Are you interested in starting a laundry business in Nigeria? Then, you are at the right place. A laundry business is a type of business that requires you to clean, iron, and maintain people’s clothes for money.
The easiest way to get into this business is to open a laundromat because you won’t have to do the work yourself; however, this will need a lot of money to start it up successfully, so if you cannot afford it, you also choose to start a small laundry business. With time, you will grow it to the level you want.
A laundry business in Nigeria is one of the simplest businesses to start; that will earn you a lot of money if you do it the right way; that is why we have written this guide to give you all the information you need to start and run a successful laundry business in Nigeria.
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Decide on the Type of Laundry Business you Want
Laundry services cater to the needs of people who prefer to have their laundry done for them or do not have the necessary equipment to do their own laundry; however, there are different types of laundry services, some of which are discussed below.
Pickup Laundry Services
As the name implies, a pickup laundry service involves collecting clothes for cleaning at a scheduled location, and then you can take them anywhere for the cleaning. However, you are meant to deliver them back to the same or another planned location. This way, your client does not have to do anything; they can get their laundry done from the comfort of their homes.
Commercial Laundry Services
Commercial laundry services are designed to cater to different businesses’ needs, like hotels, schools, shelters, restaurants, hospitals, police departments, motels, etc. In this case, your laundry company will provide its services according to the client’s requirements.
Laundromat Self-service
A laundromat is a place where you pay to have access to all the equipment you need to wash and clean your clothes. It is a self-laundry room, and most of the activities are automated. The machines wash and dry the clothes without much-personalized help.
Dry Cleaning Services
Dry cleaning services often use a solvent to clean clothes instead of detergent and water for washing machines. The solvent cleans the surface of the materials but does not penetrate the fabrics; it helps prevent stretching and shrinking.
Write a Business Plan
If you have decided on the type of laundry you would love to invest in, it’s time to write how you will establish the business. Your business plan will contain marketing objectives, company goals, financial projections, an executive summary, a business description, an operating plan, and a competitive analysis.
If you find it challenging to put together a good business plan, you can consult professionals for the job.
Register the Business
The corporate affairs commission (CAC) is responsible for all business registrations in Nigeria; all you have to do is get a business name and follow their instructions which you can easily find on their website, and then register your business.
However, it usually takes a few weeks, so you must wait for it to be completed. In addition, after registering your laundry business with the CAC, you still need to register for tax payment with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Develop a Brand
Your brand sets you apart from the crowd; it is how your clients will see and relate to your business. Therefore, you need to develop a captivating and unique brand to make your business exceptional and reputable in the industry. Your brand includes everything from your website to the logo, uniform, vision statement, customer experience and support, packaging, etc.
Find a Good Location
When starting a laundry business in Nigeria, finding a suitable location is the best thing to do; you need to identify high-density residential areas that are easily accessible—preferably located near a major road, so people won’t have difficulty finding your shop. Another thing to consider is that the business location should have a reliable water supply.
Get the Laundry Equipment and Machines
Whether small or big laundry business, there are so many things you need to make available to offer exceptional laundry services in Nigeria. Some of them are listed below;
- Steam iron.
- Washing basins.
- Washing machine.
- Fragrances.
- Chairs and benches.
- Recreation tables.
- Detergents.
- Shelves.
- Laundry baskets.
- Generator set.
- Starch.
- Bleach or stain remover.
- Table clothes.
- Sockets.
- Pegs.
- Hangers.
- Ropes.
- Fan/AC.
- Pressing table.
- Nylon/customized bags.
Market Your Business
This is the last step to follow after setting up your laundry business; fortunately, technology has made marketing a lot easier than it used to be. Now you can market your business on social media, blogs, etc.
However, you must take marketing seriously if you want people to know about your business and see what you offer even before reaching out to you. So take your time to develop a good marketing strategy and plan, and remember that what works for one business may not work for another.
What is the Cost of Starting a Laundry Business in Nigeria?
The cost of starting a laundry business will vary greatly depending on the type of business you want. The pickup laundry service is the cheapest to start because you can perform your work even from your home and deliver the clothes to the clients; you don’t have to own a shop.
However, a laundry business should cost from N100,000 to N500,000 for a start, and then you can expand it and make it as big as you want if you have more money to invest.
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The laundry business is very lucrative in Nigeria, but it will be best to learn how to handle different types of fabrics and clothes, so you can better satisfy your customers. So, before setting up the business, learn from other successful entrepreneurs to provide exceptional services.
Another thing you must also keep in mind is that the market is saturated already, and if you must succeed, you need to put in the work and make your business stand out in the industry; so now that you know all it takes to start a laundry business in Nigeria do not hesitate anymore and give it a good shot.
