A lot of people stop working early in this day and age; some make the decision on their own while others receive a "Golden Handshake" to influence their retirement. Whatever the reason, many of these "retirees" realize that, while it is too soon to stop working altogether, they also don't want to work full time anymore. If you're in this category, think about using some of your "nest egg" for funding a coin-op laundry.

Anybody who's aiming for semi-retirement would find this a tremendous opportunity. Most self service laundries do not have attendants. Since you don't have to perform regular inventory or receivables, they are a perfect small business for you.

The 2000 U.S. Census reported that 86 million people rent apartments. A lot of these renters have less than adequate laundry facilities available to them or no facilities at all. Some homeowners don't have their own washer and dryer at home and must do their laundry elsewhere. During difficult economic times, many homeowners do not have the money available to fix their broken washers and dryers or to have them replaced. Just as food and shelter are necessities of life, so are clean clothes. Anybody who does not own a washer and dryer is a possible customer.

Earnings stem from washing and drying, of course. You also have the opportunity to make money selling detergent, whiteners, softeners, and dryer sheets. Another lucrative stream of income comes from vending machines that sell snacks and sodas.

When starting a new laundromat business, you need to consider many things, including location. The ideal location would be a densely populated area where a high percentage of the residents are renters. Your primary concern should be the reliability of the machines. Commercial-quality appliances that boast the Energy Star rating and the latest in energy-efficiency are offered by top brand companies like Maytag and Whirlpool. This not only helps the environment but it saves you money as well.

You will also have to either be responsible for your own machines or sign a contract with a company that will perform maintenance and fix your machines when they break. A partner company in your washer and dryer business means that you can rest easy knowing that your machines will always be fully functional and sturdy enough to withstand heavy use.

Keeping dryer vents and exhaust hoses free from lint and washer drains and pipes open and flowing freely are among the necessities involved with proper maintenance. Paying attention to the finer points will ensure that your appliances last longer. It will also ensure that your washing machines aren't spending time out of commission and not making money.

If you are going to contract with a maintenance company, you should choose one that has machines with coin counters that cannot be reset; this will protect your profits. You should also ensure that the company responds quickly to service calls. A good firm can give testimonials from satisfied customers to ensure that they are a good company.

No matter what you decide, being the owner of the machines yourself or sharing your business with someone else, a self service coin operated laundry can be the lucky charm to bring in the money to make your partial retirement years worthwhile.