How Much Does a Laundromat Make Per Month in Illinois?

"How much does a laundromat make per month" is one of the most searched questions among people considering this investment — and the honest answer is: it depends enormously on where the business is located, how it's operated, and how old the equipment is. This guide breaks down gross revenue ranges, typical operating expenses, and net monthly income figures for Illinois laundromats in 2026, based on real market data across the state's diverse markets.

The national average laundromat generates approximately $15,000–$20,000 in gross monthly revenue, according to Coin Laundry Association industry data. But "national average" masks enormous variation — a well-positioned Chicago urban store might gross $40,000+ per month, while a rural downstate Illinois location might gross $5,000. Understanding this variation, and knowing where a specific business falls within it, is the foundation of intelligent laundromat investment.

This guide walks you through gross revenue ranges across Illinois markets, the expense categories that eat into that revenue, the net monthly income owners actually take home, and — critically — the factors that separate the high-earning laundromats from the average ones. By the end, you'll have a clear framework for evaluating any Illinois laundromat's monthly income potential.

Typical Gross Revenue Ranges by Market Size

Gross revenue is the total income generated by the laundromat before any expenses are deducted. It includes washer income, dryer income, vending (soap, softener, dryers), and any ancillary services like wash-dry-fold or drop-off service. Understanding gross revenue by market size is the starting point for any financial analysis.

Chicago Urban Markets

A well-run laundromat in a dense Chicago neighborhood — think Logan Square, Pilsen, Humboldt Park, Rogers Park, or Bridgeport — generates $25,000–$55,000 in gross monthly revenue. The highest-performing Chicago locations, particularly those with large machine counts, wash-dry-fold operations, and extended hours, can exceed $60,000/month. These are exceptional businesses in exceptional locations, and they're priced accordingly.

The average Chicago urban laundromat with 30–50 machines in a solid renter-dense neighborhood realistically grosses $28,000–$42,000 per month. This is the most common range you'll see in legitimate Chicago listings from qualified sellers.

Chicago Suburbs (Cook + Collar Counties)

Suburban laundromats in Cook County (outside Chicago proper) and the collar counties (DuPage, Kane, Lake, Will, McHenry) typically gross $12,000–$28,000 per month. The wide range reflects significant variation in population density, renter ratios, and competition levels across these markets. A suburban strip mall laundromat near affordable housing in a working-class suburb will typically outperform one in a wealthy homeowner-dominated suburb where in-home laundry penetration is high.

Mid-Size Illinois Cities

In Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, and similar mid-size markets, monthly gross revenue typically ranges from $8,000–$18,000. These stores often have lower revenue ceilings than Chicago-area locations but proportionally lower operating costs, particularly rent. The laundromat cash flow per month as a percentage of revenue is often comparable to suburban Chicago stores despite lower absolute dollar figures.

Small Markets and Rural Illinois

Small-town and rural Illinois laundromats (populations under 20,000) typically gross $3,000–$8,000 per month. These businesses serve essential community needs but have limited customer bases and upside potential. Their value as investments is largely tied to purchase price relative to income — and many small-market deals offer attractive cap rates precisely because buyers who can't evaluate these markets simply avoid them.

Breaking Down Expenses: What Eats Into Your Profit

Gross revenue is only the beginning of the story. The operating expenses that determine net income vary by market, facility, and management approach. Here's a realistic expense breakdown for an Illinois laundromat generating $20,000/month in gross revenue.

Rent: The Biggest Variable

Rent is typically the largest and most fixed operating expense. For Illinois laundromats, rent generally represents 12–20% of gross revenue, though urban Chicago locations sometimes run higher. On a $20,000/month gross revenue store, expect rent of $2,400–$4,000/month. The absolute rent figure is less important than the rent-to-revenue ratio — a store paying $3,500/month rent on $20,000 in gross revenue (17.5%) has a manageable rent burden; the same $3,500 rent on $15,000 revenue (23.3%) is strained.

Utilities: Water, Gas, and Electricity

Utilities typically represent 18–28% of gross revenue for attended Illinois laundromats — often the second largest expense category. On a $20,000/month store, expect $3,600–$5,600 in monthly utilities. Water and sewer, electricity, and gas (for gas-fired dryers) are the three primary utility costs. Energy-efficient equipment meaningfully reduces this expense — high-efficiency front-loaders use 40–50% less water per cycle than older top-loaders. Our detailed guide on laundromat operating costs in Illinois breaks down utility benchmarks by equipment type.

