The Complete Google Ads Setup Guide for Laundromats & Dry Cleaners in 2026
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Picture this: It's 8 PM on a Sunday. Someone's laundry basket is overflowing. They pull out their phone and type "laundromat near me." Three businesses show up at the top. Yours isn't one of them.
That customer just walked into your competitor's door.
This happens dozens of times every single day in your area. 73% of local searches result in store visits within 24 hours—meaning whoever shows up first in Google gets the customer.
But here's the problem most laundromat owners face:
❌ "Google Ads is too complicated—I don't know where to start"
❌ "I tried it once and wasted $500 with zero results"
❌ "I hired an agency, but I have no idea if they're doing a good job"
❌ "I'm spending money but can't tell if it's actually bringing in customers"
Sound familiar?
What You'll Learn in This Complete Guide
This isn't another vague "Google Ads 101" article. This is your complete blueprint to actually making Google Ads work for your laundry business—whether you're running ads yourself or hiring someone to do it.
If You Want to Run Ads Yourself:
By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to:
- Set up your Google Ads account the RIGHT way (most people mess this up on Day 1)
- Target only the customers who will actually walk through your door (not waste money on people 10 miles away)
- Write ads that get clicked and convert into paying customers
- Track phone calls, visits, and revenue so you know what's working
- Optimize your campaigns week-by-week to lower costs and increase customers
- Avoid the 6 biggest mistakes that waste 40-60% of most laundromat ad budgets
If You're Hiring an Agency or Freelancer:
You'll learn the critical questions to ask so you don't get ripped off:
- What metrics should they report every month? (Hint: "impressions" don't pay your bills)
- What's a realistic cost per customer in your area?
- How do you know if they're actually optimizing or just collecting a monthly fee?
- What red flags mean you should fire them immediately?
- What account access should YOU have? (Spoiler: all of it)
What Makes This Guide Different:
Most Google Ads guides are written by marketers for marketers. This guide is written specifically for laundromat and dry cleaning business owners who need to make money, not become digital marketing experts.
Here's what you get:
✅ 15+ easy-to-read tables showing exactly what to do — no fluff, just copy-paste strategies
✅ Real ROI numbers from an actual laundromat ($1,200/month spend → $2,880 revenue in Month 3)
✅ Customer targeting playbook for students, renters, professionals, gym-goers, and more
✅ Mobile-first strategies (68% of “laundromat near me” searches happen on phones)
✅ 30-minute weekly checklist to optimize campaigns without wasting hours
✅ Complete negative keyword list to stop paying for “laundromat jobs” and “used washers for sale”
✅ 90-day action plan with checkboxes so you know exactly what to do each week
Who This Guide Is For
✅ Laundromat owners who want to fill more machines and grow wash-and-fold revenue
✅ Dry cleaning businesses looking to attract new pickup/delivery customers
✅ Multi-location operators who need a scalable advertising system
✅ New owners who are opening soon and want customers on Day 1
✅ Existing businesses tired of relying only on walk-by traffic
✅ Anyone currently running Google Ads but not seeing results
What This Guide Will Do For Your Business
By following this guide, you'll be able to:
1️⃣ Set up profitable Google Ads in 7 days or less—even if you've never used Google Ads before
2️⃣ Know your numbers—exactly how much you're spending per customer and whether you're profitable
3️⃣ Stop wasting money—the average laundromat wastes 40% of their ad budget on bad keywords and wrong targeting
4️⃣ Beat your competition—most laundromats set up ads once and never optimize. You'll optimize weekly.
5️⃣ Scale smartly—once you're profitable, you'll know exactly how to increase your budget and grow
6️⃣ Hold agencies accountable—if you hire help, you'll know if they're delivering results or just taking your money
The Truth About Google Ads for Laundromats
Let's be honest: Google Ads isn't a magic button that prints money.
- Month 1: You'll probably break even or lose a little money while you collect data
- Month 2: You'll start optimizing and see improvement
- Month 3: Most laundromats become profitable and start scaling
Why do most laundromat owners fail at Google Ads?
They set it up once, let it run for 3 weeks, see disappointing results, and quit. Or they hire the wrong agency that optimizes for "clicks" instead of actual customers walking through your door.
This guide shows you the right way—with realistic expectations, clear metrics, and a proven week-by-week optimization plan.
