dryclean and laundry business plan

Dry Cleaning Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their dry cleaning businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a dry cleaning business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your dry cleaning business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan

If you’re looking to start a dry cleaning business, or grow your existing dry cleaning business, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your dry cleaning business in order to improve your chances of success. Your dry cleaning business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Dry Cleaning Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a dry cleaning business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for dry cleaning businesses.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

If you want to start a dry cleaning business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your dry cleaning business plan template:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of dry cleaning business you are operating and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a dry cleaning business that you would like to grow, or are you operating dry cleaning businesses in multiple markets?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the dry cleaning industry. Discuss the type of dry cleaning business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of dry cleaning business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of dry cleaning businesses:

• Multi-service Dry Cleaning : this type of dry cleaning business offers dry cleaning services, alterations, and repair and maintenance to its customers garments. Turnaround time is usually 3-4 days.
• Express Dry Cleaning: this type of dry cleaning business offers to have customers garments ready within 24 hours.
• Hotel Dry Cleaning: this type of dry cleaning is located near or at a hotel and primarily services the hotel’s guests. They will also provide alterations and repairs within a short timeframe.

In addition to explaining the type of dry cleaning business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, number of positive reviews, reaching X amount of clients served, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the dry cleaning industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the dry cleaning industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating. 

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your dry cleaning business plan:

• How big is the dry cleaning industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your dry cleaning business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your dry cleaning business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: general public, hotels, businesses requiring uniforms, and anyone requiring garments dry cleaned or altered for a formal event.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of dry cleaning business you operate. Clearly, collectors would respond to different marketing promotions than travelers, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other dry cleaning businesses. 

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes alteration businesses and laundromats. You need to mention such competition as well.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other dry cleaning businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be dry cleaning businesses located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of dry cleaning do they offer?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide dry cleaning services in a faster time frame?
• Will you provide dry cleaning services that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a dry cleaning business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of dry cleaning company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to dry cleaning, will you provide alterations, repair, general laundry, and any other services?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your dry cleaning company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your dry cleaning business located in a busy retail district, a hotel, or office building, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your dry cleaning marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Billboards and bus benches
• Social media marketing

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your dry cleaning business, including customer order intake, performing dry cleaning duties, cash register reconciling, dry cleaning product ordering, customer interaction, and payroll and staff scheduling.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to gain your XXth client, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your dry cleaning business to a new city or location.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your dry cleaning business’ ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company. 

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing dry cleaning businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a dry cleaning business or a proven small business entrepreneur.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you start with offering one type of dry cleaning service and expand to offer more services ? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your dry cleaning business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt. 

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a dry cleaning business:

• Cost of dry cleaning equipment and supplies
• Cost of dry cleaning products
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your dry cleaning location lease or list of dry cleaning services you plan to offer.  

Putting together a business plan for your dry cleaning business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the dry cleaning industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful dry cleaning business.  

Dry Cleaning Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my dry cleaning business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Dry Cleaning Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of dry cleaning business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a dry cleaning business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of dry cleaning businesses?

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Dry Cleaning business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how Growthink’s professional business plan consulting services can create your business plan for you.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Dry Cleaning & Laundromat Business Plans

Did you know each of these plans was created in LivePlan? Learn More

Dry Cleaning Home Delivery Business Plan

Columbia Cleaners is a start-up dry cleaning, laundry and alterations service business. They are offering a new service, home pickup and delivery of garments and items, instead of the traditional drop.

Dry Cleaning - UK Only - Business Plan

Guildford Dry Cleaning Services will provide dry cleaning, laundry, and garment alterations, offered with regular home pick-up and delivery. (NOTE: This plan was created in the United Kingdom version

Laundromat Business Plan

Universal Laundromat is a laundry service that will supply full washing, drying, and optional folding services.

Before you start your own dry cleaning business, it's a good idea to write a business plan. But where do you start? First, check out a sample business plan for a laundromat or dry cleaning service.

If you’re looking to develop a more modern business plan, we recommend you try LivePlan . It contains the same templates and information you see here, but with additional guidance to help you develop the perfect plan.

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How to Start a Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business

Most of these businesses require the customer to drop off their laundry, although some companies will pick up laundry from the customers’ homes. A full-service laundry and dry cleaning service charges a fee per item for dry cleaning and a fee per pound for standard laundering. This type of business takes some of the responsibility off of the customers who may have busy schedules.

Learn how to start your own Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business and whether it is the right fit for you.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services .

Start a laundry and dry cleaning business by following these 10 steps:

• Plan your Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business
• Form your Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business into a Legal Entity
• Register your Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business for Taxes
• Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
• Set up Accounting for your Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business
• Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business
• Get Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business Insurance
• Define your Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business Brand
• Create your Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business Website
• Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your laundry and dry cleaning business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas .

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What will you name your business?

• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?

How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship , you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name , we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability .

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Want some help naming your laundry and dry cleaning business?

Business name generator, what are the costs involved in opening a laundry and dry cleaning business.

Unless your business is a work-from-home operation, you will need to pay the deposit for the lease and the first month’s rent for the storefront. In a high-traffic area, expect to pay $3 to $10 per square foot per month for the retail space. You will need to have signage on the front of the store that makes it very visible to those that drive by the store. You will need to have laundry and dry cleaning equipment and a cash register. You will need to have cleaning supplies, coat hangers, and plastic bags. You will need to have a mechanical clothes rack that rotates the finished clothing to keep it in order and ready for customer pick up. Most of these businesses start with about $50,000 worth of equipment, which can be leased and about $2,000 in supplies.

What are the ongoing expenses for a laundry and dry cleaning business?

The ongoing expenses include rent, equipment lease payments, insurance, utilities, supplies, and marketing costs (printing and delivery expenses for promotional flyers).

Who is the target market?

This is essentially a retail business, with repeat customers coming from the local area. This business sometimes offers subscription services to customers which can lead to increased profits. Regular customers help create a reliable customer base.

Full-service launderers must consider possible allergic reactions in customers and take steps to prevent these from occurring. This is an important consideration as customers will not be choosing the products that will be used in the laundering process.

Many people are concerned by the chemicals used by traditional dry cleaners. Many consumers are also concerned by the environmental impact of this type of business. A business using less harsh chemicals and more organic cleaning methods while reducing its carbon footprint may be preferred such as the example of eco laundry company.

How does a laundry and dry cleaning business make money?

Items for dry cleaning are charged per piece. Regular laundry is charged per pound. Additional charges may apply for special services, such as severe stain removal or making repairs, such as fixing tears or replacing missing buttons.

