Dry Cleaning & Laundry Services

The 14,248 Dry cleaners in the US provide services to clean and maintain clothing and home furnishings, such as drapes and bedspreads. Services are provided to both individual consumers and commercial accounts and include cleaning, alterations, and repairs. Most firms are independently owned, but may operate as franchisees of national chains.

Changing Regulations

Industry regulation of Perc (perchloroethylene) is continuing to become more stringent.

Green Cleaners as Market Opportunity

Some dry cleaners are using growing opposition to Perc as an opportunity to operate in a more environmentally-friendly way, and advertise their “green” status.

Oct 16, 2026 - Dry Cleaners Face Pressure to Strengthen Workplace Safety

• A September 2026 report from American Drycleaner highlighted the need for US dry cleaning operators to strengthen workplace safety practices to reduce injuries, operating disruptions, and potential liability. Dry cleaning employees face hazards involving hot equipment, steam, chemical solvents, and moving machinery. The report emphasized employee training, hazard recognition, and consistent safety procedures to prevent workplace accidents. Inadequate safety practices can increase workers' compensation expenses, disrupt production, and expose operators to regulatory penalties. Maintaining effective safety programs is particularly important as businesses introduce automated equipment that can create additional pinch and crush hazards. Regular employee training, equipment maintenance, and workplace inspections may help dry cleaners protect workers while controlling operating costs and maintaining productivity.
• EVI Industries completed its acquisition of Miami-based Sudsies on September 2026, establishing a consumer garment care services division and marking its first expansion beyond commercial laundry distribution. Sudsies, which specializes in luxury garment care and pickup and delivery services, generated approximately $21.7 million in revenue during the 12 months ended June 2026, according to EVI. The publicly traded company intends to use Sudsies as a foundation for acquiring additional garment care businesses and building a nationwide operation. The transaction signals growing investor interest in the fragmented US dry cleaning industry and could accelerate consolidation. Independent operators may gain opportunities to sell their businesses or obtain expansion capital, while facing greater competition from larger, well-financed companies.
• The SBA’s proposed increase in the small-business size standard could expand financing and federal-contracting opportunities for US dry cleaners, according to an American Drycleaner report. Under the proposal, the revenue cap for NAICS 8123, Drycleaning and Laundry Services, would rise to $47 million from $35 million in average annual receipts, allowing larger operators to retain small-business status. That could broaden access to SBA-backed loans, federal contracting set-asides and other preferences, supporting investment in equipment, plant upgrades and expansion. The higher threshold could be especially meaningful for growing multi-location cleaners that might otherwise outgrow eligibility. At the same time, expanding the pool of qualifying firms could increase competition for federal contracts and SBA programs. The proposal remains preliminary, with public comments due in late September.
• According to a recent American Laundry News report, labor shortages are becoming a growing constraint on the US dry cleaning and laundry services industry, particularly for chief engineers and maintenance technicians. Immigration-policy changes since 2025 have tightened access to workers, while new 2026 requirements are increasing work-authorization screening, verification time, and compliance costs. Operators are responding with higher wages, greater use of staffing and recruiting firms, and investment in RFID tracking, automated sorting, and high-efficiency laundry equipment. AI may help with recruiting and operations, but productivity gains remain uncertain: cited research found employees can save about 11 hours per week using AI, yet spend 6.4 hours checking or correcting its output, while only 13% of organizations report significant improvements. The outlook favors operators that combine automation with stronger retention, technical training, and competitive compensation to offset persistent labor constraints.

Industry size & Structure

An average dry cleaner has about 7 employees and generates $567,300 in annual revenue.

• The US has about 14,250 firms with $8 billion in annual revenue.
• The average establishment has over $100,000 worth of equipment, and spends around $7,000 a year on advertising.
• Dry cleaning establishments may be independently owned or operate as a franchise of a national chain.
• Segments include cleaning services for individuals and businesses, reselling, and alterations.
• Large companies include DryClean USA, Tide Cleaners, Comet Cleaners, and Martinizing Dry Cleaners.