How to Open a Dry Cleaner — Ultimate guide

Start with the Business Plan

Creating a business plan is the initial step, without which your business will not be able to properly and dynamically develop. Let’s understand why you need a business plan.

First, it is a great way to model and plan. It will show you all sorts of options for the development of events, as well as point out the weaknesses. With its help you will create the best conditions for prosperity. It is very important to be able to manage your finances in a way that doesn’t lead you to big losses.

On the contrary, the business plan will help you make the right calculations and invest your money so that you are guaranteed a large profit.

There is also a financial model, the action of which is aimed directly at the management of cash flows, their proper allocation and investment. This is a great tool for the beginner who does not yet understand how the system works. If you do not have enough experience and knowledge to develop a business plan, ask for help from a specialist, tell him more about your idea so he can help you.

Act within the Law

To become a business owner, you first have to go through a lot of bureaucratic procedures, sign a lot of papers, draw up contracts and obtain official permission from the authorities. It’s not easy and it takes a long time, but it’s worth it. Doing business is controlled by the state, so everything must be as transparent and honest as possible. You do not have to hide your income, on the contrary, now you will fill out a declaration of your cash receipts. You will need to open a separate bank account, into which the proceeds from your activities will come.

Searching for a Place

The choice of location is very important and responsible, because the dry cleaner must be located where it has a chance to have a lot of customers. Most often such services are used by city dwellers, so think about finding suitable premises in the city center or at least in a busy part of it.

Look at several rooms, do not choose at once, it is better to think and weigh everything. You should be guided by how reliable the building is and what its condition is.

You should not buy or rent premises in an old and dilapidated building, despite the low price, it is very dangerous, because of the desire to save money in one moment you can lose everything. A large and spacious premise that can accommodate a lot of equipment is best suited for dry cleaning.

When you find one, all you have to do is discuss all the details with the landlord and sign a contract with him. If you want to buy premises, then be more careful.

Name of Your Brand

Coming up with a name for your brand can be very difficult. It requires creativity and ingenuity. A dry cleaner may not have a flashy or unusual name at first glance, but you still have to try to make it stand out from the crowd.

The name should send the message to the customer that they are getting the quality, perfect cleanliness and reliability they deserve. In addition, the name should sound as modern and stylish as possible. Think about what you associate with your business and decide.

You also need a logo. It is a way of expressing information by means of a visual image. Of course, the logo must have points of contact with the name so that it looks harmonious, complete and beautiful.

Search and Purchase of Equipment

You will need to buy dry cleaning machines. These are professional machines that are not cheap, but you can’t do without them. We recommend that you always buy new equipment, because that way you will have a guarantee and confidence that you can get help with repairs or financial compensation at any time.

You should not buy second-hand equipment, because you do not know how much it has actually been in use, even if it looks flawless. Find reliable manufacturers and suppliers whose pricing policy will suit you. Calculate approximately how many machines you need to run your business as profitably as possible.

Do not buy too much or too little, find the golden mean. There are many types of equipment, you better understand the characteristics of each and understand what method of cleaning you choose for your services.

Buying dry Cleaning Products

Dry cleaning products are sold in specialty stores, but you’re better off finding your own supplier with whom you can negotiate a price. You will need products for different purposes and types of fabrics and surfaces. For example, dry-cleaning your home furniture, car interior or clothes requires different treatment.

To buy quality products, you need to know in advance what you are looking for. Being knowledgeable is a must if you don’t want to be deceived. If you can’t make a choice on your own, then ask a more experienced specialist in this business and a sales consultant.

Searching for Workers

You need to create a working team to work in your dry cleaners.

You will need: dry cleaning machine operator, rotary booth and ironing table operator, steaming press and spotting machine operator, receptionist (receiving, dispensing and packing clothes).

To find responsible and decent people, you need to look carefully at each candidate. In addition, it is an important advantage to have work experience in this field. Employees must be hardworking, punctual, and able to work with equipment. If there is no such experience, you can train them, but it will cost you money and time. Remember that these people will also work with expensive things, so it is very important not to spoil them, so that you do not incur losses and do not spoil your reputation.

Set Prices for Services

Setting prices is a very important point, because here it is important not to scare customers with a too high price. If you have just opened recently, you should not inflate prices, because you have not yet entered the system and do not deserve mass approval.

To begin with, set average or low prices, so that people can appreciate the quality of your services on a larger scale. Over time, gradually raise the price. Of course, prices should be based on what costs you had to make to buy the equipment and cleaning products. Also don’t forget about rent, if any, and paying employees.

Advertising is a Must

Today, advertising has become a constant companion to any business. If you want to expand the circle of your customers and become more popular, you need to master promotion in social networks. This is an effective method of advertising, which works as quickly and qualitatively as possible.

Advertising on media platforms spreads information about services in seconds. Do your best to gather the attention of a large audience around your services. For this, there are promotion and marketing specialists who are ready to help you solve this issue.

Create a social media profile for your dry cleaner and post all the information and news about your business. Buy advertising from well-known influencers. Attract customers with discounts, this is a very good way to expand the customer base and gain confidence among consumers.

Following Safety Procedures

Maintaining a safe and comfortable workplace is your responsibility as a business owner. This is very important because in a dry cleaner, people come into contact with chemicals and compounds that can lead to tragic consequences if not handled properly.

You need to train your employees and explain the safe use of cleaning machines and products. Workers must wear gloves when handling chemicals, so you must provide everyone with the necessary protective clothing. Alkaline and acidic products react aggressively to skin and other mucous membranes. The eyes are particularly affected, so you need to provide employees with special masks or goggles.

Remember that you are responsible for the safety of the environment in which people work. So don’t skimp on safety and always be prepared to meet the needs of every employee or customer. Your reputation depends entirely on your sincere intentions to make someone’s life easier and happier.