Customer-Owned Goods vs. Linen Rentals: Which Service Works Best for Your Business?

Whether you run a busy restaurant, hotel, healthcare facility, or automotive shop, one thing is true: laundry takes more time and energy than most people realize. From stained tablecloths and napkins, to sheets that need daily turnover, to uniforms that protect your team, keeping everything clean and ready is a full-time job in itself.

Nobody on your team is signing up to scrub grease-covered uniforms at home or figure out how to get red wine out of a white tablecloth. Laundry isn’t just time-consuming, it’s stressful, and it directly impacts how guests and customers see your business.

That’s why many businesses turn to professional laundry services. There are two main options: customer owned goods (COG), where you buy your linens/uniforms but outsource the laundry, or rental programs, where everything from the inventory to the laundry is handled for you. Both have their advantages, and the right choice depends on your needs.

What are Customer Owned Goods (COG)?

COG means you purchase and own your table linens, bedding, towels, or uniforms, and then partner with a professional laundry service to keep them fresh and spotless.

Why Businesses Choose COG:

• Professional-quality cleaning: Specialized equipment, detergents, and processes remove stains and extend fabric life in ways home or on-site washers can’t.
• Better presentation: Guests notice when sheets look dull or napkins have lingering stains. With professional laundering, everything is crisp, bright, and guest-ready.
• Control over style: You pick your own fabrics, colors, and styles to match your brand. 

Challenges of COG:

• Inventory management: You’re responsible for buying and replacing items as they wear out.
• Upfront cost: Stocking enough linens or uniforms (plus backups) requires a significant investment.
• Seasonal fluctuations: If your demand spikes with wedding season, holiday banquets, busy patient season, etc. you need extra on hand, which means more storage space and higher costs. 

Overall, COG works well for businesses that want complete control over their look, and have the space and budget to manage inventory themselves.

Linen & Uniform Rentals: Everything Taken Care Of

A rental program takes the stress off your shoulders. The provider supplies the linens or uniforms and handles all the laundry, repairs, replacements, and inventory management.

Why Rentals Work:

• No storage or replacement headaches: You don’t have to track missing napkins or replace worn-out sheets, we do it for you.
• Always stocked: Busy weekend ahead? More staff hired for the season? Rentals scale up or down so you’re never short.
• Save staff time: No more paying employees to fold, press, or try to tackle impossible stains. Your team can stay focused on serving guests or doing their jobs.
• Professional image, guaranteed: Clean uniforms make a statement, whether it’s a healthcare worker in spotless scrubs, a server in a wrinkle-free shirt, or an auto tech who isn’t carrying yesterday’s oil stains into today’s shift. 

Things to Consider:

• Recurring cost: Rentals are billed weekly or monthly as part of your service.
• Limited customization: If you're running a bed & breakfast with heirloom-quality linens, or a restaurant with custom embroidered napkins, owning often gives you more customization than rentals. 

For most busy businesses, rentals offer the ultimate convenience: fresh, consistent, professional linens and uniforms without the responsibility of managing it all in-house.

The Uniform Factor

Linens get a lot of attention, but uniforms are just as important, and just as challenging to manage.

• Automotive: Oil, grease, and grime don’t belong in a home washer. Professional laundering keeps uniforms clean, safe, and long-lasting.
• Healthcare: Scrubs and medical linens must meet strict hygiene standards. Professional laundering guarantees germs and contaminants are eliminated, something regular washers can’t guarantee.
• Hospitality: A polished, consistent look reassures guests they’re in good hands. Wrinkle-free, stain-free uniforms say your team is prepared and professional.