A laundromat franchise costs $217,000 to $1,983,000 across four 2026 FDDs, and the three laundromat-only filings leave water, sewer and gas tap fees out of Item 7: your utility sets those per washer or per meter.
Key takeaways
- The Speed Queen, WaveMAX and LaundroLab disclosure documents each say in an Item 7 note that tap fees, impact fees and water or gas meter fees are not in their estimates (Speed Queen FDD, Item 7 Note 2).
- Grand Junction, Colorado, charges a laundromat 0.90 equivalent residential units per washing machine at $6,544 per unit in 2026, so 30 washers cost $176,688 in sewer connection fees (City of Grand Junction).
- The Item 7 totals run $1,199,663 to $1,983,000 for a traditional Speed Queen store, $359,105 to $1,600,850 for WaveMAX and $1,039,730 to $1,767,230 for a new LaundroLab (LaundroLab FDD, Table A-1).
- Equipment plus build-out is 57.6% to 85.9% of every printed Item 7 total in the four filings; franchise fees are only $49,500 to $55,000 (Lapels FDD, Item 5).
- Speed Queen is the only one of the four whose Item 10 offers financing: 10% to 30% down, up to $2,000,000, at WSJ Prime plus 1.50% to 4.50% (Speed Queen FDD, Item 10).
Which laundromat franchise costs sit outside Item 7?
Water, sewer and gas connection charges. The Speed Queen, WaveMAX and LaundroLab FDDs each state in an Item 7 note that their estimates exclude local tap fees, impact fees and meter fees, and Speed Queen and Lapels also leave out real estate. A water utility, a sewer agency and a gas company price those items for one address, so no franchisor can print them for your site in advance.
Item 7 is the estimated initial investment table that the FTC Franchise Rule at 16 CFR 436.5(g) requires in every disclosure document. The rule asks for the costs of opening; it does not require the franchisor to guess a city’s connection charges. The four laundry filings handle the gap in their notes:
| Filing | Item 7 note | What the estimate leaves out | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Queen, issued April 22, 2026 | Note 2 and Note 10 | Real estate; local costs for electrical, water and gas upgrades, tap fees, meter fees | Speed Queen FDD |
| WaveMAX, issued April 6, 2026 | Note 5 | Fees for water and gas meters, tap fees, impact fees; a separate gas meter for the laundry equipment if the building is heated with gas | WaveMAX FDD |
| LaundroLab, issued April 29, 2026, amended August 24, 2026 | Note 5 (Tables A-1 to A-3) | Water and gas meter fees, tap fees, impact fees, utility upgrades, other local permitting and development costs | LaundroLab FDD |
| Lapels Laundromat, issued April 2, 2026 | Note 3 and Note 6 | Permits (outside the architect fee); electrical, plumbing and HVAC work (outside equipment installation) | Lapels FDD |
Item 1 of the Speed Queen and WaveMAX filings adds the regulatory side: some states require a laundromat to hold a wastewater discharge permit, which can mean a filtration system that treats the wastewater, and some zoning codes cap hours, the number of washers and dryers, and parking. LaundroLab’s Item 1 names federal hazardous waste rules and wastewater treatment requirements. None of these carries a dollar figure in the four filings.
Sewer connection fees charged per washer: three schedules compared
Many sewer agencies count a laundromat by its washing machines rather than its floor area. Grand Junction, Colorado, multiplies 0.90 equivalent residential units (EQU) by each washer at $6,544 per unit for 2026. The Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency’s 2024 fee study set 1.00 unit per washer at a calculated $8,961. Fort Worth, Texas, prices water and wastewater by meter size instead.
