WaveMAX Laundry Franchise Review 2025: Costs, Fees, News, Average Revenues and/or Profits

WaveMAX Laundry is a laundromat chain offering both self-service and drop-off laundry services. It claims to be the top laundromat franchise in the US and is pushing for further expansion, but currently has fewer than a hundred locations. This means that there’s plenty of space for expansion, but less proof of success than with larger franchises.

The brand’s combination of services means that its facilities are staffed by full-time attendants, so that it can offer wash, dry, and fold services alongside self-service machines. Efficient machines provide a high quality clean while keeping down energy use and the costs associated with it.

Its current focus on expansion has led the brand to a calculated approach that helps franchisees identify profitable opportunities. Its demographic targeting looks at population density, renter ratio, and income levels to find the best territories for a franchise and the optimum size of business to meet a territory’s demand without excessive expense. Stores are custom designed to make use of their locations.

Finance is available, and there’s potential for empire building, with individual outlets apparently needing only 4-8 hours of work per week from the franchisee, leaving time to operate multiple locations. But some hands-on intervention is still expected, to maintain the quality service and clean environment that the brand prides itself on.

In this exclusive Franchise Chatter FDD Talk post, you’ll learn the following:

Section I – Estimated initial investment (franchise costs) for a WaveMAX Laundry franchise, based on Item 7 of the company’s 2025 FDD

Section II – Initial franchise fee, royalty fee, and marketing fee for a WaveMAX Laundry franchise, based on Items 5 and 6 of the company’s 2025 FDD

Section III – Number of franchised and company-owned WaveMAX Laundry outlets at the start of the year and the end of the year for 2022, 2023, and 2024, based on Item 20 of the company’s 2025 FDD

Section IV – News updates on the WaveMAX Laundry franchise opportunity

Section V – Presentation and analysis of WaveMAX Laundry’s financial performance representations (average revenues and/or profits), based on Item 19 of the company’s 2025 FDD, including information on the:

• 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 actual, average, median, highest, and lowest total gross revenue for the franchised outlets that operated for the entire applicable calendar year

• 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 gross revenue; net profit; less royalties, grand opening and local marketing, and POS system to adjust net profit as if a franchise unit; and adjusted net profit as if a franchise unit for the Jacksonville, FL company outlet

• 2024 income, expenses, and net income for the Jacksonville, FL company outlet

Section VI – Key ratios, comparables, computations, and analyses for the WaveMAX Laundry franchise opportunity (exclusive content for Platinum subscribers)

Section I – WaveMAX Laundry Franchise Costs

• WaveMAX Laundry (standard without mobile) franchise costs, based on Item 7 of the company’s 2025 FDD:

• Initial Franchise Fee:  $54,950
• Training-Related Expenses:  $1,500 to $2,000
• Grand Opening Marketing:  $20,000
• Computer Equipment and Software:  $1,000 to $1,500
• Laundry Machines and Equipment:  $157,000 to $825,000
• Tenant Improvements:  $50,000 to $499,000
• Location Lease:  $4,000 to $9,500
• Safes:  $550 to $3,500
• Containers:  $175 to $200
• Miscellaneous Supplies:  $75 to $200
• Camera and Security System:  $900 to $4,500
• Office Equipment:  $150 to $300
• Signage:  $9,000 to $23,000
• Vending Machines and ATM:  $0 to $3,500
• Televisions:  $175 to $450
• Furniture:  $400 to $600
• UV Sanitation:  $20,000 to $29,000
• Insurance for 1 Month:  $400 to $1,060
• Uniforms:  $80 to $150
• Legal Fees:  $1,000 to $3,000
• Business License(s):  $100 to $400
• Additional Funds for 3 Months:  $35,000 to $65,000
• Total Estimated WaveMAX Laundry Franchise Costs:  $356,455 to $1,556,350

Section II – WaveMAX Laundry’s Initial Franchise Fee, Royalty Fee, and Marketing Fee

• WaveMAX Laundry’s initial franchise fee, royalty fee, and marketing fee, based on Items 5 and 6 of the company’s 2025 FDD:

