How do you finance dry cleaning equipment?
Most dry cleaners pay for a machine, boiler and pressing equipment over time, with one fixed monthly payment and the equipment as collateral. Here’s what we found that gear listed for, what it comes to each month, and where EPA’s perc rule stands today.
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What dry cleaning equipment can you finance?
The whole back of the shop, for the most part. Five West finances dry cleaners on the same programs as laundromats and linen plants, so a commercial laundry equipment financing deal covers dry cleaning machines, utility presses, shirt units, finishing equipment, boilers, air compressors and garment conveyors. POS systems are on the list too. So are route vehicles: a work van for pickup and delivery is fine, a personal car isn’t.
Most shops use an equipment finance agreement, or EFA, and own the machines at the end. Terms go from 24 to 84 months on an EFA and 24 to 60 on a lease, which ends in a $1, 10% or fair market value buyout. A fair market value lease can make sense if you’d rather upgrade on a schedule. Our lease vs. loan guide compares them, and your CPA can tell you how Section 179 applies to either one.
Installation can be included on qualifying transactions. If your file qualifies, we can decide anything up to $500,000 from the application by itself, with no tax returns or financial statements. Most applications get a first response within 1 to 2 business hours. A clean file can be approved in as little as 30 minutes, and money can go out in as little as 24 to 48 hours once you’ve signed. For a shop open two or more years, many programs start around a 600 FICO.
How much does a dry cleaning machine cost?
The used hydrocarbon machine we could pin down was a 2010 60 lb Union at $9,500, and most dealers we checked price new machines by quote. Prices swing with age, capacity and condition, so here’s the machine alongside what usually sits around it:
| Equipment | Example | Listed price | Listed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrocarbon machine, 60 lb | 2010 Union HL860, used, sold as is | $9,500 | Garland, TX |
| Hydrocarbon machine | Realstar, refurbished, capacity not listed | $9,800 (marked down from $18,000) | San Jose, CA |
| Shirt unit, single buck | Sankosha CN-567U, pre-owned | $12,995 | Troy, MI |
| Shirt unit | 2019 Sankosha 190U, used, about 160,000 shirts | $25,000 | Garland, TX |
| Shirt unit, double buck | Unipress Hurricane HS2, pre-owned | $32,995 | Troy, MI |
| Collar and cuff press | Unipress WCZ, pre-owned | $5,995 | Troy, MI |
| Utility press | Forenta 421FOR with iron stand and sleeve board, used | $2,750 | Kernersville, NC |
| Boiler, 20 hp | 2015 Fulton, used | $15,000 | Garland, TX |
| Air compressor | Curtis 7.5 hp, used | $2,300 | San Jose, CA |
Listed asking prices we found, checked November 5, 2026, not appraisals or offers. Every row is a dealer listing linked in Sources. The San Jose dealer calls the Realstar machine “hydro.” Its pages aren’t dated and its site footer still says 2018, so confirm those prices with the dealer.
You’ll notice most rows are used. That’s what we could verify, because most dealers we checked price new machines and wet cleaning sets by quote. We also didn’t find a public price we trusted for tagging systems, so that’s left off.
Several of these sit under our usual $15,000 minimum by themselves, including both machines. That minimum counts on the whole agreement, so put them on the same agreement as the rest of the package.
What’s the monthly payment on a dry cleaning package?
Here’s one package built from that table, on one agreement, for an established shop with nothing down: the used Union, the Fulton boiler, the Sankosha CN-567U and the Forenta press. The other two rows are round numbers from our laundry program.
| Example amount | 48 months | 60 months | 72 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,245: used machine package | $1,001 | $835 | $725 |
| $50,000 | $1,244 | $1,038 | $901 |
| $150,000 | $3,733 | $3,114 | $2,704 |
Estimated payments for an established shop (two or more years in business) on an EFA with nothing down. They leave out shipping, taxes and fees, and they’re examples, not quotes. Yours will depend on credit, the equipment and the term.
I’d match the term to how many years you expect to keep the equipment, and not just chase the lowest payment on the page. The $40,245 package costs about $2,100 more in total at 72 months than at 60.
Want your own mix? Run it in the Quote Builder as a finance agreement or a lease, with no credit pull. Mixing the two has one limit: anything financed and anything leased go on separate agreements, with the $15,000 minimum counted across both.
What does the EPA perc rule say about your machine?
It depends on the machine, because the federal dates go by when you got it and what type it is. In December 2024, EPA finalized a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act that sets a 10-year phaseout of perchloroethylene (perc) in dry cleaning. It took effect January 17, 2025. These are the dates as of November 5, 2026:
| Date | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| June 16, 2025 | Perc can’t be used in dry cleaning machines acquired after this date. |
| December 20, 2027 | After this date, perc use is prohibited in third-generation machines (dry-to-dry with a refrigerated condenser). |
| December 19, 2034 | After this date, perc is prohibited for all dry cleaning and spot cleaning, including fourth- and fifth-generation machines (which add a carbon adsorber). |
From the EPA fact sheet and the final rule at 89 FR 103560, checked November 5, 2026. Plain summary, not legal advice.
