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

somewhere_up_there

Gill37.
You should really be charging 1.00 per item, which is a lot less than drycleaners charge just for ironing.
People take advantage when they load a bag.
When i started 2010 November, I only wanted to iron clothing, now i dread it, like you say people dry things to an inch of there life.
Do you have a spray bottle of water to damp it all down.

All i prefer to do now is holiday home laundry, plus cleaning for some of them, fill in when usual cleaners take time off.
Today cleaned one 66.00
Cleaned and laundry for another 85.10.
Plus picked up a bag of bedding from another 2 about 30.00 each for them.

The only clothing i do now is for a friend of someone who gives me lots of work , otherwise no clothing, trousers dried to a crisp are the worst.



It took me from the November when i started to April,to build things up.
Is there much tourism where you are?
I spent a whole two days just e-mailing cottages.
Dropped leaflets when i was doing domestic,to all these expensive houses.
One woman rang told her a pound an item, she said , she used to have a little woman who would do her a basket for 7.00, i said sorry i am not that little woman, and would not consider it.

You could consider a dryer when you got some more work.I know you have a lot already,but if you go in to washing.
Your day is longer than mine usually finish about 9pm
I ironed my first lot of bedding just with an ordinary iron, took me 15 hours.
Then got a few more customers and spent 500.00 on equipment.
Which has been well worth it.

somewhere_up_there

Gill37
https://www.cottageguide.co.uk/east-lothian.
A starter if your considering it

Spidergirl76

Hi all!

I am thinking of starting an ironing business and was wondering if anyone on here has an ironing business and if so which insurers do you use? I have no idea where to even start to look for the best deals for insurance.

I was thinking of charging per item; that's what all the local ironing companies seem to do, so I'm going to have a look at their charges and price mine in a similar way.

And one more thing; one of my best friends does an ironing service as a second job to earn extra money and I worry that I might offend her by starting a service too. She has very loyal regular clients that she has had for years and years and of course I wouldn't dream of trying to pinch any customers from her. But I do worry I might upset her by starting up too...Still, I suppose I can't let something that might happen get in the way of me doing something I want to do can I?

Thanks for any advice

NeverInDebt

Big thread a few posts below yours

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/576177

gill37

somewhere_up_there wrote: »

Gill37
www.cottageguide.co.uk/east-lothian.
A starter if your considering it

thank you so much for this link. it will give me something to focus on next week when im not ironing. Yes i should be charging more, i now realise that, but feel stuck as i've only just started getting regulars and dont feel I can raise my prices for them. But for others that approach me, I will.

Would def have to invest in a tumble drier if doing the laundry service but if i get interest from the emails i send next week then i could always start off with a 2nd hand one.

many thanks once again for your suggestions and link. very much appreciated.

gill:T

Iloveironing

somewhere_up_there wrote: »

Gill37.
You should really be charging 1.00 per item, which is a lot less than drycleaners charge just for ironing.
People take advantage when they load a bag.
When i started 2010 November, I only wanted to iron clothing, now i dread it, like you say people dry things to an inch of there life.
Do you have a spray bottle of water to damp it all down.

All i prefer to do now is holiday home laundry, plus cleaning for some of them, fill in when usual cleaners take time off.
Today cleaned one 66.00
Cleaned and laundry for another 85.10.
Plus picked up a bag of bedding from another 2 about 30.00 each for them.

The only clothing i do now is for a friend of someone who gives me lots of work , otherwise no clothing, trousers dried to a crisp are the worst.



It took me from the November when i started to April,to build things up.
Is there much tourism where you are?
I spent a whole two days just e-mailing cottages.
Dropped leaflets when i was doing domestic,to all these expensive houses.
One woman rang told her a pound an item, she said , she used to have a little woman who would do her a basket for 7.00, i said sorry i am not that little woman, and would not consider it.

You could consider a dryer when you got some more work.I know you have a lot already,but if you go in to washing.
Your day is longer than mine usually finish about 9pm
I ironed my first lot of bedding just with an ordinary iron, took me 15 hours.
Then got a few more customers and spent 500.00 on equipment.
Which has been well worth it.

Hi there, just catching up on the thread. I am so, so quiet at the moment!

I didn't intend to do bedding, however, when I read your post I became intrigued. I live in a heavy touristy area with lots of B&B's and holiday cottages.

I have a steam generator iron, which cost around £100. Do you think it would be up to the job of linen/bedding?

I wouldn't want to do washing, but if you think my iron would be up to the job, how much would you suggest I charge?

Can I also ask, where you said it took 15 hours to do one set of bedding with your previous iron, just how big was that order?
Thanks in advance

somewhere_up_there

Hi iloveironing.
I think you would have to do washing as well, would you not be able to include that?
My cottages are all owned by people who live miles away, and some abroad.
I either do laundry for some,they have a cleaner, or i will do cleaning and laundry for others.
No one has ever asked me to just iron.
A lot of laundry is Egyption cotton ,and you need to iron it damp.

The 15hrs was a whole linen cupboard the house slept 12 and there was probably three sets for each person.
I did this with an ordinary steam iron
If you live in a tourist area, now is a good time to start, as the season is just beginning,saying that i have only had three days of in the last year.

June July August, are mainly weekly turnovers, but you actually make more money, in the other months, as some houses can change over three times in a week.
Is there anyone else in your area doing holiday cottage laundry.

Also doing the towels as well you only have to wash , tumble dry and fold.

Try timing your own bedding first.
Look up how to fold a fitted sheet
Everything else is easy to fold.

Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask anything else, i have not included.

hogshead

I am in desperate need of a new iron. My current one is tripping the electric & driving the children mad as that means internet/tv interruptions!!!!

I want a mid range price SG iron (£150 max if poss). Do they all have anti scale cartridges as I'd prefer not to have to replace these too often.

Can anyone suggest a good model or perhaps one to avoid>
Thanks

hogshead

Bump...Can no one suggest a decent model?

Jennistarr

Hi everyone.

Thinking of starting a new inroning business but clueless of where to start, priceing etc. any tips?