In large urban areas where people may not have access to a washer and dryer in their apartment, opening a laundromat can be a wise investment. If you plan and prepare properly, you should be able to recoup the start up costs and make a profit. One of the keys to opening up a laundromat is buying the right washing machines. Use the following tips to help you select washing machines for your laundromat:

Style of Washing Machine

When you're looking at commercial washers, you'll notice that there are both top loading and front loading models available. Each style has their pros and cons. Top loading washing machines have been around for decades, and they have the advantage of a lower upfront cost and a shorter wash time, which can be important when your customers are in a hurry. However, top loading washing machines use more energy and water, and clothes tend to retain more water in a top loading washer, which can make drying times longer.

A front loading washing machine is the more energy and water efficient model. In most cases, front loading washing machines also have a larger load capacity than a top loading washer. But, they do cost more upfront, and the wash cycles can be long on many models. Which style of washing machine to get will depend on your budget for energy and water, as well as the amount of money that you have available to invest in upfront purchases.

Size of Laundromat

Before you purchase any commercial washers for your laundromat, it is important to take the size of the space into consideration. If your laundromat is small in size, it may be in your best interest to invest in both washers and dryers that can be stacked on top of each other in order to maximize you space. This will ensure that you have the equipment to serve many customers even if your laundromat is not large.

Payment Method

When purchasing washers for a laundromat, you will need to determine how your customers will pay for each load of laundry. Many laundromats use coin operated washers, which is convenient, and everyone can figure out how to use them. But, if you have coin operated washers, you will also need to invest in having a change machine onsite so customers can get coins.

Another option is to install card operated washers. With a card operated washer, customers use a credit card or a debit card to load funds that can then be used to do a load of laundry. In this day and age where many people do not carry cash on a daily basis, a card operated washer can be very convenient. The downside is the fact that setting up a card operated system typically costs more than a coin operated system. 

For more information about your options, contact a local equipment supplier like Metropolitan Laundry Machinery Sales Inc. 

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