In a major metropolitan area, the competition for laundry and dry cleaning services may be very intense. Because of this, many stores offer dry cleaning services for shirts and blouses at $1 per piece in order to attract customers. Premium prices are charged for same-day service.

The price per pound of regular laundry ranges from $0.99 to $1.99 depending on whether the items need folding or pressing. Dry cleaning of items starts at $1 per item for shirts or blouses, $5 for pants, $10 for suits, and goes up to $29 for a comforter.

How much profit can a laundry and dry cleaning business make?

This business, when it serves an active customer base, is very profitable. Revenues easily exceed $200 per day and costs are less than half of that. A small shop can make at least $30,000 in profit per year after paying all expenses. Many entrepreneurs have become very wealthy owning and operating multiple storefronts in this business.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Ways to make this business more profitable include offering pick-up and delivery service for an additional fee to help individuals with a busy schedule, offering clothing alterations/tailoring service, and shoe repair/polishing. Opening multiple locations, once finances and demand permit, will also lead to increased profits.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship , partnership , limited liability company (LLC) , and corporation .

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your laundry and dry cleaning business is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services . You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil .

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate laundry and dry cleaning business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits .

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses .

Labor safety requirements

It is important to comply with all relevant Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements: Here is a link to OSHA’s laundry specific regulations .

Certificate of Occupancy

A laundry and dry cleaning business is generally run out of a storefront location. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) . A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

If you plan to lease a location:

• It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
• Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a laundry and dry cleaning business.
• After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.

If you plan to purchase or build a location:

• You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
• Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your laundry and dry cleaning business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance . This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Laundry and Dry Cleaning Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a laundry and dry cleaning business

The best way to promote this business is to use hand delivered flyers that offer a discount coupon and put them under the doors of homes and apartments in the nearby neighborhood.

How to keep customers coming back

The most common form of advertising is to have a big neon sign in the window saying shirts cleaned for $1. Being very friendly to the customers when they walk in encourages them to come back. Calling them when their clothes are ready adds an extra touch of good customer service.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

• All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
• Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
• Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

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Welcome to the Startup Savant podcast , where we interview real startup founders at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey, from launch to scale.

Is this Business Right For You?

To do well in this business you will have to enjoy cleaning clothes and making them nice for others. It is important to pay attention to the details, not lose track of the customers’ items and make sure the results of the washing, cleaning, pressing and/or folding are excellent.

You will need to work with many different chemicals, some of which are known to be quite toxic. You will have to be comfortable with handling dirty laundry. Some might be very smelly and even disgusting before it is cleaned. Wearing gloves and protective equipment will be an important thing to do to protect your health.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a laundry and dry cleaning business?

This business is all about being on schedule. Opening the store on time, keeping public and employee areas clean, and making sure that orders are fulfilled in a timely manner are all activities you can expect on a daily basis.

If the store processes the laundry and/or dry cleaning on site, you will also need to make sure the equipment is operating properly, and load up the washers and dry cleaning machines with additional clothes that need cleaning to keep making good progress for all of the customers’ orders.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful laundry and dry cleaning business?

You will need to be friendly with the walk-in customers and very careful with their items. Attention to detail is important and you will need to notice things like stains or damage to the clothing to point them out to the customers when they drop off the clothing for laundry or dry cleaning.

There is always a tight schedule of work necessary to get everything ready on time. Customers can be very unforgiving if they come back to the store when their clothes are supposed to be ready and they are not available on time for pick up.

Perhaps the most crucial skill is the ability to remove stains. Here is a list of common stains and the best way of getting them out of clothing.

What is the growth potential for a laundry and dry cleaning business?

There is a business model that uses the retail space as only drop off and pick up location, while all the washing and cleaning is done at another location. it is possible to have many retail locations that are supported by an industrial location where all the cleaning of the clothes occurs.

There are also franchise opportunities in this industry. It is possible to start with a single store and then expand to own many more.

TRUiC's YouTube Channel

For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

How and when to build a team

Most of these businesses are family run and operated by just a few people. The time to build up a team comes after the success of operating one store and opening another one. Workers are often paid minimum wage.

Useful Links

Industry opportunities.

• National Cleaners Association website
• Tide Cleaners franchise opportunity
• Comet Cleaners franchise opportunity

Real World Examples

• California-based full service laundromat chain
• Ann-Arbor based self-service/full-service laundromat

Further Reading

• Blog detailing how to start a drop-off wash-and-fold laundry business in-store
• Blog detailing how to start an at-home drop-off wash-and-fold laundry business
• Book detailing how to start and manage a dry cleaning business
• Find more  Business Ideas  perfect for Small Towns!

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!

Dry Cleaning Business Plan Template

Dry cleaning business plan.

You’ve come to the right place to create your Dry Cleaning business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Dry Cleaning companies.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Dry Cleaning business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Oleson Cleaners is a new dry cleaner located in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. Our mission is to provide high-quality dry cleaning services that are environmentally friendly. Unlike our competitors, we don’t use any toxic chemicals in any of our services. We use environmentally friendly solvents to keep our customers’ clothes in perfect condition without harming the environment. We aim to be one of the finest dry cleaning businesses in the area and guarantee that every garment will be in better condition than when the customer dropped it off.

Oleson Cleaners is headed by its founder, Jacob Oleson. He has worked at a local dry cleaner for ten years as an Assistant Manager. His experience at this job has given his extensive knowledge of the industry, dry cleaning techniques, and customer service. As a manager, he also gained in-depth knowledge and experience in the operations and management aspects of running a business. He also holds a degree in Business Administration.

Product Offering

We are a local dry cleaner that provides dry cleaning services for individuals living in or near Phoenix, Arizona. We can clean any garment that requires dry cleaning, including suits, gowns, other professional wear, and household fabrics (such as table linens and sheets).

Our services are priced on a case-by-case basis, depending on the quantity and type of fabric that needs to be cleaned. Customers can call our business or check out our website to get a quote.

Customer Focus

Oleson Cleaners will target all individuals in the Phoenix area that need dry cleaning services. Specifically, it will target men and women living in the area, busy parents, and anyone else who has garments that require dry cleaning. The company will also target tourists or business professionals in the city who need a fast and efficient dry cleaning. No matter the customer, Oleson Cleaners will deliver the best service and convenience.

Management Team

Oleson Cleaners is headed by its founder, Jacob Oleson. Jacob has worked at a local dry cleaner for ten years as an Assistant Manager. His experience at this job has given his extensive knowledge of the industry, dry cleaning techniques, and customer service. As a manager, he also gained in-depth knowledge and experience in the operations and management aspects of running a business. In addition to his experience, he holds a degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University.

