How a 23-Year-Old Built a $10K/Month Washer and Dryer Rental Business With Zero Risk
A 23-year-old in Utah generates $10,000 per month renting out washers and dryers on Facebook Marketplace. He has zero employees. He works approximately five hours per week. His startup capital was exactly zero dollars. The business is built on a three-step process he calls Post, Rent, Buy—and it works in communities of any size, from small towns of a few thousand people to major metropolitan areas. Here is the complete system.
The Origin: Validate Before You Spend a Dollar
The business began with an experiment. The founder was already posting various rental items on Facebook Marketplace—paddle boards, games, random equipment—to test demand before purchasing anything. He would take screenshots of items from Google, post them as if he owned them, and measure response. One day, almost on a whim, he posted a washer and dryer set for rent at $50 per month.
He then went on a cruise with no cell service. When he returned, there were 30 messages waiting. He messaged everyone back asking if they were still interested. One person in Orem, Utah responded immediately: "Yes, can you install it tomorrow?"
He did not own a washer and dryer at this point. The renter existed before the inventory existed. He went to a local appliance store, bought his first set for approximately $900 total, installed it the next day, and collected his first payment. The customer paid through Cash App on the 15th of every month and is still renting that same set nearly two years later.
This is the Post, Rent, Buy method. Post the listing first. Secure a renter. Then buy the equipment. There is zero financial risk because the customer is confirmed before any money is spent.
The Economics
The first month produced four installs. The second month produced 17. The third month produced 13. Within 90 days, approximately 35 sets were installed, each generating between $60 and $85 per month. At an average of $80 per set across 35 units, monthly recurring revenue reached approximately $2,800 within the first quarter.
Today, the operation includes over 120 sets. At an average of $80 per unit per month, that generates approximately $9,600 in monthly recurring revenue. The actual figure exceeds $10,000 when including delivery income and occasional flips.
Customer churn is remarkably low—approximately 1.5% monthly, or roughly two cancellations per month out of 120 active renters. Most customers sign a one-year apartment lease, rent the machines for the duration of that lease, renew their lease, and continue renting. Service calls average one to two per week, and many issues are resolved over the phone by walking the customer through simple troubleshooting like cleaning the dryer vent.
Sourcing Machines: Free to $200
There are multiple tiers of machine acquisition, from completely free to wholesale pricing.
Free machines. Search Facebook Marketplace for "free appliances" or "broken appliances." People moving on short notice, upgrading, or simply wanting something gone will list working machines for free to the first person who can haul them. This happens daily in most markets.
Used appliance store delivery partnerships. Many independent used appliance stores do not offer delivery. By offering to handle deliveries, you get paid to deliver the store's machines—and you pick up the customer's old set at the same time. Typically, one of the two machines still works. The broken one can be repaired or used for parts. The effective cost per working set is zero.
Direct relationships with appliance shops. One local used appliance shop owner became a regular supplier. After explaining the need for volume, they agreed on a handshake deal: $300 per set with a two-year warranty. Since a used set pays for itself in four to five months of rental income, a two-year warranty eliminates the risk.
Big-box delivery drivers. Drivers delivering new appliances for Costco, Lowe's, and Home Depot often haul away the old machines. Rather than scrapping them, many drivers sell them for $15 to $20 per unit. Giving them your phone number creates a steady, near-free supply pipeline.
Scrappers. Some individuals collect appliances daily for scrap metal. They can be found through Facebook Marketplace and KSL classifieds. Contact them, tell them you're looking for washers and dryers, and they will send you photos of every unit they pick up. Average cost: $25 to $35 per machine.
For the fastest scaling, used appliance shops that sell at volume with warranties are the preferred channel. For the lowest possible cost, free listings and scrapper relationships work indefinitely. A patient operator could theoretically build to $10,000 monthly without ever purchasing a single machine for cash.