Labor: The Attended vs. Unattended Decision

Labor costs vary dramatically based on operating model. Fully unattended stores may pay zero or minimal labor costs — the owner handles cleaning and maintenance themselves or with occasional contracted help. Attended stores with attendants during operating hours typically spend 8–15% of gross revenue on labor ($1,600–$3,000/month on a $20,000 store). Wash-dry-fold services add labor costs but also generate premium revenue. Many owners run a hybrid model — attendant coverage during peak hours, unattended during off-peak times.

Supplies, Repairs, and Maintenance

Cleaning supplies, machine repair parts, and routine maintenance typically cost 4–7% of gross revenue monthly ($800–$1,400 on a $20,000 store). Newer equipment has lower repair costs; older equipment can surge into 10%+ of revenue in a bad maintenance year. Budget for unexpected repairs — even well-maintained commercial washers need service, and a down machine loses revenue every hour it sits idle.

Insurance, Administrative, and Miscellaneous

Business insurance (liability, property, business interruption) runs approximately 1.5–3% of gross revenue for Illinois laundromats. Administrative costs (accounting, bank fees, credit card processing for card-based stores), advertising, and miscellaneous expenses add another 2–4%. Together, these typically total $700–$1,400/month on a $20,000 store.

Net Monthly Income: What Owners Actually Take Home

After all operating expenses, what does net monthly income look like? The honest answer depends on business quality, but here are realistic ranges across market types.

Chicago Urban Laundromat — Sample P&L

A Chicago urban laundromat grossing $35,000/month with efficient operations might look like this:

• Gross Revenue: $35,000
• Rent: $5,250 (15%)
• Utilities: $8,050 (23%)
• Labor: $3,500 (10%)
• Supplies/Maintenance: $1,750 (5%)
• Insurance/Admin: $1,400 (4%)
• Net Operating Income: ~$15,050/month (~$180,600/year)

This is an excellent performer. At a 10% cap rate, this business would be valued at approximately $1.8 million — a premium price for a premium asset.

Suburban Chicago Laundromat — Sample P&L

A suburban store grossing $18,000/month:

• Gross Revenue: $18,000
• Rent: $2,700 (15%)
• Utilities: $3,960 (22%)
• Labor: $1,800 (10%)
• Supplies/Maintenance: $900 (5%)
• Insurance/Admin: $720 (4%)
• Net Operating Income: ~$7,920/month (~$95,040/year)

At an 11% cap rate, this business would be valued at approximately $864,000. More realistic market pricing at 12% cap would put it around $792,000. These numbers should be compared against the ROI calculator framework to evaluate investment merit.

Mid-Size City Laundromat — Sample P&L

A Peoria or Rockford store grossing $12,000/month:

• Gross Revenue: $12,000
• Rent: $1,680 (14%)
• Utilities: $2,760 (23%)
• Labor: $1,080 (9%)
• Supplies/Maintenance: $600 (5%)
• Insurance/Admin: $480 (4%)
• Net Operating Income: ~$5,400/month (~$64,800/year)

At a 12–13% cap rate appropriate for this market, this business would be valued at $498,000–$540,000. At a purchase price of $350,000 (possible for an older or below-average performing store), the cap rate jumps to 18.5% — very attractive for the right buyer.

Factors That Separate High-Earners From Average Performers

When you look at two laundromats of similar size in similar neighborhoods and one grosses $35,000/month while the other grosses $22,000, the difference almost always comes down to a handful of identifiable factors.

Equipment Quality and Machine Mix

High-earning laundromats have intentional machine mixes: multiple large-capacity front-loaders (60–80 lb. machines) that command premium prices per cycle, modern dryers with fast cycle times, and well-maintained equipment that stays in service. A store with 20 working machines averaging $800/machine/month grosses $16,000. The same footprint with 20 machines averaging $1,200/machine/month grosses $24,000 — a 50% revenue difference from equipment quality and pricing alone. Our laundromat equipment upgrade guide details how machine mix impacts revenue.

Payment System: Card vs. Coin

Card-based laundromats consistently outperform coin-only stores on revenue per turn. Customers using card systems spend more per visit, are more likely to use larger machines, and the owner has the ability to implement dynamic pricing (surge pricing during peak hours). Studies by LaundryLux show card-based conversions typically increase revenue 15–30% from pre-conversion levels.

