Please Help setting up a business!!

vodka-queen

Hi, I have had an idea to set up a laundry business from home, doing peoples ironing but also offering a washing and ironing service too. I have looked around and no-one is doing this in my immediate area, in fact within a 20 mile radius there is only 1 other person offering this and that is a shop.

My trouble is I do not know where to start, initial people I have spoke to all think it would be a really good idea to do what with people having busy lives these days, plus the fact I love ironing! also if the children are off school I will be home. I do work part time at the moment but would leave if this takes off.
I would like to earn about £50 a week if possible.

But I just havent got a clue where to begin, do I need to register as a business before I can advertise, could I possibly go somewhere for a business loan to invest in a new washing machine/tumble dryer/other bits and bobs or would I have to invest that myself?

I would appreciate any feedback good or bad!

Many Thanks in advance

Karen

Sugar_Coated_Owl

Firstly you will need to register with the Inland Revenue. You can do this by calling them or alternatively fill in the form on the HMRC website. You need to register within 3 months of starting up otherwise you may be fined.

I'm not really sure about loans. It might be a good idea to speak to your bank. Do you have your own savings that you could invest in your business venture?

martindow

Another good source of help is Business Link
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/

Savvy_Sue

I think if you search this board for ironing there's been a previous discussion or two about this, they might be worth turning up for thoughts about insurance etc.

I'm not sure I'd want to offer a home laundry service myself, and if I did, call me squeamish but I'd DEFINITELY invest in THICK rubber gloves and possibly a face mask as well ... either that or vet your customers VERY carefully! :rotfl:

Seriously, you don't know what might be on people's laundry, and although I'm quite happy to share germs within my own family quite freely, I personally wouldn't want to send my laundry out to another family home for fear of passing them on to other people's children. Threadworm's a b*gger to get rid of, and impetigo's not nice either. I know the former can survive on sheets and towels, and even if impetigo doesn't it makes a bit of a mess of them! :rotfl:And they're not our run of the mill grot - bedding can be ghastly if there's eczema in the house!

sorry if that's TMI - but maybe start with ironing ...

kimbatty

Why not try the ironing service side of things first and see how it goes, you will probably find you easily make the money you were aiming for by just going for that side of the business to start off with. With just offering the ironing side you will keep your intial set up costs to an absolute minimum whilst testing the local market and building up your client base.

I'd then get some leaflets produced and choose a couple of local housing estates, places where it looks like most people are out at work all day so they're likely to really appreciate having someone take the ironing on for them. Have a few afternoons spent dropping leaflets and see what sort of response you get from that. Also pop some cards up in local newsagents and supermarkets.

It's already been mentioned that you need to register with the Inland Revenue within the first 3 months of start up so best to do that asap so you don't forget

Apart from that just go for it, get your name out there and I'll bet you'll pick up lots of customers in no time at all

Meant to add that vistaprint do free business cards where you just then pay the delivery. They're quite basic cards but fine for freebies

Sam_Bee

If you already have a washer, dryer & iron, your costs will be minimal. Do you really need to borrow money.

Organise a flyer (ask your techny / art nerdy friends to help if you aren't confident with a computer) and distribute it locally. Start small.

And don't forget to save money to put towards your higher electricity bills!

vodka-queen

Thanks for the replies, I am going to stick to just ironing now :rotfl:
I have done some flyers for shop windows and tomorrow am going to invest in a new iron and ironing board!
Hopefully will be able to give up my part time job and stay at home with the children :beer:
I suffer from vertigo which is another reason i want to stay at home too as when i get a bout of it i get all panicky, so this work would be ideal!

Thanks for all your replies!

HER

Hi vodka-queen, I think this is a very interesting idea and am thinking about this too however havent done much background research.

What kind of charges would you give to customers who want there ironing done. Guess it depends on what kind of garment aswell.

Savvy_Sue

vodka-queen wrote:

I have done some flyers for shop windows and tomorrow am going to invest in a new iron and ironing board!

If it's not too late or too far, Lidl are about to do a 'professional ironing station' - says from Thursday 15 March.

vodka-queen

thanks savvy sue! I may have to invest in that! Thank you for thinking of posting it here for me, thats very sweet of you !

I was going to charge by the bin bag as its easier for me rather than faff about with different prices for different items. plus people have always got bin bags to hand so its easier for them to bag up too. was going to charge £10 for half a bin bag and £20 for a full bag with a 24 hr turnaround depending on how busy i may or may not get! Originally i was going to charge £7 for half a bag and £13 for a full bag but friends have told me thats too cheap! Im offering 25% off first order too.

There is no one else in my area doing it, me and hubs have been looking in all local shop windows and no one else is advertising. fingers crossed it will take off and i can leave my job :T

Bought some polythene shirt covers off ebay last nite only bough 50 just incase i get no interest, i have loads and loads of spare coat hangers but will buy some wire ones if get the customers.

My only downfall is i am learning to drive at the mo and have no transport so poor hubs is going to have to drive me everywhere.. but i have told him i will iron for free for him :rotfl: :rotfl:

HER

Interesting.....Ive just been looking at a few websites and the proffesional companies seem to do it by the weight..