• Initial Franchise Fee:  $49,950
• Royalty:  6% of Gross Revenue
• National Advertising and Marketing:  up to 1% of Gross Revenue (not currently implemented)
• Local Marketing:  minimum of $500 per month
• Mobile Local Marketing:  minimum of $500 per month

Section III – Number of Franchised and Company-Owned WaveMAX Laundry Outlets

Franchised

2022

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  28
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  43
• Net Change:  +15

2023

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  43
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  51
• Net Change:  +8

2024

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  51
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  56
• Net Change:  +5

Company-Owned

2022

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  1
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  1
• Net Change:  0

2023

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  1
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  1
• Net Change:  0

2024

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  1
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  1
• Net Change:  0

Section IV – News Updates on the WaveMAX Laundry Franchise

• WaveMax? Or Other Franchise Laundromat Experiences/Perspectives? (Reddit)

• Grand Opening of WaveMax Laundry

• WaveMax Laundry Ranked No. 456 on Entrepreneur’s 2025 Franchise 500 List

Section V – Financial Performance Representations (Average Revenues and/or Profits) for the WaveMAX Laundry Franchise (Item 19, 2025 FDD)

Part 1 – Franchisee Gross Revenue 2024

• Here, WaveMAX sets forth the Gross Revenue for the time period January to December 2024 as to the franchised outlets it had open on December 31, 2024 who operated the entire 2024 calendar year. As of December 31, 2024, WaveMAX had 56 franchised outlets, 50 of which met the criteria for inclusion in the Financial Performance Representation stated below:

• Total Gross Revenue includes Self-Service Revenue plus the Wash-Dry-Fold Revenue. Not all franchise outlets report their Wash-Dry-Fold Revenue.

Total Gross Revenue in 2024

• Outlet 1:  $713,934.02
• Outlet 2:  $695,605.43
• Outlet 3:  $672,895.85
• Outlet 4:  $640,587.56
• Outlet 5:  $612,142.82
• Outlet 6:  $605,608.18
• Outlet 7:  $602,359.89
• Outlet 8:  $587,095.13
• Outlet 9:  $576,096.42
• Outlet 10:  $562,548.85
• Outlet 11:  $550,134.58
• Outlet 12:  $549,916.07
• Outlet 13:  $541,416.33
• Outlet 14:  $513,851.25
• Outlet 15:  $471,068.12
• Outlet 16:  $460,656.31
• Outlet 17:  $454,361.38
• Outlet 18:  $447,976.85
• Outlet 19:  $439,313.50
• Outlet 20:  $438,351.09
• Outlet 21:  $433,877.00
• Outlet 22:  $429,529.10
• Outlet 23:  $427,379.48
• Outlet 24:  $418,844.47
• Outlet 25:  $414,042.10
• Outlet 26:  $410,593.78
• Outlet 27:  $410,119.01
• Outlet 28:  $407,809.76
• Outlet 29:  $406,148.75
• Outlet 30:  $401,355.30
• Outlet 31:  $398,328.83
• Outlet 32:  $396,498.85
• Outlet 33:  $392,594.54
• Outlet 34:  $368,041.02
• Outlet 35:  $349,531.56
• Outlet 36:  $340,406.78
• Outlet 37:  $339,934.91
• Outlet 38:  $334,567.57
• Outlet 39:  $321,934.44
• Outlet 40:  $310,600.05
• Outlet 41:  $308,992.70
• Outlet 42:  $304,303.99
• Outlet 43:  $296,240.79
• Outlet 44:  $291,838.43
• Outlet 45:  $280,670.52
• Outlet 46:  $259,739.49
• Outlet 47:  $251,044.71
• Outlet 48:  $225,061.27
• Outlet 49:  $203,653.87
• Outlet 50:  $183,455.86

• Average:  $471,201.42
• Median:  $436,114.05
• High:  $713,934.02
• Low:  $183,455.86

Part 2 – Franchisee Gross Revenue 2023

• Here, WaveMAX sets forth the Gross Revenue for the time period January to December 2023 as to the franchised outlets it had open on December 31, 2023 who operated the entire 2023 calendar year. As of December 31, 2023, WaveMAX had 50 franchised outlets, 40 of which met the criteria for inclusion in the Financial Performance Representation stated below:

• Total Gross Revenue includes Self-Service Revenue plus the Wash-Dry-Fold Revenue. Not all franchise outlets report their Wash-Dry-Fold Revenue.