| Agency (schedule) | How a laundromat is counted | Rate | 15 washers | 30 washers | 45 washers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Grand Junction, CO (effective January 1, 2026) | 0.90 EQU per washing machine | $6,544 per EQU | $88,344 | $176,688 | $265,032 | Sewer Connection Fee page |
| Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency, CA (study accepted May 15, 2024) | 1.00 EDU per washing machine | $8,961 calculated (existing $5,000) | $134,415 | $268,830 | $403,245 | HDR fee study, Table ES-2 |
| City of Fort Worth, TX (effective October 1, 2026) | By water meter size, not by washer | 1-1/2 inch: $29,140; 2 inch: $46,624 (water plus wastewater) | Depends on meter | Depends on meter | Depends on meter | Current Impact Fees |
A 30-washer store owes $176,688 under Grand Junction’s 2026 formula and $268,830 at the Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency’s calculated 2024 rate. Washer counts are illustrative.
The washer counts in the table are illustrations; none of the four FDDs fixes a machine count, and Grand Junction’s own worked example uses 15 machines. The comparison that matters is with other tenants. In Grand Junction a 2,000 square foot retail store counts as 1 EQU, or $6,544, while a 30-washer laundromat counts as 27 EQU. In the Tahoe-Truckee study a restaurant counts 0.10 unit per inside seat, so 30 washers equal the sewer load of 300 seats.
The per-washer factor also follows you after opening. Grand Junction bills its monthly sewer service charge at $30.89 per EQU, so the same 27 EQU store carries $834.03 a month before any usage-based water bill. Fort Worth’s schedule uses an equivalency factor of 5 for a 1-1/2 inch meter and 8 for a 2 inch meter, against 2.5 for a 1 inch meter (Ordinance 27745-06-2025).
If a strip-center bay arrives with a 1 inch meter and the laundry plan needs 2 inches, the Fort Worth charges for building permits issued on or after October 1, 2026 rise from $14,570 to $46,624 for water plus wastewater. The city’s fee estimator asks for the existing meter size, so ask the utility in writing how the existing meter is credited before the lease is signed.
How much gas and exhaust air does a dryer bank need?
Enough to plan the gas service around it. Speed Queen’s own spec sheet rates an STT30 stack dryer at 73,000 x 2 Btu/hr with 2 x 400 cfm of airflow, so 10 stacks draw 1,460,000 Btu/hr at full fire and move 8,000 cfm of air outdoors. WaveMAX’s Item 7 also calls for a separate gas meter that measures the washer and dryer equipment when the building heats with gas.
| Dryer model (Speed Queen) | Capacity | Heat input | Gas connection | Air outlet | Airflow | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STT30 stack | 30 lb x 2 | 73,000 x 2 Btu/hr | 0.5 in npt | 1 x 8 in oval | 2 x 400 cfm | Spec sheet AC22-0012 |
| STT45 stack | 45 lb x 2 | 95,000 x 2 Btu/hr | 0.5 in npt | 1 x 10 in oval | 2 x 600 cfm | Same |
| ST030 single | 30 lb | 73,000 Btu/hr | 0.5 in npt | 6 in | 500 cfm | Same |
| ST055 single | 55 lb | 112,000 Btu/hr | 0.5 in npt | 8 in | 700 cfm | Same |
| ST075 single | 75 lb | 165,000 Btu/hr | 0.5 in npt | 8 in | 800 cfm | Same |
The washer side drives the water meter and the floor. The Speed Queen SCT030 hardmount washer-extractor sheet lists two 0.75 inch water inlets, a 3 inch drain set 4.3 inches above the floor, a 200 G-force top spin and a net weight of 440 lb. Hardmount machines are fixed to a base: Speed Queen’s Item 7 Note 7 names bulkheads and troughs among its designated fixtures and furniture (fixtures $45,000 to $58,000), and LaundroLab puts washer bulkheads inside its leasehold line.
LaundroLab’s Item 7 Note 7 ties its equipment range to the same spec choice: the $375,000 low assumes 200G extract washers and the $710,000 high assumes 450G touch-screen washers. WaveMAX’s equipment line includes tankless water heaters, carts, changers and folding tables bought from the distributor, which puts water heating inside the $157,000 to $850,000 range rather than in tenant improvements.
