The Complete Australian Playbook

Build your
laundromat
right.
First time.

Everything you need to research, finance, set up and grow a profitable laundromat in Australia — written from the experience of building three of them, not from theory.

3Real Laundromats Built
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0Invented Case Studies
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Inside a modern Sydney laundromat
What You're Getting
The Complete Australian
Laundromat Playbook
  • Real build costs from a real laundromat
  • Lease traps most first-timers miss
  • Gas, power and utility connection reality
  • 100-point Site Assessment Checklist
  • Master Launch Checklist
  • References & Further Reading
$197 AUD
Instant download
Free updates for 12 months
✓ Three Real Laundromats
✓ Real Build Costs Revealed
✓ Australia-Focused with NSW Examples
✓ Instant Digital Download
✓ Free Updates for 12 Months
Charity Handley
Charity Handley
Founder, Match with Nature · Owner, Three Sydney Laundromats
Why This Exists

I built three.
I paid for every mistake.

I didn't get into laundromats because I loved laundry. As a mum of three with two dogs, I despise laundry. I got into it because I wanted a recession-proof business that could genuinely support my family and do some good in the community.

Three sites later, all in Sydney, I've built new with a builder, taken over an existing closed laundry and dry cleaner, and managed an owner-build from scratch. I've done it every way — and I've made every expensive mistake along the way.

I was quoted $50,000 for three-phase power. I paid $5,000. I nearly signed a lease with a demolition clause. I had Gyprock installed before the floor was checked and had to redo it after the machines damaged it. None of this was in any guide I could find. So I wrote one.

01
New Build with Builder
Built from scratch. Learned the certification sequence the hard way.
02
Existing Site Takeover
Took over a closed laundry & dry cleaner. Full redesign. Real due diligence.
03
Owner Builder
Managed the build ourselves. Six-month gas delay. $24k quote → $5k.
→
This Playbook
Everything distilled. The guide I wish existed before Site 1.
What's Inside

A toolkit. Not just a book.

01
The Complete Australian Laundromat Playbook
14 chapters of real guidance — from your accountant conversation before you look at a single site, through to scaling across multiple locations. Every chapter built around a real decision, mistake, or win.
02
Laundromat Site Assessment Checklist
A scored 100-point inspection tool. Six weighted sections, a Pass / Investigate Further / Walk Away rating, red flags, photos to take, and questions to ask the agent — all in one printable document.
03
Master Launch Checklist
Every step from business structure to opening day, in the correct sequence. Built from the real order things need to happen — not grouped by topic, but by when they actually occur.
04
References & Further Reading
Verified links to government resources, regulators, and providers — ASIC, IP Australia, NSW Planning Portal, Jemena, SafeWork, and more.
05
Free Updates for 12 Months
When costs shift or regulations change, the Playbook is updated. You get every future version free, forever.
The Complete Playbook
How to Set Up a
Laundromat in Australia
Site Assessment Checklist
100-Point Scored
Inspection Tool
Master Checklist
Your complete sequence,
from day one to open.
Every Chapter

Built from a real decision,
not assembled from research.

Pre-Chapter
Is a Laundromat Right for You?
Capital requirements, year-one reality, and who this business model actually suits. The honest version most guides skip.
Chapter 1
Why Laundromats Work
The recession-proof logic, what the modern customer expects, and what nobody tells you going in.
Chapter 2
Foundations First
Accountant, structure, ABN, bank account, trademark — and why the order matters more than it looks.
Chapter 3
Location
Housing mix, foot traffic, competition, site size, rent-vs-revenue reality, and the council call to make before signing anything.
Chapter 4
The Lease
Heads of Agreement, demolition clauses, 5+5 terms, bond vs. security guarantee, rent-free periods, and how to read the fine print.
Chapter 5
Certifiers & Council
Builder vs. owner-builder, the NSW Planning Portal, sequencing, and the trade compliance certificates you need before you can legally open.
Chapter 6
Utilities, Trades & Equipment
The $24,000 gas quote. The $50,000 power quote. Why the first quote is never the real cost, and how to find the right one.
Chapter 7
Money
Real startup cost breakdown, machine pricing and utilisation data from operating sites, break-even framework, and what stable looks like.
Chapter 8
Opening & Marketing
Local-first strategy, Google reviews early, membership and loyalty systems, and community outreach that actually connects.
Chapter 9
Extra Income Streams
Dog wash, vending, wash/dry/fold, luggage lockers, parking rental — and when each one makes sense for your specific site.
Chapter 10
Know Your Numbers
What to track, when to start, how to read seasonal patterns, and how to know when you're ready to expand.
Chapter 11
Scaling
What changes at site two and three — and why experience from site one doesn't automatically protect you at site three.
Chapter 11B
Build New vs. Buy Existing
An honest comparison, including what buying existing due diligence actually looks like — drawn from doing it ourselves.
Chapter 12
Sustainability & Trends
Where the industry is heading and how to position your site for it — backed by real research, not marketing claims.
Real Lessons

The detail nobody else
will tell you.

