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

Loubylou2

Hi
I have just discovered this thread and it is giving me a bit more confidence as I am just about to start up my ironing business.
I have got hangers, covers etc. A new steam generator which fortunately was covered under warranty when my previous one suddenly stopped working.
I have also managed to set up my own basic website which is a huge achievement as I'm well out of my comfort zone!

I am full of the fears that have held me back from doing most things in my life eg will I fail, what if I'm no good at it, what if I don't get any customers,etc etc BUT i've got to do it as we need the money and I would love my own business (I work part time aswell)
Hopefully these fears are normal and I'm not going mad!:eek:

I have some questions please
I was going to do some big leaflet drops in the more affluent areas around my home town. BUT reading some of the comments i wondered

Is it worth doing that or should I stick to shop windows, parish magazines, nursery schools, b&b's etc?
I have taken out a months trial for the paid advert in Yell as it includes my website and I have noticed that another lady is doing that.
But am I wasting my money as its not cheap although it would hopefully put my website up on the google search etc?
Do I really need insurance and if so can anyone recommend a good package?

Have I forgotten anything?

Thanks in anticipation
Lynne:T

Stephb1986_2

Hi Lynne,

1, Just stick to shop windows, local magazines/newspapers ect save your legs love most of our customers come from word of mouth.
2, Go for a free 1 liner in the yellow pages as we once took out a big advert at over £1000 and never got 1 customer.
3, You could really do with insurance I can't remember who we're with but i'll have a look and get back to you.

If you don't try you will never know.

Good luck

Steph

Loubylou2

Thanks Steph

I've given it so much thought now that I just need to get going. Think I will stop the 'paid for' yell advert at the end of the month and stick with the freebie.
I've ordered some free stuff from vista so as i'm not working next week am going to walk the three towns i'm covering visiting all the shops and then fingers crossed.:undecided Think i'll also try the parish magazines in al the villages too.
Any info on the insurance that you have would be great thanks.
fingers crossed

Lynne:)

aron80

Hi everyone, I am thinking of setting up an ironing business to get me out of my hideously boring 9-5 office job, and to obviously better myself. Can anyone tell me what kind of wage you are earning if you do this?

Hopefully I can get enough work to cut my hours at work a bit because I'm getting so depressed at sitting at a computer for 8 hours a day every day, and I like ironing anyway so I would like to do this. I've already got my leaflets ready and ordered some hangers and garment covers, just cheap basics for a start.

I'm not expecting to have loads of customers at first, but I just need to know if it's viable. Thanks

pennyshahin_2

Hi , I've just moved into the stevenage area and would like to start up a domestic cleaning business to make a bit of extra money, I'm honest to say that I have no experience in cleaning other peoples houses but I have been in employment for the past nine years, so if any of you would like someone to do a few hours cleaning perhaps you'd like to get in touch, I also enjoy preparing meals so if you wan't your spuds peeled ready for when you get in from work then I'm your man, perhaps you'd like to send me a pm-if anyones got any advice that wil be gratefully received, I'm thinking of having some business cards printed on vista print, prior to my previous job I was a postman for nearly ten years which I hope is a good enditement of my character-thank you for reading.

shopnomore

I have read most (ok first few pages cos there were a lot) with interest. I am one of those strange people who actually enjoys ironing and would never have thought of advertising my services. However, as I have some debts I could do with recuing, could this really work?
Would I need to buy covers and hangers and the like if I was just taking in peoples clothes? I wouldn't want to be offering a full laundry service.
I have a pretty decent iron already.
What do you think?

skintbint_2

hi just thought i'd post my experiences as did this a few years ago. i charged £10 per stone at that time as i found that when i charged per item people thought it was expensive - plus it generated larger orders as people would rather just hand over all their items. i asked customers to supply their own hangers (keeps cost down)but had a stock of spares incase i needed them. i also found that instead of buying the expensive covers i used bin liners and customers were happy with that. if i was going back to doing it now i would probably charge around £13-£15 per stone.
,
all you need to start is: your iron, board, bundle hangers, clothes rail , swing bin liners, elastic bands (keeps 4-5 hangers together before you put the bin bags over and for transporting), sticky labels (to put on the bags so you dont get mixed up), bathroom scales, and i bought a couple of spare cheap laundry baskets and hangers. so for an outlay of less than £10 your on your way.

top tips: if things are extremely creased and dry put in tumble drier for a couple of minutes with a wet towel!
target houses for sale - who can be bothered with ironing when they have to pack or have viewers?

aron80

Hi skintbint, just wondering how much money did you make doing this?

skintbint_2

aron80 wrote: »

Hi skintbint, just wondering how much money did you make doing this?

was working out about £10 an hour!

aron80

Wow that's pretty good, so how many hours did you average a week then? and how many leaflets or advertising did you do?