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

giggles_alot

Hi all, can anyone recommend where to get cheap but good quality clothes covers. I use disposable ones at the moment, always moan about the cost of them and environmently all the plastic isnt good. Thinking of investing in some fabric ones now, can anyone recommend where to get them from? Thanks

Wales4ever

Anyone interested in joining me in ironing business in west wales....only problem I'm male and not the quickest. PM me.

kaylouise

I'd like to set up some ironing service too, but it has to fit around my full-time job and kids (when I say kids I mean 2 rats, a gerbil and rabbit and a cat). My b/f doesn't think there's a market for it here in northumberland. What do you lot think?
All i've got right now in my own standard iron and board, no money to buy anything else. My b/f also smokes, but i could easily do it in the spare bedroom and make sure he never goes in!! how long did it take you to get your first job? how much did you charge to start? Need extra money to finish my aat exams.
am I being crazy?

giggles_alot

kaylouise wrote: »

I'd like to set up some ironing service too, but it has to fit around my full-time job and kids (when I say kids I mean 2 rats, a gerbil and rabbit and a cat). My b/f doesn't think there's a market for it here in northumberland. What do you lot think?
All i've got right now in my own standard iron and board, no money to buy anything else. My b/f also smokes, but i could easily do it in the spare bedroom and make sure he never goes in!! how long did it take you to get your first job? how much did you charge to start? Need extra money to finish my aat exams.
am I being crazy?

If your crazy, then so am i.
I use my spare room, very handy that its near the front door. You'll find it easier if have a steam generator iron but can save to get one when you start earning as definately much easier and makes speeds up the ironing.
To decide how much to charge i would ring a few people around you, get an idea of how they charge as some charge by weight, some per item - can be very complex but ive found simple to be best. Set price for so many mixed items, set price per shirt if only shirts and set price for bedding sets. Also do your own research, how much you can iron in set amount of time to check its worth doing for what you decide to charge. Its also worth considering collecting/delivery, I charge for this but literally only enough to cover petrol costs.
Hope that helps, if you want more detailed info then feel free to PM

Flashdaisy

Hello all!

I have been thinking of starting an ironing service for a while now, I don't think there is much of a market for it in the area that I currently live, but we are moving in a few months' time to another area which is overall more affluent, and I think I might give it a go.

I was just initially going to print some flyers to do door-to-door, and then use my existing iron and ironing board for the time being until I get started. I was thinking of charging £1 per item of adults clothing and then 50p per item of child's clothing, with extra for bedding of course. And I imagine insurance is a must, too? Does anyone know where to get insurance from for an ironing business please?

Thanks

sc0105a

Hi, i'm on about starting this service in my Area and where i work, how did you start it and what prices do you charge?? Thanks

one-day wrote: »

i have started doing this in my area to try and make some spare cash for xmas and debts but so far only got 2 people i need more
has anyone got any ideas to get more? i have put leaflets up in the local shops and also in peoples letter boxes

Ards_Ironing

Hi, I've just set up a new ironing service and have posted around business cards in the local shops and on freebie advertising sites but am running out of ideas now of where I can get more business. I already have a few regulars but want some more.

Thanks!

Gillian,
Newtownards Ironing Services

Fastpress

A good way to develop this busines is to step back and consider the area you serve best, if you have offices around you then try to get your advert placed on the canteen or staff notice boards and start with obvious things like shirts / blouses etc then build your relationship, collect from and deliver to the same location o the same day each week as people need routine.

If you have laundrettes nearby then they often outsource ironing work.

Small hotels often need table cloths ironed check out who they curently use and approach them as rotary ironers often fail and if you have a fast press ironing board you can offer a very competitive service, you could check out a company called fast press and their product listing.

Other opportunities can be found by placing adds in ALL the windows of laundrettes, News agents, the local parish magazine, the local church mags, chip shops any local media, even flyers around businesses; I used a laundrette for three years to provide me with shirts ironed, and they outsourced the service.

Hope this helps, in particular the web site recommended to you.

Good ironing it's a fantastic idea for today.

Ards_Ironing

Hiya, thanks for replying to my post. Your tips are really helpful and I will implement them today apart from the delivery and collection part as I dont drive but my husband is able to pick things up and return them after he finishes work as well as on the weekends.

Gilly

emalijay

Hi, I've read with interest all the posts on this thread and can offer some suggestions to the people who wanted to know where to find reasonably priced garment covers. We use polybags.co.uk, buying the 38" on a roll covers, 650 for around £34. It's free delivery, within 3 days.

As for free advertising I've generated most of my customers initially from a leaflet drop (had to do over 400 to get my first 10 people but that's a good return I think!) and I used - and still do - viva street.co.uk for free advertising. I've had approx 15 customers through that site.

My other customers have come from small ads in newsagent windows and the rest from word of mouth. We now have approx 40 customers a week and also a local pub/restaurant which alone generates £600 a month minimum.

I don't charge for delivery/collection ever, I charge per item and not by weight and I don't have a van. My costs are kept low because I use my own vehicle and obviously work from home.

This is the best idea I've ever had lol - I chose it 3 years ago because I wanted something I could do from home because I'm a Mum. Never did I think it would take off the way it has and every day I'm so grateful I started it!

Don't be put off by "competition" in your areas - there are so many people wanting ironing done there's enough to go round. One crucial bit of advice I would give - invest in a steam generator iron with no less than 100g output of steam, as wide an ironing board as you can get, a hanging rail plus a further 3 pronged airer thing (whatever they're called). These items in my opinion are absolutely vital - it saves a heck of a lot of time, you'll feel you're actually earning a decent hourly rate if you invest in these items and they will soon pay for themselves if you follow advice re advertising.

I expect to earn no less than £20 an hour - I am the cheapest ironing service in the area btw - and this is all down to good organisational skills and the focus on "work" and not anything else needing doing in the home at the same time lol.

The only drawback of ironing I've found? It's not the best profession to be in when it's scorching hot but hey, more customers crop up in the hot weather simply because they can't bear to iron their own items in the heatwave either!

Emma :j