Today is another mile stone. 14 years ago today, I opened my little self-service laundromat in our rural Alaskan community.
My facility that I built wasn't my dream business. I wanted at least 20 washers. The controlling governmental department wasn't even going to let me have 1 washer -- we're on septic tanks rather than a public waste system. Their first response was a resounding no! Laundromats in our situation were not allowed. I spent 6 month of my life talking and talking. I proposed every plan, and twist on those plans, that I could conceive. Finally they granted me the right for 9 washers. I couldn't have a sink or a public restroom. I used every gallon of water for the 9 washers that they would approve. They literally told me to be quiet and go away. They would see me when I was done and ready for their inspection.
So, I spent my money and I built out my little business on some vacant land at the end of my mobile home park. 14 years ago today, I was there waiting for the community to come and see the wonderful thing I had done. The other closest facility is 13 miles away in a neighboring town. How could I lose?
Funny, just about no one came. The community, as a whole, continued to go to town to do their laundry. I advertised. I sent post cards to everyone. I put up flier on the bulletin boards. I passed out discount coupons to all the businesses. And, almost no came. So, I did it all again. And again. And again.
A small trickle of business started with my tenants and few hardy soul from the community. It took 5 years to establish that business.
Flip forward 14 years... Now, when I clean out my cash box at the laundromat, it's my nightly Forest Gump moment. I never know what cash is going to be in that box, but I have good averages after all these years. I think of it as my minimum wage job that takes an average of 45 minutes per day to complete.
I open the doors for that business on my way to my office in the mornings -- it takes me 5 minutes. My husband and I clean and close it each night -- it takes about 20 to 40 minutes. Yes, at times I hire someone else to do the opening, closing and cleaning. There are moments when we have to fix a machine or do regular maintenance items.
In there, I also have a candy machine and a coke machine, which I stock with goodies. Those machines collect just about every coin from the pockets of my customers and tenants. The kids and their friends love those vending machines!
It's just a small dribble of money that comes in day after day. I believe in dribbles. Create a few of those dribbles, and you have a good income stream.
My facility that I built wasn't my dream business. I wanted at least 20 washers. The controlling governmental department wasn't even going to let me have 1 washer -- we're on septic tanks rather than a public waste system. Their first response was a resounding no! Laundromats in our situation were not allowed. I spent 6 month of my life talking and talking. I proposed every plan, and twist on those plans, that I could conceive. Finally they granted me the right for 9 washers. I couldn't have a sink or a public restroom. I used every gallon of water for the 9 washers that they would approve. They literally told me to be quiet and go away. They would see me when I was done and ready for their inspection.
So, I spent my money and I built out my little business on some vacant land at the end of my mobile home park. 14 years ago today, I was there waiting for the community to come and see the wonderful thing I had done. The other closest facility is 13 miles away in a neighboring town. How could I lose?
Funny, just about no one came. The community, as a whole, continued to go to town to do their laundry. I advertised. I sent post cards to everyone. I put up flier on the bulletin boards. I passed out discount coupons to all the businesses. And, almost no came. So, I did it all again. And again. And again.
A small trickle of business started with my tenants and few hardy soul from the community. It took 5 years to establish that business.
Flip forward 14 years... Now, when I clean out my cash box at the laundromat, it's my nightly Forest Gump moment. I never know what cash is going to be in that box, but I have good averages after all these years. I think of it as my minimum wage job that takes an average of 45 minutes per day to complete.
I open the doors for that business on my way to my office in the mornings -- it takes me 5 minutes. My husband and I clean and close it each night -- it takes about 20 to 40 minutes. Yes, at times I hire someone else to do the opening, closing and cleaning. There are moments when we have to fix a machine or do regular maintenance items.
In there, I also have a candy machine and a coke machine, which I stock with goodies. Those machines collect just about every coin from the pockets of my customers and tenants. The kids and their friends love those vending machines!
It's just a small dribble of money that comes in day after day. I believe in dribbles. Create a few of those dribbles, and you have a good income stream.
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Last edited:
Access Restricted: Unlock 1,000,000+ Posts
Stop Peeking Through the Keyhole.
Open the Door.
You hit a wall because the best advice isn't free—it's earned. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has been active here daily (99.9% active rate), building a war room for entrepreneurs who refuse to settle for mediocrity.
- Active Daily: Life-changing content posted dozens of times every day. No dead threads.
- MJ's Inner Circle: Direct access to the author of The Millionaire Fastlane.
- Vetted Network: Connect with founders scaling to 7 and 8 figures.
- Proven Roadmaps: Strategy over motivation. Execution over "hustle porn."
"SCALED TO 6-FIGURE MONTHS"
"Tips and advice here saved me from huge mistakes, others allowed me to scale my business to 6-figure months."— User MitchC
"INSANE QUALITY OF PEOPLE"
"The number of high quality people I've met from this forum has been insane. All of it predicated on building real value."— User Richard Peck
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with."
Are you surrounding yourself with success?
