Laundry and Dry Cleaning services

3/17/2014

Laundry and Dry Cleaning services – How to start a business that makes money from dirty garments

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Laundry and Dry Cleaning services – How to start a business that makes money from dirty garments
Written by smallstarter ThinkTank Saturday, 29 June 2013 20:15

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Photo credit: bellsfoxy.com.au

Doing our laundry is one of many chores we lov e to hate. Ev ery body wants to wear clean and neatly pressed clothes, but nobody lov es to do the washing and ironing. Busy and demanding city life is making more people willing to pay laundry businesses to take care of their dirty laundry . The Dry cleaning and laundry serv ices market in Africa is huge and growing at an amazing rate. This business, which can be run from home with little capital inv estment, is a goldmine for smart entrepreneurs who are able to prov ide the conv enience needed by customers at a reasonable price. This article ex plores this interesting business idea and how y ou can make it work for y ou…

Technical note: Dry cleaning and laundry involve two totally different processes. While both terms may be used interchangeably in this article, it’s important to note that dry cleaning is the practice of cleaning clothes with special chemicals (and not water). Laundry generally involves the use of soap, detergents and water to clean clothes. Dry cleaning requires technical skill and is preferred when the materials to be cleaned are delicate and cannot withstand the rough and tumble of a hand or machine wash.

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Laundry and Dry Cleaning services – How to start a business that makes money from dirty garments

Why is the market for dry cleaning and laundry services growing in Africa?
More Africans are living the city life City lifestyle is the main reason for the rising demand for convenience services like dry cleaning and laundry. If you currently live in the city, we’re sure you understand the kind of lifestyle we’re talking about. Nowadays, most people who work 9 to 5 jobs or run their own businesses are often too tired and can hardly find the time to do their own laundry. The weekends are now most cherished for rest and relaxation after a hard week’s work and most people are unwilling to sacrifice this spare time for their laundry.

Fewer housewives in the cities Most households in the city are now more likely to have two working spouses. Unlike in the past when most women were considered full-time housewives, many women now work at jobs or run a small business to support the home and share in the economic burden of their partners. Even the housewives who still exist in the cities are now more likely to pay other people to do the household laundry – for their children and husbands. As a result, there is now a fast growing need to ‘outsource’ the undesirable laundry chore. (photo credit: mary annscupboards.com).

Special laundry needs Another reason for the rising demand for these services is the high proportion of white collar workers in the city. These people are likely to wear formal business clothes like suits and jackets which cannot be washed by the usual traditional methods. These fabrics which are made of natural fibre (like wool, cotton, silk and linen) require professional dry cleaning to maintain their form and life span. In addition to these formal attires are delicate and sophisticated clothing (like wedding gowns) which need a special touch. Other materials that may require a professional wash service include rugs, carpets, curtains, blankets, fabric and leather covers for seats and other furniture. (photo credit: zazzle.ca)

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This demand is expected to explode in the coming years. Africa’s urban (city) population has been growing at roughly 3.5 percent every year and more than 500 million Africans will become city people by 2030. At our current urbanization rate of 40 percent, Africa is already more urbanized than India (30 percent) and a little less than China (45 percent). Before 2020, more than 60 African cities will have a population of more than one million people and cities like Lagos (Nigeria) is fast becoming one of the most populated cities in the world.

What are the opportunities for entrepreneurs in Africa’s dry cleaning and laundry service market
The most interesting thing about the dry cleaning and laundry service market in Africa is that every one, including the rich and not-so-rich, are willing to pay to enjoy the convenience of having someone else do their laundry. Depending on the market you wish to target, price/affordability will be the major factor for some customers (in poor neighbourhoods) while quality of service, convenience and timely delivery will be the main decision factor for many others. We will look at the range of opportunities entrepreneurs can exploit in this market to build a lucrative laundry business.

Laundry/Dry cleaning pickup and delivery service business For most city people, it’s not just about getting somebody else to do the laundry. Many people don’t just have the time to take their dirty clothes to the cleaner’s shop/office and return a couple of days later to pick them up. They’ll prefer someone comes over to the house or office to pick their laundry and deliver it back to them once they’re all neatly washed, starched, pressed and ready to wear. And this segment of the market is willing to pay extra to enjoy this service.

The sort of people who are likely to sign on to this service are busy career professionals and uniformed service men (like the military) who work long hours throughout the week and spend a lot of their evenings in traffic. They have a need to look clean and smart at the office but hardly have the time or energy to do their own laundry. This segment of the market values convenience, timely pickup and delivery and well-washed and ironed clothes.

Entrepreneurs who are interested in this segment of the market may invest in equipment for doing the laundry or hand it over to a capable and fully-equipped laundry facility to handle it. The profit you make is the difference between what you pay to the dry cleaning service and the price you charge your clients. The profits from this niche business can be significant if your clients are rich upper-class professionals who place a higher priority on the quality of your service and
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Laundry and Dry Cleaning services – How to start a business that makes money from dirty garments

the convenience you offer over the prices you charge.

Operate a dry cleaning and laundry shop A laundry shop is the place where the actual sorting, washing, drying and ironing (pressing) of the laundry are done. Entrepreneurs who run this business from home or on a small-scale tend to use manual methods (like hand washing) to clean the clothes. Due to high unemployment in many parts of Africa, it is relatively easy to get cheap unskilled labour to wash and iron the clothes. This manual option requires very little startup capital and the running costs are typically low. This type of service will appeal to customers who are particular about price and will only pay a minimum fee for laundry services.

While manual methods will work for a small customer base, as the number of your clients increase, it becomes more cost-effective to invest in laundry equipment like washing machines. Standard washing machines come in various sizes and are rated according to the weight of clothes they can handle. The average lifespan of a typical wash machine is about 15 years (depending on the quality of the brand and usage).

