Enter your machine cost-per-pound (utility, detergent, labor, depreciation) and the optimizer compares your true cost against local competitor pricing pulled by ZIP. Returns the profit-maximizing per-pound rate, monthly contribution margin at projected volume, and the break-even price below which you lose money on every load. Built for operators who price WDF by gut and want a real number.
The 12 Cost Variables
(1) Water cost per gallon, (2) Sewer surcharge, (3) Gas cost per therm, (4) Electric cost per kWh, (5) Detergent cost per lb-load, (6) Bleach/softener supplemental, (7) Dryer sheet cost, (8) Bag/wrap material, (9) Labor cost per minute (folding + receiving + delivery), (10) Equipment depreciation per cycle, (11) Marketing/acquisition cost per customer, (12) Damaged/lost item reserve. Most operators undercount by 30–40% when pricing WDF — this surfaces every line.
Pricing Strategy Output
After your true cost is established, the optimizer recommends three pricing tiers: (1) Competitive Match (price equal to local average — defensive), (2) Profit-Optimized (premium of 10–25% over average — typical for high-quality operators), (3) Premium Tier (premium of 30–50% over average — for white-glove operators with delivery, same-day, or specialty handling). Each tier shows projected volume and contribution margin.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the competitor pricing?
Pulled from operator self-reports, online listings, and field surveys updated quarterly. ZIP-level coverage is strong in metros (50+ stores per metro) and weaker in rural areas. Where data is thin, the optimizer falls back to state-level averages and flags this in the output.
Should I really charge premium for WDF?
Most WDF customers are price-insensitive within ±25% — they're paying for time savings, not commodity cleaning. Premium pricing also self-selects for higher-quality customers who are easier to serve. The data consistently shows premium-priced WDF outperforms competitive-match pricing on contribution margin in 80%+ of markets.
What does it cost?
Free for the basic optimizer. Premium features (multi-store WDF management, dynamic pricing recommendations, customer LTV modeling) are included in the WashBizHub Pro at $149/month ($124/mo annual).