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

Stephb1986_2

On collection only we do 200 miles a week thats from a sunday night collection till a thursday night collection. It's slightly more on the delivery side

Steph xx

Stephb1986_2

I can see there is alot of talk about bedding being done here, well to be honest for quite a while we did to bedding but people started taking the mick by sending 2-5 bedding sets with every load, so now we don't do bedding at all it takes too long as we can iron atleast 10-15 items in the time a duvet takes depends which one earns you the most money. Especially if you do get super king size bedding thats a total nightmare! But do charge per item for clothing and a different rate for bedding.

We also have had some customers taking the mick sending 10 pairs of dress trousers in a 20 item order! They are now being told that if they send more than 5 pairs per 20 item order they will be charged extra.

The only way you would really know if your ironing is up to scratch is by customer feedback but I will say that make sure you put good sharp creases up sleeves on shirts and flatten the outer edges on trousers especially jeans. We have never had a problem with our standard but however the customer must know what their stuff is like or they wouldn't be sending it to you!

If people have a washer/dryer combined ask them to leave it slightly damp as otherwise your wasting your time because you won't shift the creases no matter how good your iron is. We have had to tell customer that they must of boil washed their stuff as the creases won't move but thats a rare occasion.

Ask customers to provide their own hangers as they might be large or small and you might not have the right size hangers for their clothes, also if you don't have much room you don't have to store them!

If there are anymore questions please ask me

Steph xx

kelloggs36

My ex runs an ironing service - he never did the ironing, I sometimes did, but he always hired outworkers to do it for him- paying them a rate per basket and charging the customer about double what he paid out! He had about 10 people working for him even at the start. He started with a Fiesta van which he quickly replaced with a much larger one, converted with 2 rails. He had a 24 hour turn around - collect in one round and then deliver to the outworkers, and then collect from outworker to deliver back to customer the next day. He covered all clothes in the plastic used by dry cleaners. He worked for 7 days per week for years, and then slowly built up a cleaning business which is his main business now. He and I spent hours and hours walking around the target areas putting leaflets through doors, which did pay off. He also got his vans sign written and put adverts in the yellow pages.

angelic84

Hi guys, wondered if anyone could offer me some help?

I am starting my ironing business and I have a few customers lined up already. the thing is i want to do the ironing at my mum's house as it is bigger and she is going to help out too. the thing is my stepdad (who lives with my mum) has made himself bankrupt so i think this means the address cannot have a business? am i right? can i register the insurance at their address or would i register it at my own? if at my own are items still covered even though they are ironed at my mum's? thanks for any help, maybe there is a better thread to ask?? help appreciated!

kats53

Hi all ironers, how are you all? Just thought I'd tell you what happened to me the other night. I was going to deliver a load of ironing and I had it hung on the rail in my car. I got in and had just started to drive away when the rail fell off with all the ironing,,,,, lol
I was really lucky that I didn't have to go far and just laid it over the seat and it didn't crease! So now have to rethink how to get the rail in the car so it dosen't come of!
Oh the trials and tribulations of an ironer...lol
Jen xx

Stephb1986_2

Jen we have had that before but in our transit van the rail ran the full length of it and it was full! Whoopsy! How did you have the rail fixed in? If I say the fittings to hold a shower rail in over a bath is sort of what we use but a bit different then we also have some rope to suspend the rail so it moves with the van instead of being ridged if you get me?


Steph xx

angelic84

angelic84 wrote: »

Hi guys, wondered if anyone could offer me some help?

I am starting my ironing business and I have a few customers lined up already. the thing is i want to do the ironing at my mum's house as it is bigger and she is going to help out too. the thing is my stepdad (who lives with my mum) has made himself bankrupt so i think this means the address cannot have a business? am i right? can i register the insurance at their address or would i register it at my own? if at my own are items still covered even though they are ironed at my mum's? thanks for any help, maybe there is a better thread to ask?? help appreciated!

just bumping, can anyone please help? thanks

Christie_L

Hi angelic,

I'm not sure about your question re. bankrupcy but I was under the impression that it's the person (ie. your stepdad) that is the bankrupt not the address, so I can't see any reason why you couldn't run a business from there. Maybe someone over on the 'Bankrupcy and living with it' board might know for sure? Or perhaps your local Business Link could advise you.

Good luck,
Nicky x

angelic84

Christie_L wrote: »

Hi angelic,

I'm not sure about your question re. bankrupcy but I was under the impression that it's the person (ie. your stepdad) that is the bankrupt not the address, so I can't see any reason why you couldn't run a business from there. Maybe someone over on the 'Bankrupcy and living with it' board might know for sure? Or perhaps your local Business Link could advise you.

Good luck,
Nicky x

thank you nicky for your help

Maz

I started an ironing service some time ago and couldn't understand why the work wasn't coming in. Turns out, the person I started the service with had been turning work away! :mad::mad::mad:

BUT! I have just re launched and flying solo this time (harsh lesson learnt!)

Yesterday, I placed ads in the local parish magazine, local free paper and put up loads of small ads in newsagents etc.

Today, I'm going flyering and calling in on cafes, restaurants, B & Bs etc with my business cards.

I will make this happen, wish me luck!