October 6, 2024
How to Start a Laundry Business in Nigeria

We are here to help you start your own laundry service in your city! In this article, we will cover the basics of what it takes to start a laundry business, including how much time you will need to commit to starting your business, the equipment and supplies you’ll need, your typical day as a laundry service owner, and finally where to find more information. 

What is a laundry business do?

A laundry business is a company that provides laundry services. They offer customers of their services such as washing clothes, ironing, dry cleaning and more.

The coolest thing about this venture is that a laundry business can be started by someone who has an interest in the industry or by someone who wants to earn money from their home.

In fact, it can be a good way to work from home and make some extra money in Nigeria.

Right off the bat, how much time will it take?

Well, the amount of time it will take for you to launch a successful laundry service in Nigeria varies depending on the size of your operation. 

While some laundry services might have a higher start-up cost, such as either needing more space or purchasing more equipment, the amount of time you will need to commit to starting and operating your business is typically limited by the frequency of customers. 

Larger operations will require more staff to be on hand at all times, but smaller operations may only require one person.

You Need To Understand These 5 Key Factors Before Starting Your Own Laundry

You need to know these five factors before starting your own laundry business in Kenya.

It is important to understand the five key factors before you start your own laundry business so that you can avoid some of the common mistakes that many people make when they start out.

  • Determine Your Laundry Type
  • Consider Your Location and Its Impact on Business
  • Know Your Competition and Its Impact on Business
  • Know the Cost of Doing Business
  • Find a Good Location for Your Laundry

Don’t get anything?

We will cover each one in a minute.

9 Steps for Starting Your Own Laundry Business

Here are the steps you can use to start a laundry business in Nigeria.

But before we look at them, you should realize that there are many different ways to start a laundry business. You just need to find the one that works for you.

For example, if you have a family with small kids, then starting your own laundry business might not be the best option for you.

So, before you start your laundry business, make sure that it is something that you want to do and that it is feasible for your lifestyle.

1- Determine the Right Type of Laundry Business You Want

Laundry businesses are a great opportunity for small business owners. You can choose to work with a laundry service or own and operate your own business.

There are many different types of laundry businesses, some of which include:

  • Laundry Services – These companies provide laundry services to large companies and individuals. They have large fleets of trucks that deliver clean clothes to their customers.
  • Self-Service Laundries – These are the most common type of laundries in the United States, they offer self-service machines that allow you to wash your clothes yourself, but they also provide dry cleaning and pick up services as well.
  • Full-Service Laundries – The most common type of laundry in Nigeria, these businesses offer everything from washing machines to dry cleaning services.
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On the other hand, you have the option of buying into a laundromat franchise instead of building one from scratch. This is certainly not the more affordable and requires less time, but you will be giving up a lot of control.

Why is this even an option?

First, the reality is that there are only so many hours in a day and building a laundromat from scratch or buying into one is not something you can do in less than a year. You might be able to buy into one with an existing business, but chances are it will need some work and money.

Second, you should also consider how difficult it is to build a successful business in Nigeria. There are hurdles that must be overcome, not the least of which is being able to build enough interest in your product and concept. Average, conventional laundromats can be tough to find and many people can’t afford them.

Third, running a business requires long hours with little or no pay for at least six months.

Thus, getting into an already proven business like buying into a laundromat franchise can be a wise decision.

In the end, pick the type of laundry business that suits you.

2- Choose Your Location

The location of a laundry business is essential to its success. There are certain factors that should be considered when choosing a location for the business. The most important factor to consider is the population density of the area. The more people there are in an area, the more opportunities there are for customers. Laundry businesses also need to consider how far their customers can travel and how easy it would be for them to find their business.

You should also consider the availability of enough water and electricity in order to operate the business. And talking of water, remember plumbing comes into the picture as well. You will need to install the right hookups, which also comes with a cost.

At the same time, you need a location with adequate security. Laundromats are susceptible to robberies and other types of crime, which is why ideally your laundromat should be located in a highly visible, safe area while still being near major public transportation.

3- Research the Market

The next step in starting a laundry business is conducting market research.

Market research is a process used to collect and analyze data about the behaviour of a market. It can be done in any industry, geographic area, or topic.

By conducting market research, you get to understand what your customers want and need from your product or service.

At the same time, it helps you catch up with the market trends.

The laundry market has been experiencing a shift over the last few years as people are opting for more eco-friendly products that are less harmful to their health and the environment.

This step should come before you even choose your location. But in the sense of business, you should always have your ears on the ground to understand who you are competing against and what the market is telling you.