Operating Hours and Accessibility

24-hour laundromats generate significantly more revenue than stores closed overnight. Extended hours require security infrastructure and possibly higher insurance, but the incremental revenue from late-night and early-morning traffic (particularly in urban markets where customers work non-traditional hours) often makes the investment worthwhile. Similarly, stores with accessible parking, proximity to transit, and high foot-traffic visibility outperform comparable locations without these characteristics.

Wash-Dry-Fold and Drop-Off Services

Adding wash-dry-fold (WDF) service is one of the highest-ROI revenue enhancements available to laundromat operators. WDF typically generates $1.50–$2.50 per pound, compared to $0.40–$0.80 per pound equivalent from self-service machines. Well-run WDF operations can represent 20–35% of a store's total revenue with relatively modest labor cost increases. High-earning laundromats almost universally offer WDF; average performers often don't.

Marketing and Local Reputation

The gap between a well-marketed laundromat and one with no marketing strategy is surprisingly large. Google Business Profile optimization, consistent positive reviews, local social media presence, and loyalty programs all drive incremental visits. A laundromat with 200 five-star Google reviews in its neighborhood is a different business than an identical store with 12 reviews averaging 3.5 stars — even if the equipment is identical.

Frequently Asked Questions: Laundromat Monthly Income

What is the average monthly profit of a laundromat?

Average monthly profit (net operating income before debt service) for Illinois laundromats ranges from $2,500–$5,000/month for small-market stores to $8,000–$15,000+ for suburban Chicago laundromats and $12,000–$20,000+ for high-performing urban Chicago stores. The national average profit margin is approximately 20–35% of gross revenue.

How much gross revenue does an average laundromat make?

The national average is approximately $15,000–$20,000/month in gross revenue. Illinois averages vary dramatically by market — from $5,000–$8,000/month in small markets to $25,000–$40,000/month in urban Chicago neighborhoods. Suburban Cook County laundromats typically fall in the $12,000–$22,000 range.

Can a laundromat make $10,000 a month in profit?

Yes — suburban Chicago and mid-size city laundromats grossing $20,000–$35,000/month with efficient operations commonly generate $6,000–$12,000 in monthly NOI. Chicago urban stores doing $30,000–$50,000 in gross revenue often generate $10,000–$18,000/month in net operating income.

How much does a laundromat owner make per year?

Owner income from a single Illinois laundromat typically ranges from $30,000–$80,000 per year for smaller to average performers, and $100,000–$200,000+ annually for high-performing urban or multi-location operators. These figures represent discretionary earnings (including owner salary equivalent and business income).

What percentage of laundromat revenue is profit?

Illinois laundromat profit margins range from 20% to 35% of gross revenue for well-operated stores. Poorly managed stores or those with high rent or utility burdens may achieve only 15% margins. Premium urban stores with WDF and card systems sometimes reach 35–40% NOI margins.

What are the biggest expenses for a laundromat?

The three largest expense categories are typically: (1) rent (12–20% of revenue), (2) utilities — water, electricity, gas (18–28% of revenue), and (3) labor for attended stores (8–15% of revenue). Together these three categories typically consume 40–55% of gross revenue, leaving the remainder for smaller expenses and owner profit.

Is a laundromat profitable in a small Illinois town?

Small-town Illinois laundromats can be profitable, but their lower revenue ceilings mean they're valued at lower purchase prices. Many small-market laundromats offer attractive cap rates (12–18%) because buyers outside those markets don't evaluate them. The key is ensuring the local population is sufficient to sustain the business and that there's no planned competition.

Conclusion: Know the Numbers Before You Buy

How much a laundromat makes per month is one of the most important questions in any acquisition analysis — but it's only useful if you're working with verified, normalized figures rather than seller projections. The ranges in this guide reflect real Illinois market data across multiple transaction types, but every individual business has its own financial story.

The best laundromat investments are built on three pillars: gross revenue that can be independently verified, a realistic expense model built from actual utility and rent documents, and a purchase price that reflects the true net operating income. When all three align, laundromat investments offer some of the best risk-adjusted returns available to small business buyers in Illinois.

If you're evaluating an Illinois laundromat and want professional analysis of its monthly income potential, contact Illinois Laundry Broker today. We'll help you cut through the projections to the real numbers that determine whether a specific business is worth pursuing.

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