There’s a lot of buzz about “modern” laundry stores that operate solely on card systems. While these systems have their place, they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution. In fact, the most resilient and customer-friendly operations are often hybrid stores—those that accept both coins and cards.

Let’s be clear: loyalty card systems are built around the convenience of the owner, not the customer. These platforms promise passive income and minimal management—but experienced operators know better. This is not a “set-it-and-forget-it” business. Any successful laundry depends on high public traffic, and with that comes the need for daily attention, problem-solving, and customer engagement.

One major advantage of coin-based systems is independence from a digital infrastructure. If your internet goes down or a card processor’s server crashes, your card readers stop working—and so do your revenues. But what about your coin drops? The washers and dryers keep right on spinning. You stay open. You stay profitable.

And then there’s the cost of doing digital business. A card-based store gives away between 7% and 9% of every credit or debit transaction to a web of middlemen: payment processors, card brands like Visa and Mastercard, banks, ACH handlers, and even the card system provider. It’s rarely just the “4% transaction fee” that gets advertised. For lower-value transactions like laundry turns, those micro-fees stack up fast.

With coins, every quarter goes straight into your machine—and into your pocket. No swipe fees. No processing delays. No service outages. In a time of rising rents and utility bills, maximizing untaxed, fee-free revenue just makes sense.

Technology is only great when it works. That’s why coin-operated machines remain the most stable, cost-effective, and customer-preferred solution in the industry. Before you go all-in on digital, consider keeping a foot firmly planted in the analog world.