Top Laundromat Franchises 2026

The laundromat and garment-care industry has quietly made its way back into investor conversations going into 2026, and it’s not hard to see why. People always need clean clothes; it’s a steady, needs-based business with predictable weekly demand.

Within the top laundromat franchises, a few brands stand out for offering sensible startup ranges, reliable support for franchisees, and the kind of consistent unit economics that let your money work even when you’re not standing there overseeing every spin cycle.

Best Laundromat Franchises Compared

The brands below were selected by the team at Franchise.com after reviewing FDDs, training pipelines, and actual operating models. Each one takes a slightly different path into the laundry business, but they all bring solid value for owners looking to enter a steady and durable industry.

Before we break them down individually, here is a quick comparison to help you see how they stack up at a glance.

Top Laundromat Franchises

​Speed Queen​

The company: Speed Queen has more than a century of commercial laundry engineering behind it, but what matters most to franchisees is how that expertise translates into operations. Before franchising, Speed Queen ran its own company-owned laundromats, testing real-world layouts, workflows, pricing, and staffing.

Instead of entering a fragmented industry with guesswork, owners step into a fully developed retail model supported by a global brand, proven store designs, and industrial-grade equipment.

The training: New owners complete approximately 90 hours of training, split between online modules, classroom instruction, and roughly 40 hours of on-site training at Speed Queen’s Houston training center. Topics include operations, machine controls, Speed Queen Insights, maintenance, customer experience, and marketing.

Why it stands out: Speed Queen’s model appeals to investors who prioritize strong fundamentals over daily chaos. A few things make it unique:

• Industry-leading technology (Speed Queen Insights) enables you to manage one store or 100 from a single dashboard.
• Cashless, low-labor operations with minimal inventory.
• Multiple revenue streams (self-service, wash/dry/fold, modifiers, pickup & delivery, commercial accounts).
• A store success rate of 94.8% across the franchise network.
• Built-in financing from Alliance Laundry Systems, with the ability to finance up to ~90%.

It’s a laundromat model engineered for predictable ROI rather than trial-and-error. For owners who like durable industries and clean numbers, this one checks a lot of boxes.

The dollars and cents:

• Startup costs: $1,199,663 – $1,983,000
• Franchise fee: $49,500
• Average revenue: $570,480

Best for: Investors who want a stable, tech-forward laundromat backed by a globally recognized brand.

WaveMAX

The company: WaveMAX entered the scene in 2012 with the simple goal of addressing how most laundromats often appear tired, run on antiquated equipment, and leave a significant amount of revenue on the table. The founders set out to build a national chain built on clean, modern stores, something closer to a reliable neighborhood asset than the “coin-op in a strip mall” stereotype.

For owners, the appeal is straightforward. WaveMAX offers a modern, clean store model featuring premium Electrolux equipment, consistent staffing, and a semi-absentee structure that eliminates the need for a whole crew or kitchen management. With more than 65 locations nationwide, it offers the structure of a proven brand with the flexibility of a scalable investment.

The training: New owners complete ~20 hours of classroom instruction in Jacksonville at a prototype store, followed by 8 hours of on-site training delivered through LaundryLux. Training covers store operations, machine maintenance, customer service standards, cash handling, marketing, and back-office systems.

It’s straightforward and grounded in the real workflows needed to run a clean, well-maintained laundromat.

Why it stands out: WaveMAX focuses on blending smart equipment, strong site selection, and reliable store design to drive predictable weekly volume. A few features make the brand different:

• Semi-absentee ownership focus with minimal daily oversight.
• Premium Electrolux 450G washers and Eco Power dryers (major energy and time efficiencies).
• Proprietary real estate selection process based on renter mix, density, and flow patterns.
• Safety-forward design with full security camera systems and consistently staffed stores.
• Financing through Electrolux partners: Financing through Electrolux partners typically covers 65–75% of the total project cost, meaning you would finance that portion rather than pay it upfront.

For investors who like the idea of a laundromat but want more structure and a more polished customer experience, WaveMAX offers a middle ground between a mom-and-pop store and a major corporate chain.

The dollars and cents:

• Startup costs: $356,455 – $1,556,350
• Franchise fee: $54,950
• Average revenue: $471,201

Best for: Owners looking for a clean, modern laundromat with strong support and scalability.

ZIPS Drycleaning

The company: ZIPS started when eight independent dry cleaners in the Baltimore–Washington corridor teamed up to build something that looked nothing like the high-priced, slow dry cleaning most customers were used to. They focused on the idea of keeping pricing simple and maintaining a fast turnaround.

For franchisees, the advantage is the operational consistency. ZIPS operates a tightly engineered plant model with flat-rate pricing, predictable volume, same-day turnaround, and on-site processing, which lowers outsourcing risk. With more than 65 locations and a well-tested system, it provides owners with a structured, production-driven business that delivers clear margins and steadier weekly throughput than most traditional dry cleaners.

While it isn’t a laundromat, ZIPS can appeal to someone interested in the garment-care industry who is looking for an adjacent business model. It tends to be a better fit for more affluent areas, where residents are more likely to handle everyday laundry at home or outsource it, but still rely on professional garment cleaning.

The training: New franchisees complete 160 hours of training over four weeks, split between classroom instruction and hands-on production work within a fully operational plant. Owners learn workflow, POS systems, fabric handling, equipment operation, and customer service standards.

The structure is designed to prepare franchisees to operate a full-service plant with consistent results, rather than relying on guesswork.

Why it stands out:

A few things set ZIPS apart in the garment-care space:

• Finely streamlined operations with one flat price for any garment.
• Same-day service with the “In by 9, out by 5” guarantee.
• On-site processing that reduces outsourcing and lowers the risk of lost items.
• Proprietary POS software explicitly built for the dry cleaning workflow and tracking.
• Eco-focused operations, including hanger recycling and reduced plastic usage.

The dollars and cents:

• Startup costs: $761,700 - 1,198,000
• Franchise fee: $30,000
• Average revenue: $1,256,748

Best for: ZIPS is a fit for owners who want a structured, production-driven business with clear customer expectations and predictable weekly volume.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Starting a laundromat franchise is a steady and durable investment, but each brand takes a different approach. Before comparing build-outs and equipment mixes, it’s helpful to review your own goals first.

Here are a few of the questions worth asking:

• Do you want a hands-on role or a semi-absentee model? Some concepts lean heavily on automation and remote management, while others still benefit from day-to-day involvement.
• Is predictable cash flow more important to you than total upside? Franchise models built around standardized processes tend to prioritize consistency and repeatability, which can reduce execution risk over time.
• How comfortable are you with larger capital investments? Premium, fully branded laundromat systems often perform well, but you need to be realistic about build-out costs.
• Does your local market support self-service, wash-and-fold, or dry cleaning? Each concept shines in a different lane. The demographics around you matter more than the brand you personally like most.
• Are you planning to stay single-unit or grow into multiple locations? Some systems are built to scale; others work best as a one-store operation where you keep your arms around the business.

There are plenty of options to turn to for the “top” laundromat franchise, but the right one ultimately depends on how you want to operate week to week.

Choosing the Right Laundromat Franchise

At Franchise.com, we aim to help franchisees reap the benefits of franchise ownership. We accomplish this by matching them with franchises that align with their goals, lifestyle, risk tolerance, and other key factors.

If you’re ready to explore the top laundromat franchises, we’ll walk you through the numbers, highlight the trade-offs, and help you make a decision you’ll still feel good about five years from now.

Start your franchise journey today.