Mobile Laundry - Brilliant Business Model

Mobile Laundry, most of Indians are not familiar with this term, because they either wash at their home or give it to dhobis (washerman). When you consider developed countries, they have launders where more than 10 washing machine are available. Customers take their clothes and wash them there. Detergent, water etc etc are available in shop, charging per wash depends on the owner. Charges are either per wash or per kg based, which varies from location to location.

What is "Mobile Laundry"

Erecting 10 washing machines and providing this service is a proven business in many countries, but considering India, it is not very famous. Keeping in mind the small/medium scale budget, renting a shop is not advisable at initial  stages, until you are monetary wise strong enough to wait for 1 year to get your returns back. Mobile Laundry model is a movable container which can hold space for 2 washing machines, a water tank, a dryer, waster water collector, ironing table. This model can be customized to any format based on ones creativity. One sample model which we can think of will look like this.

How it works?

We need to take care of quite a big list of things listed below. 

Branded / Non-branded

Light color / Dark Color

Color fading - Yes / No

Detergent to be used - Expensive / Regular

Scented After Wash - Yes / No

Pressing - Yes / No

Once we have sorted this out, tag the clothes with billno and hand over the bill to customer with 24 Hour delivery promise. Added value would be to message them once clothes are ready.

Whom to target ?

You have to target the busy people having very less time for washing. Start promoting this concept by printing pamphlets, flyers, advertisement in local daily's or weekly's. Bachelors, Students, Working people, restaurants can be best target.

Initial Investment

Initially you can start with low capacity washing machine around 7 - 10 Kg capacity, and once you start getting more customers, purchase a commercial heavy duty washing machine. Per kg would be approximately 4 shirts, and assuming you charge Rs.50 per kg, one time full wash would be around Rs.500, out of which detergent + water + electricity + labor + rent would be Rs.300 maximum. ROI is clearly 65% which keeps increasing as you build good returning customers.