The Operator's Guide to Choosing Between Cash, Card, and Mobile Payments for Your Laundromat

Some operators swear by coins. Others are convinced card readers changed their business. And lately, plenty are wondering if mobile tap-to-pay will take over completely. The quick answer is that no single option fits every laundromat. Your mix of customers, your hours, and even your local suburb shape which payment setup will make the most sense. The sweet spot for most sites is a hybrid approach that keeps things simple for customers and predictable for you.

What really drives the choice between cash, card, and mobile payments?

The short version: people take the easiest path they see. Behavioural economists call this the default effect. If your machines make a certain payment method feel faster or more familiar, that is what people will choose. Anyone who has operated a store with a temperamental card reader knows exactly how quickly customers revert to coins.

Over the past fifteen years working with small operators, I have seen three patterns repeat. Cash brings reliability. Cards offer speed and transparency. Mobile payments win on convenience for younger customers. The trick is matching these behaviours to your store.

Is cash still worth offering in a modern laundromat?

Many operators try to retire coins. Then they remember all the customers who still prefer the tangibility of cash. It is a trust signal. In areas with shift workers or an older base, coins still play a role.

Cash also gives you resilience. A blackout or a network outage will not take your whole operation down. That reliability is a form of consistency, one of Cialdini's persuasion principles, because it reassures customers that your store will work every time they show up.

Pros• Works during outages• Comfortable for older users• No bank transaction fees• Simple machine retrofit options

Cons• Requires coin collection and float management• Higher risk of theft• Less convenient for digital-native customers

A small operator in western Sydney once told me his coin boxes still filled faster than his tap readers on rainy weeks. People walked in with notes from the servo and wanted something that guaranteed a wash without tech issues. You do not forget feedback like that.

Do card readers actually boost revenue?

In many areas, yes. Customers who have not carried cash for years will happily tap a card for a wash. Card acceptance typically increases basket size because there is no mental friction around the number of coins needed. The perception of ease often leads to extra cycles, detergents, or dryers. That is a classic framing effect in action.

Card systems also give you proper reporting instead of counting buckets of coins after a long Sunday shift. You can see patterns by hour, by machine, even by season. For new sites, this data ends guessing games around pricing.

Pros• Fast transactions• Digital reporting and revenue tracking• Extra earnings from impulse add-ons• Cleaner, safer store environment

Cons• Needs reliable internet• Bank fees reduce margins• Hardware failures can disrupt peak periods

Card payments are now expected in most Australian retail settings. The Reserve Bank reported that contactless payments account for the majority of everyday purchases. You can see that trend clearly across hospitality and transport, backed by research from the Australian Payments Network.

Are mobile app payments actually being used?

Mobile payments have grown quickly in younger suburbs. For customers born after the late 1990s, paying with a phone feels natural. They unlock their screen, tap twice, and the washer starts. No rummaging for coins. No pulling out a wallet.

I often think back to a laundromat owner in Geelong who trialled mobile payments. He said teenagers took to it instantly, but the surprise was the parents. They were relieved that their kids could do laundry without carrying coins. That kind of low-friction convenience builds goodwill without you even realising.

Pros• Least friction for digital-native customers• Works with loyalty credits and bonus cycles• Allows remote starting and monitoring• Reduces hardware clutter on machines

Cons• Needs a smartphone• Requires some user education• Adoption varies by suburb and demographic

What payment mix works best for most Australian laundromats?

You can think of it like setting up a good footy team. Cash is your dependable backline. Cards are the midfield that keeps things moving. Mobile is your fast striker. Most sites get the best results when they blend the three. The hybrid model caters to every customer and reduces the chance of downtime taking out all machines at once.

A typical balanced setup looks like this:

• Coin slots on washers and dryers• Card readers as the front-and-centre default• Mobile payments for loyalty and convenience

This approach matches the behavioural truth that people like choice but avoid complexity. If the options are clear and easy, they will naturally gravitate to the one that feels simplest.

How do customer demographics shape payment decisions?

Your local area matters more than any national trend. Suburbs with a higher migrant population often keep coin usage strong. Student-heavy areas lean digital. Coastal towns with seasonal peaks need redundancy because outages hit harder during holiday periods. These patterns follow social proof in action. People look around and follow whatever their neighbours do.

If you are unsure where your store sits, try watching five customer sessions in a row. The preferences show up quickly. Do they walk in with coins already in hand. Do they tap without hesitation. Do they ask whether you take phone payments. Those small exchanges give you better insights than any spreadsheet.

FAQ

Do laundromats still need coin changers?

They help maintain flow, especially in mixed-demographic suburbs. Even with a strong card base, people expect a backup option.

Will digital payments reduce theft?

Yes. Card and mobile methods reduce cash on site, which lowers the risk of break-ins and vandalism.

Is mobile adoption likely to grow?

Yes. Every year more customers use tap-to-pay on phones as part of their daily life.

Final thoughts

Choosing between cash, card, and mobile payments is less about technology and more about the habits of the people who walk into your store. The right mix keeps your machines running, reduces stress, and matches the way Australians actually pay for things today. Many operators now blend all three methods through a flexible setup, including a modern laundromat payment system like the kind explored in this piece about a Laundromat Payment System.