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When Joe and Lisa Ebanks stumbled into the laundromat business two years ago, they had no idea they were about to change their approach to entrepreneurship. What started as a chance encounter during a real estate deal has become a blueprint for laundromat success—one that's already generated impressive returns and positioned them for future success.
Joe's background in real estate spanning 25 years had taught him the importance of diversification, but laundromats weren't initially on his radar. The opportunity arose unexpectedly when a real estate deal fell through and instead of acquiring a residential property, they were offered a laundromat. After taking a look at the property, they found themselves negotiating on a deal that was too good to pass up, with favorable financing terms that sealed the decision.
This single acquisition would become the foundation of what is now Spins Laundry, in Tampa, Florida.
The Technology Wake-up Call
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Coming from the real estate world where CRM data systems and digital processes were standard, the Ebanks were shocked by what they inherited. "We're buying these laundromats and they're giving us loose-leaf notebooks and black composition books. I'm like, what do I do with this? I can't text or message anybody. How am I supposed to tell customers their clothes are ready? They said we just have to pick up the phone and call them."
The outdated systems extended beyond customer management. Employee time tracking relied on old-fashioned punch cards, leaving Joe wondering if the entire laundry industry was stuck in this antiquated approach. This revelation sparked their search for modern solutions. Joe and Lisa dove deep into research, listening to laundry podcasts, reading industry books, and exploring every available option. Their persistence paid off when they discovered Cents. After seeing all the features and getting a demo, they knew they had found their solution.
Building the Blueprint Using Cents
The transformation began immediately after implementing Cents technology. Cents opened up new opportunities: pickup and delivery, walk-in customer drop-off, employee tracking, and comprehensive inventory management. Providing real-time visibility into stock levels and automated reordering—a dramatic improvement from the previous method of waiting until supplies ran out completely and then waiting weeks for restocking.
Armed with modern systems, Joe and Lisa didn't just stabilize their first location—they created a replicable framework for growth. However, they learned an important lesson about scale. After expanding to five locations, Joe realized that "bigger is not better in this laundry business." They strategically sold off distant locations, choosing to focus on their immediate Tampa area rather than geographic expansion. This concentrated approach has proven successful, with Cents serving as the backbone for CRM, customer retention, product sales, and employee management across their operations.
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Perhaps most impressively, the Ebanks have achieved what many laundromat owners dream of: true remote management. Initially, Joe and Lisa had to be in the stores every day, but now with store managers and four to five employees, they only need to stop in once or twice a week to collect money. Their staff handles daily operations and calls when needed, while Cents makes this hands-off approach possible.
Building Checklists & Learning from Industry Veterans
Central to their success is what Joe calls a systematic approach to laundromat acquisition and management. Starting from knowing nothing about the industry, they built a process by gathering the best advice from industry veterans, YouTube videos, manuals, and industry contacts. They developed checklists and business plans before even stepping foot in potential acquisitions. The importance of this systematic approach became clear through their first location's challenges—learning hard lessons they were determined not to repeat.
One of the most valuable insights came from a 40-year industry veteran who shared a critical mistake: laundromats typically have more washers than dryers, leaving customers frustrated when they can't dry their clothes and risking mold in damp garments. This wisdom became part of their evaluation checklist. When surveying potential acquisitions, they systematically identify gaps: no POS or business management system means adding Cents; insufficient dryer capacity means equipment upgrades or retooling. This methodical approach has become the foundation of their acquisition and improvement strategy.
Branding & Data-Driven Growth
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Understanding that customer experience drives revenue, the Ebanks invested heavily in transforming their locations and changing public perception from previous ownership. Joe emphasizes that your brand defines you as a laundromat owner, especially when taking over older facilities that may have had less customer-focused management. Their approach centers on Lisa's three-pillar philosophy: clean, safe, and everything's working.
The Ebanks use Cents' Business Manager to make informed decisions about when to expand services. By analyzing machine utilization data, they discovered their 50-machine location was only getting one to two turns per machine daily, with some days showing no usage at all. With an employee already maintaining the facility and having free time, they recognized the opportunity to add wash-dry-fold services. This data-driven approach to identifying underutilized capacity has become central to their expansion strategy.
Looking Forward: Adding Laundroworks
The Ebanks' commitment to staying at the technology forefront continues with their upcoming Laundroworks installation. Joe is eagerly awaiting his system delivery, excited about eliminating coin counting entirely. The integration will provide even greater financial transparency, allowing Joe to verify deposits remotely and maintain accountability across locations. Combined with LaundroPortal's cloud-based management solution that provides real-time insights, remote equipment control, and comprehensive analytics from anywhere, this technology suite represents the complete modernization of the laundromat experience that Joe and Lisa have been building toward.
Education & Industry Vision
Recognizing the gap in practical laundromat education, Joe and Lisa developed their educational program initially to train family members and investors in their business. What started as an internal training tool evolved into the Wealth Off Washers course, which focuses on actionable steps rather than theory. The program provides specific guidance on finding distributors, locating laundromats, conducting due diligence, and most importantly, what to do on day one when you have the keys in hand—addressing the practical gap that most industry education overlooks.
Learn Joe and Lisa's systematic approach to laundromat success through their Wealth Off Washers course, featuring real action steps, forms, and checklists for buying and operating profitable laundromats.
Check out their blueprint -> https://wealthoffwashers.com/laundromat-blueprint
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Joe sees significant technological advancement ahead for the laundromat industry, predicting that everything will get smarter, leaning into AI. However, he remains grounded in the fundamental value proposition: laundry isn't going anywhere, and no robot will fold clothes and deliver them to your door. He also emphasizes the recession-proof nature of the business, noting that after two hurricanes hit the Tampa area, they were "jammed" when they reopened because laundry is essential—ranking alongside food, water, clothing, and shelter as basic necessities.
The Spins Laundromat success story demonstrates that with the right systems, mindset, and approach, traditional laundromat operations can be built into highly efficient, scalable businesses. As Joe puts it: "If you don't have a plan, you plan to fail." Their systematic approach, enabled by Cents technology and soon to be enhanced by Laundroworks, represents the evolution of laundromat ownership from hands-on operation to strategic management—exactly what Joe describes as building something that can "just constantly run itself."
