How Laundromat Owners Can Increase Revenue Using Cashless Payment Technology

Some laundromats look busy yet struggle to grow profits. The machines run, customers come and go, but revenue plateaus. One change has quietly shifted that equation across Australia: cashless payment technology. When laundromat owners remove coin-only barriers and give customers easier ways to pay, usage rises, machine downtime drops, and new revenue streams appear.

After speaking with operators and suppliers across the industry, a pattern keeps repeating: cashless laundries simply make more money. The reason isn’t magic—it’s behavioural science. Make something easier to buy, and people use it more.

Why are traditional coin laundromats losing revenue?

Coins built the laundromat industry, but today they create friction.

Anyone who has owned or operated a laundry for a few years knows the common issues:

• Customers arrive without coins and walk away

• Machines sit idle because change machines are empty

• Owners spend hours collecting and counting coins

• Theft and vandalism risks increase

• Pricing changes require physical machine adjustments

From a behavioural perspective, this is a friction problem. According to behavioural researchers, even small barriers can dramatically reduce usage. When customers need to hunt for coins, they delay washing or go elsewhere.

The opposite is also true. Reduce friction and usage increases.

A report on digital payments from the Reserve Bank of Australia highlights the steady shift away from cash in everyday transactions.See the data here:Consumer Payments in Australia

The trend is clear: people increasingly expect tap-and-go convenience everywhere.

Laundromats are no exception.

How does cashless payment technology increase laundromat revenue?

Cashless systems don’t just modernise payment. They change customer behaviour in ways that drive higher machine usage.

1. Customers wash more frequently

When paying becomes as easy as tapping a card or phone, hesitation disappears.

A typical customer might think:

“I’ll wait until I have enough clothes for a full load.”

But when payment friction drops, behaviour shifts toward:

“I’ll just wash these now.”

That subtle change increases:

• Machine turns per day

• Total weekly usage

• Customer convenience and satisfaction

From a psychological standpoint, this uses the ease bias—people prefer the simplest option available.

2. Owners can adjust pricing instantly

With coin machines, price changes are slow and frustrating.

Cashless systems allow operators to:

• Adjust pricing remotely

• Run off-peak promotions

• Increase prices during peak demand

• Offer loyalty discounts

This creates something laundromat owners rarely had before: pricing strategy.

Instead of a fixed price forever, owners can optimise revenue the same way parking garages or ride-share platforms do.

3. Remote monitoring reduces downtime

Idle machines are silent profit killers.

Cashless platforms often include dashboards showing:

• Machine status

• Cycle usage

• Payment history

• Maintenance alerts

Owners no longer need to physically visit the store just to check if machines are working.

Many operators describe the difference like this:

“Before, we guessed what machines were used most. Now we know.”

That data allows smarter decisions about:

• Equipment upgrades

• Maintenance scheduling

• Store layout

Do customers actually prefer cashless laundromats?

Short answer: yes—by a wide margin.

Modern customers already use digital payments for:

• Coffee

• Parking

• Public transport

• Vending machines

So when a laundromat still relies on coins, it feels outdated.

From a persuasion standpoint, this taps into social proof. When customers see others tapping their card or phone, the behaviour becomes normal quickly.

Some laundromats report that after installing cashless systems:

• First-time users increase

• Younger customers become regulars

• Average spending per visit rises

And once customers get used to the convenience, they rarely want to go back to coins.

What new revenue streams can cashless systems unlock?

The most interesting benefit isn’t just payment—it’s new business models.

With the right platform, laundromat owners can introduce:

Loyalty programs

Reward repeat customers automatically.

Examples include:

• Every 10th wash free

• Off-peak discounts

• Bonus credit promotions

These work because of commitment and consistency, one of Robert Cialdini’s persuasion principles. When customers feel invested, they return.

Mobile app payments

Apps allow customers to:

• Start machines remotely

• Check machine availability

• Receive cycle notifications

That means less waiting inside the laundromat and more convenience.

Multi-location management

Owners with several laundromats can manage everything from one dashboard:

• Revenue tracking

• Machine usage

• Pricing adjustments

For operators expanding beyond a single location, this becomes essential.

Why behavioural science matters in laundromats

At first glance, laundry seems simple: wash, dry, leave.

But customer behaviour tells a deeper story.

When payment is easy:

• Customers start washes faster

• They don’t delay loads

• They return more often

This reflects loss aversion—people dislike inconvenience more than they value saving effort.

So if paying with coins feels annoying, customers avoid the store.

Remove that pain point, and usage increases naturally.

A real-world observation from laundromat operators

Many owners share a similar story after switching to cashless systems.

One operator in Victoria described the first month after installation:

• Weekend machine usage jumped significantly

• Fewer customers asked staff for help with coins

• Revenue increased without changing machine count

The surprising part? Nothing about the laundry itself changed.

Same machines. Same customers.

Only the payment experience improved.

That small shift triggered new behaviour.

FAQ: Cashless laundromat systems

Are cashless systems expensive to install?

Costs vary depending on the technology and machine compatibility. Many systems are modular, meaning owners can upgrade gradually rather than replacing every machine at once.

Will older customers still use the laundromat?

Yes. Most systems support both tap-and-go cards and mobile wallets. Once customers see others using it, adoption usually happens quickly.

Do cashless laundromats eliminate coins completely?

Some laundromats keep coin options during transition periods. Others move entirely to digital payments. The right approach depends on the local customer base.

The bigger shift happening in laundromats

For decades, laundromats were largely unchanged businesses.

Machines improved, but the customer experience stayed the same: coins, waiting, and manual operations.

Cashless technology changes that equation.

It introduces data, pricing flexibility, remote management, and a smoother customer journey—all of which quietly increase revenue.

Operators exploring modern payment infrastructure often begin by looking at platforms built specifically for laundries. One example involves technologies powering cashless laundromat systems that allow owners to manage payments, monitor machines, and streamline the entire laundry operation from a single interface.

The shift isn’t about removing coins.

It’s about removing friction.

And in business, reducing friction almost always leads to one outcome: more usage, happier customers, and stronger revenue over time.