November 4, 2025 | By PayRange Turns Founder, Sukanth Srivastav

If you’re running a laundromat today, you know the business is evolving fast! Delivery, premium services, and customer experience are no longer optional—they’re essential. As a veteran of the WDF industry, I’ve found that the CLA WDF conference is the most power-packed ‘single mission’ conference in all of laundry. It’s designed to educate owners, prospects, and new investors on the most profitable, revenue-generating business model in the laundromat industry.

A typical PUD (pickup and delivery) customer pays 10x more than a self-service customer. The best part is that these demographics are additive instead of competitive. Pickup and delivery truly grows your revenue. It doesn’t just replace one mode with the other.

Delivery and pickup services are booming—but “one size fits all” doesn’t cut it. At the workshop, experts explored multiple laundry-delivery models so owners can match their investment level, risk, and local demand.

Action Step: Review what you’re currently doing (or consider launching). Map your costs, delivery radius, staffing, and customer expectations. Then pick the model that gives you efficiency now and scalability later.

One of the most overlooked growth levers is pricing. The Workshop panel on pricing strategies dropped a reminder: if your model is efficient, pricing should reflect the value you offer—not just cost+markup. Pricing is something that should never be final and continually tested.

Action Step: Analyze your WDF service cost per order (labor, handling, delivery, packaging). Compare this to what customers are willing to pay in your area. Then adjust to both cover costs and build margin.

The learning that resonated with me the most was that the key part of building a great laundromat experience is building it for the customer first.

Not all locations are built the same or service the same population, but every laundromat could benefit from leveling up their service. In most cases, the results will shock you! It forces operators to optimize for the best customer experience and provide customers with the true option of outsourcing their laundry.

From stain-science training to folding and packaging demonstrations, the event reinforced that premium delivery customers expect premium service. Consistent, well-executed quality builds loyalty and justifies higher prices.

Action Step: Develop a quality checklist for your WDF service (eg, correct bagging, tag tracking, stain-check standard). Train your team regularly and monitor for consistency.

Delivery adds complexity: routing, vehicle costs, staffing, and tracking can all eat into your ROI if unmanaged. The workshop featured sessions on running smart fleets and scaling operations.

When a customer gives their laundry to a laundromat, the experience has to be flawless as every single customer can be worth thousands of $$. Even still, there are cases where the juice isn’t worth the squeeze. If they are too far, need over-the-top customization, are late payers, or rude to the drivers, the best case is to let go and focus more on positive return customers.

Action Step: Track your current delivery cost per stop. Evaluate whether your fleet is optimized (vehicle type, route density, time windows). Consider software or routing tools that boost efficiency.

One standout session centered on “The Road to 1,500” (orders) and how operators are standing out in saturated markets. Growth isn’t just about doing more—it’s about doing it smarter.

Action Step: Identify your differentiator (community focus, niche service, eco-friendly, speed). Create a marketing plan to expand your service footprint without diluting your quality or brand.

The value of a conference isn’t just the curriculum—it’s the connections. Leaders, suppliers, and fellow owners all brought insights, case studies, and real-world advice.

Nothing is better than unfiltered, raw experiences from peers who face the same issues, struggles, and challenges every day. Seeing how they think and have overcome obstacles is a game-changer. CLA’s WDF conference is the place to teach and be taught.

Action Step: Build your network. Attend future events, join the CLA, and follow industry forums. Set a goal for yourself. (Example: This month, talk to at least two other owners beyond your city and swap tips on what’s working.)

Engage back with your community, be the organic pillar of your community, and help out; it pays in the long run and brings human connections to your laundromat.

It might seem simple, but giving back and connecting locally can elevate your laundromat from “just a service” to a trusted community fixture. The workshop underscored how community engagement drives loyalty.

Action Step: Pick one community initiative that aligns with your brand (college student discounts, donation drives, local sponsorships). Promote it consistently and incorporate it into your marketing.

Running a successful laundromat today means more than just clean machines and happy customers. It means efficient operations, premium services, smart pricing, and thoughtful growth. The CLA WDF Workshop distills these into practical strategies that operators can take action on immediately.

If you’re going to implement just two things from the workshop this quarter, let them be:

1. Re-evaluate your delivery model + cost structure.
2. Create or refine your quality standards for WDF and delivery.

These shifts alone can start to move your business from being about “just washing clothes” to “delivering confidence, convenience, and value” in your market.

Thanks to everyone who joined us at The Wash Dry Fold Conference 2025.

See you in 2026 — until then, let’s continue leading the industry forward, together.

What to learn more? Connect with our team and we will show you how PayRange can help grow your business by increasing sales, lowering costs, and delivering greater convenience to your customers.