Is $10 dollars per load to much for drop off laundry service or how much should I charge.?

Question

I am trying to make some extra money by doing laundry for customers in local apartment complexes. I will be dropping off and picking up laundry and offering same day service.

I would have a certain basket for what a load entails because I would have to carry a scale with me otherwise when I go to pick up the laundry, and that would be hard. A load could be two laundry baskets full.

I would provide everything including soap, bleach, fabric softener, etc.

Answer 1

You should charge by the pound

Answer 2

It depends on where you live. If you are in New York, for example, people might not think that excessive. If you live out in the suburbs in the midwest somewhere, $10.00 a load will be considered outrageous. How do you define what a load would be? I think you would have a lot of customers that would be angry because they would have a different opinion as to what constituted a load. A better idea might be to charge per pound, whereas a load is different for each person, a pound is a pound. Of course, personally, I would not pay someone $10.00 a load to do my laundry. I have not used coin operated laundry machines in years, but I imagine they are around $1.00, in those industrial machines you can fit in a lot, so for around $4.00 you can get all your clothes washed and dried. At $10.00 a load, someone with a weeks worth of laundry could easily spend $50 or more, and it just does not seem cost effective that way. I live in Delaware and there are a few places here that have same day drop off service and it is $5.95, but again that is here. I think $10.00 a load is way too much to charge.

Answer 3

First off, if i were you...

I'd research the local average income of residents around your area, and then research how many times they do their laundry or would be willing to drop it off somewhere.

Then, you have to think about gas costs to compensate your picking up laundry.

Now, let's say people do their laundry every day in that area. And let's say the average income is $52,000. Would someone who makes that much pay $70 a week to get their laundry done? That's $3640 a year. A very substantial amount that i'm sure people would rather pay electricity or water, or even cable with.

The minimum cost per load should compensate your gas and give you atleast a small profit, maybe $2 or $3. This is without labor costs: you should charge enough so that you're not wasting your day or money. If you're taking it to a laundromat or something that charges $1 per load, then be sure that you charge the customer $1 per load. Now, remember -- gas compensation can be made up by taking even half of a dollar from each customer, and you'll still make profit. That is, if you have enough customers to support your gas spending.

In all, i'd say anywhere from $5-10 would be a fair price to pay.

Answer 4

Sounds good to me. My average laundry was 16 pounds and it would cost about $12. That's for 2 loads (and it was 5 yrs ago, last time I did it), but I had to drop it off and pick it up. The transportation alone is worth $10 if you go very far to turn a round trip.

Answer 5

Our local laundromat charges by the pound (customers drop off & pick up). The price includes soap, bleach when needed, drying, and folding/hanging.

It's a good idea for making money. Good luck with that. (Be sure to follow washing instructions carefully -- you wouldn't want to be responsible for replacing damaged clothes.)

Answer 6

well I pay my mom $10 every time she dose my laundry, she dose it all. If I did it i think it would be about 2 or so loads in the washer, the way she dose it I think its 3 or 4, something about your suppose to separate things or something, I don't know lol

Answer 7

how big is a load? do you have a set basket size or bag size - some people do it by the pound - you need more information but if you have the time it sounds like a great service to offer!!!

Answer 8

I think that you should charge $5 per load if you are using your own machine and dryer. If you're using coin-op service Charge $5 plus the amount each machine charges you for use.

Answer 9

Very good idea. I think it should be alittle less then that but not sure how much. How far do you trave to do the laudry? Do you use your soap or theirs? And after they pay for the first load I think perhpas the second and there after should be a few dollars less. Good luck, good idea.

Answer 10

Dustin says he pays 75 cents a pound at the laudromat.

Answer 11

Well considering the gas prices...no, this sounds extremely well. You may want to offer a discount if over 3 loads ....Good Luck ;)