"
We were quoted $50,000 for three-phase power. After getting more quotes from different electricians, we paid $5,000 for exactly the same job.
One lesson. $45,000 saved.
"
Our Jemena gas connection was quoted at $24,000. Checking our site access options — a side lane — brought it down to under $5,000.
The right question. $19,000 saved.
"
We nearly signed a lease with a demolition clause giving the landlord six months' notice to kick us out. That clause could have cost hundreds of thousands.
Know what to look for before you sign.
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The Complete Australian Playbook
How to Set Up a
Laundromat in Australia
Everything in this list is built and ready. No "coming soon." No incomplete content.
  • ✓The Complete Australian Laundromat Playbook — 14 chapters of real guidance from someone who's built three laundromats
  • ✓Laundromat Site Assessment Checklist — 100-point scored inspection tool, designed to take on-site and print
  • ✓Master Launch Checklist — Every step from business structure to opening day, in the right order
  • ✓References & Further Reading — Verified links to every resource, regulator and provider mentioned
  • ✓Free updates for 12 months — Every future version of the Playbook, free, for life
One-Time Payment
$197
AUD · inc. GST
Get Instant Access →
FormatPDF · Printable
DeliveryInstant download
Updates12 months, free
RegionAustralia
Due to the digital nature of this product, purchases are non-refundable.
Questions before buying? Contact us below.
Who This Is For

Built for anyone seriously
considering a laundromat.

1
First-Time Owners
Starting from scratch and want to avoid the expensive mistakes before you make them.
↑
Existing Owners Expanding
Ready for a second or third site and want a structured approach to scaling it right.
$
Property Investors
Looking at laundromats as a stable, recession-resistant asset and want real numbers first.
⌂
Family Businesses
Looking for a business that works around family life and builds genuine long-term income.
→
Buyers of Existing Sites
Want to know what due diligence actually looks like before buying someone else's problems.
Questions

Frequently Asked

You'll receive an email with a download link immediately after purchase. All files are PDF — readable on any device, and printable. The Site Assessment Checklist is specifically designed to be printed and taken on physical inspections.
The majority of the content — lease negotiation, equipment, marketing, financials, scaling — applies across Australia. Some specifics are NSW-focused (Jemena gas connections, NSW Planning Portal). These are clearly flagged throughout, with a note to check your state's equivalent.
Yes. The startup cost breakdown is based on actual spend across our own laundromat builds — rounded for clarity and clearly noted as our experience, not a universal quote. Costs vary by city, suburb, state and site size, and that's stated explicitly throughout. No fabricated figures, no invented case studies.
Yes — there's a dedicated chapter on buying existing versus building new, covering machine age, lease due diligence, verifying trading figures, and compliance certificates. It's drawn from real experience of taking over an existing site ourselves.
The Playbook opens with a pre-chapter called "Is a Laundromat Actually Right for You?" — which covers capital requirements, year-one reality, and who this business suits. It's designed to help you make a genuinely informed decision, not just sell you on the idea.
When costs, regulations, or industry practices change significantly, the Playbook is updated. All purchasers receive every future update at no additional cost.
Due to the digital nature of this product, purchases are non-refundable. If you have a specific question about whether this is right for your situation before purchasing, contact us via the email in the footer — happy to answer honestly.
Ready to Start?

Build your laundromat
the right way.

Avoid the expensive mistakes.
Start with real experience. Real numbers. Real guidance.

Get Instant Access — $197 AUD

Instant download · PDF · Free updates for 12 months · All sales final

Legal Disclaimer: This Playbook is for educational purposes only and does not replace legal, financial, tax, planning or building advice. Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions about leases, business structures, council approvals, or construction. Costs, regulations, and requirements vary by state and may have changed since publication.