All Ironed Out. Is it worth joining them?

adviceseek

I am seeking ways and means to earn extra income from home to keep childcare costs down as my husband and I already pay for childcare when I go to work 3 days a week (my husband works full time). It is not beneficial for me to work full time as I simply will not end up with anything at the end of each month due to paying out childcare. I am already receiving childcare element of Universal Credit which only covers about £150-200 (we pay between £500-550 a month). So in reality, I am only working so that it looks more positive on our mortgage application once we have saved enough money to apply and secure a deposit.

On the other hand, I am very experienced working in the laundry and housekeeping department so I have advertised for any one who wants ironing done but nobody has come forward. I am now considering joining a company called All Ironed Out as they require agents in my area.

I have looked at the pros and cons and the only downside I can find is that I have to deliver and collect, so I will need to upgrade my car insurance to Business which will cost money.. Maybe not too much. The company will also deduct 10% per booking I get (so if I get £18 worth of ironing to do, as they charge £6 per 1kg for existing customers and £5.50 per kg for new customers, they will deduct £1.80 of that) and on top I have to pay £29.99 each month for them to find me clients regularly especially if they're one offs. I also have to buy and supply other things like coat hangers, poly wraps, iron water, you know what I mean! Poundland is good for this lol.

Insurance is covered by the company so if anything goes wrong, they will deal with it rather than me having to pay insurance out of my own pocket and dealing with it all. Does this sound worth it? It says I will not be tied into a contract so I can cancel my Direct Debit at any time, it just means they will no longer continue to find clients for me. There's also no guarantee that they can so I'd have to give it at least 4-6 weeks before I 'give' up.

What would you all do if you was in my position? Advice would be very much appreciated! Many thanks in advance.

lincroft1710

So each month you will have to do 6 kg of ironing before you start making any money for yourself. Assuming you get 5 kg new and 5 kg old a month, that is £57.50 less £5.75 (10%) = £51.75 less £29.99 = £21.76 for 10 kg ironing.

For you to make £100 per month gross you need to be doing around 25 kg of ironing a month and then you will have to deduct petrol and increased car insurance costs.

MovingForwards

Why don't you look at getting another part-time job but opposite to the hours your husband does? Eg he does 9-5 you do 6-10 a couple of evenings a week in a supermarket, gets you out a bit, has you chatting with other people, brings in extra money, gives you staff discount, pension and extra money.

BrassicWoman

I'd print flyers and pop them through letterboxes. I'd also charge per item and not per kg!

Brynsam

Leave well alone.

Have a look on local notice boards and see who else is offering an ironing service and what they are charging. Then set up on your own (check your household insurance and if necessary get cover for what you will be doing), but there's nothing to stop you offering a service where clients drop off and collect their laundry.

Smodlet

Maybe try some other ways to make money which may be less arduous as well? There are ideas on the Boost Your Income board which may be of use.

scaredofdebt

Setup a Facebook page and go it alone, get your friends to share and like your page. You will soon see if demand is there.


Collecting and picking up etc is a good service to offer but charge for it! Charge per mile to cover your costs including time. Business insurance on your car is likely to be fairly cheap, in my experience about 10% on top of my usual premium.


And yes, as advised charge per item.


You should aim to at least make net the minimum wage.


If demand isn't there you've wasted a bit of time creating the FB page but no financial loss.


Oh, you can get public liability insurance that covers you in case you damage items etc, I don't think it's very expensive but obviously do some research into that.

secretdebt

This thread reads like an advertisement for All Ironed Out...

Obviously, my apologies if that isn't the case. It just reads like it.

sportsarb

secretdebt wrote: »

This thread reads like an advertisement for All Ironed Out...

Obviously, my apologies if that isn't the case. It just reads like it.

The OP maybe.

Rest of the thread seems to be more ‘do it yourself’ because, well, you can do it yourself.