If you are looking for a home-based business, you may be interested inhow to start an at home laundry business. A laundry business is great way to make money at home because of the low start-up costs and the flexibility of setting your own hours.
You probably already have a washing machine and dryer at home to use for your home laundry business. In addition to the washer and dryer, you will need a supply of laundry soap, stain remover, and dryer sheets or fabric softener. Have a variety of soaps on hand to allow for differing tastes and health concerns.
As you learn how to start an at home laundry business, remember that you will be using more water and power than you have in the past. Your washing machine and dryer will suffer greater wear and tear than usual and may require additional maintenance from time to time.
When pricing your services, be sure to factor utility and maintenance costs in your pricing structure. Also factor in gas costs if you will be offering a delivery service.
How To Start An At Home Laundry Business – Getting Started
Determine your procedures before you start looking for customers. For example, decide ahead of time how you plan to compensate the customer if a piece of clothing is damaged while in your care. Type up a policy document and hand it out to customers so there are no surprises later.
Check with your local zoning board to find out if you are legally allowed to run a business from your home. In many cases, even if your area is not zoned for business use, a zoning variance can be obtained.
Key Factors to Success
Delivering clean clothes on time will be the most important key to your success. Your pricing structure will be another important factor. You must charge enough to cover expenses and make a profit, but still make your laundry service attractively priced for customers. It is much more favorable to set prices accurately in the beginning than change them to a higher price later.
Great customer service is essential for a home laundry business. A laundry business is highly personal and customers should be treated with the utmost respect and professionalism.
Finding Customers
As you learn more about how to start an at home laundry business, keep in mind that your potential market consists of your friends, neighbors, and others in your local community. Working mothers, busy professionals, and college students are all groups to target with your marketing campaign.
Putting fliers up at local bulletin boards, college campuses, and local businesses is a good start. Advertising in college and local newspapers is another way to target students and busy consumers. You can also offer incentives for current customers to recommend your services to others. For example, you could offer one free wash to anyone who brings you a new customer.
Expanding Your Operation
When you first began your research into how to start an at home laundry business, you probably realized right away the fact that a home laundry business allows you to set your own hours. You can work as much as you want or just a few hours a week. If you are ready to take on more, however, there are options.
One option is that you can add more customers. Another option is adding services, such as ironing or sewing. If you are not already offering pickup and delivery, you could add those services as well.
An at home laundry business could be and ideal home-based startup for those who need flexible hours and want to work from home.
