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How to Build a Laundromat Empire: The Real Deal on Washing Machine Millions

You know what's crazy? While everyone's chasing the next crypto moon shot or dropping life savings on rental properties, there's this woman named Codie Sanchez who quietly built a portfolio of 25-30 laundromats.

And she did it while working a full-time job in finance.

"I bought multiple laundromats. We kept buying laundromats," she says. Starting with just one, then scaling to 7-8 in her first portfolio batch.

But here's the kicker - she wasn't some laundry expert. She just found someone who knew how to run them and had the guts to write a $100k check.

Smart? Yeah. But also something most people could pull off if they knew what they were doing.

Why Laundromats Are the Boring Business That Makes Bank

Look, laundromats aren't sexy. They're not going to impress anyone at a dinner party. But they make money. Real money.

Laundromats are relatively simple to operate, they are typically viewed as a relatively low-maintenance business and you may even hear laundromat owners refer to their business as a passive income stream.

People always need clean clothes. Recession or boom times, your washing machines keep spinning. Laundromats require a much lower cash investment than almost any other business, and they can be operated relatively passively – in just a few hours per week.

And here's what really gets me - customers pay upfront. Before they even get their service. Try that with most businesses.

The Real Numbers Behind the Bubbles

Sanchez wasn't gambling. She was calculating. That first $100k investment? It wasn't a shot in the dark.

Investing in a laundromat can be an incredibly lucrative opportunity, attracting a growing number of investors seeking stable passive income and healthy profit margins.

But you need to know what you're looking at. The best laundromat deals often come from owners who are ready to retire or don't want to deal with the day-to-day operations anymore.

You're not just buying washing machines. You're buying a cash flow stream that runs 24/7.

Step 1: Find Your Laundromat Whisperer

Sanchez didn't try to become a laundry expert overnight. She found an operator who already knew the business inside out.

This is huge. A key to owning multiple laundromat stores is having well-trained employees, high quality equipment and tools that make running several stores easier.

Your operator becomes your eyes and ears. They know which machines break down most, what neighborhoods have the best foot traffic, and how to spot a deal before it hits the market.

Don't have connections in the laundry world? Start calling distributors. These are the people who sell and service the equipment. They know which owners are thinking about selling.

Step 2: Master the Hunt for Hidden Gems

Repeatedly reach out to multiple contacts, including brokers, existing owners, distributors, and online listings, to secure deals in a competitive market.

Most good laundromat deals never make it to public listings. They get sold through whisper networks - owner to owner, through equipment guys, or to people who've been circling for months.

You need to become that person who calls every quarter. Not pushy, just consistent. "Hey, still thinking about retiring? Give me a call when you're ready."

The math on these deals is pretty straightforward. You want to pay 3-5 times the annual net income. If a place nets $50k a year, you're looking at paying $150k-$250k.

Step 3: The Portfolio Play That Changes Everything

Here's where Sanchez got really smart. She didn't stop at one.

Once you've got your first laundromat running smooth, the second one gets easier. And the third. By the time you hit 5-7 locations, you've got real leverage.

Opening multiple locations allows owners to tap into new markets and streamline operations across all sites, enhancing overall profitability.

Your operator can manage multiple sites. You can negotiate better deals on equipment repairs. And banks start taking you seriously for bigger loans.

But here's the trick - don't expand too fast. Sanchez built her first mini-portfolio, made sure it worked, then scaled up. Going from 1 to 3 locations is manageable. Going from 1 to 10 is chaos.

Step 4: The Financing Game Nobody Talks About

Business loans are typically just 5-year terms, so equity builds quickly in laundromats. This isn't like a 30-year mortgage.

Most laundromat deals get financed through SBA loans. Banks love these businesses because they're simple, cash-based, and have real assets (those washing machines aren't going anywhere).

You typically need 10-20% down. So for a $200k laundromat, you're looking at $20k-$40k out of pocket, plus some working capital.

But here's the beautiful part - the business generates the cash to pay back the loan. You're essentially using other people's dirty clothes to buy your portfolio.

Step 5: Scale Like Sanchez (Without Losing Your Day Job)

Remember, Sanchez was working full-time in Latin America while building this empire. She couldn't babysit washing machines.

By implementing technology, fostering communication, and maintaining consistent quality across locations, you can successfully grow and manage your business portfolio.

Modern laundromats run themselves with the right systems. Card readers instead of coins. Remote monitoring that tells you when machines are down. Apps that let customers pay from their phones.

Your job becomes strategic - finding new locations, managing the operator, and watching the numbers.

The Unsexy Truth About Washing Machine Wealth

Building a laundromat portfolio isn't about getting rich quick. It's about getting rich steady.

Laundromats have been an unsung cornerstone in American culture since the 1930's. More than just a stop for convenience, laundromats provide a basic and universal need for clean clothes.

Sanchez proved you can build serious wealth in the most boring business imaginable. While everyone else is chasing the shiny new thing, she's collecting quarters (well, card payments now) from people who just want clean underwear.

The opportunity is still there. There are many ways to make money in the laundromat industry for people willing to think like investors instead of gamblers.

You just need to be willing to get your hands dirty. Literally.

Your Next Move

Start making calls. Find distributors in your area. Drive around and look for older laundromats with "For Sale" signs that have been up too long.

Most importantly, find your operator first. Don't buy a laundromat until you know who's going to run it.

Sanchez started with $100k and a person who knew the business. That's not impossible money. That's house down payment money.

The question is: are you ready to get boring rich?