📱 Best Platforms
Facebook Marketplace, BMI Gaming, Craigslist
📖 The Hustle
Laundromats are the ideal location for arcade and claw machines — customers are stuck there for 60-90 minutes with nothing to do and pockets full of quarters. Buy 2-3 used arcade machines or claw cranes ($500-$3,000 each), place them in laundromats, and split revenue 50/50 with the owner. A well-stocked claw machine in a busy laundromat can gross $200-$400 per month. Three machines at different locations create a $300-$600 net monthly income stream. Laundromat owners love it because it gives customers something to do.
🚀 First Step
Search Facebook Marketplace for a used claw machine under $800, buy one in working condition, and approach 3 laundromat owners with a 50/50 revenue split proposal.
🔑 Keys to Success
- Claw machines consistently out-earn video arcade games in laundromats because the prize element appeals to all ages, not just kids
- Stock claw machines with a mix of cheap filler plus 2-3 high-value prizes (Bluetooth speakers, gift cards) visible against the glass to draw players in
- Adjust claw strength to let players win roughly 1 in 10-15 tries — too tight and you lose margin, too loose and customers give up and never play again
🛠 Tools & Resources: Facebook Marketplace, BMI Gaming, Craigslist, eBay, Sam's Club (prizes)