How to Find and Buy Laundromat Equipment

If you are starting a Laundromat business and need equipment, then you are not alone. Many new businesses owners are looking for the right supplier and place to get either used or new laundromat machines and equipment. So, the question is, where do you start? You might be wondering or already know if you want to buy new machines or used ones. New laundry machines have a higher cost, but lower maintenance and repair costs. Compared to used machines that are significantly cheaper, yet will run a higher maintenance budget. If you are a hands one type of person and mechanically inclined, then used machines might already be the answer because you can easily learn how to do your own maintenance and repair and save a lot of money that you can use to re-invest in your business.

Lets look at your options from a buying perspective. The number of machines, washers and dryers, that you need will need to be known up front. Depending on the size of the location, or if you are replacing existing machines, then the size and number will come into play. There are also vendors that sell refurbished equipment and will often take a trade in if you are replacing existing equipment ( usually really old stuff ). You may not get a really good deal on the old machines, but at least you will get something because it may be hard to re-sell it on your own. And if you can't sell them, you may have to pay to have them removed or recycled at local metal recyclers.

Compare both the used cost and new cost for a similar machine, sometimes the difference is not worth settling for used equipment and spending a fraction more to get new machines is worth it. Knowing what features you want in a laundromat machine will help narrow down your choices as well. From size, stack-able, front load, top load, coin operated to electronic readers all make a difference. Check out some of the larger online vendors, such as cheaplaundryequipment.com or vendingconnection.com . They sell a wide variety of machines to suit any budget, as well as a large selection of new equipment from many different manufacturers.

Another way to find laundromat equipment is to actually buy it at commercial auction. Usually you want to find local auction houses that deal with commercial sales and businesses. Most of the auctions of equipment come from businesses that have shut down, etc. In the commercial laundry business there are not a log of businesses closing, there are some , but not a lot. You may get really lucky and run into a sale of very good equipment from these auctions at a really, really great price.

If you are starting a new business, then the washing and drying machines are not the only equipment you are going to need. You will need a lot more, such as tables, chairs, baskets and stuff for a waiting area. Other secondary income vending machines are great too. Snack and soda machines do very well in laundromats and per square foot space used actually can have a higher income then the laundry machines themselves. I highly recommend at least one or 2 vending machines in your business if you can.

As a business owner you should be looking at the profit margin and hidden costs of all your equipment. Looking at energy cost, water usage and square footage used by the washing and drying machines will help cut down your costs and increase profit. Some analysis is essential when buying any new or used equipment. Determine the electricity and water costs per load and compare that to different machines available. Higher efficiency machines usually cost more, but in the end they may still not be worth the additional cost and maintenance if the difference in price is more then difference in the energy cost. Balancing energy, water, maintenance and repair along with the estimated or known loads per day will help you decide on the best machine for your situation. As energy costs do vary in every part of the country, it is wise to determine this on your own and not rely on a sales rep to answer it for you, it usually always ends in their favor and not yours.

In the end, you actually have a huge amount of vendors, resellers and choices when it comes to both used and new laundromat equipment to buy. Buying coin operated laundromat machines is easy, finding the right ones for your business is a little harder. Just keep in mind the basics when you look, such as profit margin, warranty, maintenance schedules and associated costs, energy efficiency and probably a few others that I can't think of right now.

Buying Commercial Laundry Equipment and Machines

With every coin operated laundromat you will always need to buy or lease commercial laundry equipment. The machines that you buy will need to be capable of handling the volume of laundry washes and dries for your business. I would also recommend that you acquire equipment that can handle a little more then your regular traffic. Having spikes in volume at various times of the year is when your equipment is put through heavier loads, and for longer periods of time. Having the right laundromat equipment will help keep them all working when you need them and minimize repair costs and down time.

Commercial Laundry Machines

In the laundromat business, there has been a large focus in recent years to use more energy efficient machines. Many laundromats have switched to higher efficiency equipment many, many years ago. In the past, the standard was to have high volume and high performance laundry equipment in laundromats, sacrificing the efficiency in order to provide more powerful machines. This provided the customer with the ability to wash bigger loads and get out stains that their regular laundry machines at home could not do, thus attracting more customers. Many of the manufacturers of commercial laundry equipment have been doing it for many decades, as an example, Queen has been building washers and dryers for over 100 years. That kind of history and longevity is something you should look for in deciding on the brand of commercial equipment you want to use. There are a lot of manufacturers on the market, all ready and willing to sell you their machines. Look for warranty service, local warranty authorized dealers, on-site service, warranty length. Also, many of the commercial laundry machine manufacturers will work with you to setup all your machines on-site, as well as install and setup all the coin/card readers for the machines.

Commercial Laundry Machine Distributors

The distributor, or manufacturer of the machines must be a consideration in your laundromat business. You will need to research and chose wisely. The majority of the distributors of commercial laundry equipment are committed to seeing each and every coin operated business succeed and will always work with the owners and operators to optimize their business and profit goals. There are of course, the distributors that are just trying to make a buck and will sell you anything, as long as they think you'll buy it, regardless if you actually need it or not. Look for a laundromat equipment distributor that is focused on listening to your requirements, goals and needs, not one that is all talk and tells you what you need. There are some cases where you might not know what you need, but that is another story ( or post ). There are some great resources online, such as the Coin Laundry Association. The CLA will also provide you with plenty of information on how the business and industry works. You can meet and discuss with other operators as well, learn from their successes and failures. You can also talk to other people in the business and find out who they use for their commercial laundry equipment, service and supplies. One key thing you should do when selecting a commercial laundry machine and equipment distributor is to check as many references as you can. This is such a crucial part of the process and if you forget or don't even do it, you might be getting yourself into a bad situation with a pour supplier.

Commercial Laundry Supplies

Every single laundromat needs a constant and reliable source of laundry supplies. This also presents a dilemma to those that are not already involved with the laundromat business and where to locate and secure a contract with the various suppliers out there. As with any business, you will need to do your research as well. You also have to watch for the good and bad ones out there, but in this mature industry, they are few and far between. As a general rule, the suppliers and distributors with any kind of longevity and history in this business will likely meet your needs. The laundromat industry is a very mature business and anyone trying to scam people in any way have already been weeded out from the pack. As with any supplier, you should also check the references. Find out what other laundromats use or have tried. If you are not directly competing with another laundromat, you should talk to the owner ( say one that is across town ). Then see who they use for supplies and how they like them, that would probably give you the most information.

If you are looking to buy a laundromat, or build a new laundromat business, you will need to know who to do go for commercial laundry equipment and supplies. Do your research and make sure you ask for and check references for any other business you will be dealing with as a laundromat owner.