Store Owner Authors New Book About Laundry Industry

By PlanetLaundry staff | Aug 11, 2010

Adapting to the new economy has many people rethinking their career and lifestyle choices as Americans brace for a future transformed by corporate downsizing, dissolution of retirement funds and tanked real estate investments. In just a few short years, many people have swapped a comfortable retirement plan for a new struggle: saving enough money for retirement.

When Brian Brunckhorst was downsized out of his comfortable position at a Silicon Valley startup seven years ago, the former software test engineer looked into potential “safety net” business options to meet his family’s basic living expenses until he returned to work. Intrigued by the promise of stability he saw in the self-service laundry business, Brunckhorst purchased his first coin laundry in 2003 and never looked back.

“I did not intend to start my career over at the beginning,” Brunckhorst said. “The idea was to have a business that would meet my family's basic needs if I ever got laid off again.

“Eventually the income from the [laundromat] businesses replaced my wife’s income and then my own, freeing us from our jobs.”

Brunckhorst has just released “Secrets of Buying and Owning Laundromats,” a book detailing his experience and offering readers insight into the challenges he faced transitioning from corporate America to business ownership, and from employee to business owner.

According to Brunckhorst, the book’s goal is to offer advice to help entrepreneurs avoid many of the costly mistakes made when venturing into business ownership for the first time, and to provide insight into the best operations procedures for a self-service laundry business.

His book includes insight on:

• Entering the self-service laundry business.

• Identifying profitable locations.

• Selecting the proper equipment mix.

• Negotiating a favorable lease.

• Obtaining financing creatively.

• Improving safety and reducing risk of theft and vandalism.

• Creating marketing strategies.

In “Secrets of Buying and Owning Laundromats,” Brunckhorst channeled the fear and uncertainty he experienced when his Silicon Valley career came to an abrupt halt, leaving him to reevaluate his plans to support his family.

“Being downsized is a terrible feeling,” Brunckhorst said. “It leaves you in fear of how you will provide for your family.

“The idea of job security is a thing of the past.”

When he began weighing his options, Brunckhorst was drawn to the recession-resistant nature of the coin laundry business and its ability to be run part-time. Since buying his first store in 2003, his business has grown to four stores, which he and his wife run part-time. This leaves them plenty of time to spend raising their children.

“I love the fact that we can both be there when our kids get home from school,” Brunckhorst said.

Today, Brunckhorst is also a board member of the Golden State Coin Laundry Association, the northern California affiliate of the Coin Laundry Association.

“Secrets of Buying and Owning Laundromats” is available through its publisher, T. B. Group, Inc. in Dublin, Calif., as well as online at coinlaundry.org.