Success Factors

Oleson Cleaners will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Location: Oleson Cleaners’ location is near the center of town, giving us access to commuters, local office workers, and nearby residents.
• Management: Our management team has years of business and industry experience that allows us to market to and serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than our competitors.
• Environmentally-friendly services: Oleson Cleaners is committed to providing dry cleaning services that are nontoxic and environmentally friendly. We are the only dry cleaner in the area that is committed to providing these services.

Financial Highlights

Oleson Cleaners is currently seeking $400,000 to launch. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures and location build-out, hiring initial employees, marketing expenses, and working capital. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

• Store design/build: $150,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
• Marketing costs: $50,000
• Working capital: $50,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Oleson Cleaners.

Company Overview

Who is oleson cleaners.

  Oleson Cleaners is headed by its founder, Jacob Oleson. He has worked at a local dry cleaner for ten years as an Assistant Manager. His experience at this job has given his extensive knowledge of the industry, dry cleaning techniques, and customer service. As a manager, he also gained in-depth knowledge and experience in the operations and management aspects of running a business. He also holds a degree in Business Administration.

Oleson Cleaners’ History

After graduating from Arizona State University, Jacob Oleson immediately began researching the local market and planning out his ideas for a dry cleaner business. Jacob incorporated Oleson Cleaners as an S-Corporation on January 1st, 2023. The business is currently being run out of Jacob’s private office, but once the build-out on Oleson Cleaners’ retail location is finalized, all operations will be run from there.

Since incorporation, the company has achieved the following milestones:

• Found a location and signed a Letter of Intent to lease it
• Developed the company’s name, logo, and website
• Determined equipment and inventory requirements
• Began recruiting key employees

Oleson Cleaners’ Services

Industry analysis.

The dry cleaner industry has been an essential industry for several decades. Many professionals and individuals need to wear high-quality fabrics that cannot be cleaned easily through traditional means. Dry cleaning cleans these delicate fabrics to perfection without causing any damage, wear, or tear.

The dry cleaner industry is thriving and is expected to continue its success throughout the next few years. The industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% over the next five years. As people continue to live their busy lives, they will continue to depend on dry cleaners and other laundry services to keep their clothes clean and in perfect condition. Therefore, we expect the industry to continue to grow for the foreseeable future.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Oleson Cleaners will target men and women in the Phoenix area that need dry cleaning services. Specifically, the company will target busy parents, tourists, and professionals who need quick and efficient dry cleaning services.

The precise demographics for Phoenix, Arizona are:

Customer Segmentation

Oleson Cleaners will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Busy parents and families
• Business professionals

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Oleson Cleaners will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Cascade Dry Cleaners

Cascade Dry Cleaners is a local small dry cleaner that offers affordable services for the residents of Phoenix, Arizona. They can clean anything that requires dry cleaning, including ball gowns, suits, and linens. They also offer tailoring and alterations for an additional fee. The business is open nearly 24/7 so anyone who is interested in their services can drop off their garments any time.

All American Laundromat

All American Laundromat was established in 2009 and offers a variety of laundry services. Their services include: Coin-operated washers & dryers, dry cleaning, and wash and fold services. Their main clientele includes multifamily housing, colleges and universities, and hotels. They have three locations in the area.

Super Dry Cleaning

Super Dry Cleaning has been open since 2005. They offer affordable dry cleaning services to anyone living or working near downtown Phoenix, Arizona. They can clean any garment that comes into their store and guarantee speedy service. Customers can choose to pick up their clothes when they are ready or get them delivered for an additional charge.

Competitive Advantage

Oleson Cleaners will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Oleson Cleaners will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Commitment to environmentally friendly services
• Well-trained staff that prioritizes customer satisfaction
• Service built on long-term relationships
• Thorough knowledge of the industry

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Oleson Cleaners is as follows:

Customer Loyalty Programs

Oleson Cleaners will create a winning customer loyalty program to keep our best clients coming back again and again. In addition, we will send periodic, regular emails and text messages to customers. These communications will ensure customers are satisfied with our services and remind them after a period of time that they may need to utilize our services again. Long-term customers will have the opportunity to participate in the loyalty program, and referrals will be rewarded as well.

Website/SEO

Oleson Cleaners will develop a professional website that displays pictures of our locations and lists the services we provide. We will also invest in SEO so that the company’s website will appear at the top of search engine results. Oleson Cleaners will also publish frequent newsletters and blogs to educate our customers on promotions and discounts.

Social Media

Oleson Cleaners will maintain an active presence on various social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube, with the marketing manager updating these accounts regularly.

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Jacob has built up an extensive list of contacts over the years by providing exceptional service and expertise to his customers. His network of contacts has committed to spreading the word about his new company to their friends and families.

Oleson Cleaners’ pricing will be competitive so customers feel they receive great value when utilizing our dry cleaning services. Customers can expect to receive personalized attention when visiting our location.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Oleson Cleaners.

Operation Functions:

• Jacob Oleson will be the Owner and Manager of the company. He Will oversee all staff and manage daily operations. Jacob has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Beth Clark – Accountant/Bookkeeper will provide all accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• Anna Lopez– Marketing Manager will provide all marketing and advertising campaigns for Oleson Cleaners.
• Robert Ellis – Assistant Manager will supervise the team of attendants and manage the staff schedule.
• Jacob will also hire several staff to help run the store and provide dry cleaning services for customers.

Milestones:

Oleson Cleaners will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 7/202X – Finalize contract to lease storefront.
• 8/202X – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts.
• 9/202X – Purchase equipment and supplies.
• 10/202X – Begin word of mouth and online marketing campaigns.
• 11/202X – Begin moving into Oleson Cleaners.
• 12/202X – Oleson Cleaners opens for business.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

Oleson Cleaners’ revenues will come primarily from providing dry cleaning services.

The lease of the business space, supplies, and labor expenses are the key cost drivers of Oleson Cleaners. Ongoing marketing expenditures will also be a notable cost driver for Oleson Cleaners, especially in the first few years as the business gets established in the market.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and pay off the startup business loan.

Average number of daily customers:

• Year 5: 100

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, dry cleaning business plan faqs, what is a dry cleaning business plan.

A dry cleaning business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your dry cleaning business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Dry Cleaning business plan using our Dry Cleaning Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Dry Cleaning Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of dry cleaning businesses , some examples include: Multi-service Dry Cleaning, Express Dry Cleaning, and Hotel Dry Cleaning.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Dry Cleaning Business Plan?

Dry Cleaning businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Dry Cleaning Business?

Starting a dry cleaning business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Dry Cleaning Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed dry cleaning business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your dry cleaning business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your dry cleaning business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Dry Cleaning Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your dry cleaning business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your dry cleaning business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Dry Cleaning Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your dry cleaning business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your dry cleaning business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

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LAUNDRY BUSINESS PLAN

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Laundromat & dry cleaners business plan template

Download this laundromat dry cleaners business plan template in PDF or Word format, or tailor it to your project directly in our business plan software.

