Are you considering starting a laundry business in Nigeria? Then it is only necessary that you acquaint yourself with the various laundry equipment you will need to run a successful laundry business in Nigeria.
Laundry business has always existed due to the need for busy Nigerians to get their clothes washed without having to compromise their business and comfort. Some decades back, local laundry men washed with their bare hands but not anymore.
With the influx of technology, there are now a number of laundry equipment that can help a laundry business person run his business more efficiently without much manual effort.
18 Laundry Equipment Needed For An Efficient Laundry Business
The equipment needed to start a laundry business
- Washer-Extractor Washing machine
- Hydro Extractor
- Tumble Dryers
- Flat iron for flat linens such as pillow covers, bed sheets, and so on.
- Vacuum Finishing Table
- Water treatment plants
- Drying racks
- Electric Iron
- Ironing board
- Good laundry detergent
- Stain Removers
- Baking soda (which is used to remove stains and odors from food)
- Laundry Additives( Vinegar, bleach etc.)
- Machines that fold
- Puffer or Suzie
- Tags
- Hangers
- Because of the poor lighting situation in the country, power generator is very important.
Is The Laundry Business Still Financially Viable?
The laundry business is becoming increasingly important due to the increasing population and the fact that everyone is getting more busy trying to make ends meet.
The average person goes to work very early in the morning, and then returns home late at night. The only day that most people work is Saturdays. There are many other matters to attend even on Sundays. It is difficult to find enough time to wash clothes because of the tight schedule. This is where the laundry business comes in handy.
You don’t have to invest a lot of capital to start a laundry business.
The laundry business can make a lot of money depending on how it is set up and scaled. Let’s say you wash and iron a shirt for N1,200, If you wash 10 shirts per day, you make N12,000. Ok, let’s suppose you also charge for the ironing and washing of trousers and suits at #1,500 and #2,500.
If there were to be a total 4 suits and 10 trousers, then the total amount you’d make will be:
Shirts (10 x N1,200). = N12,000
Suits (4x #2500) = #10,000
Trousers (10 x #1500) = 15,000
This is a total of $37,000 per day, which I would say is a great take-home income.
That’s how it works. One can make an average of N925,000 per month if you work only 25 days in a month.
Of course, there’ll be some running costs or expenses, but you’ll still make a good profit.
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Steps to Starting a Laundry Business
Are you considering establishing a laundry business? Consider these steps necessary to start a laundry business in Nigeria.
1. Choose a good location
It is important to choose the right location for your business. The lesser the competition, the better as it is a good idea to find a location where there isn’t much competition from the big players.
Locations in open areas are a good idea. You should consider locations that are near the road so people can see your business. This means that the area should be bustling with people passing by, whether they are coming from work or not.
2. Purchase the necessary laundry equipment
The scale of the business will determine the kind of equipment you’ll need. Unless you want to start big, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on the large scale equipment. You can start small and buy the basic laundry equipment with what you can afford. Heck, you can even wash your clothes with your hands and buy soaps, iron, and other products if you don’t have the money. I don’t advice that though as people will rate you low and price you low even though you put in much effort.
3. Register now and keep your important receipts
It will vary depending on where you live. In Nigeria, dry cleaning businesses are not subject to regulation. However, you might still need to register.
You may need to pay levies depending on where you live. You might have to pay a local government levy, get a business permit from your local government or pay other levies. Try to settle well as they come to avoid any interference in your laundry business operation.
4. Additional services
To maximize your profits, you may also offer other services, such as washing sheets, curtains, and rug carpets.
5. Promote your laundry business
Get your business out there by advertising on billboards and sharing flyers. Both traditional and online marketing can be used to market your business. This will help you get customers and make you money. Marketing is not something to be overlooked.
You can use social media to promote your laundry business online. It won’t be out of place to run targeted ads in your business location.
6. Effective Logistics and Delivery Services
You should get the best equipment and the best methods available in your business. Also, you need the best people to help you.
Make sure you are clear about your delivery system. Give your customers a deadline and not estimates, especially if it is a bulky one.
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The Estimated Startup Cost For Starting A Laundry Business
It obviously depends on the scale at which you want to operate the laundry business as well as the kind and number of equipment you’ll be getting.
Larger scale laundry equipment costs more and requires more capital.
Costs of laundry equipment vary and not all items that are considered to be the same cost are equal. You also need to factor in the rent for the chosen location as the price varies depending on the location.
Large scale laundromats would require a starting cost of 1.5 million to 5 million, if I am correct. This is also depending on if the equipment can be imported and cut import duties.
Small scale may mean starting a business from your home which requires less than N100,000 to startup. On a medium scale where you rent a location and buy washing machines and dryers, hangers, ironing boards and pressing irons, detergents etc., you’ll need an estimated cost of N500,000. It can be more or less depending on your loaction and the kind of equipment you buy based on brand and whether it is new or second-hand.