Do you want to learn how to start a laundry service business in Nigeria? You’ve come to the correct place. Laundry services business are a type of business in Nigeria that deals with the cleaning and ironing of clothes. They frequently work with a team of workers who clean and iron for them.
Opening your own laundromat is the simplest way to start a laundry business in Nigeria. However, running one is difficult, and it will take time to become established.
As usual, in this article, I’ll lead you through the process of establishing a laundry service business in Nigeria.
What is a Laundry Service Business?
The laundry business encompasses the washing, drying, ironing, and folding of garments and other textiles. It is a service-oriented business that provides laundry services to people, homes, hotels, hospitals, and other institutions. Also, it is an interdisciplinary area that combines knowledge in chemistry, physics, and engineering to accomplish optimal cleaning and care of textile materials. It is sometimes known as “laundry science” or “textile care.”
Types of Laundry Service Business in Nigeria
There are three basic sorts of laundry businesses, which are as follows:
#1. Self-service laundromat
A self-service laundromat, which is a brick-and-mortar facility with many washing and drying machines that clients can use for a fee, is one of the most frequent types of laundry companies. Laundromats are especially common in larger cities, because residential areas are smaller and often lack the room required to store this apparatus. Customers are responsible for maintaining track of their products in these types of enterprises and frequently pay with coins.
#2. Laundry services that fold and wash
Another frequent sort of laundry business has personnel conduct the actual washing and drying of garments for paying customers. This type of laundry business can operate from a physical shop or from the owner’s personal residence. A typical laundry service business transaction begins with the customer dropping off their laundry, followed by personnel washing, drying, and folding the garments before the customer comes to pay and pick up their possessions.
#3. Dry cleaner
Dry cleaning, which involves cleaning delicate textiles using chemical solutions rather than water, is another prominent form of laundry business. Also, dry cleaning is a common business in high-income locations, where customers may have more financial resources to pay for these specialized services. Aside from regular washing and drying methods, many dry cleaners also provide tailoring, folding, and ironing services.
Why Start a Laundry Business?
People create their own laundry businesses for a variety of reasons, including:
#1. Extensive demand
The ongoing demand for clean clothes is one of the main reasons people decide to start a laundry business. Many people desire to appear professional and ordered in their daily lives, with clean, ironed attire being a popular indicator. Others just require access to laundry machines, particularly if they reside in an apartment building without in-unit washers and dryers. People will always want clean clothes, and some are willing to pay a high amount to escape the duty of washing, drying, folding, or ironing their garments.
#2. Simple setup
Starting a laundry business is a pretty simple procedure. Those who want to create a storefront must first select a site to rent and then purchase the necessary equipment. Because customers do all of their own laundry, many self-service laundromats can operate with few employees. If you run a laundry business out of your home, all you need are washers and dryers, the ability to keep track of different orders, and attention to precise garment washing and drying instructions.
#3. Working from home
You can save money by not having to commute to a storefront or other workplace if you manage your laundry business from home. This can provide you with more scheduling flexibility, allowing you to complete other activities and chores in between your laundry commitments. A person running a laundry services business from their home, for example, can load a client’s laundry into the washing machine and go pick up their child from school, go to the grocery shop, or attend a doctor’s appointment without jeopardizing their career.
#4. Specialization ability
The laundry service industry also allows entrepreneurs to specialize in a specific sort of laundry. Some laundry firms, for example, specialize in medical laundry, which includes scrubs, white jackets, and healthcare linens and gowns. Others, such as hotel bed linens, restaurant cloth napkins, and employee uniforms, may specialize on hospitality. Specialization allows them to deliver unique services with little competition, which can boost their overall revenue and business stability.
How to Start a Laundry Business
Here are some steps to starting your own laundry service business:
#1. Market Research
You should conduct market research before launching a laundry business in Nigeria. It can assist you in understanding the market before launching your business. When analyzing the market, you must choose where to locate your Laundromat, the market competition issues that the business has, and how your business can stand out from the crowd.
#2. Create a Business Plan for a Laundry
A dry cleaning business plan is required before opening a laundry business in Nigeria. It is fairly simple to draft a business plan if you have researched the market because it is simply putting ideas on paper. A good business strategy should include the following elements:
- Startup costs
- Sources of business funding
- Operational requirements
- Industry analysis
- Target market
- Competition analysis
- SWOT and PEST analysis
#3. Find a good location
A suitable location is critical for your laundry business. The location of your business might be extremely beneficial. It is best to choose an area with less competitors. It will be beneficial if you can locate a location with less competition from large corporations. However, it should not be a write-off because you may earn clients back with outstanding service.
Consider open-air areas. Places along the road where people passing by can see and notice your business That means the location should be busy, with people arriving and going from work.
It should be in a residential neighborhood, or somewhere where people live. An estate is a nice location, but it should be one where people pass through frequently.
#4. Register your business and obtain all necessary receipts
Operating a dry cleaning business may necessitate the registration of your company and the acquisition of certain permits. However, this will be highly dependent on location. While dry cleaning business regulation is customary in the Western world, it is not in Nigeria. However, you may still be required to register.