What You Need Before Starting
✅ A Google account (Gmail)
✅ Your business phone number
✅ Google Business Profile set up (if not, we'll show you)
✅ $20-50/day minimum budget (lower budgets rarely work)
✅ 2-3 hours per week to manage (or budget to hire help)
Don't have all of these? No problem—we'll walk you through everything.
How to Use This Guide
This guide is organized by phases with specific day ranges (Day 1-2, Day 3, etc.). Here's how to approach it:
Option 1: DIY Route (Do It Yourself)
→ Follow each phase in order, complete the checklists, and launch your campaign in 7 days
Option 2: Agency Route (Hire Someone)
→ Read Phases 1-5 to understand what they should be doing, then skip to "When Should You Get Professional Help?" section
Option 3: Hybrid Route (Start DIY, Hire Later) → Run ads yourself for 2-3 months to learn the basics, then hire an agency to scale (this is actually the smartest approach)
One More Thing Before We Start...
You might be thinking: "This sounds great, but I don't have time to become a Google Ads expert. I have a business to run!"
You're absolutely right.
That's why this guide is designed to get you 80% of the results with 20% of the effort. You don't need to be an expert. You just need to understand the fundamentals, set things up correctly, and spend 30 minutes per week optimizing.
Think of it like maintaining your washers and dryers: You don't need to be a technician, but you should know when something's working properly and when it needs attention.
By the end of this guide, you'll have that same confidence with Google Ads.
Ready to stop losing customers to competitors and start filling your machines?
Let's get started.
Why Google Ads Works for Laundromats
Unlike retail browsing, laundry is an immediate need. When someone searches for a laundromat, they need one NOW. This high-intent traffic makes Google Ads extremely effective.
Key Benefits:
- Customers find you when they need you most
- Only pay for nearby prospects
- See results within days
- Works with any budget ($10-$100+/day)
- Track every dollar spent
Phase 1: Account Setup (Day 1-2)
Step 1: Create Your Google Ads Account
- Go to ads.google.com → Click "Start Now"
- Select "Expert Mode" (gives you full control)
- Set your business name, time zone, and currency
- Choose your billing country
Important: Time zone and currency cannot be changed later!
Step 2: Link Your Google Business Profile
This is CRITICAL for local businesses:
- Click "Tools & Settings" → "Linked accounts"
- Find "Google Business Profile" → Click "Details"
- Link your business listing
Why it matters: Shows your address, phone, and directions in ads—increases clicks by 15-20%.
Step 3: Set Up Call Tracking
Most laundromat customers will call you. Track these calls:
- Go to "Ads & Extensions" → "Extensions"
- Click "+" → Select "Call extension"
- Add your phone number
- Enable "Call reporting"
- Set minimum call length: 60 seconds (filters out wrong numbers)
Step 4: Choose Your Starting Budget
Here's what different budgets get you in 2026:
Phase 2: Geographic Targeting (Day 3)
How Should You Set Your Service Radius?
Setting Your Radius:
- Create campaign → Select "Search"
- Click "Locations" → "Enter another location"
- Type your address → Select "Radius targeting"
- Set your distance
- Choose "People in or regularly in your targeted locations"
Which Customer Groups Should You Target?
Here's your complete targeting guide:
Quick Targeting Strategy by Segment
Phase 3: Keyword Research (Day 4-5)
The Three Tiers of Keywords
Essential Keywords for Every Laundromat
Copy this starter list:
High-Priority Keywords (Tier 1):
- laundromat near me
- laundromat [your city]
- 24 hour laundromat [city]
- coin laundry near me
- self service laundry [city]
- laundromat [your neighborhood]
Service-Specific Keywords (Tier 2):
- wash and fold [city]
- laundry pickup and delivery [city]
- drop off laundry service
- same day laundry service
- wash and fold near me
Location Combinations:
- laundromat [neighborhood name]
- coin laundry [street name]
- 24 hour laundry [landmark nearby]
Negative Keywords (Add These Immediately!)
Prevent wasted spend by excluding these searches:
Phase 4: Creating Winning Ads (Day 6-7)
Ad Structure at a Glance
Example High-Converting Ads
Ad Example 1: For Renters
Headline 1: 24/7 Laundromat - Downtown
Headline 2: Free Wifi & Parking | Clean & Safe
Headline 3: Wash-Dry-Fold Available
Description 1: Large washers, fast dryers. Drop-off service ready in 24 hours. Open every day including holidays.