With laundry equipment, smart entrepreneurs can do more laundry in a shorter time. This allows you to serve a larger number of clients and do more quality work. However, there's more to it than just feeding the machine and pressing the dry clothes afterwards. Before cleaning, garments are inspected and classified and the amount of time spent on them depends on how dirty or stained they are. Some heavily stained garments may go through a stain removal process before washing. With dry cleaning operations however, solvents such as Perchloroethylene (popularly known as PERC) and other strong spot and stain removal chemicals are used. (photo credit: 2wired2tired.com)

In addition to the laundry shop, most businesses have a collection centre where customers can drop off their dirty clothes and pick them up after cleaning. These centres are usually small shops located in residential or office areas
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Laundry and Dry Cleaning services – How to start a business that makes money from dirty garments

where the kind of customers you target live and work.

Some important things to consider before you start a dry cleaning and laundry service business
Capital – Only start with what you need… If you intend to start a laundry/dry cleaning pickup and delivery business only, your single largest capital investment will be in a durable delivery van. Clean and pressed clothes will need to be hung on racks in the vehicle during delivery to prevent them from becoming soiled or wrinkled. Since your entire business will depend on your vehicle, it’s important to ensure that it is well maintained and in good condition at all times. It will also be essential to have a plan for dealing with breakdowns and mechanical problems.

However, if you wish to start a dry cleaning and laundry shop, more startup capital will be required to take care of rent, utilities (electricity and water), consumables (soaps, detergents, hangers, chemicals etc). Since most customers do not pay for the service until the clean clothes are returned, you will have to set aside some working capital to take care of staff salaries and other expenses. Additional capital may also be required to get a shop that will serve as your collection point at a location where your customers live or work.

Customer service will make or break you… If you serve your customers well, they are more likely to continue using your services and will recommend you to neighbours, friends, colleagues and family. Especially for the pickup and delivery business, it’s essential that you pick up and return their clothes on time and ensure that the clothes are spanking clean. You could also provide your own garment bags for customers to use. These garment bags can have your company name, phone number, and website address printed on it. This serves as a convenience for the customer and can also serve as a good marketing tool.

Disputes can arise in this business and can often cause problems. Before you accept garments that are heavily stained, you should check with the customer that they're aware that you don't guarantee a 100 percent perfect result. (photo credit: mindfulmomma.com)

Location matters…

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If you intend to start a laundry cleanup and delivery business, your location may not really matter since you’ll be meeting your customers to pick up and deliver their garments. However, if the distance between your clients and the dry cleaners/laundry wash is too far apart, you may be spending a lot of money on petrol for your delivery van. It’s usually good to agree with your clients, a day during the week or weekend that you’ll come around to pick up or drop their stuff. That way, you’re more organized and can plan your routes around town.

If you wish to start and run a business that does the actual laundry and dry cleaning, it doesn’t really matter where your laundry shop is. However, you may need to open a collection centre in a prime location that’s close enough to your clients.

Costs – You have to keep them in check! Due to the frequent shortage of electricity in many African cities, most businesses have to own petrol/diesel-powered generators to provide the electricity needed to run washing machines, pressing irons and other equipment. While the added cost of running these generators often does not make this business unprofitable, it’s important that you always keep it in mind.

Another major cost of the laundry business is staff costs. Unless you’re using machines (which means you’ll have fewer staff), manual hand-washing will often require that you pay your employees salaries/wages. We strongly advise that you pay some staff (especially those who do the actual laundry) based on the quantity of the clothes they wash or press. That way, the more work they do, the more they earn. But make sure you have a way of checking that they’re doing a quality job and not just going through the motions. Your equipment is also another important element. Make sure they’re properly maintained and serviced to avoid any unplanned breakdowns that may cost you a lot and disrupt your business.

Pricing – How much should you charge? The price you charge for your services will depend on how much your customers can afford and the value in your services. Do a little bit of research to find out how much the existing laundry services charge. Do a quick survey to size up the market and find out if they are satisfied with their current services. What are their complaints – price too high, poor customer service, late or inconsistent deliveries and pickups?

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If the information you collect reveals that the market is underserved, it may be an opportunity to provide a faster, high quality and more affordable service.

Putting it all together…
Africa’s dry cleaning and laundry service market is on a path of steady growth. More people are bound to need this service as they demand for more convenience in their already busy lives. Since almost nobody likes to do their dirty laundry, smart entrepreneurs can carve out and dominate lucrative niches in this market. (photo credit: greatguy scleaningserv ices.com)

If you find that this business interests you, start working on a business plan and take action as soon as possible. You could also choose from many more amazing business ideas in the Browse ideas section of this website.

We would love to hear from you about your successes, challenges, advice and questions. Do not forget to leave a comment in the section below and share this opportunity with your friends.

To your financial success!

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Comments
# Apu Mridha
2013-07-22 19:51

+1

Very informative article.Thanks for sharing!

# jack

2013-07-25 17:28

+1

thanks for the advice i was planning for such kind of service i hope this will work.laundry service new york

# Peter

2013-08-08 13:02

+1

This is a whole lot,package of information.I did absorbed all the detailed tips,and won't log out without appreciating.Thanks a lot!

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hi Jack & Peter,

2013-08-08 22:39

0

We deeply appreciate your kind and encouraging comments. We'll definitely keep bringing more interesting stuff your way! Keep watching this space and follow us on Twitter and Facebook so you never miss a thing. See you around and thanks again for the great feedback!

# Gold

2013-08-19 16:12

0

Hmmm, very informative. I already have this business in mind but then I thought about those families that has househelp and washing machine here in lagos Nigeria and I begin to wonder who will patronize my business.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hi Gold,

2013-08-19 20:18

0

We don't know what part of town you live in but Lagos is a big city with no less than 10 million people. Do you really think up to 1 million people have washing machines and house helps to do their laundry?
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We believe laundry and dry cleaning services continue to flourish for two simple reasons - it saves people time and offers them convenience. Many people will be willing to pay to have someone wash and iron their laundry. Just make sure the neighbourhood you target has a lot of busy working class people who can hardly find the time to do their laundry. Don't give up your dream for this business if you have the passion for it. Make sure you let us know how you progress so we can share your experience and help you where we can. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. We're sure many people will benefit from these comments!

