Which Laundry Payment Option Is Right for You?

When it comes to laundry payment systems, commercial laundry operators now have more options than ever. It makes sense to spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the range of choices available, and to decide on the best system for your customers based on the specific needs of your facility.

Coin-Operated

You know the old adage: cash is king. For decades, in the pay laundry world, the quarter has been king. This is still true, of course, and the system has its advantages and disadvantages for laundry payment. Until recently, quarters were pretty much everywhere and they were easy to come by. They are easy to carry and easy to spend. In 2020, however, the US saw a coin shortage, so that type of payment option became suddenly more difficult. Digging for quarters to do laundry has long been an irritant to many laundry-doers, but it has also been a necessary activity.

On the other end of the transaction, owners and operators of pay laundry facilities have needed to deal with heavy and awkward coin bags, toting them to the bank and sometimes even having to roll the quarters themselves. Alternately, some operators have relied on services to collect and deposit quarters, and there are often concerns that accounting practices lack transparency.

Still, as long as there are pay laundry machines, coin-operated systems will be a part of the industry.  But they are no longer the only option!

Credit/Debit Card

In recent years, the technology to accept credit and debit cards for laundry payment has expanded broadly. These options include both kiosk systems, which we’ll detail below, and in-machine card readers. Some readers will include the ability to accept payment with a swipe, an EMV chip, or even just a tap.

There are several advantages to accepting cards in your laundry room. With a card transaction, there is no need to worry about your service skimming payments, as you will have a real-time record of every transaction. Your funds can be available immediately in some cases (depending on your payment system provider). And maybe best of all, it becomes easier for your users to do all of the laundry they need without having to dig through the couch cushions or run to the bank (or for you to need to provide a bill changer). 

Mobile Application

Like credit and debit cards, smartphones are nearly everywhere. It’s possible for you to capitalize on this fact by using technology that allows your users to use an application to pay for their laundry. WIth apps like CleanPay Mobile, users can simply scan a QR code on the machine of their choice and complete the transaction right on the app.

Mobile application laundry payment systems have similar advantages to credit or debit cards, and even more beyond that! With an app payment, you will see the transaction report immediately, and you will have immediate availability of the proceeds. You will not need a third-party to handle the banking or books. And like credit and debit cards, your users will have the ability to do all of the laundry they need and keep all of their payment information private, right in their own phones.

Laundry Card systems

Bridging the gap between these various systems is a laundry card system. These can operate in a variety of ways ranging from prepaid cards, cards refilled by a mobile device, or cards filled right in the facility through a kiosk that can accept payment in a wide range of ways (cash or coins, credit or debit cards, or even mobile payment).

In any case, the laundry card system allows users to pay right at the machine, by means of a card-swipe, while keeping their payment information secure (through their phone, or by paying by means of a secure kiosk). And like the other laundry payment systems mentioned above, you’ll get real-time information about your balances.

A combination of methods

For many operators, it makes the most sense to utilize a combination of laundry payment systems in their facility. Why wouldn’t you want to allow your users to give you money in whatever way (or ways) they prefer? Combining payment options will give you the data you need to track your revenue, and will keep your users happy. It’s a win-win!

To learn more about these emerging technologies, and to schedule an on-site consultation, contact SelfOp Laundry today!