The Preferred Machine: Whirlpool Direct Drive
Not all washers and dryers are equal for this business. The Whirlpool direct drive models, manufactured through approximately 2013, are the ideal machines. They were built with mechanical simplicity and longevity in mind—the same philosophy behind commercial-grade Speed Queen machines that cost $3,000, but available used for $100 to $200 per unit. Parts are abundant, inexpensive ($30 or less on Amazon), and the machines are straightforward to repair. They do not have suspension systems, so they never wobble. Many have been recycled through appliance shops for a decade or more and continue functioning reliably. These machines are commonly rebranded as Kenmore and other labels—they were all built by Whirlpool.
The newer high-efficiency machines, by contrast, are designed with planned obsolescence. They break more frequently and cost more to repair. For a rental fleet where reliability and repairability directly impact profit, the older direct drive models are objectively superior.
Marketing: Facebook Marketplace and Door Hangers
Facebook Marketplace is the primary customer acquisition channel. The listing strategy is simple and effective. The title is straightforward: "Washer and Dryer for Rent" or "Washer and Dryer Rental." The price is listed at $60, which captures attention because it is dramatically lower than any purchase price. The description addresses the customer's pain point directly: "Never go to the laundromat again. Rent a washer and dryer month-to-month. Free delivery, install, and maintenance. Message me for more info." Multiple photos from different angles are included. The listing is posted in local buy/sell groups with thousands of members.
This listing breaks the pattern of people scrolling through hundreds of washers and dryers priced for sale. A $60 washer and dryer stops the scroll. They click. They read. They message.
Response speed is critical. Inquiries must be answered the same day, ideally within hours. A pre-written response template covers the key information: month-to-month rental, $60 for used sets and $85 for new, six-month minimum, first payment due at install, free delivery and installation, and all maintenance included. The customer provides their address, and the installation is scheduled.
Multiple Facebook accounts allow posting in different geographic areas. The $12 monthly fee for a verified badge provides access to customer support if an account gets flagged. Paid ads, even small amounts, also improve account standing.
Door hangers are the offline marketing channel. Apartment complexes that do not provide washers and dryers to tenants are identified visually—if residents have their own machines visible, the complex does not supply them. Door hangers are printed in bulk and hung on every door. A 200-unit complex takes approximately 30 minutes to cover. The conversion rate is estimated at 2% to 3%. At that rate, 10,000 door hangers at a cost of approximately $500 would yield 200 to 300 new rental customers.
Installation and Operations
The installation process is designed for speed and consistency. Upon arrival, the layout is assessed to determine which machine to bring in first. The customer is told the install will take approximately 30 minutes. Both machines are installed and tested. The water supply is checked for leaks. The dryer is run for 30 seconds to confirm proper operation. The customer fills out a simple contract, understands this is a rental (not rent-to-own), and is told maintenance is included with a two- to three-day response time. A credit card is collected and will be charged automatically on the 27th of each month through Stripe. The customer receives a two-minute demonstration on proper machine usage, including load size limits and lint trap maintenance.
Equipment requirements are minimal. A drill and a pair of channel locks are the only tools needed for most installs. Transportation uses a Toyota Highlander with 260,000 miles and a small trailer measuring approximately 10 feet by 5 feet, which holds three washer-dryer sets. A trailer hitch can be installed on almost any vehicle for approximately $250 at U-Haul. Home Depot rents trucks for approximately $25 per day for those without a suitable vehicle.
Insurance costs $700 annually, or approximately $60 per month. For the first three months of operation, the business ran without insurance entirely—not recommended, but it illustrates the low barrier to entry.
Scalability
This business scales to the level of effort invested. One operator in Salt Lake City manages 900 sets and works two to three days per week. Another operator in Burley, Idaho—a town of only a few thousand people—has 25 sets rented and reports strong ongoing demand. The business works anywhere there are people because washers and dryers are year-round necessities. Unlike seasonal rental businesses that suffer during off months, washers and dryers are used every day regardless of weather, and they stay inside the customer's home, eliminating the need for pickup, cleaning, and storage between rentals.
The founder's current workload averages five to ten hours per week managing over 120 sets. The business could scale significantly higher with additional marketing effort or remain at its current level providing a comfortable five-figure monthly income with minimal time commitment.