Description 2: First-time customer special: $5 off wash & fold orders over $25. Walk-ins welcome!
Ad Example 2: For Students
Headline 1: Student Discount Laundromat
Headline 2: Walk from Campus - Free WiFi
Headline 3: Open Till Midnight Daily
Description 1: 15% off with valid student ID. Study while your laundry gets done. Safe, clean, and affordable.
Description 2: Free pickup/delivery to dorms for orders over $20. Text us to schedule!
Ad Example 3: For Professionals
Headline 1: Too Busy for Laundry? We Help
Headline 2: Pickup & Delivery in 24 Hours
Headline 3: Book Online in 2 Minutes
Description 1: Schedule pickup from your phone. Professional wash, dry, and fold. Eco-friendly detergents available.
Description 2: Free delivery for orders over $35. Same-day service available. Trusted by 500+ locals.
Essential Ad Extensions
Callout Extension Examples:
- Free Parking
- Same-Day Service
- Open 24/7
- Wash & Fold Available
- Clean & Safe Facility
- Large Capacity Washers
- Free WiFi
- Student Discounts
- Credit Cards Accepted
Phase 5: Tracking & Conversions (Day 8-9)
What Should You Track?
Key Metrics Dashboard
Simple ROI Calculation
Example Business:
- Daily budget: $30 ($900/month)
- Clicks per month: 300
- Conversions (calls): 36 (12% conversion rate)
- Close rate: 50%
- Average customer value: $45
Math:
- New customers: 36 × 50% = 18
- Revenue: 18 × $45 = $810
- Month 1 ROI: Break-even (but building brand)
- Month 2-3: Profitable as customers return
Don't forget:
- Customer lifetime value (repeat visits)
- Word-of-mouth referrals
- Most laundromats see profit in months 2-3
Phase 6: Optimization (Ongoing)
Weekly Optimization Checklist (30 minutes)
Ad Schedule Optimization
Bid more during your busy times:
How to Set:
- Go to "Ad schedule" in campaign
- Click "+" to add schedule
- Select day/time and bid adjustment
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Essential Tools & Resources
90-Day Quick Start Plan
Month 1: Setup & Launch
Week 1:
- ✅ Create account in Expert Mode
- ✅ Link Google Business Profile
- ✅ Set up call tracking
- ✅ Set budget ($20-50/day recommended)
Week 2:
- ✅ Add 30-50 keywords from tables above
- ✅ Add 20+ negative keywords
- ✅ Write 3 ad variations
- ✅ Set up all extensions
- ✅ Launch campaign
Week 3-4:
- ✅ Monitor daily for errors
- ✅ Check search terms twice weekly
- ✅ Add negative keywords as needed
- ✅ Don't make big changes yet (collect data)
Month 2: Initial Optimization
- ✅ Review keyword performance
- ✅ Pause keywords with 50+ clicks, 0 conversions
- ✅ Increase bids 20-30% on top performers
- ✅ Test new ad variations
- ✅ Set up ad scheduling
- ✅ Adjust location targeting based on data
Month 3: Scale & Refine
- ✅ Calculate actual ROI
- ✅ Expand to nearby neighborhoods if profitable
- ✅ Launch seasonal promotions
- ✅ Test remarketing (if you have website)
- ✅ Plan next quarter budget
- ✅ Consider adding Google display ads
Real-World Case Study
Business: Sparkling Suds Laundromat, Phoenix, AZ
What They Did:
- Added 18 negative keywords (removed job/equipment searches)
- Paused 8 underperforming keywords
- Increased bids 30% on "wash and fold" keywords
- Added evening/weekend bid adjustments (+25%)
- Created promotional ad for first-time customers
Key Learning: Wash & fold keywords converted 3x better than self-service keywords!
Final Checklist: Before You Launch
Ready to get started? Follow this guide step-by-step, and you'll have profitable Google Ads running within 2 weeks. Remember: your competition is probably doing the bare minimum—follow this guide and you'll have a major advantage.
Questions? Review the tables above, start with Month 1 tasks, and optimize weekly. Success comes from consistent execution, not perfection.
About Turns: We specialize in helping laundromats and dry cleaners grow through digital marketing. This guide represents our proven framework used by dozens of successful laundry businesses.
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