What a laundromat costs to open, from two franchise FDDs
Put 2 laundromat franchise choices side by side: opening runs $1.04M to $2.26M.
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| Brand | , lowest and highest estimate | , paid once | , ongoing fee | Headline salesItem 19, before costs | Marketing fundItem 6, on top of the royalty | US locationsItem 20, at year end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 LaundroLab2026 FDD | $1.04M to $1.77M | $49,500 | 6.5% | $605K a yearaverage of 17 locations, 2025 | 1.5% of Gross Revenues | 27end of 2025 |
 Tide Laundromat2025 FDD | $1.75M to $2.26M | $50,000 | 6.5% | $1.2M a yearaverage location, 2024 to 2025 | For now the rate is 2%; weekly Net Sales are the base, and it can be raised as high as 4%. | 8end of 2025 |
A brand must give you its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) before you buy, and every figure comes from the brand's most recent one. After you open, you keep paying the brand a royalty, either a share of sales or a set amount. K means thousand and M means million. Each of the two brands publishes sales or earnings figures in its FDD (open a brand to view the figures).
Each brand supplies the headline sales figure through Item 19, before costs. The underlying stores and year are brand-specific, with its page carrying the details. The franchise average unit volume rankings compare the brands on equal terms.
Laundromat franchises side by side
What does it cost to open a laundromat franchise?
Across this group, the middle entry cost comes to $1,395,808. The cheapest way in is LaundroLab at $1,039,730, while Tide Laundromat can reach $2,257,682. Upfront franchise fees range between $49,500 and $50,000.
What makes opening a laundromat so expensive?
The bulk of the money goes toward the store's commercial washers and dryers plus the build-out around them. According to LaundroLab's FDD, the low end assumes smaller washers and the high end larger touch-screen models. That means the machines you pick have a bigger effect on the total than the franchise fee.
Weighing up laundromat franchises?
A franchise consultant can shortlist laundromat franchises that fit your cash and your area.