Discover our laundromat and dry cleaners business plan template

Our laundromat business plan template gives you the structure to write a professional plan.

Not accustomed to writing business plans? Our laundromat business template will turn a typically challenging process into a total breeze.

Modelled on a complete business plan of a laundromat in Normandy, our template features both the financial forecast and the written part that presents the project, its team, the local market and the business strategy implemented by the management.

Cast your eyes on this template to achieve a better understanding of what your bank and investors would like to see, so that you can create a business plan that meets their expectations.

7 day free trial. No credit card required. Laundromat & dry cleaners business plan template available with paid plans only.

How to use this laundromat and dry cleaners business plan template

Edit the dry cleaners business plan template online, or download it.

There are 3 ways to use this template:

• Edit it online: you can adapt this template to your business idea by changing the text or the financial forecast directly in our business planning software
• Download in PDF: if you're just after a little inspiration, you can download the laundromat business plan template in PDF to read over it
• Download in Word format: want to edit your plan on Word? Simply export the laundromat business plan template to Ms Word (.docx) format

Laundromat and dry cleaners business plan template content

This template includes a complete laundromat and dry cleaners business plan example, with a financial forecast and the following sections:

• Executive summary: the executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea
• Company: this section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form
• Products and services: here, you'll give an overview of the services or products offered by the company
• Market analysis: the market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your products and services through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)
• Strategy: this section highlights the company's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way
• Operations: this step lays out the company's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan
• Financial plan: the financial plan includes a table of sources & uses (initial funding plan), and complete financial statements (P&L, balance sheet and cash flow statements).
• Appendices: this part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.).

7 day free trial. No credit card required. Laundromat and dry cleaners business plan template available with paid plans only.

Executive summary of the laundromat's business plan

The executive summary gives the reader a clear and concise overview of your business idea.

Our dry cleaners and laundromat business plan example's executive summary is formed of the following subsections:

• Business overview: in this subsection, we outline who the laundromat founders are, what legal form they've chosen for the business, and the rationale behind the choice of their location
• Market overview: in this subsection, we summarize the conclusions of the market analysis performed by the laundromat's owners and explain which age group or demographics (students, office workers etc.) they aim to target
• Financial highlights: in this subsection, we give an overview of the forecasted financial performance of the laundromat over the first 3 years of operation
• Our ask: in this subsection, we outline the amount of financing required to start the laundromat and how it's going to be funded (the founders are seeking a bank loan to start their laundromat)

Company overview included in our laundromat business plan sample

This section lays out the structure of your business, including its location, management team and legal form.

Our laundromat business plan template's company section is formed of the following subsections:

• Structure & Ownership: in this subsection, we outline who the laundromat shareholders are and what legal form they've chosen for the business
• Location: in this subsection, we present the area surrounding the location chosen for the business and the layout and main features of the premises
• Management Team: in this subsection, we give an overview of the background of each of the laundromat's founders and explain how they met and why they decided to start a company together

Products and services offered by the laundromat and dry cleaners

In this section, you'll present a list of the services offered by your laundromat (washing, drying etc.) and dry cleaning business.

In our laundromat business plan template products and services section, we cover:

• Dry cleaning services: a selection of services including dry cleaning, ironing, laundry, stain removal and washing sensitive materials
• Self-service laundry: using either an eco-friendly detergent or otherwise when washing clothes

Market analysis for the opening of the laundromat and dry cleaners

The market analysis is where you’ll demonstrate that there is a strong demand for your products and services through a thorough assessment of the industry (customer profile, hot trends, regulation, competition, etc.)

Our laundromat business plan example's market analysis section is formed of the following subsections:

• Demographics and Segmentation: in this subsection, we explore the market in depth. We look at the supply and demand sides both at the national and local level, analyse the hot trends perceived by the founders, and the key statistics that will help the founders build their positioning
• Target market: in this subsection, our founders explain who their ideal customers are (students, office workers etc.) and why they chose to target them
• Competition: in this subsection, we take a look at the direct (laundromats and dry cleaners nearby) and indirect (other ways of washing and drying clothes) local competition to ensure we have a differentiated positioning and that the market is large enough to accommodate the arrival of new laundromat and dry cleaning business
• Regulation: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main regulation applicable to our dry cleaning and laundromat business

7 day free trial. No credit card required. Laundromat and dry cleaning business plan template available with paid plans only.

Setting the strategy for our dry cleaning business

This section highlights the company's game plan when it comes to pricing, marketing and mitigating risks along the way.

Our laundromat business plan template strategy section is formed of the following subsections:

• Pricing: in this subsection, we explain how we set the prices of our main categories of services (dry cleaning, self-service laundry) and the rationale behind our choice
• Marketing plan: in this subsection, we explain what action we'll put in place to build awareness and loyalty among our target market
• Milestones: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main goals we set for ourselves for the next 3 years
• Risks and Mittigants: in this subsection, we perform an assessment of the medium and long-term risks that could jeopardize the financial viability of our laundromat and outline how we intend to mitigate them

Operations section of the dry cleaners and laundromat business plan template

This part lays out the company's operational organisation, including the recruitment plan.

Our laundromat business plan example's operations section is formed of the following subsections:

• Personnel plan: in this subsection, we explain what our opening hours will be and explain the responsibilities of each of our dry cleaner and laundromat's staff member
• Key assets and IP: in this subsection, we list the assets and intellectual property rights which are critical to our business operations and explain how we will secure and protect each of these
• Suppliers: in this subsection, we give an overview of the main suppliers we will use our what commercial terms have been negotiated with them

Financial plan included in our dry cleaner and laundromat business plan template

This section presents the expected financial performance of the laundromat and dry cleaning business over the next 3 years.

Our laundromat and dry cleaners business plan example's financial plan is formed of the following subsections:

• Start-up funding: in this subsection, we list the cost of each item required to launch the dry cleaning business
• Important assumptions: in this subsection, we explain the methodology and the main assumptions used to build the laundromat's financial forecast
• Sales forecast: in this subsection, we detail the expected revenues and growth rate for our laundromat and dry cleaning business in the coming years
• Cost structure: in this subsection, we list all the expenses required for our laundromat and dry cleaning business to operate smoothly
• Projected Profit & Loss statement: in this subsection, we analyse our forecasted P&L and comment on the expected profitability of our laundromat and dry cleaner over the next 3 years
• Projected cash flow statement: in this subsection, we analyse the expected cash generation of the laundromat and dry cleaning business
• Projected balance sheet: in this section we give an analysis of the liquidity and solvability implied from our balance sheet

Appendices of the dry cleaning and laundromat business plan template

This part provides the opportunity to include multiple financial appendices generated by our software (debt maturity profile, monthly financial statements, financial analysis, etc.).