Laundromat franchise costs line by line in four 2026 filings
Equipment and build-out decide the total. In the four 2026 filings, the laundry equipment line and the leasehold or tenant improvement line together make up 57.6% to 85.9% of each printed Item 7 total, while franchise fees run $49,500 to $55,000. A traditional Speed Queen store prints the highest range, $1,199,663 to $1,983,000.
| Item 7 line | Speed Queen (traditional) | WaveMAX (standard) | LaundroLab (A-1 new build) | Lapels (Laundromat) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise fee (Item 5) | $49,500 | $54,950 | $49,500 plus $18,000 opening services fee | $55,000 |
| Laundry equipment | $530,000 to $938,500 | $157,000 to $850,000 | $375,000 to $710,000 (with install) | $473,405 to $777,088 package, plus $24,350 to $40,500 install and $18,000 to $29,400 freight |
| Leasehold or tenant improvements | $375,000 to $687,500 | $50,000 to $525,000 | $415,000 to $670,000 | $250,000 to $550,000 |
| Design, permits, professional | $34,500 to $38,500 design and permit | $750 to $1,500 license and permits; $3,000 to $5,000 legal | $1,000 to $2,000 licenses and professional; $2,000 to $10,000 legal | $16,650 to $19,500 architecture; $5,000 to $48,000 services, licenses, permits |
| Opening marketing | Not a separate line | $20,000 | $25,000 to $30,000 | $15,000 |
| Additional funds | $20,000 to $40,000 (3 months) | $35,000 to $65,000 (3 months) | $75,000 to $145,000 (6 months) | $20,000 to $30,000 (3 months) |
| Total | $1,199,663 to $1,983,000 | $359,105 to $1,600,850 | $1,039,730 to $1,767,230 | $907,905 to $1,711,738 |
| Equipment plus build-out share (low, high) | 75.4%, 82.0% | 57.6%, 85.9% | 76.0%, 78.1% | 84.3%, 81.6% |
| Store size in the notes | 3,000 to 5,500 sq ft | 2,000 to 3,500 sq ft | 3,000 to 5,000 sq ft | 2,500 to 3,500 sq ft |
Sources: Speed Queen FDD issued April 22, 2026, Items 5 and 7; WaveMAX FDD issued April 6, 2026, Items 5 and 7; LaundroLab FDD issued April 29, 2026, amended August 24, 2026, Item 7 Table A-1; Lapels FDD issued April 2, 2026, Item 7 Laundromat table. Shares are FCB arithmetic; the Lapels equipment figure adds package, installation and freight.
Equipment and build-out make up $1,626,000 of Speed Queen’s $1,983,000 high estimate. Lapels equipment adds package, installation and freight. Item 7 of four 2026 FDDs.
Two lows need a caveat. WaveMAX’s $157,000 equipment low assumes you finance the machines through Laundrylux, so it is not a cash price (Item 7 Note 4). The Lapels leasehold low assumes the landlord delivers the space ready or pays most of the build-out; its Note 2A cites recent builds at $100 to $125 per square foot, or $250,000 to $437,500 on 2,500 to 3,500 square feet.
Speed Queen also files a Small Footprint store of 1,500 to 2,500 square feet at $797,507 to $1,319,851, with a $25,000 fee and equipment of $413,558 to $721,050. A listicle that ranks for this keyword, dated January 2025, still shows a $49,950 WaveMAX franchise fee; the April 6, 2026 filing prints $54,950 in Item 5. For the same Item 7 view across more sectors, see our franchise initial investment data.
Who earns money on the washers you buy?