Total Gross Revenue in 2023

• Outlet 1:  $694,180.36
• Outlet 2:  $654,431.48
• Outlet 3:  $601,177.82
• Outlet 4:  $599,402.52
• Outlet 5:  $546,062.01
• Outlet 6:  $542,321.83
• Outlet 7:  $531,171.48
• Outlet 8:  $517,429.97
• Outlet 9:  $500,852.49
• Outlet 10:  $489,073.34
• Outlet 11:  $452,874.81
• Outlet 12:  $441,219.51
• Outlet 13:  $430,130.65
• Outlet 14:  $421,800.00
• Outlet 15:  $398,818.69
• Outlet 16:  $393,177.29
• Outlet 17:  $392,301.50
• Outlet 18:  $387,456.50
• Outlet 19:  $385,149.64
• Outlet 20:  $365,577.55
• Outlet 21:  $355,559.25
• Outlet 22:  $342,111.84
• Outlet 23:  $341,524.00
• Outlet 24:  $340,438.00
• Outlet 25:  $332,965.23
• Outlet 26:  $315,209.10
• Outlet 27:  $312,244.25
• Outlet 28:  $302,673.52
• Outlet 29:  $285,654.78
• Outlet 30:  $281,970.40
• Outlet 31:  $276,442.44
• Outlet 32:  $274,655.15
• Outlet 33:  $268,556.70
• Outlet 34:  $267,999.09
• Outlet 35:  $259,368.87
• Outlet 36:  $252,808.87
• Outlet 37:  $242,955.09
• Outlet 38:  $234,759.94
• Outlet 39:  $226,067.75
• Outlet 40:  $190,084.29

• Average:  $386,216.45
• Median:  $360,568.40
• High:  $694,180.36
• Low:  $190,084.29

Part 3 – Franchisee Gross Revenue 2022

• Here, WaveMAX sets forth the Gross Revenue for the time period January to December 2022 as to the franchised outlets it had open on December 31, 2022 who operated the entire 2022 calendar year. As of December 31, 2022, WaveMAX had 43 franchised outlets, 28 of which met the criteria for inclusion in the Financial Performance Representation stated below:

• Total Gross Revenue includes Self-Service Revenue plus the Wash-Dry-Fold Revenue. Not all franchise outlets report their Wash-Dry-Fold Revenue.

Total Gross Revenue in 2022

• Outlet 1:  $634,733.43
• Outlet 2:  $633,723.27
• Outlet 3:  $613,635.86
• Outlet 4:  $562,076.03
• Outlet 5:  $542,099.38
• Outlet 6:  $538,158.42
• Outlet 7:  $495,234.98
• Outlet 8:  $485,887.94
• Outlet 9:  $423,952.94
• Outlet 10:  $403,789.85
• Outlet 11:  $371,315.50
• Outlet 12:  $366,778.75
• Outlet 13:  $329,469.40
• Outlet 14:  $324,887.47
• Outlet 15:  $324,260.20
• Outlet 16:  $316,533.80
• Outlet 17:  $305,637.59
• Outlet 18:  $297,967.34
• Outlet 19:  $293,040.29
• Outlet 20:  $285,875.70
• Outlet 21:  $246,045.63
• Outlet 22:  $240,944.63
• Outlet 23:  $222,551.15
• Outlet 24:  $221,025.55
• Outlet 25:  $217,883.90
• Outlet 26:  $212,005.02
• Outlet 27:  $181,677.60
• Outlet 28:  $141,827.85

• Average:  $365,464.98
• Median:  $324,573.84
• High:  $634,733.43
• Low:  $141,827.85