Our laundromat and dry cleaners business plan template's appendices include:

• A Maturity profile chart showing the principal repayments of their loans over the next 3 years
• A monthly cash flow forecast: showing how much cash is being generated or consumed each month over the first 3 years of operations

Laundromat and dry cleaner business plan template sample

Executive summary, business overview.

Lav'Eco will be a self-service laundromat, located in the heart of Caen, close to the main University.

We will provide both washing machines and dryers.

Our machines will be controlled by an electronic system allowing customers to use them without any assistance.

We will also offer: laundry services, dry cleaning, ironing and leather cleaning.

Our laundromat will use only eco-friendly and biodegradable products, to respect the environment whilst also committing to a more traditional method of washing.

Our launderette will be transparent about the brands and products that are used to clean the clothes.

Lav'Eco will be a limited company managed by Marianne D. and Alexandre C. with a share capital of €10,000. The two managers have complementary experience.

Marianne D. worked as a dry cleaner for 8 years for a company in the Caen region before deciding to set up her own business.

Alexandre C. was the manager of a supermarket for 10 years before retraining and setting up his business with Marianne.

The two managers met whilst hiking and have known each other for over a decade.

Market Overview

French Market

The French and their use of washing machines

According to INSEE, 96.2% of households owned a washing machine in 2017. 81.9% of 16-24 year-olds had a washing machine at home compared to 96.9% of 40-59 year-olds.

According to a report by Les Pieds Dans la Toile, the French wash an average of 165 clothes per year and use 60 litres of water for each wash.

The French take water scarcity seriously and look to reduce consumption where possible. 

CBNews indicates that the French are adept at "consuming better" at all levels - 79% of households mention that they are looking for better practices to reduce unnecessary water consumption.

Laundromats and dry cleaners in France

Washing clothes involves the use of personal equipment as well as a regular or occasional visit to a launderette or dry cleaner.

This visit is justified for various reasons: not enough space or financial means to buy a washing machine, the need to dry clean certain clothes, tough stains or too much household laundry to wash at home, etc.

The overall market is divided into two categories:

• Dry cleaners that offer dry cleaning, wrinkle removal, dyeing, stain removal, degreasing or even garment repair in some cases
• Self-service launderettes who provide access to washing machines and dryers

INSEE estimated that the laundry and dry cleaners market had a combined turnover of €711 million in 2016.

Local Market

According to INSEE, the city of Caen had a total of 105,403 inhabitants in 2016.

There were 15 laundries and 17 dry cleaners spread throughout the city of Caen and in different districts, equivalent to a ratio of one laundry for every 3,293 inhabitants.

Among these inhabitants, 29,308 students were counted by UNICAEN. Students are the main target of the launderette market, as they are usually in Caen during term times.

Students do not necessarily have enough space or means to invest in a washing machine. Furthermore, renting an unfurnished apartment may mean that the washing machine is often not included.

They then have to go to the nearest laundromat to do their laundry or wash their clothes during weekends if they return home.

According to the Journal du Net, figures for 2016 show that the city had a total of 6,931 businesses.

Office workers and public bodies often use the services of dry cleaners, especially for suits and costumes, representing an opportunity in the local market.

The main employers of administrative staff in Caen include the Prefecture, the CAF du Calvados, Véolia, the Town Hall and the General Council.

Several company concierge services are also present in Caen. These services often offer dry cleaning services that they subcontract to local companies, and can thus enable dry cleaners like ours to expand their customer base beyond their catchment area.

Financial Highlights

We expect to be profitable from our second year of operation with sales of €130,075 and an EBITDA of €5,780 (with a 4.44% margin) for year 2.

We expect to be able to continue to grow our business to reach €137,920 in sales and €11,177 in EBITDA (with a 8.100% margin) by year 3.

We expect positive cash flow generation over the entire plan despite the loss-making situation in year 1. The cash flow generated by the company will be sufficient to cover loan repayments while maintaining sufficient headroom to deal with unforeseen events.

The opening of our laundromat will require an investment of €55,000.

The partners have planned to contribute €35,000 (63% of the total), with a share capital contribution of €10,000 and a director loan of €25,000.

We would like to obtain a loan of €20,000 to finance the remaining amount.

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Quite frankly excellent because I was able to finalize my business plan in less time than expected. This software offers a very coherent and complete approach to writing your project.

It is a very well designed software that allows you to visualise each step of your project, understand if the idea is viable or not and think about the steps needed to start your business.

The software is just impeccable. Of course, it meets the requirements of people starting a business. In addition to having a tool for putting together a proper financial forecast, there is also a tool to help write the business plan.

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Laundromat Dry Cleaners Business Plan Template FAQ

A laundromat business plan is a written document that sets out the commercial, operational and financial objectives of the company over the next 3 to 5 years.

It consists of two main parts:

• A written part that presents, in detail, your laundromat business, the team, your strategy, and your medium-term objectives.
• A financial forecast that highlights the expected profitability of the laundromat and the initial funding requirements.

The lack of business planning is one of the main reasons why more than 50% of startups fail within 5 years. If you're starting a laundromat or dry cleaning business, writing a business plan is a must-have in order to reduce the risk of failure of your project.

Business plans are also required by most lenders and investors in order to secure financing, therefore a business plan is also highly recommended if you're seeking a loan or equity investment for your laundromat or dry cleaning company.

Writing a laundromat or dry cleaner business plan without The Business Plan Shop can be both error-prone and time-consuming - whether you're new to entrepreneurship or experienced:

• You'll need to research the structure of a business plan, what to include in each section, and what key elements investors and lenders expect to see
• You may encounter writer's block (especially if it's the first time you're writing a business plan for your laundromat)
• You'll need to create a financial forecast on a spreadsheet which requires a solid understanding of accounting and financial modelling in order to be done without error
• You'll need to spend hours formatting financial data on Excel or Sheets before it's ready to integrate into your business plan
• Any updates to your dry cleaning business plan or financial forecast will need to be done manually

Luckily for you, The Business Plan Shop's online platform and laundromat and dry cleaning business plan template guide you through every stage of writing a business plan, so that you can spend more time managing and growing your business instead.

Our editor follows a best-in-class structure for professional business plans. Each section and subsection includes examples and instructions to help you, while our business plan templates provide further inspiration if you're stuck.

Our financial forecasting software helps you create a forecast and integrate it into your business plan with ease. Anytime you update your data, your business plan automatically updates.