# Precious

2013-11-14 13:10

0

This is great! indeed it is an eyes opener to unemployment. I have been thinking on how to start mine thanks a lot. I still need more clarification, is there automated iron that can iron clothe without you doing it manually? urgently awaiting reply

# Precious

2013-11-14 13:12

0

i mean it is an eyes opener to eradicate unemployment

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Precious,

2013-11-19 21:14

0

Thank you for your kind feedback. We are happy you found this article useful. Yes, there are automated pressing irons that reduce the manual input in the ironing process. However, these machines are quite expensive and are best suited for industrial (and not smallscale) laundry and dry cleaning businesses. We hope this answers your question. Cheers. John-Paul

# Mucunguzi

2013-09-07 20:41

0

thanks, for the information, i already own a washing machine and wagon vehicle, my greatest fear is the will to start now. and then could send me a sample of a business plan to build. thank you.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hi Mucunguzi,

2013-09-09 22:05

0

http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/home-and-personal-services/laundry-and-drycleaning

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We're very glad you found the information here useful. It's interesting you already have a washing machine and delivery vehicle. It's only natural that you're afraid. It's a good sign. It shows you're willing to take a risk and step out of your comfort zone. Great! What kind of customers do you intend to target? Do you have a residential estate, police or military barracks in mind? Can they afford your service? Do you have any other person/business in your area already offering this service? If yes, how do you plan to be better, cheaper, faster and friendlier? About your request for a business plan, you will find a very good sample at http://www.bplans.com/dry_cleaning_home_delivery_business_plan/executive_summary_fc.php#.Ui41hT__gpA We'll be looking forward to your response so we can walk you through your fears. Talk to you soon... John-Paul

# T ina

2013-09-25 07:31

0

Wonderful article! I love it. Would be starting a pick up and delivery service very soon, but I do not have a delivery van. Nevertheless I will start with what I have..... my legs. Thanks alot SmallStarter ThinkTank

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hi Tina,

2013-09-25 13:25

0

We love your determination to start with what you have. Once the business is successful, you'll get a delivery van to replace your legs. And then one delivery van will help you get two, three... That's the beauty of starting small. Thanks for leaving such an inspiring comment. We look forward to hearing from you soon! Good luck!

John-Paul

# JABirungi

2013-09-28 22:36

0

I actually bought a washing machine and i was looking for ideas on how to use it to make money. Now i am sure it was a good idea. thanks

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank

2013-09-30 06:42

-1

You're welcome JABirungi. Good luck with your laundry business and don't forget to share your experience with us so we can all learn. Thanks for leaving a comment. John-Paul
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# gridnetworks

2013-10-01 16:44

0

Big thanks to you for such resourceful info. Been waiting for such. i have a question: how efficiently do i manage my customer base, cloths collected, Types,colors, batches, and the whole tagging n batching with or without a software?

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello,

2013-10-02 18:56

0

Thanks for your comment. We're glad you found the information in this article useful. To efficiently manage your customer base, it's really about keeping accurate and up-to-date records. We wouldn't advise that you spend any money on software if your laundry business is a small or average sized one. To avoid any costly mistakes, you should take a note of your customers' names, contact/delivery information (phone number or physical address). When you receive clothes, you should count and tag them and issue a note/receipt to the customer containing a brief description of the clothes you have received (this can help to reduce arguments and conflict if a piece of clothing gets missing). Remember to use a tag that doesn't fade off during washing. The numbers on the tags are important because they help you to know who owns what. You could batch your laundry according to type of clothing (jeans, linen, cotton), colours (white and non-white), condition (stained, non-stained) and size (blankets, bedsheets etc.) If you're interested, I found a piece of software for dry cleaning businesses on http://www.quickdrycleaning.com/ It has a Free Trial version you can use. Check it out and let's know how it goes. Cheers. John-Paul

# lily

2013-10-07 11:36

0

This is good information,I want to start this kind of business but I only had few ideas,now I know where to stat from coz of what I have read. Thanks for sharing this info with us.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hi Lily,

2013-10-07 12:44

0

It gives us great joy that you found this article useful. We will keep sharing more ideas and tips that you'll like. Make sure you're following us on Twitter (@smallstarters) and Facebook ( www.facebook.com/smallstarter ) so you'll know when we publish new stuff. I wish you well on your business journey. John-Paul

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# Rogers

2013-10-08 09:33

0

This article is very informative. I was not aware that services is at such a boom in the markets now. I agree that with the modern rush in life it is too hard to find some time out and wash or clean the clothes. So cleaning services is a must.

# Ay odele Ay odeji

2013-10-14 23:35

0

Thank you so much for the article.i found out so many ways to start my Laundry business.i will love to have you you as my mentor and will so glad if u can assist in advice and consultancy.i ave a great passion for laundry business.Hope to maximize my potential.my email is ayodeleayodeji_engineer yahoo.com PLs I will be expecting your reply thanks.Ayo

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Ayodele,

2013-10-16 12:14

-1

We deeply appreciate your very kind comments. Of course we are willing to assist you in any way that you want. Just ask your questions and we'll be glad to find all the answers you need. Except for your confidential information, we would love to share all our advice in this comments section to allow other readers to benefit. It also helps us to avoid repeating answers to questions we have already answered. We are looking forward to your questions. Thanks again for visiting smallstarter.com! John-Paul

# Charles

2013-10-15 07:59

0

Very informative. Following you on twitter right away. I'll be updating you as the plan unfold. Gracias.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank

2013-10-16 12:06

0

Thanks Charles. We are glad you found the article useful. Thanks also for following us on Twitter (@smallstarters). Now, you'll be one of the first people to get newly published articles on smallstarter.com!

# Aphiwe

2013-10-21 18:46

0

thanks alot the article is very informative very much and I will continue basing every challenge I enconter to it. But the is one big question i have. How muc capital does a person need to have in order to start a laundry and dry cleaning business that delivers and pick up laundry?

