Modernizing Your Laundromat: Can Your Laundromat Survive Without Quarters?

Quarters used to be the only way to run a laundromat. That is no longer true, and for a growing number of operators, it is not even the preferred way. Customers today expect to pay the same way they pay everywhere else: a tap of their card, a tap of their phone, or a preloaded balance on an app. Laundromats that cannot meet that expectation are not just inconvenient. They are losing customers to ones that can.

The good news is that going coinless, or even just adding digital payment alongside coin, is more straightforward than most operators expect. This guide walks through the real costs of staying quarter-dependent, what a modern payment setup looks like, and how to make the transition without disrupting your business.

The Quarter Dependency Problem

Laundromats have relied on quarters for decades, but this method comes with hidden costs and operational headaches. Here’s why sticking to quarters could hurt your business:

1. The hidden costs of coin-based operations

Counting coins, bagging them, making bank runs, and reconciling the numbers at the end of the week takes more time than most operators realize until they stop doing it. That time is not free. It is hours every week that could go toward growing the business, maintaining equipment, or simply not working late. Digital payments process and reconcile automatically. The administrative work largely disappears.

2. Maintenance issues with coin mechanisms

Coin mechanisms are one of the most common failure points on laundromat equipment. Jams, wear, and vandalism add up to more service calls and more downtime. Every machine that is out of service is a machine not generating revenue. Moving to digital payment reduces mechanical wear on the coin path and cuts down on the maintenance calls that come with it.

There is also a security dimension. Machines holding physical cash are a target. Break-ins and internal theft are real risks for coin-heavy operations, and the cost goes beyond the cash itself. Vandalized or damaged machines mean lost revenue and repair bills on top of whatever was taken. See how modern payment systems address laundromat theft directly.

3. Customer frustration with quarter-only options

Customers who show up without the right change do not usually go find a coin machine and come back. They go to a different laundromat. That is a lost visit, and depending on how close a competitor is, it can become a lost customer. Convenience is one of the top factors people use when choosing where to do their laundry, and payment friction is one of the fastest ways to lose on that dimension.

Laundroworks Payment Solutions

Laundroworks makes switching to digital payments easy with a complete system that helps modernize laundromats. Here’s why it stands out:

• Comprehensive digital payment ecosystem: Laundroworks integrates with credit/debit cards and mobile payments.

• Hardware and software compatibility: Laundroworks solutions work with both new and existing equipment, making it easy to upgrade without replacing all your machines. The payment hardware is designed without the requirement to drill large creative holes into the front plate of your machines.

• Cloud-based management platform: Track revenue, monitor machine usage, and pull reports in real time from anywhere. No spreadsheets, no manual tallies, no end-of-day reconciliation guesswork. See how one operator runs a thriving Boston laundromat remotely while keeping a full-time job.

The Customer Experience

Customers want their laundromat visit to be quick and predictable. They want to know which machines are open, pay without friction, and get a notification when their laundry is done. Laundroworks delivers all of that through a single connected system. 

Contactless payments meet customers where they are

Most customers today do not carry cash and rarely have quarters on hand. According to Visa's Back to Business Study, nearly two-thirds of consumers say they would switch to a business that offers contactless payment options, and nearly half say they would not return to a store where the only option requires contact with a shared device. Offering NFC and card payments is not a perk anymore. It is table stakes. Read the complete guide to NFC technology in laundromats.

Loyalty programs that actually build repeat business

A loyalty card does more than replace quarters. It creates a relationship. When a customer loads money onto a card, that balance lives inside your business. It gives them a reason to come back and a reason to stay. According to Laundroworks platform data, operators who display the registration prompt on the kiosk screen are seeing roughly 90 percent of new cardholders sign up, turning anonymous visits into known, contactable customers.

Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up promotions and loyalty programs.

Operators running loyalty card systems also typically hold 5 to 10 percent of annual self-serve revenue in card float at any given time, according to Laundroworks operator data. For a store doing $300,000 a year, that is $15,000 to $30,000 in preloaded balances sitting inside the business, driving return visits. Watch the webinar on boosting laundromat revenue with Laundroworks.

The LaundryCat app

Through the LaundryCat customer app, customers can start machines, track cycle progress, pay, and receive alerts when their laundry is done. That means fewer interruptions, less time standing around waiting, and a better overall experience that keeps people coming back.

Customer feedback

Customers consistently respond well to digital payment upgrades, often faster than operators expect. Queen City Laundry, a four-location operation in the Cincinnati area, started with Cents Penny readers at their machines. Before the second location was even set up, customers were already asking why it was not everywhere. Read their full operator story here.

