How do I check a laundromat’s maintenance log and service contracts?
Ask for the full maintenance log and every service contract, then read them against each other. Look for the same machine breaking repeatedly, long gaps without service, and contracts that end or change on sale. A thin log usually means repairs were done by the owner and never written down.
Start by matching the log to the floor. Walk the room with the list and note each washer and dryer by number. Which ones appear again and again? A machine that fails often, or one that is never mentioned, is worth a direct question. Ask which units were replaced and why.
Next, read the service contracts. Who is the provider, what does it cover, and what does it leave out? Check whether the contract passes to a buyer, whether it renews on its own, and what it costs to leave. Ask whether the provider gives a priority response and how quickly they usually come.
Look at costs alongside the log. If repair bills have been climbing, ask for the invoices, because they affect the cash flow a lender will look at. The same goes for parts: old models can be hard to fix. Finally, speak to the technician if you can. They often know more about the machines than the owner does. Ask also about warranty claims. A log that shows the claims filed and honoured tells you whether the owner chased the supplier or simply absorbed the cost. Note which repairs the owner did personally, since you would inherit that work.
Key takeaways
- Match each logged repair to a machine on the floor.
- Read contracts for what they cover, whether they transfer, and how they end.
- Compare repair invoices to the cash flow you are being shown.
Related reading
15 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Buying
- Expert answerHow do I check an elevator service company’s maintenance contract renewals?
- Expert answerWhat should I check in a property maintenance company’s service contracts before buying?
- Expert answerWhat should I check before buying a laundromat with a wash-and-fold service?
- Expert answerWho will service a laundromat’s machines after I buy it?
- Expert answerWhat does an old CNC mill’s maintenance log tell me about a machine shop?
Due diligence
- Expert answerWhat maintenance logs should I request from an equipment rental yard?
- Expert answerWhat should I check about a fishing charter’s captains and boat maintenance logs?
- Expert answerHow do I check an elevator service company’s callback and entrapment response logs?
- Expert answerHow do I review a garage door company’s customer maintenance contracts?
- Expert answerWhat should I ask about a medical lab’s analyzers and service contracts?
Selling
- Expert answerHow do I show a buyer my canoe rental’s equipment maintenance log?
- Expert answerHow should I document my car wash’s equipment maintenance logs for buyers?
- Expert answerHow should I organize my dental practice’s equipment service logs before selling?
- Expert answerHow do I transition my fleet shop’s service contracts to a new owner?
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Treasury Board of Canada SecretariatGovernmentGuideline on Service Agreements: An Overview
Deavo is an advertising and listings platform, not a brokerage, law firm or valuation firm. This page is general information, not legal, tax, accounting or valuation advice, and rules differ by province. Confirm anything you rely on with a qualified professional before you act on it.