15 Laundry and Laundromat Business Ideas For 2023
Looking to start a laundry business but not quite sure what to start?
The global dry-cleaning and laundry services industry will grow at a CAGR of 6% to reach $141.5 billion in the next few years. Busy lifestyles and the growing tourism industry fuel the demand for laundry services.
If you're looking to start your own laundry business, there are several low-capital options you can choose from.
We put together a list of the most profitable laundry business ideas you can start in 2023!
Here they are:
1. Start a laundromat
The first laundromat opened in the United States in 1887. It was invented by the entrepreneur Josephine Cochrane, who was frustrated with having to wash her family’s laundry by hand.
The laundromat is a self-service facility that provides washing and drying machines for personal use. There are many different types of machines available, including coin-operated ones and those that require a card. They also provide various types of detergents and fabric softeners for use with the machines.
A laundromat can make a lot of money if it is in the right location and has the right prices.
I’m Jono Santamaria, the director of Nina’s Laundrette, a laundromat located in Northcote, Australia. I purchased the coin laundry in July 2021; an older gentleman had run the laundromat then, and the shop was dated and only accepted coins.
The most significant impacts that led to this dramatic increase have been investing in our digital presence, upgrading the store’s machines, and creating a new and modern brand. We also added a commercial laundry service which brings in an additional AUD24K per year.
2. Start a laundry delivery business
A laundry delivery service provides busy professionals and entrepreneurs a laundry pickup and delivery service.
How a laundry delivery service works is quite simple!
The laundry delivery business picks up the clothes straight from the client's location, takes them to a laundromat, and returns the cleaned clothes to the client.
Today's fast-paced world and multiple tasks that pile up daily have created an increasing demand for laundry delivery services. Therefore, if you are looking for the most profitable laundry business ideas, you could consider the laundry pickup and delivery service.
The laundry delivery service is a low startup cost business and can be more profitable than you expect. You can operate the business from home and invest more resources as you expand. With time, you can grow the company to a full-on-demand laundry service with your washers, a delivery van, and a physical location.
I’m Jono Santamaria, the director of Nina’s Laundrette, a laundromat located in Northcote, Australia. I purchased the coin laundry in July 2021; an older gentleman had run the laundromat then, and the shop was dated and only accepted coins.
The most significant impacts that led to this dramatic increase have been investing in our digital presence, upgrading the store’s machines, and creating a new and modern brand. We also added a commercial laundry service which brings in an additional AUD24K per year.
3. Become a laundry detergent manufacturer
Starting a detergent powder or synthetic washing powder business is one of the most feasible business options owing to the straightforward manufacturing process involved. Detergent powder market is one segment of the FMCG market in the world with significant growth potential. Being a consumer good, people use it on a daily basis for clothes, hand wash, and kitchen utensils, and its demand is found in the market all through the year. Moreover, an entrepreneur can initiate a detergent manufacturing business with moderate capital investment.
Hello there! I’m David Watkins, CEO and a co-founder of Dirty Labs. Dirty Labs is a cleaning innovation lab created with a mission to take the ‘dirty’ out of cleaning.
The first products from the company are a line of laundry detergents that solve what we call a cleaning trilemma. For years, products have either been safe, sustainable, or effective, but rarely, if ever, all three. Our goal is to create solutions that leverage nature-inspired green chemistry to solve this problem. We’re making a significant change in the way cleaning products are formulated. We think we’ve achieved this goal with our first line of detergents tested for market-leading levels of efficacy while also making a giant leap forward in safety and sustainability.
4. Become a washing machine manufacturer
The global washing machine market size is projected to grow to 80.24 billion over the next few years at a CAGR of 5.5% in the same period.
The market growth is because consumers have become inclined toward automated household chores and the products ability to save time, eliminate physical effort, and reduce drying time, especially in winter.
You can start the laundry machine manufacturing business as a proprietorship or a partnership enterprise.
My name is Frank Pedeflous and my wife Sandy and I bought a small business named Ultrasonic Blind Cleaning Systems twenty-five years ago. The business originally manufactured hard window covering cleaning equipment and sold it as a business opportunity to new start-ups and retailers selling window coverings.
We bought the company originally for $535,000, and today our revenues are approximately $10,000,000 annually.
5. Start a soap business
Soap-making business is a growing industry that can be home-based or a small local business. Soap business is one of the most lucrative home-based businesses that perfect your decision to work in your free time while you earn good cash.
Starting a soap business sounds simple enough. You can buy supplies for probably less than $1,000. Popular skincare products are now being sold online, and this doesn’t seem like a challenging field to break into. Below are some success stories of the soap business that will inspire you.
More important than the money, though, we’ve made so many friends from our customers and business contacts from the business. 46% of our website orders are from repeat customers. Once someone joins the Outlaw gang, we strive to be their sidekick for the long haul. We often hear from customers that our customer service is the best they’ve ever experienced. I think this is because we’re absolutely emphatic about ensuring the satisfaction of our genuinely incredible customers, no matter what.
We feel like our Magnificent Seven Outlaw Values really define us as a company and give our customers a good reason to be loyal to us. (in addition to fantastic product, of course)
6. Start an at-home laundry business
When you think of starting a laundry business, you may think of the laundromat business with dozens of washing machines and dryers arranged in rows.
But do you know you can start an at-home laundry business?
How your business works is simple! The clients will leave their laundry outside their door for a scheduled pick-up and washing. Upon picking up, you can take the clothes to your home and wash then dry them. Then, you fold the clothes and return them to the client.