Implementation: Easier Than You Think

Owners often think upgrading payment systems will be complicated, but the Laundroworks team makes the process as smooth as possible.

Equipment compatibility

Laundroworks is compatible with most modern machines and can be adapted to older models with small adjustments. The team evaluates your setup and recommends the right path forward based on what you already have.

Implementation: Easier Than You Think  

Most systems are operational within a few days of receiving the hardware. Installation is designed to minimize disruption, and most laundromats maintain regular business hours throughout the process. The system is intuitive, and Laundroworks provides guides, videos, and direct support so owners and staff feel confident from day one.

Equipment compatibility

Laundroworks is compatible with most modern machines and may be adapted to older models with small adjustments. Our team evaluates your setup and suggests the best way to upgrade smoothly.  

Installation and timeframe

Most systems are operational within a few days of receiving the hardware. Installation is designed to minimize disruption, and most laundromats maintain regular business hours throughout the process. The system is intuitive, and Laundroworks provides guides, videos, and direct support so owners and staff feel confident from day one.

Helping customers make the switch

Customers adapt faster than most operators expect, especially when given clear guidance up front. Laundroworks provides signage and promotional materials to help customers understand the new options. A load bonus at launch, such as a 25 percent match on the first card load, is one of the most effective ways to drive early adoption. It gives customers a concrete reason to try the new system and creates a balance that brings them back. See how one operator used this approach.

Ongoing support and system updates  

Laundroworks offers continuous support, software updates, and system monitoring to keep payments secure and efficient. If issues arise, assistance is available to ensure smooth cashless laundry operations.  

Common Concerns Addressed  

What about customers who only use cash?  

Laundroworks makes it easy for laundromats to introduce digital payments while still keeping some machines coin-operated. Kiosks can also be added for customers to load cash onto prepaid cards. Some of the Laundorworks Value Add Centers offer customers to use cash and card payments to upload funds to a laundry card. 

What happens during internet outages?  

Laundroworks has built-in offline capabilities, allowing machines to continue accepting payments during temporary outages. Transactions are securely stored and processed once connectivity is restored.  

Is the technology too complex to manage?  

The dashboard is designed for operators, not IT teams. Monitoring payments, pulling reports, and managing machine status are all straightforward from a single view. Laundroworks provides training materials and support for anything that comes up. Operators with staff can also take advantage of the WashLynx attendant app to keep accountability tight from day one.

How long will the equipment last?  

Laundroworks’ hardware is built to last and hold up better than coin mechanisms. Ongoing software updates keep it secure and running smoothly.

What if I sell my business?  

A laundromat with a modern payment system and real revenue data is a more attractive acquisition than one running on coin only. See how Top Laundry 24 broke even in six months by getting this right from the start. Digital payments increase demonstrated profitability, simplify due diligence, and give a buyer a system they can operate from day one. The platform transfers to new ownership.

The Competition Factor  

The operators gaining ground in competitive markets are not winning on price alone. They are winning on experience. Customers choose laundromats the same way they choose any other service: based on convenience, reliability, and how easy it is to become a regular. A coin-only laundromat starts that relationship with friction.

Payment flexibility sits alongside cleanliness and machine availability as a top factor in where customers choose to do their laundry. Operators who offer card, NFC, and mobile payment are not just removing a barrier. They are building a business that collects data, drives loyalty, and compounds over time. A Laundroworks loyalty card balance also works at your vending machines, which turns a supply purchase into another touchpoint that keeps customers in your ecosystem. See smart vending strategies that work alongside your payment system.

According to Laundroworks platform data, roughly 40 percent of customers represent about 90 percent of lifetime self-serve revenue. Knowing who those customers are, and keeping them, is only possible once you have a connected payment and loyalty system. Quarters cannot tell you that. See how Laundry Genius built a data-driven operation around exactly this insight.

Conclusion

Quarters served the industry well for a long time. But the economics and the customer expectations have shifted. Operators who modernize now are not just removing a pain point. They are building a more efficient business with better data, stronger customer relationships, and more ways to grow.

Laundroworks, gives you the tools to make that transition at your own pace, whether you are starting with card readers at a few machines or going fully coinless across every location.

Not Sure Where to Start?

Download the free coins-to-cards upgrade checklist. It walks through every step of the transition, from choosing the right hardware to training your customers, so you know exactly what to expect before you commit to anything.