Test whether paid washer turns, the realized wash-and-dry basket and a fully scoped utility installation can support the equipment-heavy lease. This Iowa profile connects official wage and population benchmarks to a defined operating scenario.
Attended 2,400-square-foot self-service laundromat with 36 washers and paired gas-dryer capacity
State benchmarks: May / July 2025 · Page prepared September 5, 2026
We examined the available wage records for this attended 2,400-square-foot self-service laundromat with 36 washers and paired gas-dryer capacity, checked the Census population observations and calculated the staffing implications using the stated wage benchmarks. The results below show what that completed analysis establishes.
The same roster costs $9,415 at the selected Iowa wage benchmarks versus $10,236 at national medians, including the stated employer-cost allowance. This isolates wage differences; it does not compare local rent or customer spending.
Inspect the roles and source rows →The reference operating month exceeds EBIT break-even by 19 paid washer turns per day. That is the sales margin available before the modeled operating profit disappears.
See the calculation and cash results →| Component | What the evidence establishes | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Wage records and state population | Selected May 2025 occupational records and July 2024/2025 Census estimates, with exact fields and source rows. | Source records checked |
| Paid payroll and break-even | Calculated from observed wage benchmarks and the explicitly modeled roster, employer allowance, price and costs. | Derived result |
| Opening budget and commercial costs | Published fit-out, equipment, occupancy and other allowances define this comparison scenario. State-specific commercial quotes have not yet replaced them. | Reference assumptions |
| Revenue | $39,150 per mature month follows 145 paid washer turns per day at the stated price. It is not observed sales or a researched state revenue average. | Modeled sales assumptions |
Each test changes one input from the published reference. These are sensitivity tests, not local market forecasts or probability ranges.
| Test | Monthly EBIT | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Published reference | $3,889 | The stated inputs on this page |
| 20% fewer sales units | -$2,062 | 116 paid washer turns per day; other inputs unchanged |
| 25% higher occupancy cost | $2,514 | $6,875 per month; other inputs unchanged |
| 10% higher wage rates | $2,948 | Same paid roster; employer allowance unchanged |
The completed research covers the source observations and analysis described here. The funding and revenue scenarios still contain commercial assumptions; they are not a completed local feasibility study. Read the evidence and its limits.
Published research and calculations support business planning and education. They are not personalized financial, investment, tax or legal advice, and they do not guarantee costs, revenue, profit or financing. Estimates depend on the stated format, location, source periods and assumptions. Check the requirements and commitments that apply to your circumstances.
The methodology was approved on September 6, 2026. The completed work on this page covers wage and population analysis. The opening costs, operating costs and revenue below remain a reference scenario while local commercial evidence is collected.
| Evidence family | Current status | Required work |
|---|---|---|
| Opening costs | Local evidence incomplete | premises scope, fitout, equipment, installation freight tax, deposits, preopening training, opening inventory, contingency |
| Operating costs | Local evidence incomplete | occupancy, utilities, insurance, materials, payment fees, marketing, software administration, maintenance |
| Paid labor and employer costs | Wage benchmark available; employer costs unresolved | paid roster, wages, wage floor overtime, employer taxes, benefits leave, workers compensation, owner role |
| Revenue and collections | Local evidence incomplete | realized price mix, demand volume, capacity, industry cross check, launch ramp, seasonality, collections |
| Permissions and fees | Local evidence incomplete | activity address jurisdiction, initial fees, recurring fees |
A national equipment price may be reused where its configuration, delivery and taxes apply. Missing rent, selling-price or demand evidence cannot be filled with a shared state default. Until that evidence exists, no researched state funding or revenue total is claimed.
The Census estimate for Iowa is 3,238,387 people. It grew by 7,933 between July 2024 and July 2025 (+0.25%). This statewide movement cannot identify a viable frontage or the trading pattern of a neighborhood.
Using the same paid roster, Iowa occupational wages produce $9,415 of monthly loaded payroll. That is −8.02% relative to the identical roster priced with national occupation medians ($10,236). Only wage benchmarks change in this comparison; it does not measure a state’s overall business attractiveness.
