6 Steps to Start Your Own Laundry Business
The Swiss Laundry

Starting a laundry business is a great idea. But there are some things to know before venturing into it. Like all other businesses, laundry also requires some basic know-how. Even though there is not much training that is required to start a laundry business successfully, having a thorough understanding of business is a prerequisite.

Even a decade or two ago, there was no proper laundry service in India. Clothes were mostly hand washed. But eventually the laundry scene began to change, and there has been rapid growth in the business in recent years. Adapting to fast lifestyle and automation in all domestic work, people have become reliant on laundry services, and hence, it has become quite a coveted area of business.

There are a few steps to follow before starting up your laundry business. These are:

• Know about the market:
  

  The first step to start and run any business successfully is to be informed about the market. For example, the laundry business in India is an almost unexplored area. Since there are not many organised competitors in the laundry and dry cleaning business sector in India, getting customers is not a difficult job. If you can get a prime location to set up your business, you can be sure to score a great number of customers.

 Knowing the market also ensures that you know the kind of capital you need to invest in setting up the whole business. Thus you have a clear picture of the investment process for the laundry.

• Be organised:
  

  Your organizing skills will be put to the test while setting up the business. The more organised and well prepared you are to handle any emergency, the smoother your business will run. List all the things you will need. All the equipment, machines, cleaning solvents, detergents etc. should be purchased and stored beforehand. If you are unable to buy everything at one go, you can lease the equipment for the time being.

Also, since you need to deliver the laundered and dry cleaned clothes to the customer’s houses, you need to arrange for a vehicle to do the job beforehand.

• Get a reliable staff:

  Running a laundry is not a one-man job. To do the whole thing efficiently, you need to hire staff that are well versed in their jobs. Since a Laundromat is machine operated, the scope for human resources is limited. However, you will need people to operate the machines, for ironing, dry cleaning and even dropping off the clean clothes to people’s houses. So ensure that the people you hire are good at what they do.

• Know your customers:

  Customer satisfaction is the ultimate mantra of running any business, and a laundry business is no exception.  Mostly, laundries are accessed by high-end customers who need special care for their designer clothes. Dry cleaning is also most needed by these customers. So your regular clientele will mostly comprise of them. But in metropolitan cities, customers can come from households of every stature. So you must open your business to all the people to ensure maximum return.

• Advertise your business:

  Advertising is the key to mobilize a business. Printing brochures and handing out leaflets is a great way to let people know about your new laundry and what services you provide. Word of mouth is also vital to make your business grow. So select areas of potential clients and spread the word!

• Stand out:

  Even though the laundry business is a comparatively new one in India, you will face a few competitors in the market. So your focus should be on standing out among the rest. For example, you can bank on services like spot removal and laundry for curtains and duvets to make you special. Also, providing online services can go a long way in getting customers in today’s world.

Following these steps can ensure that you get a good start to your laundry business. Apart from these if you can provide good services and satisfy your customers, your business will surely thrive and flourish!