How to Calculate Laundromat Profits

Laundromats offer clear benefits for a small business owner. Such businesses are automated, and customers provide the majority of labor, loading and unloading the laundry machines for free. This reduces the need for employees, saving you from paying on costly salaries and benefits. Laundromats are also cash-based businesses, so you don't need to worry about billing or collecting unpaid debts. Businesses, however, rely on profits, and knowing how to calculate them is an important step toward business success.


Total the fixed expenses associated with your laundromat. This could include, but is not limited to, rent, business loans, insurance, supplies, cleaning, maintenance, cable TV, trash service and any paid employees. For example, if your costs were $2,000 for rent, $1,000 in business loans, $500 for maintenance and cleaning and $1,000 for other services, your expenses total $4,500.


Add any variable expenses to the total fixed expenses. These are expenses, such as electricity, water, sewer and gas, that vary based on the amount used. If you don't know these costs, you can estimate them by multiplying the laundromat's gross income by 16 to 25 percent. For example, if your gross income is $10,000 and variable expenses are 20 percent of gross income, multiply $10,000 times 0.20 to calculate variable expenses of $2,000. Continuing the previous example, add $4,500 plus $2,000 to calculate a total operating cost of $6,500.


Add the total income produced from the laundromat to calculate gross income. For example, if your collect $8,000 per month from washing machines and vending machines, plus $2,000 per month from an attendee's ironing and folding service, your gross income is $10,000.


Subtract the total cost from the gross income to calculate profit. Following the example through to conclusion, $10,000 minus $6,500 calculates a monthly profit of $3,500.