Is the Laundromat Still the Best Small Business in America? Dave Menz Returns (2026)

Summary

Curtis sits down again with Dave Menz—now fully branded as The Laundromat Millionaire—to get the real 2026 update: what's changed, what's working, and why laundromats are still one of the strongest small-business plays in America. Dave breaks down how the industry shifted from "nobody talks about it" to a legitimate, modern, scalable asset class—driven by better operators, better systems, and a wave of mainstream attention.

What you'll learn

• What's changed for Dave since your first interview (platform growth, book, content, community)

• Why "collaboration over scarcity" is becoming the new standard in the laundromat world

• How modern laundromats are being built and operated differently than the old-school model

• The shift from "no info" to "too much info" — and how owners filter hype from truth

• The business "levels" (zombie mats → plain Jane → modernized) and how value is created

• Why scaling is easier now (tools, systems, vendors, and operational playbooks)

• Why laundromats got mainstream attention (essential business, recession resistance, COVID ripple effects)

• What still makes laundromats a strong cash-flow asset class today — and where the opportunity still is

• The real reason owners struggle: weak KPI tracking, messy books, and cash chaos

• Curtis's "Wealth Without Leaks" angle: plug the money leaks so scaling creates real wealth

Episode Highlights

00:00:13 - Laundromat: The Best Small Business

00:01:14 - Elevating the Laundromat Industry

00:03:04 - Sharing Secrets for Industry Growth

00:05:08 - Transformation Through Networking

00:07:00 - Building Wealth and New Ventures

00:09:56 - Launching the Laundromat Millionaire Show

00:12:00 - Industry's Digital Evolution

00:18:10 - Tech and Investment in Modern Laundromats

00:24:24 - Ultimate Shift: Full-Service Laundries

00:30:30 - Scaling Through Multiple Revenue Streams

00:39:13 - Serving a Broader Customer Base

00:43:40 - Measuring Employee and Customer Satisfaction

00:51:55 - The Pitfalls of Buying Laundromats

00:58:15 - Future Expansion and Coaching

01:04:24 - Servitude as a Form of Capitalism

Episode resources:

• Take the Next Step with Curtis May: Business Owners: Assess Your Challenges with Cash Flow → https://curtis-73no5r8j.scoreapp.com

• Private Banking Readiness Assessment → https://curtis-qljorw8q.scoreapp.com

• How Ready Are You to Be Your Own Bank? → https://curtis-hzw1jezd.scoreapp.com

Keywords

• Practical Wealth Show

• Curtis May

• Laundromat Millionaire

• Small Business

• Queens City Laundry

• Cincinnati

• Elevate Industry

• Networking

• Collaboration

• Best Practices

• Wealth Building

• Technology in Laundromats

• Laundromat Millionaire: The Grit to Elevate an Industry

• AI in Laundromats

• Public Speaking

• Book Publication

• Industry Networking

• Laundry Chain Scaling

• Laundromat Operations

• Servitude Mindset

• Business Optimization

• Wash-Dry-Fold Business

• Commercial Accounts

• Investing in Laundromats

• Essential Industries

• Recession Resistant

• Private Equity in Laundromats

• Business Valuation

• Expansion Opportunities

• Investment Strategies

• Business Coaching

• Financial Strategy

• Infinite Banking

• Velocity of Money

• Multiple Revenue Streams

• Customer Service

• Employee Satisfaction

• Revenue Growth

• Positive Reviews

• Podcasting

• Content Creation

• Media Presence

• Global Influence

• Community Service

• Full-service Laundry Center

• Pickup and Delivery Innovation

• Operational Efficiency

• Customer Retention

• Strategic Partnerships

• Professional Development

• Industry Trends

• Podcast Advertising

• Market Research