Speed Queen: Redefining the Modern Laundromat Experience

Founded in 1908 in Ripon, Wisconsin—where it still calls home—Speed Queen has built a strong reputation in the laundry equipment industry. It wasn’t until 2014 that the company expanded into franchising, allowing entrepreneurs to open and operate their own Speed Queen Laundry locations.

Speed Queen stands out as a manufacturer of high-performance, commercial-grade laundry machines. Its franchise model centers around unattended, self-service laundromats designed with advanced technology and user-friendly features. These facilities serve both everyday users and business clients seeking reliable, high-capacity laundry solutions.

What distinguishes Speed Queen from others in the industry is its long-standing history of innovation paired with a commitment to customer comfort. From digital payment options via mobile apps to well-appointed, welcoming environments, Speed Queen has reimagined what a laundromat can be—making it more efficient and enjoyable for customers.

Training

Speed Queen provides a detailed initial training program to ensure franchisees are prepared to operate their laundromat successfully. The training is structured and mandatory, and includes the following components:

1. Initial Training Program: Speed Queen offers this to the franchisee, their designated representative, and their manager. This training must be attended and completed satisfactorily at no cost to the trainees.
2. Training Content Access: Franchisees are provided with the “Playbook,” an online or loaned manual that outlines operational standards, procedures, and specifications critical for store setup and management.
3. Ongoing Compliance Training: Though not explicitly a classroom training, the Playbook and communications from Speed Queen act as continual educational resources to keep the franchisee updated on operational requirements and best practices.

Territory Protection

Speed Queen offers its franchisees a defined territory as part of the franchise agreement.

While this “Territory” is determined using demographic data and proprietary metrics, the franchisor commits not to establish another Speed Queen Store or license another party to do so within that specified geographic area, as long as the franchisee complies with the agreement.

This gives the franchisee a degree of protection from internal competition during the agreement term.

However, the territorial protection is not absolute. Speed Queen retains rights to operate or license other businesses offering similar services, including potential acquisitions, even if these activities occur within the development area.