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Bookkeeping for Dry Cleaners: A Practical Guide

Published October 2026 | By Ray Chowdhury, CPA & CTRC

Dry cleaners run on volume: dozens of tickets a day, a mix of cash and card, and expensive equipment that has to keep running. Good books show you which services actually make money and keep tax time simple.

Reconcile tickets to deposits daily

Every garment ticket is a sale. At close, total the day's tickets from your point-of-sale system and match them to cash in the drawer and card batches. Small daily gaps are easy to explain; a month of them isn't. Track pre-paid tickets separately from pay-at-pickup so you know what's been earned versus what's still owed to you.

Handle cash with a routine

Use a fixed starting till, count down at close, and deposit cash intact rather than paying expenses out of the drawer. Paying vendors from cash makes income hard to prove and expenses hard to document. See why to keep personal and business money separate.

Track your biggest costs by category

• Solvents, detergents, and chemicals
• Hangers, poly bags, and tags
• Utilities — often one of the largest costs for a plant
• Equipment repairs and maintenance
• Wholesale or plant fees if you run a drop store that sends work out

Separate categories let you compare cost per ticket month to month. A clean chart of accounts makes this automatic.

Equipment is an asset, not just an expense

Machines, presses, and conveyors are usually capitalized and depreciated, or expensed under available elections. Keep invoices and placed-in-service dates, and keep repairs separate from improvements.

Damage claims and refunds

Record customer claims and reimbursements as their own expense line. If claims creep up, it's often a process or equipment issue worth catching early.

Settle your sales tax question

Sales tax can treat your services differently from merchandise you sell at the counter, such as garment bags or accessories. Confirm which of your charges are taxable in New York and set up your register to match. Our sales tax compliance guide covers filing basics.

Payroll for counter and plant staff

Counter clerks, pressers, and drivers who work your schedule are typically employees, not contractors. Run proper payroll and keep timesheets.