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hi Aphiwe,

2013-10-21 20:17

0

We're glad you found this article informative. The amount of capital you need to start a laundry and dry cleaning business really depends on the
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following: 1. Ordinary laundry work can be done by a washing machine or hand-washing using cheap labour. However, dry cleaning jobs require more specialist skills and machines (which cost much more than basic laundry machines). 2. A large scale laundry operation may require a rented space whereas a smaller scale operation can be run from your backyard. Your backyard is already free of cost but you will have to pay for a shop or rented space if you don't have the space in your house for the size of business you want to run. 3. If you plan to include a pick up and delivery service, you may need to hire or purchase a delivery van for this purpose. However, if your service requires customers to come and pick up their laundry, you will save yourself the cost of a pick up and delivery van. 4. Labour is also another important factor. If you'll be using machines, you may need much less physical/manual labour. Using machines will require that you spend some money upfront to buy them. Machines can save you a lot of money in the long term (that's if maintenance and running costs are not high). But if you don't have the money to buy a machine yet, you can use some cheap labour to get the work done.

Although there are other secondary cost elements like water supply, detergents and stain removers, the ones discussed above are usually the main items. As you can see, there is no one answer to your question about startup capital. The amount you need largely depends on the choices you make about the type, size and style of the laundry/dry cleaning business you want to run. We hope this response helps you. Thank you. John-Paul

# Njay

2013-10-24 01:14

0

Hi John Paul, i must confess,you are a God sent:thanks for being magnanemous enough to share these highly useful information. For me this writeup is sjust so timely as i am the verge of starting up a ppickup and delivery laundry/drycleaning business ffrom home and hopefully get a collection center eaearly 2014 to cater for walk in customers even as i continue with pickup delivery service for some of my customers who find it convienient.

# Njay

2013-10-24 01:23

-1

I intend using my private car to start up then plan to acquire a pick up van as soon as possible hhopefully the business will yeild the money i will use to procure a van. Please can you help us on the forum with a list of all the things one needs to get to start from home and also possibly w where they can be sourced from here in Lagos aalso i would appreciate if you cn recommend a very good brand of a machine one can get.Thanks a lot.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Njay,

2013-10-24 21:30

0

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Thank you for your very kind comments. We appreciate the time and effort you took to give us some feedback and ask these detailed questions. First, I must commend you for the smallstarter approach you're taking in starting up your business. It's good that you intend to start with what you have (your private car) and then scale up (buy a delivery van) as the business becomes successful. It's a great low-risk strategy that allows you to learn and make small mistakes while your business grows. There are good brands of washing machines out there. Any of the major household brands like Samsung and LG will do. However, the most important thing you should look out for is the after-sales service. Make sure there's a warranty on the product and that the shop will be willing to help you set up and service the machine. You want to be sure that they (the seller) can help you if you have any trouble with the wash machine. I suggest you buy from a branded shop or from the big retailers like Park n' Shop and Game who are serious about customer satisfaction. Although price will be an important factor for you as a smallstarter, you should also consider the following: 1. SIZE: Do you have a suitable space for the machine in your house? It's best to buy something that fits into a part of your home with easy access to water and enough room for the laundry operation. 2. CAPACITY of the wash machine (ie the size/number of clothes it can wash at once). Wash machines come in various sizes so you should ask about the volume of laundry the machines can handle. 3. EXTRA FEATURES: It would be nice if you found a machine with more features (although this may cost you more). Just try to focus on function and don't be distracted by all the fancy stuff (like touch pads and advanced controls). As long as it can get the job done, it's fine! It's easy to think about all the materials you need to start a laundry business in your home. It's just the same as washing your own clothes (as long as it's not dry cleaning) just that with other people's clothing, you'll need to be more methodical and organised. You'll need tags to identify all the pieces of clothing so you don't mix them up. How are you doing with your customer service? I hope you have planned some very creative ways to serve your customers above the others. Anybody can start this business, it's really your level of professionalism (keeping your promises, few mistakes etc) and customer service that will make and keep you successful. I'm sorry for the very long response. I was afraid I would leave something out. Thanks again for leaving a comment and don't hesitate to ask any other questions you may have. Looking forward to your success story! John-Paul

# okeowo sam uel

2013-10-24 06:55

0

I really want to appriciate u for this wonderful article.but I really need to piur out my mind may be I can find help here.I owned a small laundry outfit which hav been ruuning for some time nau.but some time I got it right with the customers n and some time not .I had a few staff that work with me but some time wen am not around they doi rubbish which has made me loose a enof customers.nw I want to to be there my sef but I need to improve my skill n I need training on this job for me to to still be in business in this lagos city that iam which has a lot of pple in.pls where can I be trained and knw every in and outOf this business.pls I will looking forwatrd for ur response in my private mail box.thanks. Okeowwo oluwaseun samuel
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# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Samuel,

2013-10-24 22:26

0

Thank you for sharing your raw experience in the laundry business with us. It must be tough going through these challenges. I would encourage you to forge ahead and look beyond these temporary setbacks. The hard experience you're gaining now will surely pay off in the future. About your staff, how do you pay (reward) them? They behave like people on a fixed daily wage or monthly salary; they get paid whether they do a good job or not. If the outcome you want is wellcleaned clothes and low customer complaints (ie high customer satisfaction), I suggest you change the way you reward your employees. I recommend you pay based on the number of clothes washed/ironed/processed depending on the work each employee does. On the other hand, you should employ a smart and more senior person responsible for Quality Control (QC) who checks to make sure that clothes are cleaned/ironed/ processed to the required quality before they are picked up by clients. I suggest this QC person is paid a fixed salary at the end of the month. If the QC person approved a piece of clothing, the employee(s) who processed it gets paid. If the QC is not satisfied with the job, it has to be reworked. For any customer complaints regarding any collected clothing, a certain amount should be deducted from the QC's salary; this amount should not be too small or too high so that it keeps the QC person motivated to pick out the faults in the laundry work. Now, this method will only work if you implement it strictly. If employees notice you are not serious about these rules or your business generally, they will SURELY find ways around it. For repeat offenders, you will have to sack them so you don't send the wrong message to the others who are performing well. You cannot afford to leave your business to run on its own until this new reward system is working well. I may also be wrong about the cause of the problem. Maybe your staff are not the reason you are losing customers. It could be the way you have handled customer complaints. It could be that you don't keep your promises and clients don't get their laundry done when you promised to get it ready. As I said earlier, customer service is KEY in this business; it can make or break your success. About training, I agree with you that you need to get some. I suggest that you approach an already successful laundry business for coaching. As long as the owner(s) don't think you're located close enough to be their competition in the future, they will surely be interested (although it may cost you some money). Just make sure you have an agreement beforehand on your expectations and outcome of the training to avoid any disputes. Hmmm... I believe we have touched on all the points you raised. We would love to know how you fare by implementing this advice. Thank you again for taking the time to share your problems. John-Paul