And with our forecasting software all the calculations are done for you, without errors.

The budget to start and run a laundromat and dry cleaner will depend on the exact concept and location.

A small local laundromat offering simple washing facilities requires a limited investment. A bigger place, offering eco-friendly detergents, a possible social area and a selection of other services including dry cleaning and tough stain removal will require a larger upfront investment and more staff to operate.

As an example, in our laundromat business plan template the total initial funding requirement amounted to €55,000, with the founders contributing €35,000.

In order to assess the exact budget for your laundromat idea, you need to do a financial forecast using a financial projection tool such as the one we offer .

The package we offer at The Business Plan Shop goes way beyond a simple blank template you need to fill. With our platform you get:

• Access to one of the best business plan software on the market
• Access to our laundromat and dry cleaners business plan template which contains a complete example of a written business plan and financial forecast to start the business
• Access to our entire business plan templates library - giving you dozens of examples to take inspiration from
• Access to our financial planning and analysis platform so that you can track the actual performance of your business against what you had planned in your business plan and re-plan easily

But you shouldn't take our word for it: try our solution for free and make your own opinion!

The free trial enables you to try the software for free during 7 days in order to verify that it meets your requirements before buying.

Some features are limited during the free trial, the main limits are:

• You can only create one business plan
• The financials of the first year are visible, but data for other years are hidden
• You can export your plan in PDF but not in Word or CSV
• No access to our business plan templates

You can create your account and start your free trial here .

Access to our template is included with all our paid subscriptions.

Please visit our pricing page to learn about this in more detail.

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• August 1, 2023

Table of Contents

A laundry business can grow immensely if you know how to start and operate ideally. And, here in this article, we will help you in knowing this by showing a well-researched laundry business plan.

There are two ways to start this business:

• Start your own laundry store
• Join a successful laundry franchise

The foundation of both these ways is a common laundry business plan. However, the difference lies in execution of the plan. If you will start your own business from scratch, the entire load of activities like research, construction, maintaining supply chain, marketing and tons of other things will remain on your shoulders. Whereas, if you will join a successful laundry franchise, a huge part of the responsibility of business set-up and operations will remain with the franchisor. In this article, you will get to understand this better in the later sections, so keep reading.

10 Important Components Of A Laundry Business Plan

These 10 things are an unavoidable, crucial part of a laundry business plan. Hence, if you want a strong foundation and smooth operations for your business, do not skip any of them.

Figuring out ideal location

The first thing to consider under a laundry business plan is finalizing a perfect location to set up your business. By “perfect” we mean a place where people (your potential customers) can see and get attracted towards your shop. It cannot be any random area in your city. Hence, you will have to carry out intense research on:

• Demographic
• Market Competition

To execute your laundry business plan, you will have to start by visiting all markets in an area you are willing to run your business. Then, shortlist a set of markets or locations where you see stable population to avail of your service and less competition.

Figuring out an ideal shop

After finding the perfect location or market, the next step of a laundry business plan is finding the right shop. It is again a time consuming and laborious task as there are multiple factors that you will have to consider. For example, your shop should have enough space to install machinery, a counter, a customer waiting area, etc. Next, there must be proper arrangements for water and electricity usage. It is best to have some parking space available near the shop. Another highly important aspect is the visibility of the shop. It must be located at a place from where you can get maximum footfall.

Along with all of these things, the rent or lease amount of the shop must be as per your budget.

Finalizing the layout of the shop

Next step of a good laundry business plan revolves around the design of the shop. While many people don’t consider it important, mindful shop layout is crucial . Because it impacts the functionality of your business to a great length. You will have to work on multiple designs or layouts including electrical, civil, plumbing, mechanical and vastu (optional) layouts as well. If you have an inhouse architectural team then they will do this for you. Otherwise you will have to get the layouts from architectural firm.

Monitoring contractual work during store construction

The construction of your shop can go wrong in many places if it will not be monitored properly. Hence, have a clear thought on how you will monitor the entire process of construction. It will include communicating with contractors, keeping an eye on the labourers, etc. You will also have to supervise the activities daily, weekly and monthly to ensure that your store gets constructed within the stipulated time. While it may seem easy, it takes a lot of time and effort to deal with contractors. Hence, make sure that you allocate proper time to the supervision of contractual work in your laundry business plan.

Finalizing the best machines and chemicals

The success of any business depends on the satisfaction of its customers or clients. In a laundry business, your services must be top-notch for this purpose. Mainly because this business sustains customer retention or repeat business. In order to provide top-notch laundry service to your customers, you will need high-end machinery and chemicals. Hence, you will have to research and find the best quality machinery and chemicals available in the market. Remember, this will directly impact the performance of your business. So, do not refrain from investing time and effort into this activity. If you are new to the industry, it will take you some time to study what sort of chemicals and machines are best. There are tons of options available. Hence, make sure you allocate enough time for research while making your laundry business plan.

Finding reliable contractors and vendors

Three things can impact your business in negative ways:

• Not having an on-time and ample supply of raw materials like chemicals and packaging materials.
• Not getting timely maintenance for your machines.
• Not having enough marketing materials such as leaflets, brochures, and visiting cards as and when required.

In order to ensure time and ample supply of all these things you will need to find trustworthy vendors and suppliers. This should be one of the prime tasks in your laundry business plan.

Want reliable vendors and suppliers for your business-related requirements?

Setting the right price for your services

You will have to carry out in-depth research at the ground level as well as online to set the right price benchmark. If the prices of your services will be too higher than your competitors, it is less likely that customers will prefer your services. On the other hand, if your services will be priced too low, your profit margins may suffer. This will slow down your financial growth. Hence, your laundry business plan must have a clear process on how will you set your price benchmark

Staff recruitment and training

To operate a laundry business you will need three types of employees: Manager, Washer men & Delivery executives. It is crucial to hire the right people and train them to perfection. Dishonest, non-skilled and rigid people can never offer quality service to your customers. Hence, your laundry business plan must focus on ideal recruitment and training. While recruitment is often a no-brainer, many people don’t understand laundry workers need intense training. But it’s not true, the quality of laundry service directly depends on your workforce, especially washermen. Your washer men will need training on several crucial things, such as:

• Cleaning different types of fabrics
• Removing different types of stains
• Handling embroidered or embellished clothes
• Ironing different fabrics

While you can outsource hiring to Human Resource agencies, and train store managers and delivery boys yourself, you cannot do such arrangements to train employees, especially workers. If you want the best of the laundry workers (washermen) then you can join a Tumbledry franchise .

