The Remote Laundromat Owner: Jose Andino's Top Wash Laundromat Success Story

About Top Wash Laundromats

Located in Dorchester, the largest neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, Top Wash Laundromat stands as a modern laundry destination. This full-service store offers customers high-capacity self-service machines, professional wash and fold, pickup and delivery services, and overnight processing.

The location, which has been serving the community for over 30 years, underwent a complete transformation in 2023 when owner Jose Andino acquired it and implemented a retool. He replaced all equipment and simultaneously installed the Laundroworks system, creating a modern facility that efficiently serves Boston's diverse communities.

Managing Remotely While Working Full-Time

When Jose first entered the laundromat industry in 2023, he faced an immediate challenge: how to successfully manage a laundromat while maintaining his full-time job. As a serial entrepreneur exploring various business opportunities, he approached this new venture with careful planning and extensive research. Jose attended industry trade shows, met with distributors, and studied different management systems before making his investment, determined to find the smartest solution that wouldn't require his constant physical presence.

"I started attending free laundromat trade shows and distributor events, and researched extensively about the industry," Jose explains. "I needed a solution I could manage remotely. Even with new coin boxes, they can jam up, and if I'm not able to get there quickly, it becomes a problem for customers."

His vision of managing a modern laundromat was hampered by traditional systems that required constant on-site presence. The conventional approach to management demanded frequent in-person visits, making it nearly impossible to balance with his full-time career without sacrificing quality or oversight.

Beyond physical presence, there was the challenge of integrating various service offerings. Each aspect of what would become Top Wash—self-service, wash and fold, pickup and delivery—would need to operate cohesively with standardized procedures. Traditional systems would have resulted in fragmented operations, inconsistent customer experiences and complicated staff training.

Laundroworks Advantage

After weighing all his options, Jose's research led him to a clear solution: a complete retool with all new equipment integrated with Laundroworks from the very beginning. "I did all new equipment and implemented the Laundroworks system at the same time. I went coinless because I needed something I could manage without being there every day. After thorough research, I felt the loyalty card system would be easier to manage remotely."

"With Laundroworks, I can take care of customers remotely. When somebody has an issue, I can add funds or dispense a card through the LaundroPortal. It's made customer service a lot easier, especially since I'm not there every day."

The Laundroworks platform provides Jose with powerful remote management capabilities that transform how he operates his business:

• Remote Monitoring: "I can just be at home, pull up reports, and know exactly what's going on in my store at any time. I can bring up the LaundroPortal and see everything remotely."

• Cashless Operations: "When you've got a $10 washing machine, it's 40 quarters. It would take about five minutes to load in 40 quarters. When somebody can just tap their card or phone using the LaundryCat app, they can simply go."

• Customer Loyalty Programs: Jose actively uses Laundroworks' promotional features to build customer loyalty. "I have a promo called 'Free Wash 10.' For new customers, my attendants will give them $10 and a free laundry card. They have to register, which gives me valuable customer data."

• Simplified Management: The Laundroworks system has dramatically reduced the complexities of day-to-day operations. "Not having to lug around big buckets of quarters to start the machines—it's a no-brainer that we're providing better service."

Jose leverages both Laundroworks and Cents technologies to create a comprehensive remote management system. While Laundroworks forms the foundation of his day-to-day operations, including payment processing and customer loyalty programs, he also utilizes Cents for additional monitoring capabilities within the Cents Business Manager. This approach allows him to maintain complete visibility into all aspects of his business operations without being physically present, exemplifying his strategic use of technology to maximize efficiency.

Efficient Management While Maintaining Work-Life Balance

By leveraging Laundroworks as his primary management system, Jose has created a business model that allows him to maintain his full-time career while running a successful laundromat. The technology has enabled him to work efficiently in several key ways:

• Flexible Payment Options: "We're now about 50-50 with credit card, mobile pay, and cash loaded through the value center. Some customers even load up their value card to pay for wash and fold services."

• Streamlined Staff Training: The intuitive nature of Laundroworks made it easy to train his team and attendants have quickly learned how to handle customer card loading during his absence.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The reporting features allow Jose to track performance metrics and make informed business decisions based on actual usage patterns and revenue trends.

• Multilingual Customer Support: The system helps Top Wash serve its diverse customer base with Spanish language options that attendants can demonstrate to customers.

Jose's customers have embraced the technology as well: "The customers using the Laundroworks system all say they love it. Once people tried it, there was really no pushback."

Technology-Driven Laundromat Management

Jose's experience with Laundroworks demonstrates how the right technology can make a traditional laundromat business more manageable and profitable, even with limited time to be physically present.

"It's definitely going to make it easier for you to manage the store. If you're looking to manage your business and focus on other things, I think you have to have some kind of card system. I've had no complaints with Laundroworks—it's reliable with outstanding customer service."

For those concerned about moving away from traditional coin operations, Jose's experience is reassuring: "Absolutely no regrets. Personally, I never carry cash and haven't for a long time. Once I could use Apple Pay and similar technologies, that's what I adopted."

Don't let outdated management approaches or fear of time commitment limit your entrepreneurial potential. Take the first step toward building a modern, efficient laundromat operation that can thrive even when you're not physically present. By working with the right technology, you can create a successful business that adapts to your lifestyle rather than the other way around.