CHICAGO — For an industry that has navigated inflationary pressures, labor challenges and evolving consumer expectations, the latest data suggests a resilient core.
According to results from this year’s American Coin-Op State of the Industry survey, more than 70% of self-service laundry owners and operators report that their business improved over the past year — a notable signal of momentum as the industry moves through 2026.
The annual report offers a detailed snapshot of operating conditions across the U.S., providing benchmarks that store owners and investors can use to measure their own performance against peers. This year’s polling examines business conditions, vend pricing strategies, equipment profiles, turns per day and other key operating metrics that shape profitability and long-term value.
While the survey is an unscientific online poll of American Coin-Op readers who operate stores — and some totals may not equal 100% due to rounding — the results nonetheless paint a revealing portrait of an industry that continues to adapt, invest and grow.
YEAR-OVER-YEAR PERFORMANCE
For 2025, 70.3% of respondents say their overall self-service vended laundry business, in gross dollar volume, increased from that of 2024. By comparison, 69.0% reported increases in the 2024-25 survey.
The average 2025 business increase was 12.7%, up from 11.8% in 2024. Other past average business increases have been 13.9% (2023), 13.2% (2022), 17% (2021), and 7.1% (2020).
Following is a breakdown of 2025 business increases (these figures relate to those reporting increases, not all respondents):
- Operators with a business increase of less than 10%: 37.8%
- Operators with a business increase of 10% to 14%: 33.3%
- Operators with a business increase of 15% or more: 20.0%
Roughly 19% of operators polled saw their total business (in gross dollar volume) decrease in 2025, which is a greater share than last year’s survey (11%). Results from prior years showed the following shares: 8% in 2023, 8% in 2022, 4% in 2021, and 58% in 2020 (likely influenced by effects of the COVID-19 pandemic declared in March of that year).
The average 2025 business decrease was 7.8%, compared to 6.7% reported for 2024. Other prior average decreases were 9.5% (2023), 8.9% (2022), 20.0% (2021), and 20.5% (2020).
Among respondents who reported having experienced a business decline in 2025, the percentage was as low as 4% or as high at 20%.
Roughly 11% of respondents say their 2025 business was unchanged compared to 2024 performance.
WASH-DRY-FOLD SERVICE AND RATES
About 35% of operators surveyed reported their wash-dry-fold (WDF) service business, in gross dollar volume for both drop-off and pickup and delivery (PUD), increased for them in 2025. This compares to 40% in 2024, 46% in 2023, 53% in 2022, 62% in 2021, and 34% in 2020.
The average business increase in 2025 was 21.4%, compared to 13.3% in 2024, 16.5% in 2023, 13.4% in 2022, 30.4% in 2021, and 14.2% in 2020.
Roughly 15% of respondents saw their WDF business dip, which is nearly the same share reported in 2024. In previous years, the shares of laundry owners with declining WDF business were 11% in 2023, 2.6% in 2022, 2.6% in 2021, and 51% in 2020.
Half of store owners polled say their 2025 WDF business was unchanged from the previous year. That compares to 42% for 2024, 44% for 2023, 45% for 2022, 36% for 2021, and 20% for 2020.
At present, drop-off pricing (in dollars per pound) ranges from $1.00 to $3.50, based on the survey responses. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular prices charged per pound, followed by the share of operators who charge them:
- $2.00 (21.9%)
- $1.50 (15.6%)
- $1.40, $1.90 or $2.25 (6.3%, tie)
In total, 19 different drop-off prices were reported in this year’s survey.
Three-quarters of operators who took the annual poll offer WDF service, up from 57% in last year’s survey.
COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY REVENUE
Approximately 64% of laundry owners polled offer commercial laundry service. Among that group, 43.9% reported that business (in gross dollar volume) increased for them in 2025. The average increase was 21.6%.
Just shy of 10% of respondents reported a decline in their commercial laundry business; the average was 11.0%.
Roughly 46% of respondents say their 2025 commercial business was unchanged from that of the prior year.
VENDING SALES
The share of respondents reporting their vending sales rose in 2025 was 37.5%, compared to 39.5% the previous year. The average vending sales increase last year was 11.7%.
Just shy of 20% reported declining vending sales in 2025, compared to 8% for 2024. The average decrease in 2025 was 10.8%.
Laundry owners and operators reporting no change in their 2025 vending sales business accounted for 42.9%, compared to 51.3% in the prior year’s survey.
Coming in Part 3 on Tuesday: Self-service wash and dry pricing, turns per day, and more
If you missed Part 1, you can read it HERE
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].