Part 4 – Franchisee Gross Revenue 2021

• Here, WaveMAX sets forth the Gross Revenue for the time period January to December 2021 as to the franchised outlets it had open on December 31, 2021 who operated the entire 2021 calendar year. As of December 31, 2021, WaveMax had 28 franchised outlets, 20 of which met the criteria for inclusion in the Financial Performance Representation stated below:

Total Gross Revenue in 2021

• Outlet 1:  $518,121.57
• Outlet 2:  $490,994.65
• Outlet 3:  $466,369.62
• Outlet 4:  $406,807.67
• Outlet 5:  $377,443.37
• Outlet 6:  $366,903.98
• Outlet 7:  $312,004.25
• Outlet 8:  $308,096.76
• Outlet 9:  $306,904.75
• Outlet 10:  $301,799.52
• Outlet 11:  $271,123.19
• Outlet 12:  $255,570.15
• Outlet 13:  $254,555.75
• Outlet 14:  $241,841.95
• Outlet 15:  $233,097.50
• Outlet 16:  $207,342.87
• Outlet 17:  $203,367.96
• Outlet 18:  $194,997.06
• Outlet 19:  $193,212.57
• Outlet 20:  $162,657.25

• Average:  $303,660.62
• Median:  $286,461.36
• High:  $518,121.57
• Low:  $162,657.25

Part 5 – Franchisee Gross Revenue 2020

• Here, WaveMAX sets forth the Gross Revenue for the time period January to December 2020 as to the franchised outlets it had open on December 31, 2020 who operated the entire 2020 calendar year. As of December 31, 2020, WaveMAX had 18 franchised outlets, 14 of which met the criteria for inclusion in the Financial Performance Representation stated below:

Total Gross Revenue in 2020

• Outlet 1:  $338,827.85
• Outlet 2:  $329,856.03
• Outlet 3:  $266,427.55
• Outlet 4:  $265,121.98
• Outlet 5:  $263,925.80
• Outlet 6:  $258,112.55
• Outlet 7:  $225,399.75
• Outlet 8:  $198,530.60
• Outlet 9:  $196,305.00
• Outlet 10:  $183,437.00
• Outlet 11:  $155,336.43
• Outlet 12:  $133,920.10
• Outlet 13:  $132,998.04
• Outlet 14:  $123,664.93

• Average:  $219,418.82
• Median:  $211,965.17
• High:  $338,827.85
• Low:  $123,664.93

Part 6 – Franchisee Gross Revenue 2019

• Here, WaveMAX sets forth the Gross Revenue for the time period January to December 2019 as to the franchised outlets it had open on December 31, 2019 who operated the entire 2019 calendar year. As of December 31, 2019, WaveMAX had 10 franchised outlets, 4 of which met the criteria for inclusion in the Financial Performance Representation stated below:

Total Gross Revenue in 2019

• Outlet 1:  $186,405.96
• Outlet 2:  $208,107.67
• Outlet 3:  $228,813.25
• Outlet 4:  $241,334.14

• Average:  $216,165.25
• Median:  $218,460.46
• High:  $241,334.14
• Low:  $186,405.96

• Gross Revenue means the aggregate sales price of all washing machine and dryer machine revenue earned by the Franchisee, in connection with or arising out of the operation of the Franchised Business, excluding only:

• (1) revenue derived by Franchisee through vending machines or ATM machines;

• (2) revenue derived from the Wash-Dry-Fold service offering;

• (3) the amount of any refund or credit given in respect of any services provided to a customer of the Franchised Business for which a refund of the whole or part of the purchase price is made or for which a credit is given in the ordinary course of business, and

• (4) any amounts collected by Franchisee for any governmental authority and paid out by Franchisee to that governmental authority on account of sales taxes or other taxes imposed upon the sale of goods or services by Franchisee in respect of the Franchised Business and which Franchisee is not entitled to subsequently recover.

• Outlet #1 was an existing laundromat location that was converted to a WaveMAX franchise location.

