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

kats53

Hi Lou Welcome to the Ironing business!!! I have just started and I just bought Phillips steam generator from e-bay for £47. Its great and I didn't want to pay a lot untill I seen that I was going to get some business, also I wanted to wait untill I started earning some money. I hear that the Tefal pro is really one of the best and I may invest in one a bit later. As for Ironing boards I am in the process of looking for one, the bigger the better and I am still reading loads of reviews so can't help you there yet.
Do you have a van? I'm still using my car but hope to get a van sometime in the near future. Let us know how you are getting on won't you!
Jen xx

Lou0512

Hi Jen. Thanks for the welcome. I've been looking at buying a small second hand van but they've all been too expensive so far.But I'll keep looking. What kind of prices have you been charging? I've done quite a bit of research and there is quite a big range that people charge. I am in the glasgow area and some folks charge around 50p per clothing item and quite a number of people charging £1.20 per item. That's quite a difference. Hoping to sort out insurance today. Did you get insurance adn who with? Did it cost alot?

Louise

clairibel

I know this might sound really daft but how do you know if your good at ironing :rolleyes: I would like to venture out into this but what if my ironing isn't good and i think it is?

Lou0512

I guess you would just practise practise practise. Have you got anyone that could have a look at your ironing and see what they think? I was wondering the same thing about my own ironing skills. I'm sure if I am careful and thorough and use a good iron then I should be fine.:j

kats53

I asked my friends and my daughter what they thought and they all agreed that my ironing was fine and I've just got feedback off my first customer who thinks it was spot on and wants a repeat! As for insurance Lou... no I haven't any yet, must get round to it but the customers I've got at the moment don't have designer gear lol! so if I spoilt anything I would just re-imburse them. Are you asking for your hangers back? I am as I think we should recycle.
My prices range from 75p for a shirt/blouse to £2.00 for a double duvet. pm me if you want a full price list. Happy ironing!!!
Jen xx

Lou0512

Congratulations on your first customer. May they be the first of many. I was planning to charge around the 70 -80p mark per item as well. As for the insurance I think at this point I will just let my home insurance know that I am working from home but the other insurance can wait til I am up and running properly. Got a bundle of leaflets printed and ready to deliver tomorrow so fingers crossed I should get my first customer shortly.

Oh and yes i intend on asking for the hangers to be returned whenever possible. Not only to save the environment but to also save my pocket!!

kats53

totally agree with you about the hangers, are you working from a room ain your house? I am using a spare bedroom and if there is a bed in it you don't need extra insurance.
Hope you have some luck when your leaflets go out. Don't forget to charge more for bedding....it takes a lot longer, as I found out last week!!! lol
Jen xx

kats53

just thought, if you've got people coming to your house to drop off or collect ironing you will have to have public liability insurance.
Jen xx

clairibel

Thanks for your help on my last question, but i have another :rolleyes: how far do most of you travel for your business...do you have boundaries IE x amount of miles surrounding Thanks.

giggles_alot

clairibel wrote: »

Thanks for your help on my last question, but i have another :rolleyes: how far do most of you travel for your business...do you have boundaries IE x amount of miles surrounding Thanks.

I live in the country and will collect from all neighbouring villages that are south of the city and from city centre. Others are welcome to drop off to me.