them there is a "credit for existing or historic machines" Check with your codes department they can tell you for sure.

6000 - 10000 a month is probably very high for a town that size. Remember that October to may is a VERY long time.

Finally I can call a machine what ever I want. Just because it has a coin slot does not mean it is built to handle commerical situations. Would you buy the machine if they marketed it as cheap crap that might make you enought to pay for it... Even the sleezest of distributers will try to stear you away from these types of units, not because they will make more money but because you will not be happy with the quality. Commerical quality can refer to size or a higher motor voltage that makes it possible to run longer. Understand initial cost is one factor in the price of the machine. Overall opperating cost is another. I know of a customer who will give you a bunch of these he is replacing after 6 months as he is sick of the nightmare.... Before I went with these I would look at top loaders, or neptunes(AND I HATE NEPTUNES)

Go in knowing you get what you pay for and if a deal is too good to be true it probably is....

[PeterH]

I would look into used equipment before going with those, ESPECIALLY THE DRYERS. The washers might do for your plans, but the dryers certainly will not.

Those are the smallest dryers on the market, either commercial or domestic. They cannot handle a full load from the matching washers, and have been known to scortch clothes.

And at those prices? No, you can get better prices on standard Whirlpool/Kenmore, GE, Maytag and Speed Queen/Huebsh domestic-washers-with-coin-slide than what is being offered in the links you posted. And you will have less service problems.

Again, before going with any of these machines, research used equipment. A used Gen 4 or 5 Wascomat or Dexter washer will give you better service and longevity.

[pete f]

geez pete, I wasn't looking for you to tell me what my fees will be, I'm just looking for some info to compare to.

anyways, I'll be looking for 6k - 10k gross per month, depending on the time of year

tap fees are a big issue around here, we are a rapidly growing area.

this would be the only mat in town, the closest other mats are at least 3 miles out of town. (not really far, but for convenience, why leave town?)

and as I said before the machines I posted a link for will be the machines I'll start with, I'm not expecting to only use these machines for the next 15 years -they would be for starting out.

One town one of my mats is in the hook up fee is $2400 per washer. Not sure how that helps you though. You need to know what YOU will be paying, not what I would have to pay, other than if yours is $500 a washer you will feel like you got a deal? I agree with Roo, your numbers sound quite enthusiastic. Last, if you can not afford to do it right, wait until you can. Saving money is great, but some things saving money on will cost you much more in the future. There are several companies that sell used equipment, search them out, try to buy the best you can. There are just some equipment that just do not belong in a real laundromat.

[Cap0319]

thanks Pete, I appreciate your encouraging me to do things right.

I got my gross numbers from a water analysis I did on the location when it was open in 04'-05'

I figured out how many gallons they used, and then divided that by 50 (assuming the average wash uses 50 gallons, I know that is high, but I wanted a conservative estimate.)

On their slowest month they averaged 70+ washes a day.

70 * 2.00 = 140.00 *30 = $4200.00

Not including dryer revenue, how would you estimate that? 80% of the number of washes?

[pete f]

the dry reveue is about 1/2 of washer. More front load hard mounts will give better reveune and less water expense, so more profit per gallon. Real commercial stack or single gas dryers will dry quicker and cheaper for you.

[Clothes_Tyme]

Hello!

This is my first post, If some of you could give me some insight I would greatly appreciate it!

What Boiler brands are best and how much does it cost? and installation?

I realize they aren't Dexters but I am looking into opening a laundry in a town with almost no competition and I don't have alot of startup capitol.
I've located a high traffic location that used to be a laundromat and doesn't require anything (wiring, plumbing still in place) other than machines and a boiler.

any info will be appreciated!


These type washers are better suited for apartments with a laundry facility. The front load will help apartment owners save on water.

Definitely go with a real commercial washer and dryer. I have seen first hand the abuse these machines take. Customers do not care about the machines (it isn't theirs) they put all sort of things in them. They sit on them, kids will kick them. Not to mention there should be some sort of locking mechanism to keep kids from climbing into washers.

For approximately the same amount of money you can purchase used machines.

Just me 2 cents.