Introduction

Laundry and dry cleaning are two types of evergreen businesses. There will always be a demand for a place that can take special care of our clothing. So, if your idea is to start a two-in-one, laundry and dry cleaning business, you’re on a good path.

Starting this kind of business can be successful and profitable. However, before you start, there are some things you should know. 

This article will help you figure out everything you need to start a successful laundry and dry cleaning business. Let’s see.

Determine the niche and write a business plan

Regardless of the kind of business you plan to start, conducting market research is a smart first step. This research will inform you about the need for a laundry and dry cleaning business. 

If you plan to open a brand-new laundry and dry-cleaning business, market research will help you determine the demand for it in the area and the competition.

After you’ve done the research, you can start working on a strategic business plan.  

The business plan should include general information about the kind of business you plan to start, competitive advantages, and the type of services the business will provide. Include how you plan to structure your business, who will run the company, who will your target customers be, and who is your competition. 

Also, make sure you also describe funding requirements and your marketing strategy.

Find a great location and a store

The next important is finding the location for your business. Location is crucial when you’re opening a store like this. Before you settle for a certain location, you need to research demography and competition. 

Make a list of locations that don’t have a lot of competition and have the demography you’re searching for. This will take some time, so make sure you’re prepared.

Once you find an ideal location, it’s time to look for a store. Again, patience is the key because finding an ideal store will be tricky. The space should be large enough to accommodate all the equipment and it should be visible to potential customers.

Choose a name and register your business

Having found a perfect location and store, the next thing is choosing a name for your business and registering it. This is probably the most interesting part of setting up a business. 

When choosing a name try to stick to short, catchy, and attention-grabbing names. Once you narrow down your list of options, check to see if they are all free, meaning that no one is using a certain name already.

Once you have a name, you can now register your business. The registration process will vary depending on the country or state you live in. So, this means that you will have to find out about the registration process in your area.

Get all the equipment

A successful business depends on the right equipment. This means that you’ll need to invest in quality machinery and equipment when it comes to laundry and dry cleaning. 

You’ll need to invest in several washers and dryers, dry-cleaning chemicals (green ones preferably), presses, irons, and ironing boards. Then, you’ll need sorting bins, clothing racks, heavy-duty clothes hangers, and garment coverings.

All in all, top-performing equipment is crucial to making your business successful.

Get all the necessary permits and licenses

However, that’s not all. Before you can open your laundry and dry cleaning business, you need to get all the necessary permits and licenses. You’ll probably need specific permits and licenses for a laundry and dry cleaning business. 

You’ll most likely need to register for environmental protection and declare the kind of chemicals you use in the dry cleaning process. Once again, this depends on the state or country you’re in.

Connect with suppliers and vendors

To be able to run your business smoothly, you’ll need to find reliable suppliers and vendors. Find businesses whose quality and price can match both your requirements and budget. Consistent delivery and punctuality should be some of your requirements. 

So, be choosy and picky when looking for connections. Having reliable connections is very important for running a successful business.

Hire staff

You alone won’t be able to run your business successfully. There’s only so much a single person can do. That’s why you need to find and hire a staff. 

Most laundry and dry cleaning businesses don’t need more than three people – a store manager, a washer, and a delivery person. 

Just like with suppliers and vendors, hiring employees is a delicate process that will take time. You need someone reliable who has all the required skills. 

Once you hire staff, you may need to train them – a washer person especially. A washer should know the difference between fabrics and how to clean them, how to operate machines and presses, and so on.

Promote your business

The last, but certainly not the least part is promotion. You need to promote your business. New businesses need to work on this part a lot. So, investing in different marketing strategies is a must. 

Traditional and digital marketing is a great way to introduce your business to customers. You can mix both these types of strategies.

Start by distributing pamphlets, flyers, and other similar promotional material. Invest in online marketing options such as social media ads, and Google ads.

But don’t stop there. Launch a website, create social media profiles, and use emails and newsletters to keep in touch with your customers. And don’t forget to partner up with other businesses.

All of this is a part of promoting your business and you need to do it constantly. You need to create a good marketing strategy and stick to it.

Conclusion

Starting a laundry and dry cleaning business, just like starting any business, is not easy. It takes time and a lot of planning. It takes patience and research. And just like with any other business, there are no guarantees it will succeed. 

However, there is potential for success and growth, but only if you do everything right.