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

sloank

Hey i've been reading through this thread and getting some valuable information. Is there any updates from anyone regarding starting up your own ironing business.

Anything would be much appreciated

Sloank :j

StrawberryJamrozy

Hi all,

I'm in the same boat; looking at starting up an ironing service locally.
I'm currently looking at PL insurance, but the cheapest I've found (from a quick Compare the Market) is £8 a month. It's a little more than I want to pay, especially to begin with.
I saw that someone mentioned £2 a month, and I'd be happy to pay up to £5 a month - can anyone recommend where I could go to for cheaper PL insurance, please?

Thanks!
x

Fresh_as_a_Daisy

Hello

I'm new today so hello!

I have just found out that on 1 July I will be jobless (work from home) and now that I'm a mum I can't afford to go out to work and put her in nursery so after running through lots of ideas we decided I could iron!

I've put myself on gumtree, made a fb page, done leaflets for posting and put a poster in my car windows. I'm already self employed officially with tax man.

I've got the time, space and equipment I just need customers! I've even got my nephew finding me customers in return for baking him a cake!

The feedback I have got so far is that I should charge by weight, or per bin bag or one of those life bags Ikea or supermarket ones. I can understand this as I'd like to be given one price before I commit and just pay it. I'm really unsure.

I'm happy (ish) with my per item idea and charging for say bedding sets and have made children's clothes slightly less. I've devised a form that is easy for me to enter in the number of items and quickly come up with a total.

What has everyone else found that they and their customers prefer?

Thank you for reading

Mr_IRON

Hi. Firstly thanks for this thread. It has been very helpful for me.
Just posting as I too am thinking of starting up an ironing business from home. As someone who doesn't mind ironing and actually looks forward to it I decided to put my love of it to good use.

Can you tell me how it is going for you fellow pressers out there.

One thing I lack is marketing skills. I have leaflets on their way to me soon and will post and hand them out but is there any other way I can get my name out there?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Oh and I will update my profile soon only just signed up

giggles_alot

Fresh_as_a_Daisy wrote: »

Hello

I'm new today so hello!

I have just found out that on 1 July I will be jobless (work from home) and now that I'm a mum I can't afford to go out to work and put her in nursery so after running through lots of ideas we decided I could iron!

I've put myself on gumtree, made a fb page, done leaflets for posting and put a poster in my car windows. I'm already self employed officially with tax man.

I've got the time, space and equipment I just need customers! I've even got my nephew finding me customers in return for baking him a cake!

The feedback I have got so far is that I should charge by weight, or per bin bag or one of those life bags Ikea or supermarket ones. I can understand this as I'd like to be given one price before I commit and just pay it. I'm really unsure.

I'm happy (ish) with my per item idea and charging for say bedding sets and have made children's clothes slightly less. I've devised a form that is easy for me to enter in the number of items and quickly come up with a total.

What has everyone else found that they and their customers prefer?

Thank you for reading

Hello and welcome,

Sounds like you're well on your way.

I charge per item, I have a price for shirts and then discount this down for general clothing. Then have separate pricing for bedding which discounts slightly if a bedding set. It's served me well for 5 years and people can work out upfront

If you decide to charge by bin bag, Ikea bag etc, I'd be very careful because some people will just put 30 items in and consider it full, others will cram in 120.

You might also want to consider charging the same price for children's clothes until you know the family and the clothes... Some children's clothes can be a plain small tshirt. Others can be very fiddly and time consuming if a pleated dress or tiny dungerees.

Good luck, shout if you'd like any further advice

rickyroma

Not started up yet but got nearly everything sorted apart from somewhere to buy plastic garment covers. The ones on a roll seem quite expensive , even though some here put them over more than one garment . Do most of the services on this thread use them? ( I have read the whole thread !)
Are there cheaper alternatives which could be used as covers for instance?

mitch3473

My good lady is thinking of starting an ironing service in a semi rural sort of area.The area in question has a high percentage of tourist accommodation as well as a more stable client base. There is,according to figures,about a 12,000 population within a 10 mile radius.The question is,has anyone been involved in this sort of business and if so what population/how many chimney pots would be needed to make it a viable proposition.

ang3

Just wondering if anyone can give me any advice.

I may be coming out of my current part time work, so considering trying to start this service.

I will be at home looking after my daughter.

I have advertised on Gumtree few weeks ago, but as yet no one has contacted. I do not have any money to be able to advertise and pay.

Does anyone have any ideas at how i can get started?

Thanks any help much appreciated

langold

hi all ive posted before but nwo i really want to do this as two of my children will be full time in september so i have time to do this now, just a few quiestions do you hang everything or do you fold and put it in a bag, how much do i charge? do i need a rail in my car, any helo would be great or if anyone can suggest a site,any tips on folding too )

rickyroma

I have started up an ironing service. I have realised there are no shops near me that have boards or spaces in the window for local businesses to advertise which is disappointing I have started putting leaflets through doors locally but find this a very slow process with no response yet.
I just wondered where else I can best spread the word about myself.
I am waiting to hear back from Yell to confirm I can be listed with them.
I also have a website and a business facebook page but am not sure of the best way to promote them locally. Any ideas?