Has any of that changed? Not so far. EPA is reconsidering the 2024 rule and said in July 2026 that it intends to publish a proposal later that year, and the rule has been challenged in federal court. On July 28, 2026, EPA published a final rule moving certain workplace protection dates in 40 CFR 751.607. The dry cleaning dates above, in 751.605, didn’t change. We didn’t find a proposal to amend the rule in the Federal Register as of November 5, 2026, but one could still come, so check EPA’s PCE page for the current status.
EPA’s compliance guide for dry cleaners explains the machine generations, and your attorney or an environmental consultant can confirm which one you run and what applies to your shop, including any state or local rules. Whether and when to replace a machine is a call for you and your advisers. If you do replace one, it’s financed like any other dry cleaning machine.
Can you finance a hydrocarbon machine or a wet cleaning system?
Yes to both. A hydrocarbon machine is a dry cleaning machine, and a wet cleaning system is washers, dryers and finishing equipment, all of which we finance. We don’t pick a solvent for you. That’s between you, your distributor and your customers.
The solvent does change the quote. A King County, Washington program put the switch to wet cleaning at $45,000 to $60,000 in 2018, depending on the size of the machine, whether a shop already owned tensioning equipment and how hard the install was. That figure is eight years old, so go by a current quote. Ask the distributor what the new system needs from your boiler and compressor, so one quote shows everything you’re buying.
Keeping presses you already own? Then they stay off the agreement, and only the new pieces need to reach the $15,000 minimum together.
Can you finance used dry cleaning equipment?
Yes, used or refurbished, whether it comes from a distributor, an auction or another operator. There is no age limit, though older equipment can be tougher to get done. With good credit, you usually don’t need a down payment, and that goes for used machines too.
Buying from another cleaner works the same way, with a few added steps. We run a lien search, larger items get an inspection, and the funds go straight to the seller. If the other cleaner still owes on the machine, we pay that lender off at closing and the lien comes off. Those steps are part of the file, so qualifying private-party deals still get the application-only decision up to $500,000 and the same approval and funding speed.
One caution on perc: EPA’s June 16, 2025 date covers machines “acquired” after it, so ask your attorney how that applies before you buy any used perc machine.
How do you finance buying an existing dry cleaner?
Usually in two parts. If the deal includes the business or the building, that part usually fits an SBA 7(a) or 504 loan, which Five West can place, with 7(a) loans starting at $150,000. The machines can go on equipment financing. A complete SBA file usually closes in 45 to 90 days and can take longer, so tell us your closing date early.
Older perc sites can carry contamination questions, so talk to an attorney before you sign anything. Ask about any perc machine that comes with the shop too, since EPA’s June 16, 2025 date goes by when a machine was acquired.
Can a startup dry cleaner get equipment financing?
Yes, selectively. Under a year in business, the file is underwritten as a startup, and your own credit and background do most of the work. Expect programs to look for 700+ personal credit, hands-on experience in dry cleaning or laundry, working capital left over after you buy, and usually some money down.
Equipment with a real resale market helps. Our startup equipment financing guide covers the rest.
What should you send with a dry cleaning application?
Along with the application, send:
- The distributor quote or listing, with model numbers and every piece you want on the agreement.
- The solvent and capacity of the machine you’re buying.
- Year, serial number and service records for anything used.
- The seller’s name on a sale from another operator, so the lien search can start.
- The closing date and the business or building price, if you’re taking over a shop.
Deals above $500,000 need a full financial package. Whatever the size, you’ll work with one funding professional from application to funding, and you can check your status online with your application number.
Frequently asked questions
Does Five West finance dry cleaning equipment?
Yes. Five West finances dry cleaning machines, presses, finishing equipment, boilers, air compressors and garment conveyors on the same programs as commercial laundries, new, used or refurbished, with deals from about $15,000 to $5M+.
How much does a dry cleaning machine cost?
A used 2010 60 lb Union hydrocarbon machine was listed at $9,500 when we checked on November 5, 2026. Most dealers we checked price new machines by quote, so ask a distributor for a current number.
How long can you finance dry cleaning equipment?
Equipment finance agreements run 24 to 84 months, and leases run 24 to 60 months with a $1, 10% or fair market value buyout. Most shops finance the equipment and own it at the end.
Do I need a down payment for dry cleaning equipment?
With good credit, you usually don’t need a down payment, even on used equipment or a sale from another operator. Startups usually put some money down.
When does perc dry cleaning end?
Under EPA’s 2024 rule, perc can’t be used in machines acquired after June 16, 2025. It’s prohibited in third-generation machines after December 20, 2027, and for all dry cleaning and spot cleaning after December 19, 2034. EPA is reconsidering the rule, so check its PCE page for the current status and ask an attorney or environmental consultant how it applies to your shop.
Can I finance a machine if I’m buying an existing dry cleaner?
Yes. The machines can go on equipment financing, and the business or building usually fits an SBA 7(a) or 504 loan. Older perc sites can carry contamination questions, so talk to an attorney before you sign.
Pricing a machine or a whole plant?
Send the quote or listing with one short application. A soft credit inquiry starts it, and a dedicated funding professional takes it from there to funding.
This article is general information about financing dry cleaning equipment, not tax, legal, environmental or accounting advice or a commitment to finance. Prices shown are listed asking prices from public pages on the date checked, not appraisals or offers. Example payments are estimates for an established business with no money down; actual terms and payments depend on credit approval, the equipment and the structure. All financing is subject to credit approval and underwriting.