Marketing strategies for business promotion

Without effective marketing, your laundry business will not flourish to its fullest. Hence, your laundry business plan must include promotional strategies. It should be centred on both traditional (offline) and digital (online) marketing. The strategies must be convincing. You should aim to attract as many people as possible towards your business and convince them to try your services. It will require substantial research and effort. Some people may suggest you outsource marketing & promotional activities to agencies. However, it is less likely to give you far-reaching results.

There is a way to get complete marketing support for your business.

Management of business operations

A laundry business requires consistent effort and involvement. You will have to manage operations and monitor your staff, and customers and maintain communication with the vendors. Your laundry business plan must have a clear solution on how will manage these things entirely. Here is what you need to figure out while creating your laundry business plan:

• How your staff will be satisfied with their job – This is crucial to avoid manpower retention which can affect any business adversely.
• How will you maintain a cordial relationship with suppliers and vendors – This is crucial to ensure you get an on-time supply of essential raw materials.
• How will your customers get accurate information about your services and their orders – This is crucial to address their complaints and queries and maintain customer satisfaction.

If you don’t have a perfect plan to handle all of these things, it is better not to take the responsibility on your shoulders. Otherwise, your business will face frequent hurdles. You can think of joining a laundry franchise .

How Tumbledry Can Give You A Profitable Laundry Business?

People who sign up for a Tumbledry franchise get complete support in setting up and operating their laundry business. Every single component of an ideal laundry business plan that you’ve read above is followed by the Tumbledry team. And, you can enjoy the perks of a laundry business. 

The proof of the success of our business model is clearly depicted through our growth. You can also have a quick glance at our journey: 

We started with 1 live laundry store in 2019. At present we have 500+ stores spread across 180+ cities in India. We have come a long way in a span of only 42 months. This achievement has been possible because our franchise partners are also growing exponentially. And with consistent hard work, we are  all set to have 2000 live stores in India by 2026 . 

Our well-thought strategies and diligence have made it possible for us to emerge as India’s largest laundry chain in just 4 years of operation. Hence, you can definitely count on us for your business. Now, let’s see how we enable our partners. 

Would you like to have a profitable laundry business?

Tumbledry’s Support To Its Franchise Partners

Now, let’s see how we can enable you to build a profitable business.

The onus of setting up your laundry business will be on us, here what we do:

• Shortlist the best locations
• Find financially viable shops in the selected location
• Construction of your store as per ideal layouts
• Provide you with right machinery & raw materials at the right price
• Recruit and train staff for your laundry business
• Finance integration for a seamless online business
• Provide you with responsive customer & runner apps
• Promote your business via rigorous branding & marketing
• Handle your customer queries at our centralized call centre

These are just some of the key aspects where we help our franchise partners. Alongside, our dedicated Territory Sales Manager guides and supports them at every stage of business.

You can go through this video for a detailed explanation of how we can help you to start a laundry business.

Key Takeaway

To have a successful business in the laundry industry, the first thing you must have is a well-thought laundry business plan. And there are 10 things that are crucial components of a business plan. We have explained them in brief above. If you have read them all, it’s time for a quick evaluation. Think whether you can implement all the 10 components of the laundry business plan effectively or not. If you think you can do it, go ahead with your own venture. However, if you have even the slightest doubts, it is better not to risk your time, money and effort by starting a business from scratch. In this case, you can join a successful franchise and get complete hold-holding support from the franchisor. This will lead you to a profitable laundry business without any major risk factors.

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An intense, deep-cleaning of carpets to restore their original glory

We specialize in dry cleaning of Persian rugs, silk & Turkish carpets, and all other premium, imported rugs of nylon, wool, cotton, polyester and olefin.

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Our Woolmark approved Lagoon system is the world’s most advanced and eco-friendly technology for dry cleaning woolen garments – sweaters, coats, furs, shawls, pashmina, and jackets.

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For expensive and delicate woolens like furs & pashmina, we use special eco-friendly chemicals from Germany which are of neutral ph, and form a protective covering around wool fiber to maintain its shine & lustre after dry cleaning.

CURTAIN CLEANING​

Premium curtain dry cleaning service service with facility to remove the curtains from rods and install them back after dry cleaning.

• Processing as per curtain fabric type (silk, velvet, blackout etc)
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Leather Dry Cleaning

Professional leather dry cleaning for jackets, bags, purses, clutches, wallets, belts, shoes, boots and stilettos.

Protect your leather items from dirt, dust, oil stains, perspiration, dehydration, mold & mildew.

Our expert leather care technicians inspect each item with utmost care to assess the color, shade, and type of leather, and accordingly decide the most appropriate treatment.

Complimentary conditioning and polishing to ensure smooth & shining finish

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Experts in dry cleaning of Sports, Canvass, Leather, Suede, Nubuck Shoes, Sneakers, Boots, Sandals and Canvass, Jute, Leather & Suede Bags

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How To Start A Profitable Laundry & Dry Cleaning Business

Do you want to start a laundry and dry cleaning service business with small capital? In this post, I have provided a step-by-step guide on how to start a laundry and dry cleaning service business.

The laundry and dry cleaning business can be started in many different ways. You can open a grand store or can start from the home location with a doorstep delivery service. Also, you can start with a franchisee of a reputed brand. It demands a very small amount of capital investment. However, opening your own brand creates an opportunity of offering franchises to enhance the profitability of the business.

Laundry with a dry cleaning service is an evergreen and recession-proof business globally. As per a recent report from Statista , the global revenue from dry cleaning and laundry services is expected to reach USD 79.91 billion in 2027.

Laundry & Dry Cleaning Service Business Plan – 10 Steps to Follow

1. study the market.

Laundry and dry cleaning are localized businesses. Your target demographic is the local people. So study the market first. Try to collect data about the population of your area. Check how many dry cleaning businesses are already there.

Figure out the residential and commercial statistics. Therefore, these all will help you in writing a business plan and starting the business accordingly.

2. Gain The Expertise

Do you have previous experience in this field? If not, it is advisable to have some experience. Furthermore, you can try working in an existing dry cleaning shop for a few months to a year. This is hugely beneficial for a new entrepreneur or beginner. It will help you in getting knowledge about the equipment, their usage, customer service, and also several operational aspects.

However, you can also get knowledge from different books available in the market.

3. Create a Business Plan

This is the most important part of your business. First of all, plan your business model. Accordingly, you can determine the input costs. Set your business goal and plan to reach it there. According to the ownership pattern, determine the form of your organization. Determine what are services you will going to offer.

Draft a clear marketing and sales promotion strategy. How you will go to compete with other laundry services. If there is a need for funding, draft a funding request for the investors. Calculate your startup budget. Draft financial projection with cash flow and ROI.

