The short answer: Most laundromats sell for $100,000, $500,000, with a national median asking price near $550,000 (higher in CA and FL). Price = annual net income × 3.5 to 5×, or about 4.12× SDE. With an SBA 7(a) loan you need a 10% equity injection, $40K on a $400K store, and up to half can be a seller note on standby, so your own cash can be as low as ~$20,000 plus closing costs and equipment reserves. Run it in the valuation calculator.
What laundromats actually cost, by state
Laundromat prices vary widely by region because they track local rents, demographics, and utility costs:
| Market | Median asking price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National | ~$550,000 | Range ~$285K to $900K+ |
| Texas | ~$650,000 | Larger stores, lower rents |
| California | ~$799,000 | High rents & demand |
| Florida | ~$949,500 | Dense renter markets |
| Small / older store (any market) | $80K, $285K | Value-add / turnaround opportunity |
The single number that moves price most within a market is equipment age and the remaining lease, a store with new machines and a fresh 15-year lease is worth far more than the same revenue on old machines and a 3-year lease. See the playbook for how to read both.
How the price is set: the multiple
Laundromats price at 3.5 to 5× annual net income (about 4.12× SDE at the median). Here's the range on a store netting $100,000:
| Multiple | Implied price | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0× (low) | $300,000 | Old equipment, short lease, declining area |
| 4.1× (median) | $412,000 | Typical store, decent lease |
| 5.0× (high) | $500,000 | New machines, long lease, growing demographics |
Same $100K of income, a $200,000 spread, driven by lease length, equipment, and location trend. See the live figure on laundromat multiples.
You're not paying for last year's quarters. You're paying for the next fifteen years of them, which is why the lease sets the ceiling on the price.
The down payment and full capital stack
| Source / use | Amount | % of price |
|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) bank loan | $360,000 | 90% |
| Your cash injection | $20,000 | 5% |
| Seller note (full standby) | $20,000 | 5% |
| Purchase price | $400,000 | 100% |
| + Est. closing costs & fees (financed) | ~$18,000 | |
| + Equipment / card-system reserve | $20K, $40K |
So real "cash to close" is your ~$20,000 injection plus a reserve for aging machines, not the full $400K. If you also buy the building, the SBA 504 program can add longer terms and lower rates. The loan is sized to a DSCR of ~1.15×, 1.25×, and lenders weigh the lease heavily.
A short lease can kill your financing
Because the machines are the collateral and they're tied to the location, lenders shy away from stores with only a few years of lease left. Secure a long lease (or an assignable one with options) before you go to underwriting. (SBA lender guidance)
Costs buyers forget
- Equipment replacement. Any washer past ~10 to 12 years or dryer past ~12 to 15 is near-term capex, price it in, don't ignore it.
- Card-system upgrade. Converting from coin to card/mobile pay is a common (and worthwhile) first investment.
- Lease legal review. Because value is tethered to the lease, pay counsel to review the assignment and options.
- Utility deposits & reserves. Water, gas, and electric deposits plus a cushion.
- SBA & closing fees, usually financed.
Model your laundromat deal end to end
Price, down payment, loan payment, and cash flow in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Most sell between $100K and $500K, national median asking price ~$550K, higher in CA (~$799K) and FL (~$949.5K). Large stores exceed $1M. Pricing is ~3.5 to 5× annual net income. See laundromat multiples.
An SBA 7(a) loan needs a 10% injection, $40K on a $400K store, and up to half can be a standby seller note, so your own cash can be as little as ~$20,000 plus closing costs and equipment reserves.
Yes, commonly SBA 7(a), and SBA 504 if you also buy the building. Lenders weigh the lease heavily; a short remaining term can make a store hard to finance because the collateral value is tied to it.
Near-term equipment replacement on machines past 10 to 12 years, a possible card-system upgrade, SBA and closing fees, utility deposits, and legal review of the lease assignment. Many costs can be rolled into the loan.
Sources
- Price ranges by state, BizBuySell laundromat listings; DueDilio.
- Multiples & pricing method, Acquisition Ace laundromat multiples; Peak Business Valuation; Laundromaps.
- Financing & equity injection, SBA 7(a) program; SOP 50 10 8. See our SBA loan guide.
