How to Add Laundry Pickup & Delivery to Your Laundromat
By the Laundromat By Me editorial team · Published
Pickup & delivery is the growth channel that reaches people who will never set foot in a laundromat: busy families, professionals, seniors, students, Airbnb hosts and small businesses. Because it's built on wash & fold, a laundromat that already runs drop-off has most of the pieces. What you add is a route, a way to order, and a plan for the first 50 recurring customers.
Three ways to run it
| Model | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Your own route | You (or a part-time driver) pick up in a van or car on fixed days, using route software or a simple map. | Stores with steady wash & fold volume and a 5–10 mile dense service area. Highest margin. |
| Delivery app / marketplace | Platforms such as Poplin, Rinse, Hampr or SudShare-style services send orders and handle logistics; you process the laundry for a per-pound rate. | Getting volume fast with zero route cost. Lower margin, no customer relationship. |
| Hybrid | Own route for your core area and recurring customers; a gig-driver service (DoorDash Drive, Uber Direct, Roadie) for one-off or out-of-area pickups. | Most stores after the first 6–12 months. |
Pricing and minimums
- Per pound, slightly above in-store wash & fold: typically $1.50–$3.00/lb nationally. Long Island and metro areas sit around $2–$2.50; smaller markets around $1.50–$2.
- Minimum order of 15–25 lb (or $30–$40). Below that a stop doesn't cover the drive.
- Recurring discount: 10% off for weekly or biweekly pickups. Recurring customers are the whole business — a household on a weekly schedule is worth $1,500–$3,000 a year.
- Fees: either build delivery into the per-pound rate (simpler, converts better) or charge a flat $5–$10 delivery fee waived over a threshold. Add rush, bedding and hang-dry surcharges exactly as in-store.
Operations that don't fall apart at 30 customers
- Fixed pickup days by zone. Monday/Thursday for the north side, Tuesday/Friday for the south. Density is everything: 12 stops in two square miles is profit; 12 stops across the county is a loss.
- Pickup windows, not appointments. "Between 8 and 11 AM" with a text when the driver is 15 minutes out. Contactless porch pickup with a branded bag removes the need for anyone to be home.
- Bags with tags. Give every customer two branded bags with a printed ID. Weigh in the store, not on the porch; text the weight and total before charging.
- Card on file. Charge after weighing. Software (Cents, Curbside Laundries, CleanCloud, Turns, Starchup and others) handles online ordering, stored cards, driver routing and ready-texts; most start under $100–$200/month.
- Insurance and the vehicle. Commercial auto coverage if you use your own van; check your general liability policy for off-premises service. A used cargo van or even a hatchback is enough at the start.
- Return within 24–48 hours. Same-pickup-day return is a premium; next-pickup-day return (2–3 days) is the norm and lets you batch routes.
Getting the first 50 recurring customers
- Existing wash & fold customers. They already trust you. A flyer in every returned order: "We now pick up. First pickup free."
- Commercial accounts. Gyms, salons, spas, restaurants, daycares, medical offices, short-term-rental hosts and property managers. One pitch visit per week; offer net-15 billing and a weekly slot.
- Local search. Add "Laundry pickup and delivery" as a service on Google Business Profile, create a page on your website with your service area, pricing and an order button, and get listed on directories. Laundromat By Me has a pickup & delivery page, a delivery question in every city page's FAQ, and a Featured + Leads plan that forwards pickup requests from your service area to you.
- Apartment buildings and HOAs. A building with 100 units and no in-unit laundry is a route on its own. Offer the property manager a resident discount code.
- Neighborhood groups. Nextdoor, local Facebook groups and community newsletters respond well to a founder-style post ("We're the laundromat on Main Street — we now pick up") far better than to ads.
- Paid ads, narrowly. Google Local Services / search ads for "laundry pickup [town]" within your zones. Budget $10–$20/day, track calls and orders, pause anything that doesn't book.
The numbers to watch
Stops per route hour (target 4–6 in a dense zone), average order weight (target 25–35 lb), percent recurring (target 60%+ after six months), and churn. When recurring customers pass ~60 households per zone, add a second pickup day rather than a bigger area.
Frequently asked questions
How much do laundromats charge for pickup and delivery?
Typically $1.50–$3.00 per pound with a 15–25 lb minimum, priced slightly above in-store wash & fold. Many offer 10% off recurring weekly or biweekly pickups and add flat fees for bedding and rush service.
Do I need my own van to offer laundry delivery?
No. You can start with your own car, use gig delivery services (DoorDash Drive, Uber Direct, Roadie) for pickups, or process orders for a laundry delivery app. Most stores move to a hybrid of an owned route for recurring customers plus on-demand drivers for one-offs.
What software do laundromats use for pickup and delivery?
Laundromat POS and delivery platforms such as Cents, Curbside Laundries, CleanCloud, Turns and Starchup handle online ordering, stored payment, driver routes and customer texts, generally starting under $100–$200 per month.
How do I get customers for a new laundry pickup service?
Start with your existing wash & fold customers and nearby businesses (gyms, salons, restaurants, short-term rentals), add the service to Google Business Profile and directory listings such as Laundromat By Me, post in local neighborhood groups, and offer a free or discounted first pickup for recurring sign-ups.