CHICAGO — The self-service laundry industry has long been synonymous with quarters. For decades, the familiar rhythm of coins dropping into washers and dryers defined the laundromat experience for both operators and customers.
Today, that model is evolving.
Across the United States, laundromat owners are navigating a period of transition as payment systems offering non-coin or cash options — including mobile apps, credit and debit cards, and loyalty cards — steadily gain ground. Yet coins and cash haven’t disappeared, and for many operators they remain an important part of the revenue mix.
The central question facing the industry is no longer whether cashless payments will play a role in laundromats, but how large that role will become — and how operators should balance the needs of diverse customer bases.
To explore the issue, several payment technology providers and industry suppliers shared their perspectives on several key questions shaping the future of payment acceptance in self-service laundries.
Q: How has the revenue mix changed?
Compared with three to five years ago, many suppliers say the industry is experiencing steady movement toward cashless payments — though not a wholesale abandonment of coins.
Butch Bruner, president of Imonex Services, describes the change as incremental rather than dramatic.
“It’s minimal change; mostly hybrid environments,” Bruner says. “Higher vend prices drive interest in hybrid pay, including revenue derived from higher-denomination cashless dollar tokens purchased with cash or credit.”
Others see a slightly faster shift underway.
Paresh Patel, founder and CEO of PayRange, says the typical pattern today is a “moderate decline in coin/cash and steady cashless growth,” driven largely by changing consumer expectations.
“The primary driver is consumer behavior,” Patel says. “Customers increasingly expect to pay the same way they do everywhere else, which is digitally.”
Patel also notes that operators are becoming more aware of the operational costs associated with cash.
“Coin is operationally expensive, labor-intensive, and vulnerable to theft and vandalism,” he says. “Cashless solves operational pain points while improving the customer experience.”
Erik Nemes, distributor sales manager for Cents and Laundroworks, says most operators fall somewhere between those two perspectives.
“Moderate decline in coin/cash and steady cashless growth is where most of our customers land, though it really does vary by market,” Nemes says. “Machines have gotten bigger, and feeding $8 worth of quarters into a washer is genuinely painful for customers.”
At the same time, he notes that payment technology has improved dramatically.
“The technology has gotten a lot better and a lot more affordable as competition in the space has grown.”
Several suppliers report even more aggressive movement toward digital payments.
John DiStefano, vice president of sales for Paystri, says many operators installing credit card capability are seeing immediate changes in how customers pay.
“Our customers state that adding credit cards increases their sales and (causes a) decline in cash acceptance,” DiStefano says.
Robert Mattocks, regional sales manager for Airwallet, points to generational trends as a major force behind the shift.
“Adults aged 18 to 24 now use mobile phones for about 45% of all payments,” Mattocks says. “Consumers are 58% more likely to spend more per session when using cards or mobile compared to physical cash.”
Steve Marcionetti, president of Card Concepts Inc. (CCI), says the movement toward digital payments has been steady and measurable.
“We’re not seeing an overnight collapse of coin, but we are absolutely seeing consistent movement toward cashless,” Marcionetti says. “The growth has been steady and measurable over the past three to five years.”
John Kelly, vice president of sales for Setomatic Systems, echoes that view.
“The majority of our customers prefer the hybrid model, but card usage has definitely increased over the last five years,” Kelly says. “Society, in general, is shifting away from cash.”
Doug Goldstein, executive vice president of ESD and CEO of Greenwald Industries, describes the trend similarly.
“We’re seeing a moderate decline in coin/cash and steady cashless growth,” he says.
Q: What payment configurations are being installed?
The shift toward cashless payments is especially evident in newly built or fully renovated laundromats. Many suppliers report that coin-only stores are becoming increasingly rare in modern builds.
Most new projects now favor digital payments while still allowing operators to maintain coin if they choose, according to Patel.
“Most new builds and major renovations are trending toward cashless with optional coin,” he says. “Operators understand that digital is the future, but some prefer to maintain coin as a transitional or backup option.”
“Our conversation with owners appears to indicate that there is a large shift to cashless with optional coin acceptance,” shares DiStefano.
Nemes reports an even stronger movement toward coinless machine operation in new installations.
“When we look at the orders being placed for our systems, we’re seeing about 90% going coinless while still maintaining cash acceptance at the … kiosk,” says Nemes, “and 10% opting for a hybrid system that accepts both card and coin at the machines.”
“For new installations, hybrid (coin plus cashless) remains common as a transition,” says Mattocks, “but cashless with optional coin is the dominant strategic choice for 2026.”
Operator psychology still plays a significant role in determining which system is installed, according to Marcionetti.
“We’re clearly seeing a trend toward coinless solutions in new builds and major renovations,” he says, “but hybrid installations are still very popular.
“Hybrid remains common because it gives operators psychological comfort during the transition. In many cases, it’s less about customer demand for coin and more about the operator’s comfort level with changing long-standing operating habits.”
He believes the trend will continue to shift toward coinless designs.
“If I were building a brand-new store today, I would go coinless,” Marcionetti says. “Modern customers are comfortable with card and tap-to-pay, and eliminating coin simplifies operations significantly.”
Bruner says some operators still prefer traditional coin mechanisms: “Dual $1 and 25-cent coin acceptance with optional cashless token acceptance is the most commonly requested pay configuration.”
Kelly says hybrid stores remain the most common installation for Setomatic customers.
“The majority of our customers — approximately 80% — prefer the hybrid model,” he says. “The other 20% eliminate coin and offer credit/debit, Apple/Google/Samsung Pay, and loyalty card acceptance directly at the washers and dryers.”
Goldstein says hybrid installations also remain prevalent: “Credit card at the machine with mobile app and coin — hybrid is what we’re seeing,” he says.
Check back Thursday for Part 2: why operators are adding cashless options, and the objections or concerns they may have about transitioning
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].