# ronke

2013-10-27 11:57

+1

This is so Informative,found it so helpful! Tanx alalot

# T ay laBell

2013-10-28 11:31

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Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. i am gonna watch out for brussels. i will be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

+1

# arigbabu OWOLABI

2013-10-29 11:05

+1

I found this very informative and really interesting. I operate a cybercafe now but its not profitable and I want to.make a switch to the dry cleaning business. Can you please advice? Thanks

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Quoting arigbabu OWOLABI:

2013-10-29 20:14

+1

I found this very informative and really interesting. I operate a cybercafe now but its not profitable and I want to.make a switch to the dry cleaning business. Can you please advice? Thanks

Hello Arigbabu, Yours is a very interesting question. Thank you very much for asking because you're giving other readers the opportunity to learn from your hard experience. First, we would like to look at your present situation from two angles: your existing cybercafe business and a new business opportunity (Laundry & Dry Cleaning). 1. Cybercafe business: The cafe business was very popular and lucrative in many parts of Africa until mobile phones with internet capabilities started showing up in the early 2000s. People don't visit cafes like they used to because they can do most of their stuff (check emails, surf the web, and chat on social media) on their mobile devices. While the cybercafe business like we know it may be dying, the smart thing to do will be to move to those services that mobile devices cannot yet do for most people. These services include document publishing, printing, scanning binding etc. Most people don't have printers at home yet and many of us still want a place where we can have our documents (especially letters and proposals) typed out and printed. However, this strategy may not succeed if your cafe business is not located in an area with a high demand for computer publishing-type work. University campuses, office areas, busy streets and markets are some of the places that have a high density of people who will need these services. 2. Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business: I believe you have read this article and all the interesting comments and responses that follow?? The information here should give you a fair idea of the size and scale of the laundry/dry cleaning business you would like to start. Please let us know your plans (no matter how sketchy) so we can be more specific with our advice. I hope this response contains information that is useful to you. Just in case you need to ask any more questions, we'll be waiting to hear from you. Thanks again for taking the time to leave your comment. We really appreciate it! Cheers! John-Paul

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# Mr Olalekan

2013-10-30 16:01

0

Thank you so much for such a helpful article. I am working on getting Laundry equipments (Retail Laundry) and venture into the business fully. I have a passion for clean clothing so the laundry business would be interesting and I know that I'd be happy going to my work station everyday. I am thinking of having a work station where all the laundry is done and different collection points at my area of target. Then I can do a pickup and drop off. My only worry is power supply in Nigeria. I am afraid that I might run into a loss with running a generator. Please advice. Thank you

# Mr Olalekan

2013-10-30 17:55

0

Also, I'd like your idea about what to consider before choosing a location for my business (Collection point)

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Olalekan,

2013-10-31 21:09

0

Thank you very much for sharing your concerns about starting this business with us. I'm sure a couple of other readers will learn from our discussion. Poor power supply is a common and serious problem for small businesses and entrepreneurs across Africa. However, it's not an excuse enough to give up on your dream. We would like to suggest two ways you can reduce the effect of poor power supply on your laundry/dry cleaning business: a) Manual hand washing: Instead of buying or using a wash machine, you could hire labour to do the washing. This would significantly reduce your dependence on electricity and may be cheaper. However, pressing / ironing would still require electricity but not as much as you would if you had a wash machine too. b) Unless you plan to be the cheapest laundry business in your area, the (high) electricity costs you incur should easily be reflected in the price you charge your clients. Afterall, isn't everyone in Nigeria suffering the same power problem? Despite the problem, several laundry businesses still thrive. However, if you can process a large volume of clothes, the average cost of using electricity to wash/iron an item of clothing should reduce. The secret to reducing the effect of fixed costs like electricity is to do more volume. As for your question about location, our best recommendation is that you locate your collection point at a place that is convenient for the customers you're targeting to drop off and collect their finished clothing. Again, it shouldn't be too far off from the place your laundry work is done. If not, you'll be spending a lot on logistics (transportation). If you don't have the money to rent a convenient location, you may need to get a good delivery van to collect and deliver your customers' clothes when and where they want it. This may turn out to be cheaper (though more stressful) than paying a full year's rent for a collection shop. I hope the points in this response fully answer your questions. Just in case you would like to clarify or ask something more, we would always be here. Thanks again for sharing your challenges and thoughts.
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# Aphiwe

2013-10-31 07:07

0

Thanks for that answer its just what i needed to hear. Another question is that, if i wanted to start at a big scale, is going to the bank and asking for a loan a good idea? cause im very confident that the idea will work

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Aphiwe,

2013-10-31 21:23

0

We're glad our answer to your question was useful. About your plan to start 'big scale', our philosophy on smallstarter.com is that you start small and learn from your progress while you make small mistakes. I must warn you that it is very tempting to start big, especially when you're thinking about all the huge profits you could make. What if? What if things don't turn out the way you planned? Your best insurance is to start small; that way, you don't lose everything if something goes wrong. It's called risk management . As you make some profits and grow more confident in the business, you can expand. By then, you may just have enough retained profits and you'll not need a bank loan. In fact, we looked at some easier ways to get capital for your business that are cheaper and more convenient than bank loans. Please follow this link to read the full article: http://bit.ly/18URcfB We're really interested to know how your plan goes. Cheers! John-Paul

# Njay

2013-11-01 01:10

0

Thank so very much for the very clear and detailed response to my rather very lengthy enquiry. God bless you for being so selfless. I've noted all the brillint points and suggestions you've made. Thnks for making things a lot easier for us:your enencourgement and all. It's such a great feeling knowing that i can always run to this page to get rraw explainations on this seemingly interesting biz.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Thanks Njay.

