Card Payment Systems for Laundromats: What’s Actually Worth It in 2025?

 Some laundromat owners still swear cash is king. But anyone who’s watched a customer pat their pockets, mutter “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding,” and wander off in search of coins knows the truth: people pay with whatever’s easiest. And in 2025, that’s rarely cash.

Quick answer:
Card payment systems boost laundry revenue by cutting friction, reducing walk-offs, and giving owners better control of pricing and machine data. The right setup depends on whether you want tap-and-go simplicity, account-based loyalty, or full remote management.

Below is the full breakdown—written from years of sitting with Aussie operators who’ve told me the same thing: “Mate, customers just want to get in, wash their gear, and get on with their day.”

What are card payment systems for laundromats, and why are they taking over?

Card systems let customers pay via debit, credit, digital wallets, or stored-value accounts. That means:

  • No hunting for coins

  • No jammed coin slots

  • No frustrated walk-offs

  • Faster customer flow

And for operators? Real-time reporting, easier maintenance, and the ability to change pricing without crawling behind machines like a contortionist.

There’s also a behavioural science angle. In friction psychology, even a tiny barrier—like needing $8 in coins—creates what experts call avoidance behaviour. Remove the friction, and usage jumps.

Which types of card payment systems work best for laundromats?

You’ve basically got three mainstream options. Each has its own quirks, and choosing one is often less about features and more about what feels natural for your customers.

1. Tap-and-Go Card Readers (Pay-as-You-Go)

This is the simplest system and the most familiar to Aussie users—tap your card, phone, or smartwatch and the machine starts.

Why operators like it:

  • Easy installation

  • Customers instinctively know what to do

  • Reduces cash handling headaches

  • Integrates with most modern machines

Behavioural insight:
Tap-and-go leverages the “ease nudge”—giving people a default that requires almost zero thinking. Anyone who’s paid for a servo coffee knows how natural tap feels now.

2. App-Based Laundry Payment Platforms

These systems let customers pay through a mobile app, load funds, earn loyalty points, or see which machines are free.

Why customers like it:

  • They can track wash progress

  • They don’t need physical cards

  • They can claim discounts or freebies

  • Some apps let them prepay or reserve machines

Why owners like it:

  • Clearer customer behaviour data

  • Push notifications for offers

  • Fewer disputes (“The machine ate my coins!”)

A bit like how Opal changed public transport payments—suddenly, the act of paying becomes part of a bigger routine.

3. Hybrid Cash + Card + App Systems

This is the “cover all bases” model:

  • Customers can use tap-and-go

  • Or use an app

  • Or pay cash if they really want to

Owners who operate near older demographics or tourist areas often favour this setup. It taps into Cialdini’s Unity principle—meeting people where they’re at and saying, “You’re welcome here, mate, however you prefer to pay.”

How do card systems actually increase laundromat revenue?

There are a few quiet but powerful reasons these systems outperform traditional coin-only setups.

1. Higher average spend

When people aren’t limited by how much loose change they’ve scrounged from the glovebox, they:

  • Use dryers longer

  • Add fabric softener

  • Choose larger machines

  • Return more often

This is classic anchoring—once the payment method expands perceived spending ability, choices shift upward.

2. Greater customer retention

Customers love predictability. A machine that “just works” creates a sense of consistency, one of Cialdini’s most reliable persuasion triggers. They come back because last time was easy.

3. Reduced operational pressure

Less cash means fewer theft attempts and fewer maintenance callouts. It also cuts labour—no more hours spent counting coins or unjamming machines.

4. More accurate pricing strategy

With digital payment data, you can finally answer questions like:

  • Are Sundays really your busiest day?

  • Does the 14kg machine generate more profit per hour?

  • Should you raise prices slightly during winter drying season?

Marketing strategist Mark Ritson would call this “proper measurement”—the kind most owners swear they don’t have time for, but absolutely rely on once they’ve got it.

How do you choose the right system for your laundromat?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there is a practical way to decide.

Ask yourself three quick questions:

1. What do your customers expect?
Young renters and travellers lean heavily toward phone-based payments. Suburban families prefer tap-and-go. Retirees may still like coins as a backup.

2. How involved do you want to be day-to-day?
If you’re running multiple stores or working a full-time job elsewhere, a remotely managed system saves hours each week.

3. Do you want loyalty features?
Some systems let customers earn points or auto-trigger discounts—behaviourally smart tools that increase repeat visits through simple reward loops.

A real-world example from a Melbourne operator

A client in Northcote told me he installed tap-and-go readers on half his machines “just as a test.” Within two weeks, the card-enabled machines were generating 65% more revenue than the cash-only ones.

Customers queued for the card machines even when the identical cash machines were free right beside them. That’s behavioural momentum in action: once people get used to the easiest option, they stick with it.

He converted the rest within the month.

What about reliability—do card systems break down often?

Not as much as people think.

Modern systems are built for harsh environments—humidity, lint, heat fluctuations. Issues usually come from:

  • Weak internet connections

  • Damaged cabling

  • Older washers needing interface upgrades

Most Australian laundromat operators say tap-and-go setups are as reliable as EFTPOS machines in cafés. And if you’ve ever tried to buy a latte during a “system outage,” you know just how resilient those devices have become.

Are card systems secure for both owners and customers?

Yes—mainstream providers follow PCI DSS standards and tokenise customer card data. Nobody sees raw card details, not even the operator.

For transparency, here’s an authoritative external resource explaining how card security works:
Australian Payments Network – Card Security Standards

FAQ

Do I need internet for card payment systems?

Yes, most systems require Wi-Fi or mobile data. Some tap-and-go readers queue transactions offline, then sync later.

Do card systems work with older washers and dryers?

Usually, yes. Many providers supply retrofit kits. Some 20-year-old machines can still be upgraded.

Will I lose customers if I move to cards?

Not if you communicate the change clearly. Many operators keep one or two coin options during the transition.

Final thoughts

Running a laundromat is equal parts machinery, customer behaviour, and clever pricing. Card payment systems sit right at the intersection. They make the experience smoother, reduce friction, and quietly push your business into a more modern rhythm.

And as you explore different setups—especially those that integrate with a broader laundry payment system—you’ll probably notice a pattern: the easier you make it for people to start a wash, the more often they come back. This breakdown of the various laundry payment system options gives a decent picture of what that could look like.

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