BLS wage source · Census population source · Exact fields and workbook rows
Attended 2,400-square-foot self-service laundromat with 36 washers and paired gas-dryer capacity. A leased neighborhood self-service laundromat with a mixed washer bank, paired drying capacity, card or app payment and paid attendant coverage.
36 washers × 6 available turns per day = 216 paid washer turns per day. This is a simplified physical ceiling. Cycle mix, downtime, uneven peaks, dryer availability, customer dwell time and demand can all reduce usable throughput.
| Input | Reference assumption |
|---|---|
| paid washer turns per day | 145 |
| Net selling price per paid washer turn | $9.00 |
| Trading days / month | 30 |
| Variable cost share | 24% |
| Occupancy / month | $5,500 |
| Other fixed costs / month | $4,200 |
| Employer cost allowance | 18% above base wages |
17% water, sewer, gas and electricity plus 7% payment fees, customer supplies and other costs that move with paid turns. Insurance $650; cleaning, security and waste $1,100; marketing $600; connectivity and software $350; pest control, accounting and other operating costs $1,500 per month. Maintenance investment is modeled separately at $2,500 per month.
| Role / SOC | Paid hours / month | Wage benchmark / hour | P25–P75 / hour | Base wages / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendant and cleaning coverage51-6011 · Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers · State observation | 320 | $16.37 | $14.28–$17.93 | $5,238 |
| Management, reconciliation and vendor coordination11-1021 · General and Operations Managers · State observation | 65 | $42.16 | $28.94–$62.50 | $2,740 |
Base wages total $7,979 per month. An authored 18% allowance for employer costs adds $1,436, giving $9,415 of loaded payroll. The allowance is a planning shortcut; it is not a Iowa payroll tax calculation or benefits quote.
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers is the broad attendant proxy; General and Operations Managers covers paid management work. Neither occupation establishes a hiring quote. The 18% employer allowance is a planning assumption, not a payroll compliance calculation. Every operating role is paid, including management or supervision. If the owner performs a modeled role, their compensation occupies that role once; no additional owner draw is included in operating profit.
The middle 50% wage interval describes the occupation’s observed wage distribution. It is not a confidence interval for this business’s total payroll. Allocate the aggregate hours across an actual roster and check wage rules, overtime, leave and employer obligations for the chosen location.
| Use of funds | Cash paid |
|---|---|
| Utility fit-out and installation allowance | $135,000 |
| Commercial washers and dryers | $295,000 |
| Payment system, security, carts and folding furniture | $30,000 |
| Professional and setup allowance | $15,000 |
| Opening supplies and change float | $5,000 |
| Refundable deposit (two months of occupancy) | $11,000 |
| Paid pre-opening training | $1,565 |
| Total payments before opening | $492,565 |
The equipment and premises allowances are the same in all 50 states for this operating format. They are a comparison baseline and must be replaced with local scopes and quotes. Training uses 64 aggregate paid hours at the modeled team’s weighted loaded rate. The refundable deposit is cash tied up, not an operating expense.
The cash schedule tests 60 months, with sales ramping through 40%, 55%, 70%, 82%, 90%, 96%, 100% of the volume assumption. Full payroll and fixed costs begin in month one. The reserve covers the deepest cumulative operating deficit plus the stated buffer. A buffer is retained cash, not spending and not part of project payback twice.
Customer sales are collected within the month. Opening inventory is funded upfront and its balance is held constant; replenishment is represented in variable expenses. Asset purchases are depreciated over 60 months for this scenario. No sale or deposit recovery is assumed at the end.
At the assumed 145 paid washer turns per day, the reference scenario produces $3,889 of mature monthly EBIT, a 9.9% operating margin. It requires 126 paid washer turns per day for EBIT break-even. This result depends on unverified selling price, demand and premises inputs.
| Measure | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Revenue | $39,150 |
| Variable operating costs | $9,396 |
| Loaded payroll, including management | $9,415 |
| Occupancy assumption | $5,500 |
| Other fixed operating costs | $4,200 |
| EBITDA | $10,639 |
| Depreciation | $6,750 |
| Operating profit (EBIT) | $3,889 |
| Maintenance capital expenditure | $2,500 |
| Mature project cash flow | $8,139 |
EBIT break-even revenue is $34,033 per month: $25,865 of fixed costs plus depreciation divided by a 76% contribution margin. At $9.00 per paid washer turn, that means 126 paid washer turns per day and 58.4% of the stated capacity.
| Measure | Months 1–12 | Mature month |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $404,420 | $39,150 |
| Operating profit (EBIT) | -$3,021 | $3,889 |
| Project cash flow | $47,979 | $8,139 |
Project payback is not reached within the 60-month reference schedule. It measures recovery of actual pre-opening payments from cumulative project cash, with no financing or owner distributions. It does not measure cash paid back to an owner.
