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View Full Version : Starting out with a questionable laundromat


economycar
01-17-2008, 04:12 AM
Hi, I have been interested in getting a laundromat for a long time and I would like to get some input on a particular one that I have been looking at:

- 14 washers, 12 dryers, 1 soap machine all fairly recent and in good condition
- rent: $700 /m (10 years left on lease)
- water: $300 /m
- electric: $300 /m
- gas: $650 /m
- insurance: $75 /m

The owner allegedly grossed around $6k/month at one point but supposedly lost interest due to other businesses (supermarket in a different neighborhood) and family problems (divorce/foreclosure) and now it does ~$4.5k/month. There is a lot of room for improvement although it is in good condition, lights need to be replaced, there is no tv, there is no seating, I would like to put in an atm and other things. The owner is looking to get 40-50k as he is in a rough situation. Now the part that is a tough call is based on the fact that there are at least two other bigger/"nicer" laundromats in a 3 block radius . The other problem is that it borders a cemetery so that radius is cut in half.
On the other hand, this is an extremely population dense, lower income area (~60k people per square mile). Do these number sound right for this sized laundromat? The income includes drop off . I am going to assume that my expenses will be around $2500 a month and I personally want to net a minimum of $2000 a month to even bother with it. Am I foolish to think that I can walk away with at least $2k/m and how much time on average do you think would need to be devoted to a place of that size?

Sorry for the long question and thanks for any response.
Mike

DuboisLaundry
01-18-2008, 05:11 PM
how much is labor?

economycar
01-18-2008, 05:39 PM
He is paying someone $200 a week but I would be doing it for the first month or so to make improvements.

pete f
01-18-2008, 07:36 PM
I think the KEY question is how far away from your house is this mat??
As an owner you will be making many unplanned trips at very inconvenient times some at 3am. The ride gets very long if to far away.

economycar
01-18-2008, 07:39 PM
Hi, I am about 15 minutes away driving.

pete f
01-19-2008, 06:56 PM
That is a good start. This is a small mat, so will be extra side money, not something you will retire on. The water seems low compared to me, but I know that can vary widely.
The thing I would look at is how much the mat gross on coin revenue. If drop off is very small, it may net you 2k, if drop off is large you are buying yourself a job.

Anonymous
01-22-2008, 11:58 PM
Is it really worth owning such a small laundromat? How much could you make on a good month? I paid that for my last store with three times as many machines

pete f
01-25-2008, 07:09 PM
Is it really worth owning such a small laundromat? How much could you make on a good month? I paid that for my last store with three times as many machines

Sometimes a small well located mat, IE, well located mat and well located relative to the owner can be nice pocket change. Not all mats are 200k net.