Are you thinking about start a laundry and dry cleaning business? This is one of the most traditional types of business and for which there has always been a market. Given the rise of teleworking and the increasingly growing trend of opting for renting apartments, this traditional business has become one of the most in-demand needs in the cities of the 21st century.
However, like all types of businesses, dry cleaners no longer operate under the same parameters as they did a couple of decades ago and there are new needs when starting and setting up a business of this type. Do you want to know what they are? Below we will show you 7 steps to start a laundry business and dry cleaning:
1. Create the project
Having an idea to establish a business is already a great advance and the first step towards creating a successful project. However, it will also be necessary to establish the project technically, where the minimum requirements such as permits, registrations, tax payments and establishment of a legal trademark are considered according to the regulations of the locality in which you are located.
Herein project development You must clearly establish aspects such as the maximum budget you have to set up the business, as well as an estimate of the possible locations and prices for the establishment.
2. Choose a location
Unlike other types of business, location in a laundry business It has greater importance, since the desired target audience is a local and community one. It is most advisable that the location of your future business be in an area with high visibility and access to different means of transportation. Also, close to residential areas where your clients only have to walk a couple of steps to find a trusted dry cleaner in which to leave their clothes.
3. Choose an establishment
Among the list of possible commercial establishments in which to locate your business, you must choose one that is suitable to develop the business there. laundry activity. For this, a very large piece of land is not necessary, since with only 40 m2 the necessary machinery can be located, as well as an area for customer service.
A point that you cannot ignore is the need for this establishment to have an electrical supply and power suitable to support the capacity of the machines that are installed in the dry cleaners. To avoid possible risks of cuts and breakdowns, the electrical power to be contracted must be clear from the first moment based on the quantity and type of machines to be used.
4. Buy the machinery
In a laundry and dry cleaning business, only professional machinery is necessary. The washing machines to be used will be in constant use for several hours a day, every day, so they are necessary industrial washing machines capable of withstanding these conditions and at the same time offering the results expected by you and your clients.
The prices of the industrial type washers and dryers that you will need for your business are diverse and tend to vary depending on the number of additional functions and capabilities they come to have.
5. Hire suppliers
Among the list of dry cleaning needsit means having suppliers who can supply everything you need daily in your business at wholesale prices. Special soaps, detergents, solvents, and a wide variety of chemicals used in this industry should be on your regular merchandise purchase list, so you should also consider the products that best fit your budget and type of dry cleaning.
6. Hire your staff
Unlike a self-service laundry, this type of business requires fundamental knowledge and basic training for the work inside the dry cleaners. It is very important that you hire qualified personnel in this initial stage of your dry cleaning to be able to offer the expected results, be accompanied during the growth process and generate a positive image among your clientele.
7. Marketing plan
Once you have the aforementioned steps ready, you will have the foundations of your business ready. However, to stand out in a market with such a long history and where trust is a key factor, you must have a market study and a marketing plan to execute it in your first months of operation to create value as a brand.
In an initial stage, differentiation and specialization is crucial and for this you must always offer added value as a brand based on the market in which you will establish yourself. Home care, dry cleaning servicesattractive schedules or even modern and differentiating management of your business’s social networks are just some of the ideas that you can implement in your future laundry that will make it stand out from traditional and already established businesses.