• The financial performance representations do not reflect the costs of sales, operating expenses, or other costs or expenses that must be deducted from the gross revenue or gross sales figures to obtain your net income or profit.

Part 6 – Jacksonville, FL Company Outlet

• The following table presents an historic financial performance representation of the gross revenue and net profit that AU Hydro, LLC realized in operating a laundromat business in Jacksonville, Florida for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

• AU Hydro, LLC has been in business in this location since 2012 and operates substantially the same laundromat services as described in the Disclosure Document. However, AU Hydro, LLC does not operate a franchised unit. It is a separate company that is owned by the same persons who own a majority interest in the Franchisor.

2015

• Gross Revenue:  $346,904.10
• Net Profit:  $197,036.05
• Less Royalties, Grand Opening and Local Marketing, and POS System to Adjust Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $32,605.03
• Adjusted Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $164,431.02

2016

• Gross Revenue:  $377,736.07
• Net Profit:  $218,783.89
• Less Royalties, Grand Opening and Local Marketing, and POS System to Adjust Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $34,472.72
• Adjusted Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $184,311.17

2017

• Gross Revenue:  $409,047.57
• Net Profit:  $236,570.87
• Less Royalties, Grand Opening and Local Marketing, and POS System to Adjust Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $36,158.14
• Adjusted Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $200,412.73

2018

• Gross Revenue:  $412,173.17
• Net Profit:  $226,112.31
• Less Royalties, Grand Opening and Local Marketing, and POS System to Adjust Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $36,422.75
• Adjusted Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $189,689.56

2019

• Gross Revenue:  $428,959
• Net Profit:  $207,354
• Less Royalties, Grand Opening and Local Marketing, and POS System to Adjust Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $37,507.30
• Adjusted Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $169,846.70

2020

• Gross Revenue:  $436,632.28
• Net Profit:  $219,119.26
• Less Royalties, Grand Opening and Local Marketing, and POS System to Adjust Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $31,197.94
• Adjusted Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $187,921.32

2021

• Gross Revenue:  $489,385.97 (100.0%)
• Net Profit:  $254,511.47 (52.0%)
• Less Royalties, Grand Opening and Local Marketing, and POS System to Adjust Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $33,911.87 (6.9%)
• Adjusted Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $220,599.60 (45.1%)

2022

• Gross Revenue:  $541,700.59 (100.0%)
• Net Profit:  $245,600.04 (45.3%)
• Less Royalties, Grand Opening and Local Marketing, and POS System to Adjust Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $30,550.12 (5.6%)
• Adjusted Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $215,049.92 (39.7%)

2023

• Gross Revenue:  $548,179.69 (100.0%)
• Net Profit:  $250,151.12 (45.6%)
• Less Royalties, Grand Opening and Local Marketing, and POS System to Adjust Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $32,890.78 (6.0%)
• Adjusted Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $217,260.34 (39.6%)

2024

• Gross Revenue:  $528,250.89 (100.0%)
• Net Profit:  $249,457.36 (47.2%)
• Less Royalties, Grand Opening and Local Marketing, and POS System to Adjust Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $31,695.05 (6.0%)
• Adjusted Net Profit as if a Franchise Unit:  $217,762.31 (41.2%)

• “Gross Revenue” means the aggregate sales price of all washing machine, dryer machine, and Wash-Dry-Fold service revenue earned by the Franchisee, in connection with or arising out of the operation of the Franchised Business. It also includes the retail value of all products and sales generated from services donated, given away, or bartered by the Franchisee or any of its Affiliates, in connection with or arising out of the operation of the Franchised Business, excluding only:

• (1) revenue derived by Franchisee through vending machines or ATM machines;

• (2) the amount of any refund or credit given in respect of Wash-Dry-Fold services provided to a customer of the Franchised Business for which a refund of the whole or part of the purchase price is made or for which a credit is given in the ordinary course of business; and

• (3) any amounts collected by Franchisee for any governmental authority and paid out by Franchisee to that governmental authority on account of sales taxes or other taxes imposed upon the sale of goods or services by Franchisee in respect of the Franchised Business and which Franchisee is not entitled to subsequently recover.

