Newark

Reading this brought back memories because I was in a very similar spot two years ago, running a self-service laundry with decent foot traffic but zero room to breathe financially, and what surprised me was how different lenders look at this niche compared to restaurants or retail, since steady cycles and repeat customers actually matter more than fancy branding. I spent weeks asking other owners, checking forums late at night, and learning that laundromat loans are often structured around equipment value and daily revenue, which made more sense once I saw it in action. What helped me personally was focusing less on the fear of debt and more on whether the upgrade would actually pay for itself over time, like newer washers using less water and breaking down less often. I kept notes on every expense, talked to suppliers about maintenance costs, and compared timelines instead of just rates. At some point someone shared a page about financing options for laundromat businesses that I bookmarked and kept coming back to because it explained things in plain language without pretending everything was easy. I’m not saying it’s magic or risk-free, but having something concrete to compare against stopped me from making impulsive decisions. My main advice is to be honest about your numbers, assume repairs will always cost more than planned, and don’t rush just because a machine died yesterday.