The franchisor’s corporate family or its designated distributor, in two of the four filings. Speed Queen’s Item 8 requires every machine to be Speed Queen branded and reports that its ultimate parent received $2,199,276 from equipment sales to franchisees in fiscal 2025. WaveMAX’s Item 8 says Laundrylux pays WaveMAX a $39,000 project fee on each equipment package.
| Filing | Equipment rule | Money flowing to the franchisor side | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Queen | All laundry equipment must be branded SPEED QUEEN; Technology Package bought from the franchisor or its parent ($43,568 to $45,000) | $2,199,276 to the ultimate parent from equipment sales to franchisees in fiscal 2025; required purchases are 50% to 60% of start-up purchases | Item 8 |
| WaveMAX | Equipment from the designated vendor or to specification; UV sanitization system from the preferred vendor ($20,000 to $29,000) | $39,000 project fee per equipment package from Laundrylux; $366,600 from required purchases, 12.24% of $2,994,879 total franchisor revenue in fiscal 2025 | Item 8 |
| LaundroLab | Approved manufacturers under negotiated volume pricing (Item 7 Note 7) | $18,000 opening services fee collected for designated build-out vendors | Items 5 and 7 |
| Lapels | Start Up Supplies and Equipment Package bought from the franchisor | Package of $473,405 to $777,088 paid to Lapels; refundable less a 20% fee until purchase orders go out, about 1 week after payment | Item 5 |
WaveMAX’s Item 7 Note 3 shows one benefit running the other way: Laundrylux currently rebates $15,000 of the equipment package to the franchisee, which can be applied to the required $20,000 grand opening marketing spend. Our franchise supplier rebate research compares how often Item 8 discloses this kind of payment across sectors.
Which laundromat franchisors finance equipment, and on what terms?
Of the four, only Speed Queen. Its Item 10 describes loans from parent Alliance Laundry Systems LLC for laundry equipment and tenant improvements: 10% to 30% down, 70% to 90% financed up to $2,000,000, terms of 5 to 10 years, at WSJ Prime plus 1.50% to 4.50%. WaveMAX and Lapels say in Item 10 that they offer no financing, and LaundroLab says so in Item 7.
| Input or result | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Example loan in Item 10 | $1,000,000 | Item 10, note 6 |
| Rate used for the example | WSJ Prime effective 4/2/2024 plus 1.50% | Item 10, note 6 |
| Structure | 90 days deferred, 10 months interest only, 108 months principal and interest | Item 10, note 6 |
| Printed payments | $8,472.80 interest only; $14,314.31 principal and interest | Item 10 table |
| 12 months at the printed principal and interest payment | $171,771.72 | FCB arithmetic: $14,314.31 x 12 |
| Financing fee at 50 to 100 basis points on $1,000,000 | $5,000 to $10,000 | FCB arithmetic on the Item 10 fee range |
| 10% to 30% of the $1,983,000 Item 7 high | $198,300 to $594,900 | FCB arithmetic; note 3 defines project cost as equipment, furniture, tenant improvements and franchise fee, so the lender’s base can be lower |
The terms carry conditions a borrower signs away. Note 2 requires you and your spouse to sign a personal guaranty, the rate floats with the Wall Street Journal prime rate, and note 11 says you are required, subject to state law, to waive defenses. The down payment percentage depends on Alliance’s internal scoring, which Item 10 says weighs credit score, net worth, verified cash, laundry ownership experience and the number of laundry competitors near the site.
For the other three systems, financing comes from outside lenders. WaveMAX’s Note 4 names Laundrylux as the third party behind its low equipment estimate, and Lapels requires a 20% liquid cash injection and 50% outside collateral on the total project start-up costs before you buy additional stores. Our franchise loan interest rate research shows how SBA-guaranteed rates compare with prime-plus spreads like these.
