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

mrsmadmand

Groupon vouchers have got an offer on steam generator irons today - Swan for £59.99....I know that some people were looking for a new one!

Squidge123

I was chatting to a friend of my partners who has told me that he will pay me to do his ironing. I just have to decide how much to charge him!

Iloveironing

Hi everyone

Marthamonkey, thank you for sharing your experience, it was good to read - best of luck with it.

Mrsmadmand, how did you get on with your first customer? Did you get feedback? Have you got more work from them?

I am all set to go, a couple of questions though: my t & c's are written - not using a website at the mo - I am going to give a hard copy to my customers which reads that if they used my service that they have agreed to my t & c's. Do I get them to sign this or is that too formal?

Also, I haven't changed my car insurance over to business yet, do I wait until I get my first customer? Or set that up straight away?

Thanks

Squidge123

I've decided to give this a go. I'm going to set up a little website and spread the link. I have a job but need to do something to get some more money in and I can fit this in around my work

missspeedy23

mrsmadmand wrote: »

Decided not to buy any at the moment - I don't like the wire hangers anyway (not envrionmentally friendly and also I dont find them particularly useful!) so I've said on my 'blurb' that if customers provide their own hangers I will happily hang stuff, otherwise it gets folded. As for the polythene covers, well again I dont think they are very friendly on the environment and as I'm not supplying hangers I didnt see the need. However I have taken a tip from another MSN'er (cant remember who now, sorry!) and purchased a few big blue I*ea bags which I've written IRON ANGELS, PLEASE RE-USE on in permanent marker. I can fold t-shirts neatly in those (2 side-by-side) and they are also big enough to accommodate bedding. At 40p a pop I am happy to supply these as oppose something that will just end up in the bin.

At least that's my plan this week.....if I get a glut of customers demanding hangers/covers then I reserve the right to change my plan!:D

The Ikea bags was me they are a Godsend, perfect size for t-shirts/bedding etc and if like me you charge by weight they're easy to pick up with luggage scales to weigh.

I buy hangers from Poundland or B&M 10 or 12 for £1 but I offer all new customers 10% discount when providing their own hangers and 99% of them do, and re-provide them next time with no prompting. If I do use my own I write "please re-use hangers on your next collection" on their receipt.

I bought some covers from Ebay, I think they were 54" and cover most long dresses and I tie them up at the bottom if the items are shorter. However, I now only use them if it's raining. I used to wrap everything but decided it was not cost efficient and no-one has ever commented on the lack of them.

I got free business cards/postcards from Vistaprint and only did one letterbox drop but it wasn't worth it. My very first customer came from some cards I put in a kids play gym! I get quite a lot of customers now from Google places - people Google you and you come up. I've not paid to advertise for months and wouldn't again.

I've never got anyone to sign my T&C's - mine just say that agreeing to use the service is also accepting the T&C's.

I didn't get business insurance straight away - I waited until it was due for renewal as they wanted to add a stupid admin fee on which was more that what the extra insurance was!

gill37

missspeedy23 wrote: »

I got free business cards/postcards from Vistaprint and only did one letterbox drop but it wasn't worth it. My very first customer came from some cards I put in a kids play gym! I get quite a lot of customers now from Google places - people Google you and you come up. I've not paid to advertise for months and wouldn't again.

Can you explain how you got onto Google places? Although i have a website it doesnt appear on google places. thanks

missspeedy23

gill37 wrote: »

Can you explain how you got onto Google places? Although i have a website it doesnt appear on google places. thanks

Hi, if you go to this link, this should let you do it

http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter?hl%3Den-gb%26gl%3Duk&hl=en-gb

Jo
x

gill37

Thanks will check it out

mrsmadmand

wooohoo!!! 2nd customer....bloke. 20(ish) shirts. Sharp intake of breath by me and told him that would be £1 a shirt as they take longer to iron - no lie! Plus £2 each way fuel surcharge to pick up and deliver as he's (just) outside my 3 mile free radius.

Collect tomorrow - deliver back Friday! oh, and he's providing his own hangers too.

Am happy happy happy! AND...he apparently found me on t'internet so my google places thingummy must be working.

Squidge123

I've sent out 32 messages to friends over facebook. I'm tweeting about it as well. When I get some money I'm going to get some leaflets printed and have someone who will put them through peoples letterboxes for me.

Now I just need to get my first customer.