Key figures for this trade are also summarized in the multiples by trade table.
Laundromat value at a glance
Estimate your laundromat's value
Applies the cited SDE multiple band for your trade, then positions you inside it using recurring revenue, customer concentration, owner dependence, years operating and trend. Educational estimate, not an appraisal.
Educational estimate, not an appraisal or an offer. Ranges come from published closed-sale data and broker/adviser reports cited on each trade page; the adjustment weights are our own documented heuristic (see Editorial policy). Real estate, inventory and working capital are excluded.
Get the full valuation brief (printable)
Your inputs and range, the cited multiples behind it, the buyer type active at your size, three changes that move the multiple, and next steps - on this page, ready to print or save as a PDF.
Published laundromat multiples by deal size
| Deal size / buyer | Multiple | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street sales, 2021-2025 (sold) | 2.72x-4.5x SDE (median 3.5x); revenue 0.93x-1.64x | BizBuySell Valuation Benchmarks - Laundromats & Coin Laundry |
| Latest published figures | BizBuySell: 855 sold laundromats analyzed (2021-2025), median 139 days on market; average earnings multiple rose to 4.12x in 2025. | |
| All industries, Q2 2026 (context) | Under $500K deals: 2.0x SDE; $2M-$5M: 4.0x EBITDA; $5M-$50M: 5.8x EBITDA | IBBA / M&A Source / Pepperdine Market Pulse, Q2 2026 highlights |
What moves the multiple for a laundromat
Key metric buyers ask for: Lease term remaining and assignability; equipment age; utility costs; wash-and-fold and pickup revenue.
Pushes you toward the top of the range
- A long remaining lease (or owned real estate) with assignment rights
- Newer, efficient machines with card or app payment
- Wash-and-fold, pickup/delivery or commercial accounts on top of self-service
Pushes you toward the bottom
- Short lease or a landlord who will not consent to assignment
- Aging equipment that the buyer must replace soon
- Rising water, sewer and energy costs not passed through in pricing
How buyers value a laundromat
Laundromats are priced on SDE (often called net or cash flow) and checked against revenue. The lease drives value as much as the numbers: a buyer financing the deal needs enough lease term to cover the loan.
Rule of thumb on revenue: About 0.9-1.6x revenue (BizBuySell sold middle half 0.93-1.64x). Use it only as a sanity check; buyers pay for cash flow they can finance.
Worked example: Suds City Laundry (fictional)
Fictional business for illustration. Revenue $310,000, SDE $110,000. 12 years left on lease with two 5-year options, machines 4 years old, wash-and-fold is 18% of revenue.
| Position in the cited range | Implied value | Multiple of revenue |
|---|---|---|
| At the low end (2.7x) | $297,000 | 0.96x |
| Midpoint (3.5x) | $385,000 | 1.24x |
| At the high end (4.5x) | $495,000 | 1.60x |
Who buys a laundromat at each size
Individual investors and owner-operators (often SBA-financed); multi-store owners; a small number of laundromat roll-ups.
| SDE / EBITDA size | Most likely buyer | How they usually pay |
|---|---|---|
| Under ~$300K SDE | Individual investor (SBA-financed) | SBA or bank loan plus buyer cash; sometimes a seller note |
| ~$300K-$1M SDE | Multi-store owner | SBA loan, seller note, or cash from a larger buyer |
| $1M+ EBITDA | Multi-store owner or roll-up | Mostly cash at close; rollover equity and earn-outs are common |
Thinking about selling your laundromat?
See the step-by-step sale process, license transfer rules and documents buyers will ask for.
Frequently asked questions
How do you value a laundromat?
Most sell on a multiple of SDE. BizBuySell’s sold laundromats (2021-2025) went for a median 3.50x earnings, middle half 2.72-4.50x, and about 1.21x revenue. The 2025 average rose to 4.12x.
Why does the lease matter so much?
The location is the business. Lenders and buyers want enough remaining term (with options) to cover the loan, and landlord consent to assign it.
Is this an appraisal?
No. It is an educational estimate built from published data. Lenders, courts and the IRS may require a credentialed appraisal; see appraisal vs estimate.
Sources
- BizBuySell Valuation Benchmarks - Laundromats & Coin Laundry (accessed 2026-09-23)
- BizBuySell - Business valuation multiples by industry (sold Q3 2021-Q2 2026) (accessed 2026-09-23)
- BizBuySell Insight Report data tables (FY2025 closed transactions by industry) (accessed 2026-09-23)