Laundry services have become more common in society, with many businesses even hiring contract laundry services for linen and other clothing.
Many people are looking for a way to make some extra money, and starting a laundry service can be very profitable. This article will give you tips on starting this type of business at your home.
First Things First
The first thing you must do before starting your business is to meet with the local government. There are licenses and permits that you will need to apply for to operate within city limits.
Finding Your Starting Supplies
You will need specific supplies to start this type of business. You can purchase them online or at a nearby store.
The main supplies needed will be washing machines and dryers, soap, fabric softener, bleach, sorting baskets, laundry bags or bins for each type of clothing item (i.e. whites, lights, darks), detergent containers that are either open for customer use or closed with spouts to dispense into the washers, laundry baskets for customers, LED sign outside to let customers know you are open, and hand soap for customer use.
Market Your Business
You should also have a website or blog where your customers can find out about the services you provide, read reviews from other customers who have used your service before making their own decision, and catch up on any specials you may be offering.
Additionally, you should have printed flyers to advertise your new business and put them in local mailboxes or place one on a community bulletin board in the area. You can also pass out flyers in person to let people know you are starting this service and where they can contact you for more information.
Getting Your Establishment Ready
The next step is to get your laundry business ready. This means setting up tables and counters for sorting so you can separate the clothing items into their appropriate piles, have the machines ready, and have a sign outside letting people know that you are open for business.
You can start small in your home’s garage or basement, which will be the most affordable way to get started. If you have a larger home with more space, you can build a little laundry room to keep your machines in. A good garage organization system that provides ample space can help keep your machines clean and more organized. It will also help keep all your supplies in one centralized location and easier to access.
Before you open for business, test each of the machines to make sure they are working properly and dispensing enough water into the washer. You never know what a visit from a customer could do to them, so everything must work well before opening day.
Business Startup Costs
The total startup costs for your business will vary depending on the equipment and supplies you need. You can purchase used machines at a lower price, but they will take time to get up and running.
With that said, here is a list of what you might spend to get started:
• Equipment (washer(s), dryer(s), soap, etc.): $500
• Supplies (sorting bins, soap containers, etc.): $100
• Marketing (flyers, website or blog, etc.): $50
• Licenses and Permits: $20 to $200
• Other Expenses (business cards): $10 to $50
Running Your Business
Once your business is open, you can place your ads online and in flyers with information on how customers can make their reservations, what will happen during each appointment, and how much it will cost them.
You may also want to hire some helpers for certain days or times. This will allow you the freedom to take the kids somewhere, do some errands yourself, or even spend time on your business if you need to without having to worry about someone else not showing up.
Finding the Right Customers
As you establish your business, be sure to get good word of mouth going so you can find some solid customers. These are the types of people who will refer their friends or family members when they find out about your service. Take the time to meet with them in person so you can build a lasting rapport early on.
Be honest with your customers and be sure to price the service in a reasonable range for them. If you’re not going to be able to provide quality service, then they will go elsewhere.
So there it is, everything you need to know about how much it costs and how easy it can be to start your own laundry service. Be sure to keep some good advertising going and you should see some great results in the beginning.
Of course, as with any business venture, there is some risk involved, but if you do your research and handle everything correctly from the beginning, you will be on the right track for success.