2013-11-05 21:04

0

Your appreciation is just the encouragement we need to keep giving our best. If you ever need further information about this business idea, just ask! If we can't answer it, I'm sure it won't be long before a good Samaritan comes along with a great answer. Thanks again for your very kind comments.

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Cheers. John-Paul

# Ay o Quadry

2013-11-01 17:16

+1

Hi, My name is Ayo. I am d principal consultant @ Taylor made konsult.A laundry and drycleaning consultancy. And i must confess dat ur comments is absolutely correct. Awever, coming into the busines without d necessary skill will cause lots of ptifals. Like aw to tag, sort, package, proper finishing techniques, stain removal and sourcing for the right machines and consumables. It is advice that any1 dat is interested in the business should first and know the tecnical know aw. U can always reach me for more info..08088041665

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Ayo,

2013-11-05 21:15

0

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a helpful comment. We would appreciate that you share some of your helpful tips about the business to help other readers who are not in Nigeria but will benefit from your knowledge. We also think it will help if you can showcase some of your expertise in the laundry business by sharing a few useful tips. If people benefit from the free stuff you share, they will be more willing to pay for any premium services (like training, consultancy or ebooks) that you may want to sell. You have the floor. Please tell us some of the tricks and secrets of the laundry business. Thank you again for leaving a comment. We deeply appreciate it. Cheers. John-Paul

# Chukwum a

2013-11-06 15:06

0

Hi John-Paul, I found your piece not only interesting but useful and incisive.I presently edit a national magazine, but I set up a laundry/dry cleaning shop and it's absolutely the business I hope to retire to in the near future.I outsourced the main job to a major dry cleaner in Ikeja area of Lagos and I must admit he is among then best in town. Unfortunately my own outfit is based in a low scale part of town where pricing is a real issue. Many people who come for price inquiries shout at our prices but who who summon courage to drop their clothes are deeply satisfied and they have made repeated purchases so to say.But my worry is that they are few in number yet, though we are just about six weeks old. I definitely can not afford afford the kind of machines needed to deliver high quality and I am not willing to compromise on quality. How best do you think I can reposition the business to draw traffic now. Thank you dearly.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Chukwuma,

2013-11-19 18:18

0

I am deeply sorry for the delayed response to your comments. I have had some very important family matters to attend to in the last two weeks. I must start by thanking you for taking the time to share the challenges you're facing with your
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business. It is very likely that there are thousands of entrepreneurs out there who can relate to the issues you have raised. I am happy that all these people will benefit from our suggestions and recommendations. Our thoughts are as follows: 1) Your laundry/dry cleaning service appears to be targeted at the premium segment of the market. Premium customers are usually interested in a high/good quality service and are willing to pay a higher price to get this satisfaction. And so far, you seem to be attracting this type of customers. However, the challenge with offering premium services is that you may have to incur higher costs to provide the kind of quality that these customers want. 2) The challenge you are facing with your business is not about traffic but focus. Since you are not willing to compromise on quality, you should focus on quality as your selling point for now. The traffic will surely come (you are only but six months old). If you establish a reputation for your business as a 'high quality service' in your area, you would carve a niche for yourself and make it difficult for other laundry services to compete against you. 3) Because you operate an outsourcing model, it may be difficult for you to be flexible on your pricing. To survive a price reduction, you may have to change the laundry business you currently outsource to. However, this may affect the quality of service your customers already know you for. 4) Have you checked out the prices of your competition? How high/low are they compared to yours? My point is, if your competition already does a good/quality job, customers may be finding it hard to justify your higher prices. 5) We also suggest that you work on improving your communication with your customers/prospects. Do they understand why your prices are higher than other laundry/dry cleaning businesses. Do you explain the benefit/value of your service over the others? Customers need to know what they'll be getting for your higher prices. If you cannot justify your higher prices to your customers, they won't see the need to patronise you. 6) If all the observations we have made above do not work, it may mean that your current location cannot provide a critical mass of the kind of 'high quality' customers your business will need to survive in the long term. If business remains stagnant, you may have to set up additional collection points in other parts of town to achieve the volume of customers you need.

We hope our comments are helpful to your situation. We encourage lively debates here on smallstarter.com and would appreciate your feedback and responses to our comments. Thank you again for sharing your challenges with us. John-Paul

# jerry

2013-11-13 17:16

0

Hi,I read all the comments and advice you give people to make them succeed and grow..Lately i've been planing to set-up a standard dryclean service.Please what are the machines,criteria needed..I really wish I culd get your number to communicate and get somethings in details. Plz I don't mind a Hi text then I follow-up wit call or u can E-mail me on jerykojo mail.com Or jerykojo yahoo.com. Best Regards.
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Jerry.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Jerry,

2013-11-19 18:27

0

Thank you for your kind feedback. We really appreciate it. We like to encourage our readers to ask questions and share ideas in this Comments section instead of emails or telephone calls. This way, more people can learn from the information we share with you. But if you have some confidential info you wish to share, you can reach us on mail{at}smallstarter.com About your question regarding machines and criteria to start a laundry/drycleaning business, we advise that you read all the comments in this section to find all the information you need. If you have any further questions, we would be very glad to find you the answers. Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave a comment. Cheers! John-Paul

# Stev en Icon

2013-11-15 08:58

0

very informative and encouraging, i will like to start something as well, thanks.

# Em m anuel

2013-12-12 16:20

0

Thanks for that wonderful message. Am inspired. I wanted to start this laundry business by February 2014 by Gods grace. I have gotten all the crew I needed and believing God for wisdom and direction to achieve this. Thank you.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank

2013-12-12 19:42

0

This is such great news Emmanuel! Anybody can dream; it's taking action that really matters. We look forward to hearing from you about your experience. Feel free to ask us any questions and we'll be glad to find the answers for you. Congratulations on your decision! John-Paul

# ov y

2013-12-13 00:10

0

I READ THROUGH UR ARTICLE,YOU MOST BE VERY INTELLIGENT,THANK A LOT FOR THE TIPS.

