A dry cleaner is a very profitable business, as there will always be a high demand for this kind of service. Virtually everyone has in their wardrobe at least one garment that requires dry cleaning or a special cleaning process. From the suit worn by executives or office workers on a daily basis, to party dresses, cabin crew uniforms, you name it: a wide range of professionals needs their suits to be fresh and clean on a daily basis.
In the UK, the dry cleaning industry is worth over £1 Billion pounds per year, with an increasing demand for this kind of businesses. In recent decades significant changes happened in this field; change towards a new business concept and technological advances have caused an increase in the number of franchises and, as a consequence, the number of stores has been growing steadily.
Nowadays, clothes are processed faster and in smaller rented spaces, and this has allowed business owners to optimize expenses.
With the rapid change and innovation in the field of dry cleaning, traditional shops are renewing their concepts and equipment to keep up to date with the latest technologies.
Choosing the right location and focusing on providing an excellent quality of service are two interdependent factors that determine the success of a dry cleaning business.
Income, payroll, electricity and supplies are the main expenses to keep in mind. If you have them under control, the chances of gaining higher profits is guaranteed.
Here’s a list of the top 5 tips to open and run a successful dry cleaning business:
1- Keep track of your main expenses
To open a laundry or a dry cleaner you mainly need a place and machinery. The cost of machinery can be quite substantial and it will increase the initial investment. One way to make sure you keep track of everything you need to buy or have already purchased is to make a general list of the things you need for your business. Your budget should also include the cost of detergents, staff uniforms and staff salary. With regards to performance, if a dry cleaning business works optimally, it can generate between 100,000 and 140,000 pounds a year in profit.
2- Choose the right location
The future of your business is strictly linked to the area in which it will be located. Take time to explore the area of choice, and identify who your customers may be. If your neighbourhood is full of young people who are starting to work, a good idea might be to offer special deals to make sure they will visit your business. If there is a school nearby, parents could drop their laundry before or after leaving their children, while if your business is located in an area full of companies, you can offer special deals and extra services for professionals, such as custom deliveries, ironing or sewing to gain recurring customers.
Investing time into getting to know your potential customers and the area in which your business is located is going to facilitate the marketing work!
3- Make sure you get the necessary permits and insurance
Another topic to keep in mind has to do with the legal aspects, licenses and permits required to open a dry cleaning business: it is important to comply with local requirements, so start with the necessary procedures to obtain a license as soon as possible. The required documentation depends on the area where you choose to locate your business, as not all regions request the same conditions, so always make sure to check the specific local requirements with your lawyer or accountant, to make sure this process runs as smoothly as possible. Lastly, although insurance is not required, it is highly recommended!
4- Choose your staff wisely
Highly qualified staff is the best warranty for your business: you can, of course, hire staff that lacks experience in this market, however, if you want your business to run smoothly and at an optimal level, it is necessary to provide your staff with training and to make sure they understand how to perform the tasks correctly.
Take some time to evaluate each of the applicants’ backgrounds and only hire those who prove to be more suitable for the development of the business. Do not hire unqualified friends or family members of your staff! This is a common mistake which can affect your business negatively, especially if the staff member your hired does not have sufficient experience in the dry cleaning business.
5- Advertise your business smartly
Special deals and extra services are a great way to promote your business. Keep an eye on your competitors in the area to see how they are running and promoting their businesses: are they very active on social media? Do they provide extra services? Which platforms do they use the most? Use the internet to your favour by promoting your business using social media and consider hiring an expert for a few hours a week on platforms such as Upwork or Fiverr to help you run your pages and respond to any inquiries.
Another excellent way to promote your business is to personally talk with bar and restaurants owners, but also Bed and Breakfast chains owners.
Bars and restaurants can easily become a regular and loyal client, as they need clean tablecloths, napkins and aprons daily. They can also be very demanding clients though, especially if they need the items to be delivered very early in the morning or during the evening. B & B owners are also great potential clients, as they need freshly laundered bedsheets, pillowcases and couch covers on a weekly if not daily basis. You can offer them a special deal to make sure they will be long-term customers.
Although there is much more to say about this fascinating topic, we hope you enjoyed this top 5 tips to open a dry cleaning business. Don’t be afraid to be creative when you advertise your business, choose your location wisely and make sure you provide a top quality service. Customers will be happy and your business will flourish!
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