Laundry is an essential part of daily life and cloths
need to be washed at least once a week. Both High net worth individuals and the middle class sometimes hire a laundry service.
Cloths laundry service around the world is big business
and can attract lots of customers and money. Incidentally this business is the
first one we ventured into before launching a printing press.
There are a few cardinal rules to washing other people’s
cloths. The first is do a good job and deliver on time. Others are never-mix
colored cloths and whites to avoid disaster. And the last rules are charge
moderately and never give the wrong cloths to a customer.
Difficulty level for starting Laundry business is Easy.
Write
a Feasibility Study
Writing a feasibility study is a good idea because it
highlights what you need to start the business. The study will help select a
good location, marketing strategy and getting startup capital.
Other major things to consider in your study are type of
equipment, number of staff strength and customer base. You can even introduce a
business plan to guide your every move.
You need to study the industry and consider if you want
to join a franchise.
Money
Matters
The business is both capital intensive and low cost. The small
business man needs to decide to launch a big company or a small residential
shop.
The size and type of equipment dictates the overall
expenditure. Large dry cleaning outfits have massive expensive washers and
dryers.
While small laundry companies make do with average
washing machines. You should be able to secure small bank loans for your
business.
Register
your Business
Register your company as a limited liability enterprise. Find
out if there are any other legal requirements before starting your business.
Step
one
Location
The location for your laundry business should be in an
urban area. Locating the business in a residential area is a sure route to
success because you are near your customers.
Some people make the mistake of locating the business at
shopping centers. This might work with regular advertisement, discounts and
aggressive marketing while a neighborhood laundry business thrives without much
stress.
Cost
Implications for Securing a Neighborhood Store.
The cost of a neighborhood store strictly depends on the
area you wish to locate your business. Upper class neighborhoods are very
expensive and attract high net worth people.
But the downside is they probability have a washing machine
at home. They may on occasions bring suits and office wears which need
expertise handling. Another advantage is that they can afford to pay high
premium price to launder their cloths.
The best location for a laundry business is a middle
class area. You get a good mix of customers and the shop rent is affordable. The ideal shop should have a good secure
backyard for drying the cloths.
Most shops are lockup shops so the major washing and
spreading is done at a secure location. The reason why this is so important is
because the spread line has to be secured to avoid theft.
The modern method is to use a dryer instead of drying
with the sun.
Organize
the Shop
Spend a little on high quality furniture and décor make
your reception inviting to attract customers. Laundry business premises usually
have their glass panel doors inscribed with the services they render.
The shop should have a nice looking reception area with a
welcoming high counter table. The laundered cloths should be displayed in a glass
shelve for easy access.
The major laundry equipment is placed in a separate room
at the back. The receptionist should have easy access to receipts and
information for easy identification and cash collection.
Buy
the Right Equipment
A laundry service does not need much equipment to get
started. The major equipment is the washing machine and pressing iron.
The washing machine should be sturdy, tough and durable
to handle the large amount of cloths. The type of washing machine you buy
depends on your budget and financial capacity.
Once the machine is mid-range or top range and has a
washer and dryer it will work.
Pressing
Iron
The next important piece of equipment is the pressing
iron. You need a heavy duty tough pressing iron to handle the influx of cloths.
There are two major types the hand held iron and
industrial iron. Most African small businesses can’t afford an industrial iron
so a hand held one should be sufficient.
You also need a strong ironing table were the work is
done. Other equipment needed is good quality detergent, spray starch, washing
bowls, adequate water supply and dry lines.
Generating
Set
Many African businesses need generating sets because of
the epileptic power supply. To power your equipment the least specification is
7 kVA generating set.
Without a dedicated generator you will not meet your
customer’s demands. To handle inventory you need log books and receipts for
your customers.
The washed and pressed cloths need to be presented in an
attractive manner. Therefore, transparent nylon bags are needed for each outfit
and labels to identify the owners.
Equipment
needed for Cloths laundry business
1
A dedicated Washing machine
2
Pressing Iron
3
Transparent nylon bags
4
Tables
5
High quality detergents
6
Spray on starch
7
Receipt booklets
8
Lodge book
9
Generating set
10
Gloves
11
Soap and detergents
12 You need a Delivery Truck or Bus
Staff
You need only two to three members of staff to run a
laundry business. You need a receptionist
and someone to do the washing and another person the ironing.
The most difficult job in laundering is the ironing
aspect of the job. The washing machine has made laundering and drying easy. The
receptionist job is to liaison with the customers by receiving cloths and
giving cloths.
Market
you Business
New businesses need some marketing to inform neighbors
about your services. You can print posters, handbills, banners and offer
discount to first time customers.
Once you are established you will notice that you will have
recurrent customers. Laundry business is very lucrative, if you set the right
price and deliver on time.
Launch a Website
The website is targeted at your local community. The purpose
is purely to provide information and contact for your services.
Another way is to advertise your services on online platforms
such as Adwords, Facebook and classified websites.
Startup costs range from $10,000 – $200,000 depending o
the size and scope of your business outfit.
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