How to Start a Dry Cleaning Business in 2024: Guide for New Entrepreneurs
Three essential basic rules for living your day-to-day life
- Look good
- Smell fresh
- Be nice
Speaking of looking good, this is an opportunity to create a startup that offers dry cleaning services. Everyone wants their clothes clean, and some don’t have the time for that but can pay for the service. This is how to start a business. Every enterprise begins with an idea.
The cost of starting a dry cleaning business in Nigeria is an achievable capital. This article is a complete guide to running a laundry startup. It will teach you everything you need to know about going down this kind of field.
Why You Should Start a Dry Cleaning Business
Starting a dry cleaning business may seem like a choice. Yes, but it is one of the smartest. In Nigeria, where almost everyone is so hooked on work or anything that puts food on the table, most people prefer having a dry cleaner clean their clothes. It’s the regular wardrobe routine for most individuals, especially bachelors.
A dry cleaning business helps to alleviate the stress of handling laundry. It gives people time to focus on other vital activities, and in exchange for such services, they pay an agreed fee.
By offering this service, you aren’t only earning an income but also helping to promote cleanliness within the community. It is more like a win-win situation. When you provide a satisfying service, the customer becomes excited and recommends you for other laundries.
How profitable is a dry cleaning business?
A dry cleaning business is highly beneficial with continual income and development. It is often controlled by the busy lifestyle of individuals and economic situations in rare cases. All in all, it is an excellent investment without seasonal absence.
No doubt, this is one of the businesses that, if you take it to a professional level, booms and explodes everywhere. With a business strategy, you can transform a small dry-cleaning startup into a big brand with multiple locations nationwide. This business idea is often for those with a busy life, mainly in an urban area.
You can get paid per service or put existing customers on a paid contract. If you deliver the best service, your business and income will grow.
How much does it cost to start a dry cleaning business in Nigeria?
Dry cleaning business startup costs in Nigeria are around N50,000 to N100,000 (if you want to prove your existence to the market). This reflects the local cost and is approximately correct.
On a large scale, entrepreneurs might have to raise a capital of up to N1,000,000. This type of startup is one created to reach a wider audience. It may also involve one or more employees and modern advertising strategies.
What are the things needed for the dry cleaning business?
Before venturing into a dry cleaning business, you must know the equipment needed to execute such services. How you plan your business will determine what you need. While some laundry shops are around the corner, a few others went on a professional scale and have an extensive list of customers. This also determines what you need. However, the essential items required for a dry cleaning business include the following:
- Detergent: Buy good detergents with a foamy nature. Avoid the ones with excess chemicals to prevent clothes from being damaged.
- Starch: Clothes well-starched appear nice and neat. While some customers prefer their clothes fully starched, others prefer lightly attached, and others don’t want you to starch them at all. Before using starch on clothes, ensure you inquire from the owner first.
- Water: The laundry business is highly dependent on water. A good water supply will make your work easier and faster. Productivity will boost to a new peak. You must ensure a good water supply before launching your laundry business. Get a reliable source of water and ensure you use a clean supply.
- A basin: This is especially useful for soaking clothes until they are easier to wash. It can also be used to store water.
- Shelves: This is where you store clean clothes. It would help to care for others’ belongings until they come for it. A shelf makes your work organized.
- Nylons and tags: Before keeping clothes on the shelves, you need something to pack to look brand new. Keeping clothes in nylon with your tag on it makes your business look more professional.
- Generator: Get clothes ironed for them to appear neat and nice. And as we all know, this is Nigeria. You can’t predict steady electricity, so you must get your power standby and work more productively.
Other pieces of equipment include:
- Pegs
- Sockets
- Hangers
- Pressing table
- Bleach, etc.
Starting a dry cleaning business in Nigeria is, without a doubt, productive and prevalent in all parts of the world. It’s merely an exchange of service for a small pay. But when you add profits together, it becomes a business. Good branding and marketing will help to reach a wider audience if you know what to do.
How to start a dry cleaning business at home?
Now that you know which equipment you need to kickstart your dry cleaning business, how do you go about it? What do other big laundry businesses do that you’re missing? This section is where you find out about that. Below are steps you can take to start your laundry business to maximize profits:
Determine your niche
Understand the type of laundry you want to go into. Conduct a thorough market research. If purchasing an existing business, check the records and assess its profitability. Opening a new one requires that you examine the demand in the area that you’re opting for.
Choose a business name
Naming your business isn’t as simple as it seems. You need a catchy, short, and descriptive name that aligns with your rendering service. You may also need to register your business name and get approval from the government before you can operate legally.
Draft your business plan
A business plan gives you a map of where your treasure is. It helps to attain success and expands a business with profits being maximized. If you want to draft one, start with a brief overview of your business and how it will be successful. Then you head to the company description, where you include details about you’re services and other offers available to customers. Other essential factors include market analysis, organization and management, financial planning, and marketing strategy.
Choose your business structure
A business structure determines how much risk and effects the economy will have on your business. You can either establish one as a sole proprietorship, where you control the activities, a general partnership, or even as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). A few others might choose to open a big startup with huge capital and register it as a Corporation. It’s left to you to opt for a structure that aligns with York’s interest and isn’t stressful.
Register your business
The regulation within your area may require you to register your dry cleaning business before you can operate legally within the country. LLC businesses must register with the Secretary of State or business agency where they carry out their activities. If you’re a sole proprietor or wish to register your business under a name other than yours, you may need to inquire with the state or local government. This process is “filing/doing business as (DBA name).
Find a location
Your dry cleaning center should be convenient, where customers can quickly drop their clothes off on their way to work or the grocery store. Conduct primary research to help find the right spot for your activities. How many competitors are in the area? Is the road accessible by foot and car? If you’re opening a larger commercial dry cleaning business, it’s beneficial to pick a spot near commercial buildings like hotels, banks, hospitals, etc.
Finance your dry cleaning business
Like every other startup, a laundry business requires financing. Investing in your business creates an opportunity to reach a wider audience and establish growth. If you need help financing your business, a business bank or an SBA-backed loan will help best. However, you must use your business plan to create strategies for a new inflow of income and be professional about your business when obtaining a loan.
Market your business
Marketing helps to build a customer base. Several ways to put the word out about your business include launching a website, creating social media profiles and business cards, fostering customers’ loyalty, partnering with other companies, etc.
Get an insurance for your business
Insurance will protect your business from unnecessary fines and penalties. General liability insurance protects your business against accidents and lawsuits. In addition, vehicle insurance is a good idea for pickup and delivery services.
Conclusion
With the proper planning, you can start a dry cleaning business and establish fast growth. Once you follow the steps in this piece and consider the factors needed to excel in your business, you’re good to go.
