So you want to start a dry cleaner? Before you jump in, invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment, you may want to take a look at what your ultimate goals in life are. The reason I say this is starting a dry cleaner is hard but running one is even harder. Most dry cleaners I know work way more than their fair share. Just a few months ago on a Saturday I walked into the dry cleaning plant I outsource the cleaning for all of my routes too and find the owner on his back under a machine with tools spread out all over the place trying to repair a broken washing machine. I stopped and chatted with him for a few minutes only to find out that not only was it a Saturday and he was working but that he was going to be at the plant for 3 or 4 more hours and if that wasn’t bad enough it was his birthday.
Starting a Dry Cleaners or Owning a Dry Cleaning Route Business
My main goal in life is quality of life. Sure I wouldn’t mind making a few hundred million a year (or spending it) but I simply don’t want to work that hard. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind working hard for a while; I just don’t want to have to do it for 5, 10 or 20 years straight, which is why I chose the dry cleaning route business instead of starting a dry cleaner. Owning a dry cleaning route business is hard work when you first start the business (just like any business really) the difference is after you have grown the routes all you have to do is maintain. You can hire one person to drive the van and you can spend 5 – 10 hours a week making sure everything runs smooth. That is very different life style than that of someone who owns a dry cleaner.
Ultimately we are back to our original question what are your goals for life. Once you can answer that deciding if starting a dry cleaners or starting a dry cleaning route business is right for you will become much more clear.