# Anto

2013-12-14 10:53

0
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Great information.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Quoting Anto: Great information.

2013-12-14 20:31

0

Quoting Ovy: I READ THROUGH UR ARTICLE,YOU MOST BE VERY INTELLIGENT,THANK A LOT FOR THE TIPS.

Thank you very much!

# Ejiofor

2013-12-28 19:26

0

Thanks so much for the info u have shared here. I am a teacher and run a boutique. The boutique is nt running as expected because of the area I live in-Osogbo in Osun State. I plan on opening a laundry business but I have no experience, learned loads here but still need more info abt machines, sorting and washing methods

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hi Ejiofor,

2013-12-28 23:10

0

Thank you for taking the time to share your challenges with us. I'm sure many readers will learn from your question(s). When you say your boutique 'is not running as expected', what exactly do you mean? It would be helpful if you could share more information in this regard so we can brainstorm together and find any possible solutions to the problem. A previous reader had asked a similar question about machines. We provided a detailed response which you can read here: http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/home-and-personalservices/laundry-and-drycleaning#comment-254 About sorting and washing methods, there's a short manual I found that would be of help. It covers sorting, stain removal, detergent/bleach use and several other topics that would interest you. The article is located at: http://www.textileaffairs.com/docs/caretalk-020105.pdf I'm hoping that you will not be burdened by 'information overload.' Lack of experience should not stop you from starting a laundry business if you're fully convinced of its potentials in your area. I wish you luck and look forward to your questions and progress updates. Cheers! John-Paul

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# Ejiofor

2013-12-28 23:22

0

Thanks for your prompt response. I am indeed grateful. When I say my boutique is running, I mean its not running. I dont have enough customers and when they come they feel my goods are too expensive though between you and me I barely put $2 on the goods,it almost as if they expect me to sell at cost price. The people in the area r mostly civil servants so there's notmuch cash flow in the town generally. Thanks for the PDF file, I have downloaded it n will check it out

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Ejiofor,

2013-12-29 23:01

0

Thank you for sharing your experience in the boutique business in your town. By the behaviour you described, it is obvious that you are faced with buyers who are overwhelmingly pricesensitive. These kinds of buyers are always looking for the lowest (bargain) prices and will often go to great lengths to find good deals. I hope you gain more knowledge from the PDF document. Please let me know if you need anything else. Thanks again for taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate it. John-Paul

# stifak

2013-12-29 20:53

0

thanks for the info.I am a polymer and textile Eng.I desire to open a laundry and dry cleaning business.have a top loader lg 9.0kg washing machine.Do I need to buy a dryer before I start fully?will use my own house(backyard) thanking you for your reply.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hi Stifak,

2013-12-29 23:28

0

It's a good desire you have to start a laundry and dry cleaning business. The number and types of machines you want to start with really depends on the amount of capital you have. If you can afford a dryer, that would be great. Especially during the rainy seasons, drying clothes is a challenge and can often lead to customer disappointment. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Cheers! John-Paul

# Pniee

2014-01-01 14:33

0

Thanks for this information, Some one gave me a shop some where around Lagos and told me to go think of a business I could start with little capital so I was browsing thro the internet to get idea when I stumble on this article,pls like how much will it require to start off with and been a novice how will I know the chemical require for dry
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cleaning garments. Thanks

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Pniee,

2014-01-06 12:49

0

Thank you for sharing your idea/challenge with us. The shop you now have (if it's in a busy area) would serve as a good collection point for your customers' dirty laundry. You would need a front desk and a sales/service rep to run this shop. Since you're interested in a low cost option for your small laundry business, I suggest that you outsource the actual washing (and ironing) of the clothes you collect to another laundry business that has the machines and equipment. This option will save you a lot of startup capital which would have been used to buy laundry equipment. It also saves you the headache of operating or running the machines, getting laundry materials (chemicals etc). However, the profitability of this business will largely depend on how much you can charge your clients. Your profit will be the difference between the price your clients pay and the amount you will pay to get the laundry done. This is the best option you may have to start this business if you're low on startup capital. If you have any further questions, I'll be glad to hear from you. Thanks again for taking the time and effort to ask your questions. We appreciate it! John-Paul

# Adey em i

2014-01-02 18:27

0

Thank you for the tips...... Learnt alot here

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank

2014-01-06 12:50

0

We appreciate your kind feedback Adeyemi. Thank you and have a great year 2014!

# kingsley

2014-01-20 08:34

0

Wow! Tanx a lot for d info. I'd get into action as soon as possible. God bless.

# ObInna

2014-01-28 13:28

0

Hi, I found your write up very useful. Now I'm making moves to start up a laundry service from home by first or second week of January. I have designed the fly-out myself as I intend to use it as a marketing tool. My question is what basic materials do I need to buy for a start like the white nylon (I don't know the name) used in wrapping the washed garment probably to stop them from dirt, dust or wringles, hangers etc. Pls enlighten me the more and keep up the good work.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Obinna,

2014-01-30 18:19

0

Thanks for the feedback. I am impressed by the serious actions you have taken so far to start your own laundry business.
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The nylon (polythene) used by laundry/dry cleaning businesses is not different from the types used by bakeries to package bread; it's the same suppliers who provide them. I would suggest that you approach the print design shops close to you and ask if they can produce these bags for you. If they can't, they'll surely be in a good position to point you in the right direction. You could also inquire from a laundry business close to you. Competitors are not as 'uncooperative' as we think. We have shed some light on the other materials you need in previous comments. Please take the time to read them. It will be worth the effort. Thanks again for leaving a comment. John-Paul

# Israel

2014-02-03 12:49

0

I must confess U have done a great eye opening, God bless u. I will contact u thru mail for advice and help. Many thanks.