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Remember you are not working in a vacuum.

4- Create a Business Plan

The next step to starting a laundry business in Nigeria is creating a business plan.

I understand, for new entrepreneurs, that the most daunting part of starting a business is often the idea of creating a business plan. But creating a business plan doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming if you follow these steps.

The first step to create a business plan is finding your target market. Who are you going to sell your product or service to? What are their needs? What are their pain points? Are they willing to pay for your product or service?

With these questions in mind, it’s time to create your goals and objectives. These should include where you want your company to be in one year, how much money you want it to make, and how big of an impact you want it to make on the world.

In a nutshell, you should detail how you plan to take your laundry business from just an idea to a profitable venture.

While you can always write a business plan from scratch, it is easier to work from a template. All you have to do is search laundry business plan template.

It makes the work easier for you. At the same time, ensure you are not missing the essential things. 

5- Register Your Business

The next step on how to start a laundry business? It involves registering your business with the authorities. This will allow you to carry out your business legally and avoid any legal troubles that might arise.

Not all businesses need to get registered though. For example, sole proprietorships and partnerships don’t require it.

To start the business registration in Nigeria, you first need to register a business name:

  • Choose a business name and check for availability.
  • Complete your pre-registration form to register a business name.
  • Pay for a filing fee.
  • Prepare your documents for upload.
  • Submit the original copies of your documents.

Once done, you can submit your application and it will be reviewed by CAC.

6- Get the Proper Permits and Licenses before you start a laundry business

Before starting a small laundry business, it is important to get the proper permits and licenses. This will help you avoid any legal issues and prevent any fines. You should also make sure that your business is compliant with local laws before starting a laundry business in your city.

Some cities require you to have a license before opening up a shop while others might not require one at all. It’s best to check with your local government office for more information on what they might require of you as a small laundry owner.

7- Get Proper Equipment

You will need the right equipment to run your laundry business. Whether you are planning on running a business from home or in a commercial space, you will need the right tools. Some of these tools include washers and dryers, dryer venting systems, and dehumidifiers.

8- Get Started with Marketing and Advertising!

Now that you have started the laundry business, you need to get customers.

Marketing and advertising are two essential aspects of any company’s success. They help in making sure that your company is seen by a wider audience and is able to reach out to their target audience.

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You can do so by advertising your business on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.

Social media marketing is a powerful tool for small businesses as it allows them to connect with their target audience easily. It also helps them communicate with their customers directly without the need for an intermediary or middleman.

The Top 4 Mistakes You Should Avoid When Starting Your Own Laundry Business

Every entrepreneur faces the same struggles and struggles. The struggle of starting a new business, the struggle of finding a good niche, and the struggle of finding customers. 

If you are looking to start your own laundry business in Nigeria, there are some mistakes that you should avoid or risk losing everything.

1. Not providing a service that people need

No one is going to pay for someone else’s laundry. There is a laundry service for every niche, so you must find the niche that you can provide services to and make sure your customers know about it.

2. Making promises you cannot keep

Or providing an inferior quality product than what is expected.

The best way to avoid losing money is by being realistic. If you cannot provide a quality product and the service you promised, then no one will buy your product, not even for free. You must be able to deliver what you promise or face the consequences of failure.

3. Not having enough capital for operations (keeping costs low)

Laundry is one of the most expensive services, so it is important that you keep your costs low when starting a laundry business. 

You should use the minimum amount of supplies and equipment needed to provide a service that is worth what you are charging for it.

4. Picking the wrong location

Another big mistake people make when starting their own laundry business is choosing the wrong location. They think that since they have this idea, they can start up anywhere and get it off the ground quickly.

The problem with this approach is that you might be overlooking some key aspects that could affect your success in the long run.

Location is an important factor to consider when it comes to starting a new laundry business so make sure you do your research before making any decisions

How to Organize Your Laundry Business Management System

As a business owner, you should be running your laundromat system efficiently and effectively. You should be able to identify the tasks that you need to complete each day and organize your time accordingly.

The key is to set up a system that allows for proper organization of tasks and a clear path for task completion. This will allow you to run your business smoothly without the hassle of forgetting important things or feeling overwhelmed by tasks.

Some effective ways of organizing your laundry business management system are:

  • Creating an appointment calendar for each day or week
  • Using an app like Todoist or Any.do
  • Assigning different colours/labels to different types of work (i.e., the green label means “to do”, the red label means “done”)
  • Creating a “to do” list and task tracker
  • Setting up a task list and task tracker
  • Assign tasks to individual people

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