Royalties, tech fees and marketing minimums after opening
Percentage fees on a laundromat franchise run from 6% of sales at Speed Queen (a 4% royalty, 1% marketing fund and 1% technology fee) to 8% at LaundroLab and Lapels, with LaundroLab’s royalty sliding from 6.5% to 5% as one owner opens more units. Fixed monthly minimums sit on top, and LaundroLab waives royalties for up to 6 months after opening.
| Item 6 fee | Speed Queen | WaveMAX | LaundroLab | Lapels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 4% of Gross Sales | 6% of Gross Revenue | Greater of $500 a month or 6.5% (1 unit), 6% (2), 5.5% (3 to 4), 5% (5 or more) | 6% of Gross Revenue, paid weekly |
| Brand or marketing fund | 1% | Up to 1%, not currently implemented | 1.5% | 2% Brand Development Fee |
| Technology or POS | 1% of Gross Sales | Wash Dry Fold POS $4,199 plus $85 a month in year 1, or Cents $2,805 plus $215 to $395 a month | Technology Investment Contribution, currently $350 a month (cap $4,000) | Up to $1,000 a month; laundromat POS currently $400 a month |
| Local marketing minimum | Cooperative of at least 1% if one is formed; total ad spend capped at 4% | $500 a month from month 7 | $1,500 a month from month 4 | 1% of Gross Revenue a year |
| Renewal | $10,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 | 25% of the then-current initial fee |
| Transfer | $5,000 | $5,000 plus a 10% broker commission, $20,000 minimum | $15,000 plus any broker commissions | 80% of the then-current franchise fee |
Sources: Item 6 of the Speed Queen, WaveMAX, LaundroLab and Lapels filings listed above. LaundroLab’s waiver ends 6 months after opening or 20 months after signing, whichever comes first. To set these percentages against the full 259-brand sample, use our franchise royalty rate data.
Can you convert an existing laundromat instead of building one?
LaundroLab prints that route in Item 7. Its Table A-2, which keeps the existing equipment, totals $217,000 to $1,728,730 with a $0 equipment line and $80,000 to $400,000 of renovation. Table A-3, with new equipment, totals $599,500 to $1,800,730. The purchase price of the store is its own line: $0 to $950,000 in A-2 and $0 to $400,000 in A-3.
| LaundroLab Item 7 line | A-1 new build | A-2 acquire, keep equipment | A-3 acquire, new equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leasehold improvements | $415,000 to $670,000 | $80,000 to $400,000 | $80,000 to $400,000 |
| Laundry equipment plus install | $375,000 to $710,000 | $0 | $375,000 to $710,000 |
| Acquisition of existing laundromat | Not applicable | $0 to $950,000 | $0 to $400,000 |
| Additional funds | $75,000 to $145,000 (6 months) | $10,000 to $48,500 | $10,000 to $48,500 |
| Total | $1,039,730 to $1,767,230 | $217,000 to $1,728,730 | $599,500 to $1,800,730 |
Source: LaundroLab FDD, Item 7 Tables A-1, A-2 and A-3. The $0 low on the acquisition line covers an owner who re-flags a store they already hold (Note 16). Note 5 in A-2 and A-3 repeats the exclusion of tap, impact and meter fees, so ask the sewer agency whether the washers already connected carry credit and what an added machine costs.
Buying an existing franchised store is a third path. WaveMAX’s Item 6 charges a $5,000 transfer fee and, on the sale of an existing franchise, a broker commission of 10% of the sales price with a $20,000 minimum. Our franchise resale research lists what other systems charge on a transfer.
Site checks that belong before the lease
The franchisors’ clocks start early, so utility answers belong before the lease signature. LaundroLab wants an approved location within 120 days of signing, Lapels requires opening no later than 240 days after signing, and Speed Queen may terminate and refund the fee if no site is approved within six months. The table turns each utility fact into a go or stop signal.