To start your own at-home laundry business, you will need a washer and dryer, a way to transport laundry from your clients, and a dedicated washing space. You will also need bag tags, a hanging scale, garment covers, and laundry bags or hampers.
For efficiency and convenience, you may invest in a laundry app where customers can request the service.
I am an engineering graduate and have done my bachelor of Technology from Amity University. Before starting Pick My laundry I was working in Randox Laboratory a diagnostic MNC. Me and my lads were facing laundry issues very much. There were no regular services for laundry and dry cleaning and sometimes we had to wait up to 15 days for our laundry. There were around 200 Hostels and PG which were facing the same problem.
Currently, we have more than 50 franchises in more than 15 cities across India. We are processing 1000 orders daily with the help of franchisees. Now, we are providing IoT enabled machines on rent to franchisees.
7. Start a dry cleaners business
Dry cleaning is a business that takes clothing, linens, and other fabrics and cleans them with no water. The dry cleaning process uses chemicals to clean the fabric and make it look new again. This process can remove stains, soil, and odors from your clothes.
People will always need their clothes washed so that this business model can succeed. Starting a dry cleaning business is a great way to enter the industry.
To maximize profitability, offer multiple services beyond the typical dry cleaning like wash and fold service.
Hello! My name is Nishant Tripathi, and I founded Dhobilite, a premium online dry cleaning, and laundry service. I started this company in 2011 with a vision to pioneer laundry service in India.
We started operations in the year 2011. Over the years, we experimented with and developed our business model and software. In 2015, we disrupted the laundry market and became India's first app-based, on-demand laundry service provider. We have expanded into more than 15 cities in the last two years and have around 20+ stores today. In addition, we have 30 plus franchises. We also have factories in Gurgaon, Noida, Lucknow, Hyderabad, and Faridabad.
8. Start a mobile laundry service
In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, many people have little time to wash their clothes at home. Most prefer having a mobile dry-cleaning service within their locality, picking the clothes from their homes or business.
If you are an entrepreneur looking for a profitable business model, a mobile laundry service could be it! To start, invest in commercial-grade washing machines and dryers. You will need a pickup and delivery van to reach your customers conveniently.
I am an engineering graduate and have done my bachelor of Technology from Amity University. Before starting Pick My laundry I was working in Randox Laboratory a diagnostic MNC. Me and my lads were facing laundry issues very much. There were no regular services for laundry and dry cleaning and sometimes we had to wait up to 15 days for our laundry. There were around 200 Hostels and PG which were facing the same problem.
Currently, we have more than 50 franchises in more than 15 cities across India. We are processing 1000 orders daily with the help of franchisees. Now, we are providing IoT enabled machines on rent to franchisees.
9. Sell laundry machine parts
The global washing machine demand is projected to reach $80.24 billion in the next decade. Besides, more households are becoming inclined to automated household chores such as washing machines due to the ability to save time eliminate the physical effort and reduce the drying time.
Therefore, the washing machines demand is projected to grow, and if you have a passion for reselling the washing machine parts, it is a good time to start the business. Based on the above factors, the demand for washing machine parts and accessories at the assembly line, parts replacement and repair will continue rising. Before you start the laundry machine parts business:
- Research and gain the experience in the laundry industry
- Carry out market research to understand which parts are in demand
- Determine which parts are in demand
- Identify the target market
- Pick a prime venue
- Set up an online shop
To increase your business potential, consider partnering with a laundry machines assembly line and seek agreements with the machines repair shops.
10. Become a laundromat distributor
With today’s busy lifestyle, laundromats have become a popular way to clean clothes. Thus, entrepreneurs are setting up washing machines in different cities and neighborhoods. If you are looking for a more sustainable laundry business idea, you may consider becoming a laundromat distributor.
Ideally, the laundromat distribution business sells and installs washing machines.
To start, you can partner with the laundry machines manufacturer. You will buy the washing machines from the manufacturer and sell them to entrepreneurs starting new laundromats.
11. Start a washing machine repair business
Washing machine repair businesses install, service, remove and repair the washing machines. The repair technicians also sell genuine spare parts so that the washing machines perform at optimal levels. Starting a washing machine repair business could be a profitable venture.
Before launching the business, ensure you understand how machines from different manufacturers work. Ensure you have genuine washing machine service parts and tools.
12. Start an industrial laundromat business
13. Start a fluff and fold business
14. Start a laundry app
- Mort and Nachshon Fertel created Sudshare, a national laundry service from Baltimore, Md.
- SudShare is primarily a technology company creating an Uber-like tech stack for laundry.
- Nachshon was a teenager when he built this app after, one day, he heard his mom complaining about the pile of laundry lying at home for her to do.
- Around 125 million households produce 50 pounds of laundry weekly, so the growth scope in this market is huge and was reason enough for the founders to launch their laundry service app in 2017.
- This app-based business offers on-demand laundry services in over 400 cities across the United States and is the first and only one of its kind in the country.
- This online marketplace for laundry has more than 90,000 users.
- For the past couple of years, the business has been seeing 10-30% growth each month.
- Word of mouth and Google Ads have been their key marketing strategies
- SudShare raised $10M in a seed round and intended to use the money to build a marketing team and a technical team.
- They currently serve residential clients and planning to start serving commercial customers & go international in 2023
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15. Start an insurance business for laundromats
Hey! 👋 I'm Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story.
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