# harm ony

2014-02-03 16:43

0

this information has really opened my eyes about starting up this business, i am planning on owning one in a month's time. but i want to know if it is required to starch suits after washing, or you just wash and iron them like that. please reply. thanks

# harm ony

2014-02-03 17:48

0

i also want to know if it is okay to machine wash fabrics with beads and sequence. it would also help if you could list fabrics that should not be washed using the machine, because one has to be very careful when dealing with other people's clothes.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Harmony,

2014-02-04 21:29

0

Thanks for all your questions and congratulations on your decision to start a laundry business. I'll take a shot at your questions and hope you find the answers you're looking for. Fabrics with beads, sequins and other kinds of decorations are often referred to as 'delicate fabrics'. Other delicate fabrics are lightweight fabrics like chiffon, organza, silk, satin and lace that are traditionally used for garments for special occasions like weddings, graduation and evening gowns. With some washing machine brands, there are settings you can use to wash these kinds of materials. If you don't have a wash machine, hand wash may be your best option. Suits, jackets, coats and tuxedos are not washed like other ordinary pieces of clothing. They are washed under a different process known as 'dry cleaning'. I think you could consider poaching an experienced person from another laundry business or you could approach one and pay to get taught. Either way, I believe the things you are asking are best learned through practice.

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I wish you all the best in your endeavour. If you have any other questions, please let me know and I'll be glad to help. Cheers. John-Paul

# Nobleking

2014-02-04 09:03

0

This article is actually timely and very informative. Thanks very much & God bless u!

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank

2014-02-04 21:30

0

Thank you Noble for the kind feedback. God bless you too! John-Paul

# harm ony

2014-02-04 22:18

0

Thanks for your very helpful reply. I still want to know if if is possible to dry clean a white suit and make it sparkling clean. I've taken time to do some online research work and I found out that a substance called PERC is used to dry clean, or can you just simply steam suits and jackets? Thanks.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hi Harmony,

2014-02-10 18:43

0

I believe I owe you an apology because I haven't replied to your comment for some time now. Yes, it is very possible to dry clean a white suit (including jackets, coats etc) and make it sparkling clean. Your research is correct about PERC, the most popular drycleaning solvent in the industry. PERC (full name: Perchloroethylene) is the dominant chemical solvent used in drycleaning. It is is a clear and colorless liquid that has a sharp, sweet odour and evaporates quickly. It is an effective cleaning solvent and is used by most professional drycleaners because it removes stains and dirt from all common types of fabrics. Unlike many other solvents (including ordinary water), PERC usually does not cause clothes to shrink, nor dyes to bleed. PERC is not flammable, unlike other solvents that were previously used in the dry cleaning industry. Another good thing about PERC is that it can be recycled and reused. This makes it a cost-effective and efficient solvent for cleaning clothes. However, you must note that this chemical is toxic with both human health and environmental concerns. Where can you buy PERC? Good question. Visit your local market and ask for shops that sell industrial chemicals. These are the guys who usually sell this. Should you have any further questions, I'll be very glad to answer them. Cheers and thank you for your patience.

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# Endurance

2014-02-08 13:28

0

I want to know more about drycleaning,what kind of chemicals do we use,I need a better explanation.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hello Endurance, Thank you for leaving a comment.

2014-02-10 18:55

0

PERC (full name: Perchloroethylene) is the common chemical used for dry cleaning. Please read my last comment to find out more about this very important chemical. I'll run you through the processes involved in dry cleaning:

1) When clothes arrive at a dry cleaner's, they are tagged and inspected. Small paper tags or little labels are used to identify the clothes so they don't get mixed up with everyone else's. Clothes are also examined for missing buttons, tears, etc. that the dry cleaner might get blamed for otherwise. 2) Next, the dry cleaner usually treats stubborn stains and spots by hand first before placing garments in large machines. 3) Liquid solvents (such as PERC), detergents, and sometimes a small amount of water, are added to the machines. The machines then move the clothes around in a manner similar to your own washing machine to remove dirt, oil, and stains. 4) Once the clothes are clean, they are either dried in the same machine or transferred manually to a separate dryer, then pressed and shaped. 5) The ready clothes are hung on hangers or neatly folded (depending on the preference of the customer and type of clothes). I hope this explanation makes the dry cleaning process a whole lot clearer for you. Should you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask. Cheers. John-Paul

# harm ony

2014-02-10 19:17

0

Is it possible to dry clean by hand, using PERC. Thanks for your previous replies, you've been very helpful. I'm grateful.

# sm allstarter T hinkT ank Hi Harmony,

2014-02-16 12:48

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PERC is classified as a toxic chemical and can enter the body through inhaling or touching the skin. Exposure to PERC can cause you to experience dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, nausea, and skin and
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Laundry and Dry Cleaning services – How to start a business that makes money from dirty garments

respiratory irritation. Prolonged exposure has been linked to neurological effects, liver and kidney damage, and cancer. It is best advised to reduce your contact with this chemical. Use hand gloves and other forms of personal protective equipment to reduce exposure during the dry cleaning process. I'm grateful for all the questions you're asking because lots of other readers are learning from the answers. Many thanks to your curiosity. Cheers. John-Paul

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TAM Afolabi
• 17 days ago

Thanks for being kind. Imagine a Nigerian asking for 70k just to give out this info i got free here on this forum. I can assure you that I will update my progress on the business here for others t
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TAM Afolabi • 14 days ago

Hi TAM, Thank you for your kind feedback. Some of the best things in life are free. Keep enjoying the good stuff on smallstarter.com and don't forget to keep us updated as promised. Cheers and see you around. John-Paul
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Thithilayor Salami

smallstarter ThinkTank • 6 days ago

Hii my name is TITILAYO, Am greatful for ur kindness, am abt to start the bussiness av already went to a local but very busy drycleaning where av paid to learn, the major issue am having is that they use charcoal iron for all kinds of cloth including white etc , which does nt make them av issue with generator, and the instruments of the bussiness is WASHER AND IRONER, pls what i need now but nt getting there is what the chemical use for washing stains, as
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Laundry and Dry Cleaning services – How to start a business that makes money from dirty garments

different stains demand differents chemicals.pls i will appreaciate anybody of like minds that we can puts head together to share idea.my no is 08078722987 for wassapp or 7a6fcb8d on BB
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Laundry and Dry Cleaning services – How to start a business that makes money from dirty garments

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