How to scout for laundromat locations to start a coin laundry business

article in progress..

bullet points from hard experience..

large population but low number of laundromats
lightly populated areas that don't have a laundromat in miles and miles
large number of apartment complexes THAT DON"T HAVE on property laundromats
high traffic, high visibility locations

hispanic areas, college areas...

scouting locations and finding few laundromats that are really overly busy.
lower income areas

Map showing laundromats in Dallas, Texas

https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=laundromat+in+Dallas%2C+TX&data=!1m4!1m3!1d167384!2d-96.7903911!3d32.81172!4m37!1m36!4m8!1m3!1d334734!2d-96.7313396!3d32.8206645!3m2!1i1280!2i599!4f13.1!10b1!19m6!1e1!1e2!1e9!1e10!1e12!4smaps_sv.tactile!20m13!1e1!1e2!1e3!1e4!1e5!1e9!1e10!1e11!1e12!2m2!1i203!2i100!5smaps_sv.tactile!26m4!1e12!1e13!1e3!4smaps_sv.tactile

You really need to drive the neighborhoods to scout locations for laundromat business locations but a map can help you get started.

Doing a business plan for a Laundromat business

When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. A business plan helps you to focus on the business plan in your head. It is a helpful tool to make you think about things you haven’t thought of before.

A business plan is also essential if you are going to try and get financing from equipment manufacturers or  loans from a bank.

If you are thinking of opening a coin operated laundromat business, here are some things to help you put together your business plan.

Start with a general overview of the laundromat business and why people use laundromats.

List out who will be the owners and who will do what or  what positions you need hire people for. Go into the backgrounds or qualifications of the people.

Present possible locations for the laundromat, be a specific as possible. Tell why those locations are good locations for a laundromat such as nearby colleges, or low income housing, or apartments.

Have a ballpark dollar figure for estimated start up costs and ongoing monthly costs.

Detail how you plan to have this money for the business, either with savings you have or from loans or financing.

Provide an estimated income from the laundry business in gross revenue. How much per load of laundry and how many machines. This can be a rough estimate.

Tell how your laundromat will be unique or just say why that location is a great location for a laundromat. Laundromats are location based businesses, so location is 80% of it.

Detail who the users of the laundromat will be.

Who would the competition be?

How do you plan to advertise?

Some equipment distributors can help you choose equipment, install the equipment, recommend remodelers in the area and even give advice on locations and marketing ideas. Sometimes distributors can even offer financing through equipment manufacturers.