4. Secure Funding

According to the plan, you need to arrange finance. You can borrow cash from friends and relatives. in addition, you can apply to a bank for a loan. Angel investment is also a very good option for this type of business. However, you can also accept equity capital investment by having business partners.

Related: How To Raise Small Business Capital From Investors

5. Obtain Registration & License

Registering your dry cleaning business is most essential if you are planning to run a legally compliant company. It is advisable to talk to a local attorney or business consultant. It hugely depends on the area where you want to start the business. Check the labor law of your state or province.

In addition, check the insurance available especially for this type of business. In conclusion, it is important to do the necessary paperwork and get the license in hand to operate the business.

6. Dry Cleaning Business Location

According to your business model, you must have a business location. If you want only delivery service, then you can operate from a small space in any location. Even you can start at home. Otherwise, you must have a good store location. Try to position it near locations that use your services. It includes office areas and high-value residential areas.

7. Procure Equipment

You must gather equipment for laundry and dry cleaning service. Remember, there is a difference between laundry and dry cleaning. Laundry involves washing clothes using water and detergent while dry cleaning is cleaning clothes using chemicals (no water). You can purchase new machines or you can hire those.

You can also purchase a second-hand machine for cost-cutting. However, new machines are long-lasting and demand less maintenance cost. Ask the machine supplier for on-site training. Check the warranty period and customer service review before placing the final order.

8. Recruiting Manpower

This is a labor-intensive business. You must hire employees from different sectors. However, it is advisable to prepare an HR manual with employment planning and structure. You must hire employees for washing, store management, delivery, and accounting purpose.

9. Fix The Pricing

You will need to offer competitive pricing . In this business, different products attract different price tags. There are a lot of things you can offer for washing. Such as clothing, suits, specialty or designer clothing, furnishing including carpets and bed linens. Fix a product-wise pricing chart.

10. Promote Your Business

• Promote the business locally both offline and online.
• Local newspaper advertising is a great way to aware of local people.
• Try low-cost ways to promote your dry cleaning business. Make your service available in popular local directories.
• Use social media wisely. You can offer coupons or promo codes there.
• Offer home pickup and delivery service.
• Get the clothes ready before the deadline, this is crucial.
• Have your own website . This is important nowadays.
• Use delivery bags and tags as promotional tools.

If you want to launch your laundry and dry cleaning business, we recommend you to read the book ‘ Ultimate Cleaning Business Package . ’ The package is a proven system you can use to build a cleaning business that grows month after month on Auto-Pilot. The author of this book Joe has shared a very detailed guide that shows you step-by-step how to start a cleaning business quickly, easily, and make money from day one!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start a dry cleaning business.

The amount of investment to start a dry cleaning laundry business will largely depend on the business model, location,  and scale of operation. For example, if you are planning to open a full-fledged storefront in the United States, the cost will be around $250,000 to $2 million. However, for launching on a smaller scale or mobile basis, the investment will be lower in the range of $50,000 to $100,000.

How profitable is a dry cleaning business?

As per industry experts, the dry cleaning industry across the world is expected to grow. However, the profitability will depend on the location and quality of services. In the United States, a small dry-cleaning storefront owner makes a profit of $40,000 yearly on average after deducting all expenses.

This business is all about customer satisfaction. More satisfying customers ensure more new and repeat orders. Never get caught arguing with your customer. Try to know the client’s preference for the service. And try to apply them. If you are starting with a shoestring budget, don’t go for a wide range of services. Rather, offer niche services like only leather or only carpet, etc., and start a home-based dry cleaning service.

About the Author: 99businessideas.com led by Rupak Chakrabarty is committed to helping beginners, entrepreneurs, and small business owners in starting, managing, and growing their businesses.

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How to Open a Commercial Laundry Business: A Complete Guide

A commercial laundry business can be a great source of income if it’s located in the right area, offers competitive services, and is well-maintained. But opening a commercial laundry service isn't as easy as opening a simple mom-and-pop laundry business. Here's what you need to know to successfully start your own.

Know your niche

Study the market in your target area to determine the need for a commercial laundry. If you’re purchasing an existing laundry business, review its past business records to predict its future profitability. If establishing a new business, make sure you are not entering a market with more existing laundries than the area can support. Identify an area that needs, and can support, your new business venture.

Choose the right equipment

Determining the type of commercial laundry equipment your business may require will depend largely on the types of services you plan to provide. In addition to high-volume, commercial-grade washers and dryers, you may need green technology tools, delivery vehicles (if you plan on offering laundry delivery service), and more. When writing your business plan, bear in mind that it might be possible to package the facility purchase with the equipment purchase in a single loan arrangement, as long as you are able to identify and describe the types of equipment and technology you will require.

Find your spot

Carefully consider the location for your laundry business. People are constantly looking for convenience and rarely want to stray from their daily commute, so a dry cleaner is likely to attract more customers if it’s located near office and housing complexes, schools, and other areas with high, consistent traffic. For larger commercial laundries, consider locations near hospitals, hotels, or busy downtown areas where there is likely to be repeat high-volume business cleaning items like linens and uniforms.

Write your business plan

Your business plan is a formal declaration of your professional goals and plans for attaining those goals. It will serve as the blueprint for your commercial laundry business and will be necessary to secure funding if you intend to take out a loan. A good business plan should include:

Lay out your business’s managerial structure, professional qualifications and background, and your plans for maintaining ownership of the company.

Describe your proposed services in great detail, including any factors that separate your business from similar concepts and potential competition. You should also include a description of any existing, pending, or predicted filings for copyrights or patents related to your business.

Describe how you’re planning to enter the market, strategies for growing your business, channels of distribution and promotion, and how you plan on marketing your business to attract and retain customers. Develop a sales strategy that includes your proposed sales force and projected sales activities.

If you will be seeking loans to fund your business, draft up a request that outlines your current financial needs, projected financial requirements, and strategic financial plan. Include a financial projection that details historical financial information (if you’ve been in business before) as well as anticipated earnings and losses for your new business.

Franchise with Tide Cleaners

Opening your commercial laundry business with a winning franchise include benefits like the support and structure to get your business launched with the backing of years of experience and industry-leading success in both dry cleaning and laundry services. Franchise owners receive guidance and assistance in finding the best franchise location , hands-on training , and ongoing guidance and marketing support.

Tide Cleaners offers prospective franchisees the opportunity to make their dreams of owning a commercial laundry business come true with a brand consistently ranked No. 1 in its Dry Cleaning & Laundry category by Entrepreneur. Tide Cleaners is known world-wide as the preeminent cleaning service, and we invite you to explore joining the team.

Contact us to learn more about Tide Cleaners franchise opportunities.

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