| If the site or plan shows this | Then do this | Threshold and source |
|---|---|---|
| The sewer agency counts laundromats per washer | Get a written connection-fee quote for your washer count before the letter of intent | 0.90 EQU x $6,544 per washer (Grand Junction); $8,961 per washer calculated (TTSA 2024) |
| The bay has a 1 inch water meter and the plan needs 2 inches | Price the upsized meter and ask how the existing meter is credited | $14,570 vs $46,624 water plus wastewater, Fort Worth, October 1, 2026 |
| The building is heated with gas | Budget a separate gas meter for the laundry equipment | WaveMAX Item 7 Note 5 |
| The dryer bank exceeds the existing gas service | Request a load letter from the gas utility at the full Btu/hr | 10 STT30 stacks = 1,460,000 Btu/hr (spec sheet AC22-0012) |
| The state requires a wastewater discharge permit | Add filtration to the build-out scope before bidding | Speed Queen and WaveMAX Item 1 |
| Zoning caps hours or the number of washers and dryers | Confirm the cap before the equipment layout is final | Speed Queen Item 1 |
| The landlord offers little tenant improvement money | Negotiate the allowance against the utility quotes | $0 to $35.00 per sq ft (Speed Queen Note 2); $45,000 to $102,000 allowance or free rent, not netted (LaundroLab Note 16) |
| You need equipment financing from the franchisor side | Compare Speed Queen’s Item 10 terms with an SBA lender quote | 10% to 30% down, Prime plus 1.50% to 4.50%, up to $2,000,000 |
The same checks in the order a buyer can run them:
- Count washers and dryer pockets on the equipment layout.
- Water utility: meter size and capacity or impact fee.
- Sewer agency: how a laundromat is counted (per washer or per meter).
- Gas utility: load letter for total dryer Btu/hr.
- Mechanical engineer: exhaust route and makeup air for total cfm.
- State and city: discharge permit, lint filtration, zoning limits.
- Lease: fee quotes into the TI allowance and a utility contingency.
Speed Queen and WaveMAX both put signing to opening at 6 to 18 months, LaundroLab at about 12 months, and Lapels at 30 to 180 days. Our time-to-open research shows where utility permits usually fall in that window.
What do Items 19 and 20 show, and what do they leave to you?
All four filings include an Item 19 financial performance representation, and Speed Queen’s breaks gas and water out as separate expense lines for 15 company-owned stores. This site does not reprint Item 19 figures, so read them in each FDD. Item 20 shows small systems: 27 to 83 outlets at the end of 2025.
| Filing | Franchised outlets, end of 2025 | Company-owned | Total | Net change in 2025 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Queen | 15 | 17 | 32 | +3 | Item 20, Table 1 |
| WaveMAX | 65 | 1 | 66 | +8 | Item 20, Table 1 |
| LaundroLab | 25 | 2 | 27 | +3 | Item 20, Table 1 |
| Lapels (all formats, including dry cleaning) | 83 | 0 | 83 | +2 | Item 20, Table 1 |
What an owner keeps depends on three lines you can check without Item 19 figures: the 6% to 8% of sales paid under Item 6, the utility bills that Speed Queen’s Item 19 lists by type, and any loan payment such as the $14,314.31 monthly example in Item 10. Our Item 19 research explains how to read the expense lines, and the franchise disclosure document guide covers the other 22 items. This page is general information, not legal, financial or investment advice.
For a wider view of total start-up spending by sector, our franchise costs guide sets laundry next to food and service concepts, and the buying a franchise guide lays out the 14-day FDD review window that applies to each of these four filings.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laundromat franchise cost?
The four laundry FDDs filed in 2026 print Item 7 totals from $217,000 (LaundroLab, converting a store you already hold) to $1,983,000 (a traditional Speed Queen store). A new LaundroLab runs $1,039,730 to $1,767,230 and WaveMAX $359,105 to $1,600,850. None of the totals includes local tap, impact or meter fees, which the utility sets for your site.
How much is the WaveMAX laundry franchise fee?
The WaveMAX FDD issued April 6, 2026 sets the initial franchise fee at $54,950 for one store, $24,950 for a second and $19,950 for a third when bought together, with a 5% discount for honorably discharged U.S. veterans (Item 5). Older listings that show $49,950 predate this filing. The standard Item 7 total is $359,105 to $1,600,850.
