Fluff & Fold Laundromat

19th August 2024

An Industry Specific POS & Integrated Payroll

Opening up a new laundromat business requires detailed planning to make sure you make your mark in the industry. From offering top quality laundry services and providing the best customer service to your customer base, there's a lot to consider. One of the most important considerations for running a successful laundromat is choosing an industry specific POS system like CleanCloud, to help manage your operations and streamline order management. For Mike Royer, CleanCloud was the clear winner for his laundry business, Fluff & Fold. Not only is CleanCloud packed with features and benefits for laundromat owners, but it also comes with an integration that made running his employee payroll simpler; CleanCloud Payroll, powered by Gusto.

In this customer story, Mike Royer discusses why switching to CleanCloud with the additional use of our payroll integration, was one of the best investments he's made.

Tell us a bit about your business.

I am Mike Royer, owner of Fluff & Fold Modesto in Northern California. I took over the business in 2019, and since then, we've been committed to offering top-quality wash and fold services, along with self-serve options and convenient pickup and delivery. We wanted to create a space that feels more than just a basic laundromat—somewhere clean, high-end, and where our customers can enjoy that white-glove experience. And judging by our Google reviews, it’s clear that our customers appreciate the positive, professional service we provide!

When it comes to investing in the business, I believe in spending wisely. Instead of just focusing on price, I choose the best systems that help us run things smoothly. This approach means we can deliver the best possible experience for our customers, and they really notice the difference.

How has CleanCloud helped you deliver a positive employee experience?

Having a platform that brings together as many day-to-day processes as possible is incredibly valuable for us. A streamlined solution means my team can work efficiently, with everything they need in one place—no more jumping between different tools. CleanCloud makes this easy with its user-friendly interface, which minimizes the chances of accidental errors. For managing payroll, I rely on CleanCloud’s integrated service, CleanCloud Payroll.

This service is packed with benefits. Employees can clock in and out with ease, and management can edit hours and verify if an employee was on-site at a specific time using IP address verification. We can send hours directly to payroll and access detailed reports on total payroll and tax spend. One of the best features is that employees receive direct deposits on payday, eliminating the wait for their pay checks. All of this happens without the need for paper, spreadsheets, or additional timekeeping software. And since CleanCloud Payroll is powered by Gusto, we also get automatic state-mandated new-hire reports and the option to set up retirement plans through Gusto. The onboarding process is straightforward, and employees can easily view their pay stubs via the CleanCloud employee portal.

When and why did you decide to start using CleanCloud Payroll?

We switched to CleanCloud in 2022 after attending the Clean Show. We were in the market for a more flexible platform, and when I learned about CleanCloud's new integration with Gusto, it really stood out among the other options I had researched. Before this, I was handling payroll the old-fashioned way—with paper—and it was just too much paperwork to manage.

Could you tell us more about your payroll setup before switching to CleanCloud?

I used to rely on a paper schedule to track hours, cut checks, and count out cash, all of which I’d distribute in envelopes. It was a time-consuming process and a hassle to keep everything organized. If an employee worked extra hours that didn’t make it onto the schedule, there was a real risk of forgetting to pay them. The only way I could track those extra hours was through text messages and jotting them down in my iPhone notes.

Now, with CleanCloud Payroll, my team handles their own hours using the clock-in and clock-out system. Everything is tracked within the system, so I don’t have to stress about missing anything. We’ve also set up a Google form, which we call the “oops” form, for any employee who works hours outside their schedule. They can log the extra hours and explain the reason, making it easy for me to verify hours when I review everything.

What role does payroll play in your relationship with your employees?

The other day, I was at a restaurant and noticed the employees lining up behind the bar to pick up their paychecks. Curious, I asked the bartender why they were still writing checks in 2024. She admitted it was a real hassle. For me, it’s crucial to make my team’s work experience as smooth as possible. I’m not paying them $100k a year, so I don’t feel it’s right to ask them to jump through hoops outside of work hours. With CleanCloud Payroll, their pay is deposited directly into their accounts automatically—no need for them to come to the store or make a trip to the bank to deposit checks.

Of course, we can still write paper checks if we need to—like when letting someone go before payday or if an employee doesn’t have a bank account. CleanCloud takes care of all the tax calculations, so I know the checks are accurate. My employees really appreciate getting their pay on time, and it’s a small perk that I’m happy to offer.

How has CleanCloud Payroll impacted your business operations?

As a small business owner without a large team, I never seem to have enough time to tackle everything on my to-do list. It's like a daily triage, figuring out what’s most important. When I was searching for a new system, my top priorities were efficiency, automation, reliability, and ease of use—and CleanCloud checks all those boxes.

For example, when I hire a new employee, CleanCloud Payroll makes it simple. I just send them a link to fill out their tax info, and the system automatically files all the necessary forms based on our state. It even handles tax withdrawals and submissions, which saves me a ton of time.

All of this comes at a really reasonable price, especially since everything is done within the CleanCloud system—no need to juggle different platforms. For my day-to-day operations, CleanCloud Payroll has been a huge time-saver.

How has our platform supported you with the payroll solution change?

The support from both CleanCloud and Gusto has been great! Whenever I have a question, I can email the team directly, and any minor glitches I’ve encountered have been resolved quickly. It's clear that CleanCloud and Gusto work well together to address any issues that come up. Even when I had questions about California's state retirement mandates, they provided all the answers I needed.

Honestly, the payroll platform is so simple and easy to use that I haven’t run into many issues at all. It’s actually one of my favorite features of the CleanCloud software because it’s so intuitive and automated, handling much of the work for me.


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