Depending on where you live, you may be required to pay levies such as the local government charge and so on. Find out and make sure you settle everything to avoid any disruptions in the operation of your laundry business.
#5. Buy equipment needed to start a laundry business
The next step is to get the equipment you’ll need to start your laundry business. The equipment you purchase will be determined by the scale on which you intend to operate. If you do not have the funds to purchase the larger pieces of equipment, you can begin with the smaller pieces. If you cannot afford a washing machine, you can wash by hand and then purchase an iron, soap, and other necessities.
The following items are required to establish a laundry business:
- Laundry detergent: Don’t just buy any detergent; buy the ones used by dry cleaners
- Washing machines: There are different grades; look for the one you can afford that is quality
- Washing Basins: You will need it to soak clothes and for other uses
- Pressing Iron: A quality iron that has good customization features for different materials
- Ironing table: Where you can comfortably iron clothes
- Garment Conveyor: This is what you use to hang clothes. Get a carpenter to make one
- Starch: A lot of customers will request it to add beauty to their cloth
- Water: You will need a source of water. If there is no water supply, you can buy a thank and store water.
- Power Generator: As electricity is not reliable, you will need a good generator that can carry your equipment just in case
- Nylon and tags: You will need nylon to package the ironed clothes. You will also need tags to tag the clothes so you don’t mix things up.
- Shelves: You will need shelves to keep the ironed and packaged cloth in order.
There are other items you may need. These are the basics.
#6. Offer additional services
To increase your profit, you can offer extra services such as washing bed linens, curtains, rug carpets, and other household items in addition to washing clothes.
#7. Promote your business
Your business is now fully operational. You should prioritize business marketing. This is what will attract clients and ultimately help you make money. Don’t ignore it; invest heavily in marketing.
Skills for Starting a Laundry Business
Here are some of the most important talents to have when beginning a laundry business:
#1. Structure
Organization skills are essential for managing and operating any business, notably those that provide laundry services. It’s necessary for laundry service staff to maintain track of client orders and clothing to give the proper services based on the customer’s wishes.
#2. Detail-oriented
A laundry business employee should be able to distinguish between different sorts of fabrics and materials. This is a useful ability since it ensures that they can properly service the client’s garments, following the proper methods to ensure that the garment’s quality remains intact.
#3. Effectiveness
Because workers in these facilities may have several requests to handle at the same time, efficiency is a crucial laundry business skill. Most laundry firms provide their customers a date and time when their orders will be available for pickup, so it’s critical that they satisfy their own standards and complete orders within the timeframe they agreed upon with the customer.
#4. Customer service
Laundry workers, like many other business models, use customer service abilities across much of their everyday operations. Those who run a laundry business from home must respond quickly to client calls, emails, texts, and other kinds of communication to verify they are meeting their needs.
How Profitable is a Laundry Business in Nigeria?
When you have both returning and new consumers, you can expect a cash-on-cash ROI of 25% to 30% (or more).
First and foremost, your location and the quality of your service will be your selling points. Another factor is that men and women are busier than ever before in order to survive and provide for their families, thus they require someone to wash their laundry.
What’s the Best Washing Machine for a Laundry Business?
On a small scale, an 8KG top loader would suffice, but as your needs grow, a 14KG top loader will be more effective.
The top loader has proven to be more durable than the front loader.
One example is that you may open the cover and add extra laundry to the washing machine while it is running. Thermocool has shown to be more durable. The machine requires regular maintenance; avoid overloading it with heavy clothing.
Can I Start Laundry Business Without Money?
Offering a home service is the most effective technique to start a dry cleaning business without money.
Your customer pays for the electricity, detergent, and other necessities; all you have to do is wash and iron. This may be tiresome, and given the security situation in Nigeria, it may be difficult.
However, if you find a customer, you can begin saving from the small amount of money you make from the home delivery service and build up a full-scale laundry business in your area. You can also enlist the assistance of relatives and friends.
Is Owning a Laundry Business in Nigeria Worth it?
The laundry business has a high success rate, a quick return once stabilized, and easy profit prediction.
What Are the Challenges of a Laundry Business?
Money management, staff management, and power are some of the obstacles of a laundry business in Nigeria, which is why you must purchase or have an alternate source of power.
If you do not invest in more durable equipment, you will most likely spend money fixing broken machines.
Can I Start a Dry Cleaning Business Without a Washing Machine?
Yes, you will have to wash a bunch of garments with your bare hands. It will be difficult and weigh you down in a few days.
However, we have seen persons who began in this manner and progressed to the acquisition of machines.
Conclusion
The laundry business is a very profitable one in which you can generate money. You’ll need a decent location and a smart marketing strategy to generate a lot of money. Choose the scale with which you want to begin. Do your feasibility studies and research the costs of items in the environment you intend to establish.
- Laundry Equipment: 12 Must-Have Equipments to Start With in 2023 (Updated)
- LAUNDRY PRODUCTS: List Of Best Laundry Products
- BUSINESS IDEAS FOR STUDENTS: (35+ ideas and easy guide)
- Dry Cleaning Business: How to Successfully Run One (+ quick guide)
- Laundry service Business: [6 success keys +business plan]
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