Do you want to open a business? Offering a service that is useful for others and at the same time beneficial for yourself?
Do you have a vacant place you don’t know how to use? Opening a self-service laundry could be a great solution.
It is a good investment and a potentially very profitable business.
AUTOMATIC LAUNDRIES ARE VERY USED SERVICES
Laundromats are one of the most used services by people.
Due to hectic pace, travel to other countries or simply for the need to wash bulky clothes, we rely on automatic laundries.
It is a quick and economical choice for washing and drying laundry.
So why not become the owner of a self-service laundry? Costs are low compared to other activities.
And then the time commitment is almost nil besides the fact that the returns could become really interesting.
THE SECRETS TO OPEN A SUCCESSFUL SELF SERVICE LAUNDRY
STRATEGIC LOCATION
Where to place your self-service laundry? What are the optimal characteristics of the place?
PLACE OF PASSAGE
Positioning your business in a transit area is essential to attract customers.
First it saves you money on advertising, as people may notice the laundry room without any need for advertising.
Secondly, customers will be promoting your business through word of mouth.
REACHABLE WITH DIFFERENT MEANS
If the location is easy to reach, convenient to all means of transport, it will be more frequented by different types of customers.
Located next to a parking lot it is convenient, people can reach it by car without having to worry about where to leave the car.
If it is located at a bus stop, even those who do not have their own transport can comfortably use it.
CLOSE TO OTHER SHOPS
When a person takes the laundry to wash, he will then have to wait for the washing and drying time.
Many could give up this “waste of time”.
But if there are shops, supermarkets, or other businesses nearby, time can be busy shopping, grocery shopping, or other errands.
AWAY FROM THE COMPETITION
Checking that there are no other activities of the same type in the area is essential to attract most of the inhabitants or passing people to that place.
Conversely, having other self-service laundries nearby would make starting your business more complicated.
ADEQUATE TARGET
Not all people are potential customers of your business.
A neighborhood where the income of the population is medium, has many workers (preferably single) or university students away from home is preferable.
And that it has a high population density. Areas where there are many condos and apartments may be the best ever.
PERFORMING MACHINERY
The larger your self-service laundry, the more washing machines and dryers it contains, the better it will perform.
But it’s not just the quantity that makes the difference, you also need to pay attention to quality.
An initial investment in high-performance machinery will certainly be a good starting point for a future income.
MODERN PLANTS
You will need modern systems, possibly steam, with a single boiler and low energy consumption, which are able to power the batteries of your machines.
The washers and dryers must be industrial and professional of a high standard, preferably in steel to ensure durability and resistance.
With electronic inverters to ensure low consumption, closed chamber dryers without flue. In order to respect the environment, consume little and obtain excellent drying very quickly.
COMPETITIVENESS OF PRICES
To start any business it is necessary not to risk the prices of the service offered. Through an accurate analysis it will be necessary to compare the prices of the other self-service laundries in the neighboring countries and set adequate costs.
On the occasion of the opening it would also be advisable to propose offers and promotions. In this way, customers are immediately loyal and incentivized to return.
COZY ENVIRONMENT
Surely the fundamental characteristic concerns the performance of the machinery, but if the environment is also welcoming, then everything is a plus!
It will be enough to furnish your laundry room with a few seats, benches, sofas and maybe a few magazines or a TV, to make customers feel at ease, just as if they were at home.
HOW MUCH COULD A SELF SERVICE LAUNDRY COST?
And above all, how much could you get from the business?
Any business requires an initial investment, which should not be underestimated.
Opening a self-service laundry can require an initial investment ranging from around 30,000 to 50,000 euros.
Obviously this is an estimate, as it will then depend on the size of the room, the number of machinery, the area in which the room will be opened, the structural interventions and the necessary systems.
A SMALL LAUNDRY
Let’s take as an example a small self-service laundry, on 40 square meters.
Let’s say it is located in a strategic and semi-central area, with a place that has good starting conditions and adequate facilities.
If we place 3/4 washing machines and 2 dryers, about 40,000 euros of initial investment will be needed.
The investment will concern: rental costs, renovation, fitting out and connection of the premises’ systems.
The cost of machinery and equipment. And then the furnishings, advertising and marketing, consultancy and bureaucratic obligations.
CUSHION EXPENSES
After the first investments and an initial start-up period, you should start amortizing costs and producing real profits.
Let’s take the case of the same small laundry as described above.
Taking into consideration an influx of about 25 customers a day, with an average cost of 8 euros, it should be possible to earn about 70,000 euros during the first year of activity.
By subtracting management costs and taxes, the actual profit could be around 20,000 euros.
This would mean returning from the initial investment in about two years of activity. Once the business is up and running, profits will start to grow and even double.
ARE YOU STILL INDECISIVE AND ARE YOU AFRAID TO HAVE A CHANCE?
Definitely undertaking a business activity must be a well-considered decision and also evaluated by experts.
As for the business of opening a self-service laundry, there are many experts in the sector, who can also be contacted online for advice or a quote. In addition, they will take care of everything you need.
They will be able to show you the best area, make a precise analysis of costs and earnings, as well as offer you assistance.
