Laundromat Startup Cost Calculator
Work out what it costs to open a laundromat before you sign a lease or order machines. Enter how many washers and dryers you plan to buy and what each one costs, then add renovation, the lease deposit, licenses and permits, initial supplies and working capital. The calculator shows the equipment cost, the cost per machine, the total startup cost and a breakdown by category, step by step. Free, no sign-up, everything runs in your browser.
Formula: Total startup cost = (Washers × Cost per washer) + (Dryers × Cost per dryer) + Renovation + Lease deposit + Licenses and permits + Initial supplies + Working capital. Cost per machine = Total startup cost ÷ (Washers + Dryers).
Formulas verified against standard references. Calculator logic tested with verified worked examples. Published: November 7, 2026 | Last updated: November 7, 2026. Fact-checked: November 7, 2026. Our methodology
How to Use the Laundromat Startup Cost Calculator
Getting an answer takes five quick steps. Gather your equipment quotes and your contractor and landlord figures first.
- Type the number of washers and the cost of one washer.
- Type the number of dryers and the cost of one dryer.
- Type the renovation and build-out cost and the lease deposit, using contractor bids where you have them.
- Type the licenses and permits, the initial supplies and the working capital. Enter 0 where a line does not apply to your project.
- Press Calculate, or press Enter. The total startup cost appears first and large, with the equipment cost, the cost per machine and a breakdown by category below.
The Laundromat Startup Cost Formula
Startup cost is a simple sum of seven lines. It answers one question, which is how much cash the project needs before the doors open.
Total startup cost = (Number of washers × Cost per washer) + (Number of dryers × Cost per dryer) + Renovation and build-out + Lease deposit + Licenses and permits + Initial supplies + Working capital.
Number of washers is how many commercial washers you buy, and Cost per washer is the price of one washer. Number of dryers and Cost per dryer work the same way. Renovation and build-out covers plumbing, electrical, gas, venting, HVAC and flooring. Lease deposit is the security deposit plus any first month rent due before opening. Licenses and permits covers the business license, permits and inspections. Initial supplies covers detergent, signage, payment system setup and opening marketing. Working capital is the cash reserve for rent, utilities and payroll until the store pays for itself.
Two supporting numbers help you read the result. Equipment cost is the washer cost plus the dryer cost. Cost per machine is the total startup cost divided by the number of washers plus dryers.
Worked Example: A 40-Machine Store
You plan a store with 20 washers at $5,000 each and 20 dryers at $3,000 each, plus $75,000 of renovation, a $15,000 lease deposit, $5,000 of licenses, $5,000 of supplies and $30,000 of working capital. Here is exactly what the calculator does.
- Washers = 20 × $5,000.00 = $100,000.00.
- Dryers = 20 × $3,000.00 = $60,000.00.
- Equipment = $100,000.00 + $60,000.00 = $160,000.00.
- Add renovation: $160,000.00 + $75,000.00 = $235,000.00.
- Add the lease deposit: $235,000.00 + $15,000.00 = $250,000.00.
- Add licenses and permits: $250,000.00 + $5,000.00 = $255,000.00.
- Add initial supplies: $255,000.00 + $5,000.00 = $260,000.00.
- Add working capital: $260,000.00 + $30,000.00 = $290,000.00.
- Cost per machine = $290,000.00 ÷ 40 machines = $7,250.00.
Equipment is $160,000 of the $290,000 total, or 55.2 percent, so more than half the budget goes to machines. That is why the machine count and the price per machine move the total more than any other line.
What Each Cost Category Usually Runs
Opening a laundromat in 2026 commonly runs from about $200,000 to over $1,000,000, with most new builds landing in the $300,000 to $750,000 range. The table below shows the usual range for each category.
| Category | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | $80,000 to $300,000+ | Washers and dryers, scales with machine count. |
| Build-out | $150,000 to $600,000 | Plumbing, electrical, gas, venting, HVAC, floors. |
| Deposits and rent | $10,000 to $30,000 | Security deposit plus first and last month. |
| Permits and legal | $3,000 to $12,000 | Permits, licenses and business formation. |
| Working capital | $20,000 to $100,000 | Runway until the store is profitable. |
Our worked example totals $290,000, just below the usual $300,000 to $750,000 range for new builds, because its $75,000 renovation line assumes a space already plumbed for laundry. A raw retail space that needs full plumbing, drains and gas work can push renovation into the $150,000 to $600,000 range and lift the total well above $400,000. If your estimate lands far outside these ranges, check the machine prices and the renovation bid first.