How much does a Speed Queen laundromat franchise cost?
The Speed Queen Laundry Franchise FDD issued April 22, 2026 estimates $1,199,663 to $1,983,000 for a traditional store of about 3,000 to 5,500 square feet and $797,507 to $1,319,851 for a Small Footprint store. The first franchise fee is $49,500 (traditional) or $25,000 (Small Footprint), and Speed Queen branded equipment alone runs $530,000 to $938,500 for a traditional store.
What are tap fees and impact fees for a laundromat?
They are one-time charges a water or sewer utility collects to connect a building or enlarge its service. Some agencies count washers: Grand Junction, Colorado, charges 0.90 equivalent residential units per machine at $6,544 per unit in 2026. Fort Worth, Texas, charges by meter size, $46,624 for a 2 inch meter from October 1, 2026.
Do laundromat franchisors offer financing?
Among the four 2026 filings, only Speed Queen’s Item 10 does. Its parent, Alliance Laundry Systems, lends on equipment and tenant improvements with 10% to 30% down, up to $2,000,000, over 5 to 10 years at WSJ Prime plus 1.50% to 4.50%, with a personal guaranty from you and your spouse. WaveMAX, LaundroLab and Lapels state they offer none.
Can I buy an existing laundromat and turn it into a franchise?
LaundroLab’s FDD prices that route. Keeping the existing equipment, its Table A-2 totals $217,000 to $1,728,730, including $80,000 to $400,000 of renovation and a purchase price line of $0 to $950,000. Replacing the equipment (Table A-3) totals $599,500 to $1,800,730. Ask the sewer agency whether connected washers carry credit before you price added machines.
How much do laundromat franchise owners make?
This site does not publish earnings figures. Each of the four 2026 filings includes an Item 19 representation you can read in the FDD itself. The costs that shape what an owner keeps are visible elsewhere: 6% to 8% of sales in Item 6 fees, utility lines that Speed Queen lists by type in Item 19, and loan payments under Item 10.
How we compiled this
In November 2026 we read 4 Minnesota-filed disclosure documents for laundry concepts (Speed Queen, WaveMAX, LaundroLab and the Lapels Laundromat format) in full for Items 1, 5 to 8, 10, 11 and 20, then opened 3 public fee schedules (Grand Junction, Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency, Fort Worth) and 2 Speed Queen spec sheets. Washer-count illustrations, shares and loan arithmetic are ours and labelled. We left out every Item 19 figure, and we cite no plumbing-code table because the code publisher’s site refused our request.
Sources
- Speed Queen Laundry Franchise, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 22, 2026, Minnesota Department of Commerce CARDS, document 36159-202604-10. Accessed 2026-11-02.
- WaveMAX Franchise LLC d/b/a WaveMAX Laundry Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 6, 2026, Minnesota CARDS, document 35930-202604-09. Accessed 2026-11-02.
- LaundroLab, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 29, 2026, amended August 24, 2026, Minnesota CARDS, document 37233-202609-03. Accessed 2026-11-02.
- Lapels (Next Step Franchising, LLC) Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 2, 2026, Minnesota CARDS, document 35875-202604-16. Accessed 2026-11-02.
- Sewer Connection Fee, City of Grand Junction, Colorado. Accessed 2026-11-02.
- Sewer Connection Fee Study, May 2024 (accepted May 15, 2024), Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation Agency, prepared by HDR Engineering. Accessed 2026-11-02.
- Current Impact Fees (water and wastewater), City of Fort Worth, Texas. Accessed 2026-11-02.
- Stack and Single Tumble Dryers specification sheet AC22-0012, Speed Queen, Alliance Laundry Systems. Accessed 2026-11-02.
- Hardmount Washer-Extractor SCT030 specification sheet AO21-0041, Speed Queen, Alliance Laundry Systems. Accessed 2026-11-02.
- 16 CFR 436.5, Disclosure items (FTC Franchise Rule), Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Accessed 2026-11-02.