• If you provide Mobile services, Gross Revenue includes gross revenue derived from Mobile services. Mobile Gross Revenue refers to just the portion of Gross Revenues from any Mobile pick-up and delivery laundry services you may offer including revenues from pickup and delivery charges.

• Net Profit means Gross Revenue less total expenses, except for the cost of equipment financing.

• In 2022, the Jacksonville location was over 10 years old and did have non-typical onetime expenses related to having air conditioning units repaired and one washing machine had to be rebuilt.

• Less Royalties to Adjust as if Franchised Unit – WaveMax Laundry applied reductions to show additional costs that would be incurred if the outlet were a franchised outlet as follows:

• (1) a royalty reduction of 6% of Gross Revenue.

• (2) Prior to 2021, a $4,800 reduction for Local Marketing (however, you can select a Local Marketing spend level at either $3,600, $4,800, or $6,000). In 2021, WaveMAX Laundry had local advertising spend included in the expense category.

• (3) Prior to 2021, WaveMAX Laundry deducted $600 for the monthly charges for your POS System (you would normally finance the upfront cost portion). In 2021, this line item was included in the store operation.

• (4) In 2022, 2023, and 2024, the actual spend for Local Marketing and a POS System met the requirements for a new franchise location, so the only adjustment made to the Net Profit number was to reduce it by the 6% Royalty requirement.

• Adjusted Net Profit as if a Franchised Unit – These figures represent the Net Profit as if the company store outlet was a franchised outlet, by subtracting out additional costs, as explained above, that a franchisee would incur. WaveMAX Laundry does not subtract out the cost of equipment financing in the table which it presents above, but shows you the additional subtraction of $5,189 per month, or $62,268 per year that you would make in the detailed listing of income and expenses below.

• In the time period set forth above, WaveMAX Laundry had 1 affiliate outlet.

2024

Income

• Self Serve Income:  $409,993.86 (77.6%)
• Vending Item Sales:  $5,841.43 (1.1%)
• Wash, Dry, Fold Income:  $112,415.60 (21.3%)
• Total Income:  $528,250.89 (100.0%)

Expenses

• Advertising and Marketing:  $6,000.00 (1.1%)
• Bank Service Charges:  $5.00 (0.0%)
• Computer and Internet Expenses Software Subscription:  $2,365.00 (0.4%)
• Dues Expense:  $349.00 (0.1%)
• Insurance Expense:  $703.32 (0.1%)
• Workers Compensation – Premium:  $5,488.12 (1.0%)
• Licenses & Permits:  $583.81 (0.1%)
• Merchant Fees:  $13,541.89 (2.6%)
• Office Supplies:  $99.90 (0.0%)
• Payroll Expense:  $0.00 (0.0%)
• Employee Compensation:  $90,688.17 (17.2%)
• Payroll Taxes:  $7,587.00 (1.4%)
• Postage and Delivery:  $183.03 (0.0%)
• Accounting Fees:  $2,000.00 (0.4%)
• Payroll Processing Fees:  $3,810.07 (0.7%)
• Rent Expense:  $58,327.36 (11.0%)
• Repairs and Maintenance:  $10,449.72 (2.0%)
• Parts:  $1,844.43 (0.3%)
• Security Expense:  $1,127.74 (0.2%)
• Supplies Expense:  $19,162.07 (3.6%)
• Cable/Phone/Internet:  $3,219.64 (0.6%)
• Electricity & Water:  $36,298.68 (6.9%)
• Gas:  $14,965.77 (2.8%)
• Total Expenses:  $278,799.72 (52.8%)

Net Operating Income:  $249,451.17 (47.2%)

Interest Income:  $6.19 (0.0%)

Net Income:  $249,457.36 (47.2%)

• Some outlets have earned these amounts. Your individual results may differ. There is no assurance that you will earn as much.

Section VI – WaveMAX Laundry Franchise Ratios, Comparables, Computations, and Analyses (Exclusive Content for Platinum Subscribers) ⬇️