{
  "slug": "laundromat-machine-payback",
  "title": "Laundromat Machine Payback Calculator",
  "heading": "Laundromat Machine Payback Period Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laundromat-machine-payback",
  "summary": "Find how long it takes a washer or dryer to pay back its purchase and install cost.",
  "description": "Buying commercial laundry equipment is a capital decision that should be judged the same way as any other equipment purchase: net cash generated per period against the upfront cost. This calculator takes a machine's purchase and installation price, its average revenue per turn, daily turns, and per-turn operating cost (water, gas or electric, detergent if house-supplied, and a maintenance reserve), and computes net daily profit, then divides the machine cost by that to get a payback period in months. Most commercial laundromat equipment is underwritten to pay back within 24-36 months; anything beyond 48 months usually isn't worth the capital given typical 10-12 year machine life and financing costs.",
  "formula": "Net profit per turn = price per turn − cost per turn. Daily profit = turns/day × net profit per turn. Payback months = machine cost ÷ (daily profit × 30.4).",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=laundromat-machine-payback",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "machineCost",
      "label": "Machine cost + installation",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 9500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 500,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "pricePerTurn",
      "label": "Average price per turn",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 4.5,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "costPerTurn",
      "label": "Utility + maintenance cost per turn",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1.1,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "turnsPerDay",
      "label": "Turns per day",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 4.2,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "paybackMonths",
      "label": "Payback period",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "monthlyProfit",
      "label": "Monthly profit from this machine",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "annualProfit",
      "label": "Annual profit from this machine",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "netPerTurn",
      "label": "Net profit per turn",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Machine cost + installation: 9500 $",
      "Average price per turn: 4.5 $",
      "Utility + maintenance cost per turn: 1.1 $",
      "Turns per day: 4.2"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Payback period: 21.9",
      "Monthly profit from this machine: $434",
      "Annual profit from this machine: $5,212",
      "Net profit per turn: $3.40"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter machine cost + installation ($).",
      "Enter average price per turn ($).",
      "Enter utility + maintenance cost per turn ($).",
      "Enter turns per day.",
      "Read your payback period on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "machineCost": 5700,
        "pricePerTurn": 2.6999999999999997,
        "costPerTurn": 0.66,
        "turnsPerDay": 2.52
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "machineCost": 9500,
        "pricePerTurn": 4.5,
        "costPerTurn": 1.1,
        "turnsPerDay": 4.2
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "machineCost": 15200,
        "pricePerTurn": 7.2,
        "costPerTurn": 1.7600000000000002,
        "turnsPerDay": 6.720000000000001
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What's a normal payback period for a new washer?",
      "a": "20-36 months for a standard top-load or front-load washer at typical urban utilization. Large-capacity machines (60-80 lb) often pay back faster in dollar terms because they carry higher prices per turn, even though the machine itself costs more upfront."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does this include financing cost?",
      "a": "No, this is a cash payback calculation on the sticker price. If you finance equipment, add the monthly loan payment to the cost side of the ledger or compare payback period against your loan term to make sure cash flow stays positive throughout."
    },
    {
      "q": "How much should I budget for maintenance per turn?",
      "a": "Plan on $0.15-$0.40 per turn set aside for a maintenance reserve on top of actual utility cost, more for older or coin-mechanism machines. Card-based payment systems reduce coin-related mechanical failures but add a per-transaction processing fee that should also go into cost per turn."
    },
    {
      "q": "Should I buy new or refurbished machines?",
      "a": "Refurbished commercial machines cost 40-60% of new and can cut payback time in half if reliability holds, but they typically carry a shorter remaining service life and a shorter warranty. Run this calculator with both price points and compare payback against expected years of remaining service, not just months."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laundromat-turns-per-day",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laundromat-utility-cost-per-load",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laundromat-revenue-projection"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Laundromat Machine Payback Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/laundromat-machine-payback)"
}