CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Iowa
46 coin-operated laundries and drycleaners operated in Iowa in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 46CBP 2023
- Employees
- 197mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.4U.S. 3.2
- State rank
- 37th of 51by count
Coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Iowa by the numbers
The Census Bureau counted 46 coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Iowa in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 812310). They employed 197 people in mid-March and reported $3,741,000 in annual payroll. That is the 37th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Coin-operated laundries and drycleaners make up 0.06% of the 83,321 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Iowa has 1.4 coin-operated laundries and drycleaners, 55.7% below the national rate of 3.2. The average establishment has 4.3 employees against 3.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $18,990, 28.0% below the U.S. figure of $26,359.
| Measure | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 46 | 10,890 |
| Mid-March employees | 197 (moderate noise) | 41,351 |
| Annual payroll | $3,741,000 | $1,089,970,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.3 | 3.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $18,990 | $26,359 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.4 | 3.2 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Iowa's largest markets for coin-operated laundries and drycleaners
Census published laundromat counts for 5 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Iowa. The largest is Omaha, NE-IA, with 21 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 39% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | 21 | — | 2.1 |
| Des Moines, IA | 14 | 67 | 1.9 |
| Davenport, IA-IL | 7 | — | 1.8 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 4 | — | 1.4 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 3 | — | 2.1 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Iowa
67.4% of Iowa's coin-operated laundries and drycleaners with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 75.4% nationally. 100.0% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 29 | 67.4% | 75.4% |
| 5–9 employees | 14 | 32.6% | 18.7% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 4.7% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 1.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a laundromat in Iowa has to catch
Laundromats take calls about hours, machine availability and wash-and-fold service. Wash-and-fold and pickup services rely on phone and text.
A few of the calls that come in to coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Iowa:
- The laundromat calls a customer when an order is ready.
- A customer calls about wash-and-fold turnaround.
- A customer calls about hours.
What coin-operated laundries and drycleaners text about
Laundromats text order-ready notices.
Texting from a local number in Iowa requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Iowa
Coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Iowa average 4.3 employees, so the comparison uses a 4-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $99.80 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $120.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 4 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $252 less than RingCentral for a laundromat in Iowa of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $76.00 | $912.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $92.00 | $1,104.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $99.80 | $1,197.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $108.00 | $1,296.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $120.00 | $1,440.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Iowa
Iowa has 5 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a laundromat can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 712 | 633 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 641 | 584 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 515 | 578 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 319 | 565 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 563 | 388 | Central | 2001 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for coin-operated laundries and drycleaners in Iowa
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Iowa is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many coin-operated laundries and drycleaners are in Iowa?
46 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 197 people in mid-March.
Which Iowa metro area has the most coin-operated laundries and drycleaners?
Omaha, NE-IA, with 21 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 4-person laundromat?
$120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $99.80 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Iowa number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.