Build or Buy, and What Pushes the Price Up
Building new gives you new machines and a layout you choose, but it costs more and opens with no customers. Industry estimates put a new buildout at roughly $400,000 to $1,200,000 or more. Buying an existing store is often cheaper and comes with cash flow from day one. BizBuySell analyzed 855 laundromat transactions from 2021 through 2025 and reported a $250,000 five-year median sale price, with a 2025 median of $287,000. The purchase price is only part of the cash a buyer needs, because closing costs, repairs, rebranding and working capital sit on top of it.
Three things push a new build up the most. First, the space. A former laundromat already has drains, gas lines, venting and electrical capacity, while a raw retail space needs all of it built from scratch. Second, the machine mix. Large-capacity washers cost far more per machine than small ones. Third, the payment system. Card readers, kiosks, networking and software setup are easy to forget, and they belong in the initial supplies line. When you know the amount to finance, model the loan with our business loan calculator and check payback with our break-even calculator.
Common Laundromat Startup Cost Mistakes
Opening with no working capital is the most common mistake. A new store does not reach steady revenue on day one, so plan for 6 to 12 months of runway, often $20,000 to $100,000, to cover rent, utilities, payroll and supplies while customers find you.
Underbudgeting the build-out is next. Plumbing and electrical work hides behind walls and under floors, and a space that looks ready can need trenching, new drains and a bigger gas line. Get contractor bids before you lock in the total. Many builders add about 10 percent of the build and equipment subtotal as contingency, so a $395,000 subtotal carries a $39,500 contingency.
Finally, do not count only the machines. Freight, installation, payment hardware, signage, utility deposits and pre-opening rent all add up, and together they can move the total by tens of thousands of dollars. Put every one of them in a line above, then check the total against your monthly budget with our budget calculator before you commit.
Disclaimer
This calculator gives an estimate for planning and is for informational purposes only, not financial advice. Actual startup costs depend on your market, your site, your equipment package, contractor bids and lender terms. See our disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to open a laundromat?
Opening a laundromat in 2026 commonly costs about $200,000 to over $1,000,000, with most new builds landing in the $300,000 to $750,000 range. Equipment and build-out are the two biggest lines, and the total depends mostly on machine count, the condition of the space and how much construction it needs.
What is the biggest startup cost for a laundromat?
Equipment and build-out, by a wide margin. New washers and dryers commonly run $80,000 to $300,000 or more, and the construction to install plumbing, electrical, gas and venting can run $150,000 to $600,000. A space that was previously a laundromat costs far less to open because much of that infrastructure already exists.
How do I calculate laundromat startup cost?
Add the washer cost, the dryer cost, renovation, the lease deposit, licenses and permits, initial supplies and working capital. For example, 20 washers at $5,000 and 20 dryers at $3,000 give $160,000 of equipment, and with $75,000 of renovation, a $15,000 deposit, $5,000 of licenses, $5,000 of supplies and $30,000 of working capital the total is $290,000.
How much working capital do I need to open a laundromat?
Plan for 6 to 12 months of runway, often $20,000 to $100,000, to cover rent, utilities, payroll, insurance and supplies until the store reaches steady revenue. Working capital is part of the startup cost, not extra money, because it carries the store through a slow opening stretch.
Is it cheaper to buy or build a laundromat?
Buying is often cheaper up front and comes with cash flow from day one. BizBuySell analyzed 855 laundromat transactions from 2021 through 2025 and reported a $250,000 five-year median sale price, with a 2025 median of $287,000. Building gives you a brand-new store but costs more and starts with no customers.
What is cost per machine and why does it matter?
Cost per machine is the total startup cost divided by the number of washers plus dryers. In our worked example it is $290,000 divided by 40 machines, which is $7,250 per machine. It lets you compare two projects of different sizes on equal terms, because a bigger store should cost more in total but not necessarily more per machine.