Installed capacity only limits throughput. Paid turns require a suitable catchment, competitive offer and a reliable operating experience.
A low headline rent cannot compensate for inadequate water, sewer, gas, electrical, ventilation or structural capacity.
Change the assumptions to see how this format responds. The sections above remain the published reference, so you can compare your scenario with the original. The full setup and data can be downloaded below.
Reference scenario. JavaScript enables editing and exports.
4,350 paid washer turns per month × $9.00 = $39,150 revenue. Loaded payroll: $9,415 per month. Break-even uses 58.4% of capacity.
Download published inputs, sources and calculations (JSON). The download preserves the published scenario and its source references.
Bring the measured floor plan, machine schedule, water and sewer demand, gas and electrical loads, exhaust and make-up air plan, structural scope, accessibility path, signage and operating hours. Ask the address-level planning, building, fire and utility authorities which reviews and upgrades apply.
| Workstream | Official starting points | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Business and activity | Which entity, name or activity registrations apply, and which local or specialist office also has responsibility? | |
| Tax | Which registrations and treatment apply to the actual goods or services, location and staffing arrangements? | |
| Employers | Which employer accounts, reporting steps and labor obligations apply to the planned paid roster? |
Take the activity, address, proposed equipment and staffing plan to the relevant office. Record applicability, supporting documents, fees, dependencies and renewal terms from the actual official response.
Agency routes were listed on the IRS Iowa directory when retrieved September 5, 2026. Links identify starting offices; they do not verify a permit, tax treatment, fee or opening time for this business. Open the full Iowa opening checklist →
Define washer sizes, dryer ratio, payment method and staffed services. Observe comparable paid usage and obtain price evidence before treating the reference turn volume as achievable.
Obtain a measured plan and written scopes for water, sewer, drainage, gas, exhaust, electrical service, slab, ventilation and maintenance access before signing or ordering machines.
Reconcile equipment, freight, foundations, utility trunks, permits, testing, payment commissioning and opening delay in one dated sources-and-uses schedule.
An attractive washer count can still create queues or lost repeat visits when dryer capacity, exhaust, maintenance access or peak-size mix is wrong.
A fully researched city case for this business in Iowa has not been prepared. The next content improvement is an address-specific evidence pack covering quotes, demand, staffing, collection terms and responsible authorities.
State: Iowa, FIPS 19. Cross-industry, ownership 1235. H_MEDIAN supplies an available hourly benchmark; H_PCT25 and H_PCT75 describe the occupational distribution. 51-6011 (Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers), state workbook row 11151; 11-1021 (General and Operations Managers), state workbook row 10500. Retrieved September 5, 2026.
The national comparison uses the same paid roster and these national H_MEDIAN observations: 51-6011, national workbook row 1219; 11-1021, national workbook row 8. Any national value substituted for a suppressed state value is identified separately. National observations do not become state observations.
SUMLEV 040; STATE 19; POPESTIMATE2025 and POPESTIMATE2024. July 1 estimates; change and percentage change are calculated within the same vintage. Population is context, not a customer forecast.
OEWS covers employee jobs across industries. It is a statistical benchmark, not a hiring quote or legal wage floor. Employer benefits and overtime premiums are outside the wage measure; tips can be included.
An official route to the state government and major agencies. This directory does not confirm the fees, permits or approval times for a particular address or business.
All selling prices, demand, paid hours, employer allowance, premises, startup allowances, cost shares, ramp and cash buffer are authored planning inputs. No commercial quote or researched state total is implied.
A business format and a state record are joined by stable IDs. The shared calculation computes the outputs, and the template publishes static HTML with the source fields and original inputs. A change to evidence or a format triggers recalculation and review before republication.
Read the content production process →