LaundroLab, the “Ritz Carlton of Laundromats,” Aims to Become National Leader in Laundromat Industry

Emerging laundromat franchise LaundroLab is breaking open a new category in franchising by offering an elevated, luxury laundry experience unmatched by any competitors in the segment. That innovation has quickly drawn the interest of entrepreneurs and franchise investors —  in its first year of franchising, the brand has already awarded 29 licenses.

And that’s just the start. LaundroLab plans to sign 20 more units before the end of the year as it embarks on an ambitious plan to reach millions of customers nationwide. Thanks to the brand’s cutting-edge offering and rapidly increasing demand, LaundroLab is well positioned to achieve its goal.

Dan D’Aquisto and Alex Smereczniak, the co-founders behind LaundroLab, established the concept in order to provide a service that can break open a whole new industry. Laundromats have been regarded over time as a place that people generally want to avoid, but D’Aquisto and Smereczniak’s model has helped make laundry runs a more enjoyable chore on a customer’s to-do list.

“We're offering a laundromat experience that is unlike any of our competitors. We want LaundroLab to be an extension of our customers’ homes or a place where they feel at home,” D’Aquisto said.

Boasting high-end amenities like free WiFi, lounge access and arcade games, LaundroLab will become a go-to resource in sprawling urban markets like Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, Denver and more for customers in search of a better laundry experience, effectively disrupting the stagnant laundromat segment.

As sprawl continues to change the residential landscape in cities across the country, Smereczniak says the need for these high quality laundromats is increasing rapidly. “The wealth gap is real,” Smereczniak said, “and as people push farther away from urban centers, the need for laundry services is only growing. Laundromats are an essential business and were always needed before, but consumer needs have pushed this industry to a new level. In a growing market, there’s no true dominant player. We believe LaundroLab is well positioned to meet that demand.”

LaundroLab has already proven its model with high revenue projections and favorable customer response at existing units. The brand has attained and continues to seek franchisees that are eager to disrupt an industry and achieve a significant return on their investment.

How Laundrolab Invented a New Franchise Concept

In 2016, D’Aquisto and Smereczniak launched 2ULaundry, a laundry and dry cleaning pickup service. COVID-19 brought an unforeseen advantage to the delivery laundry business. People realized that working and living from home meant less time for chores but the laundry kept piling up. For many, being able to send their laundry out and have it cleaned and returned by the next day made life easier. As a means to continue their business development post-pandemic, the 2ULaundry founders pursued brick-and-mortar investment models that could help them scale.

Enter LaundroLab. “It’s been surreal to see how quickly our franchising model has taken off, but it’s been an exciting few months of opportunities that seems to only be growing further,” D’Aquisto said. “We made our store a gathering place, and our forward thinking fits the current market like 2ULaundry did during the pandemic.”

He continued, “We’ve found a way to tap into consumer enjoyment in this industry unlike anything that has been done before, and we’ve given investors a reason to take notice.”

“We feel like we’re ahead of the curve with the services we provide, and as the demand continues to increase, we believe our brand recognition will grow with it,“ Smereczniak added. “There are over 30,000 laundromats nationwide with the majority of them being run down, old machines, no technology, and just an overall bad customer experience. There is a real opportunity to bring life back into this industry.”

LaundroLab’s Semi-Absentee Franchise Business Model

LaundroLab follows a semi-absentee franchise model, meaning that franchisees can expect to work as little as five to ten on-site hours a week and can manage their business with the flexibility to work remotely. Each franchise requires as little as one to two full-time and four to five part-time employees per location, which alleviates overhead and provides a unique investment opportunity where staffing provisions come with minimal risk.

LaundroLab equipment is able to accept cards and mobile phone payments in addition to traditional cash and coin transactions. This allows franchisees to operate a business without needing to be there full-time, and allows them the ability to focus on growth.

Lucrative Growth Opportunities for Franchisees

LaundroLab is targeting multiple markets for expansion. The brand has two corporate stores opening in Charlotte, North Carolina and another set to open in early November, while one of the brand’s first franchisees will open the market’s third, fourth, and fifth locations in the near future.

Gary Shah is the investor behind the three-unit Charlotte expansion, and he says he’s excited to grow alongside the corporate team. “I’ve noticed in a hurry that this team is equipped to think on their toes, and an investment in this company is one that comes with a lot of lasting relationships,” he said. “I know they are here to push the boundaries of the industry and help out their franchisees with anything thrown their way.”

In addition to expanding in markets where franchisees have signed on, LaundroLab has identified Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Nashville as target markets for its immediate future expansion. The brand is designed for development in strip centers or urban centers, but its versatility is proving the brand can succeed in a variety of markets and real estate locations.

The liquidity requirements for a new LaundroLab franchise ranges from $321,000-$483,000. A new LaundroLab store can range anywhere from $1M - $1.7M, which includes equipment, buildout, franchise fee, working capital and more. For more information on franchising, visit https://www.laundrolabfranchise.com/become-an-owner/.