The Honest Pros, Cons, and What You Really Need to Know

Thinking about keeping your laundromat open 24/7?

You’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions we get from laundromat owners… usually followed by: 

“It feels like I should be open all night… right?”

But here’s the deal: what feels right and what is right for your business aren’t always the same thing.

So let’s break it down by the numbers, by the neighborhood, and by your personal risk tolerance, so you can make a confident decision instead of just copying the guy down the street.

✅ The Pros of Going 24/7

Let’s start with the upside.

1. You’re Always Open (No Missed Revenue)

If a shift worker gets off at 2am and needs clean scrubs, you’re their hero.

You might pick up some niche overnight regulars, like third-shift nurses, truckers, or late-night college kids.

2. It Can Be a Competitive Advantage

In areas where no one else is open all night, being 24/7 might bring in more traffic from neighboring zip codes, especially if you pair it with smart advertising.

3. It Spreads Out Machine Usage

If your machines are slammed from 4pm–9pm, opening all night might give late users an off-peak alternative and ease daytime congestion.

❌ The Cons (And They’re Big Ones)

This is where it gets real. Most owners think about potential revenue but don’t think about the costs, risks, and liabilities.

1. Insurance Will Probably Laugh at You

Most insurance carriers will flat out refuse to insure unattended 24-hour laundromats.

Even if you’re staffed, your premiums are guaranteed to rise… if you can get coverage at all.

2. Vandalism, Theft & Damage

The #1 concern with overnight operations: you’re giving people a free place to loiter without accountability.

Security cameras help, but they don’t stop someone from busting a vending machine or breaking into a change machine.

And unless you have titanium equipment, that’s expensive damage.

3. You’re Probably Not Making as Much Money Overnight as You Think

Let’s be honest: 2am revenue is usually a trickle, not a flood.

When you actually run the numbers, utilities, staffing (if attended), potential repairs, and insurance — you’ll often find that you’re paying to stay open.

Yet many owners skip this math and keep the lights on “just in case.”

🛠️ Attended vs. Unattended: The Big Fork in the Road

If you’re dead-set on being open 24/7, you need to decide: Will someone be there watching the store?

Scenario 1: Attended 24-Hour Laundromat

Pros:

• Adds safety and oversight
• Customers feel more secure
• Less vandalism or misuse of machines

Cons:

• Staffing overnight is expensive
• Hiring reliable graveyard-shift workers is hard
• You now have to manage overnight payroll, HR issues, and security protocols
   

Scenario 2: Unattended 24-Hour Laundromat

Pros:

• No labor costs
• Truly passive operation during late hours 

Cons:

• High risk of loitering, drug use, and vandalism
• Your insurance company may drop you
• You may create a magnet for problems in your neighborhood
• Liability goes way up (and trust me, lawyers love unattended stores)
   

🎯 What You Need to Evaluate Before Making a Decision

1. What kind of neighborhood is your store in?
   
• High traffic doesn’t mean high revenue if it’s not the right kind of traffic.
2.  How much revenue are you really bringing in from midnight to 6am?
   
• Don’t guess. Pull POS reports and look at last month.
3.  What’s your tolerance for risk?
   
• Some owners are okay with occasional chaos. Others want zero drama.
4.  Do you have the tech and security setup to run safely overnight?
   
• Cameras, door locks, remote monitoring, panic buttons… you’ll need all of it.
5.  Will your insurance company even cover you?
   
• If not, are you prepared to absorb the liability on your own dime?
   

💡 Final Thought: What’s Your Risk Tolerance?

At the end of the day, no blog post can decide for you.

Your market, your equipment, your staffing situation, and your personal tolerance for risk are yours. 

But here’s what I will say, as someone who’s helped hundreds of laundromat owners:

The overnight shift rarely moves the needle on revenue, but it often opens the door to big risks.

If you’ve got solid demand, a safe location, and bulletproof systems, maybe it works for you.

But if you’re hoping overnight hours will magically bring in cash, pump the brakes. 

Do the math. Know the risks. Then decide with your head, not your ego.

Want help running the numbers or designing a hybrid model with timed doors and automation?

We do that inside our Laundry Advisors community every single week.

Join us, and we’ll help you build a laundromat that works for you, not the other way around.