Start an ironing service... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

great idea, i would suggest concentrating on students and those who have just left university and are working.


just put cards through the letter boxes, should be a cheap effective way of advertising



an ironing service is definitly something i would pay for, if the items where collected and returned. Or perhaps done at the customers home (although that might be difficult)

actually, i think thats probably the best bet, drive to customers homes with a good iron and board, do their ironing there for them, leave.

id say charge per half hour, perhaps something like £10.




to be honest it would probably be a better idea to do whole house cleaning but speciling in ironing, i would think there is a big market for weekly home duties (such as ironing, cleaning, ect.) could probably easily charge £30 for such a service.

The ironing service that we use charges £15 per black bin bag of washing, and they don't seem to mind how stuffed full it is. We think it's a bargain.

I don't have an ironing service so you may think my comments aren't particularly valid, but if I was a customer I would prefer to pay per item. If you are charging per hour people may think that you take longer per item just to get more money out of them.

At least with charging per item they can also work out how much it is going to cost before they send it - there's nothing worse than going into something blind and not wanting to pick the items up because you're worried about the price it's going to cost you!

Also - I can't think of anything worse than ironing bed sheets :eek: Well I can, and that's thinking that you want them ironed in the first place! :laugh:

Lastly - good luck to everyone who's going for it, when I was a wee nipper I used to iron things for my mum for 50p per item and I used to rake it in! :rotfl:

I have a 'small'' ironing business - I've turned customers away, when I could accomodate them, but this fits my life. I don't particularly like ironing bedding, so I charge accordingly. I figure if someone wants me to do it, they'll pay! I charge per item as I figure if it were I, I'd want to know what the bill would be. Because I live in a rural area I include collection and delivery and therefore have a minimum of £10 so that it is always worth my while.

I'd check all items from new customers for damage prior to ironing and flag that up to them. When visiting new customers for the first time, I'd ask them how they liked their items returned - shirts hung or folded, trouses hung or folded and where they like their pleats. I also explain that whilst I use garment covers mine accomodate about 5 items - don't like to use more due to the environment and that if they'd like things hung to include the hangers. I used to provide them, but it got costly.

To give you some idea I charge 85p for shirts/tops, £1.20 for skirts, trousers & dresses (half price for children's under 12 years), £2.40 for a double bed sheet (see I don't like them!), 50p per pillowcase etc etc

Its not easy - particularly in the heat of the summer, when the phone goes mad, but it does suit some people. However DO register with the Inland Revenue within 3 months of starting or you'll face a £100 fine. You'll have to submit tax returns, but if your turnover is less than £15,000 then they are quite simple to do.

Good luck!
FF

Hi Elen, I used to work in a launderette that offered a collection and delivery service...(not ironing)
Yes, I would have a minimum charge, you could quite easily find yourself collecting 2 or 3 items from a customer.
Personally, I would include the hangers rather than charging extra, you amy find that some customers send in their own plastic ones...I know I always did...you could always ask regular customers to return the hangers...helps keep the cost down etc.
Will you be using the plastic garment covers, they look professional and keep things clean, also, you can get several garments into a cover.

Please make sure that you notify your car insurance that you will be using it for business, also get cover for goods in transit, then you will be covered if there is an accident and clothes are damaged.

Good luck.