Linen laundry service for airbnbs and small businesses
Wash and return towels and bed linen for holiday rentals, cafes, salons and gyms.
- A$15k-50k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A regular laundry run for businesses that go through a lot of towels, sheets and cloths. You collect used linen on a schedule, wash and fold it, and return it ready to use.
Your first three steps
- Visit local holiday-rental hosts, property managers and salons to ask what they pay now and what frustrates them
- Price up commercial-size washers and dryers (new or second-hand) and a suitable space such as a garage or small unit
- Offer a trial week to two or three clients and agree pickup times, pricing and how damage or loss is handled
Who pays
Short-stay hosts and property managers, small guesthouses, hair and beauty salons, cafes, gyms and massage clinics.
How it makes money
Price per kilo, per item or per property turnover, usually on a weekly or per-booking arrangement with repeat clients.
Skills that help
- Reliable timekeeping
- Handling bulk washing and stain treatment
- Basic route planning and driving
- Dealing with business clients
Watch out for
- Check with your local council whether your premises or home can be zoned for commercial laundry, including noise, wastewater and trade waste rules
- Public liability insurance, plus cover for customers' goods in your care
- Large machines may need upgraded power or plumbing, so get a quote from a licensed tradie
- Reliance on a few big clients, so a lost contract could hit income hard
- A van or ute and storage for bulk linen, and washing hygiene for items such as salon or gym towels
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: linen laundry for Airbnbs and small businesses
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a linen laundry service in Australia?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $15,000 to $50,000, depending on the size of the machines you buy, whether your premises need upgraded power or plumbing, and the van or ute and storage you need for bulk linen.
How much can a linen laundry business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many business clients you win and the volume of linen. Relying on a few big clients is a risk, as a lost contract could hit income hard. Expect at least about 20 hours a week.
What rules should I check before starting a commercial linen laundry?
Check with your local council whether your premises or home can be zoned for commercial laundry, including noise, wastewater and trade waste rules. Also check public liability cover plus cover for customers' goods, and get a licensed tradie's quote if large machines need power or plumbing upgrades.
Other ways to run this business
Similar cleaning ideas
Local janitorial supply and delivery service
Hold stock of cleaning gear and deliver to local cleaners, strata managers and businesses, with demos and reorders.
- A$10k-50k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Farm and commercial water tank cleaning
Run a fully equipped tank cleaning rig for farms, businesses and councils with larger tanks, on regular schedules.
- A$12k-45k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Graffiti removal crew for councils and property managers
Build a small crew with a fitted-out ute to take on ongoing graffiti clean-up contracts.
- A$10k-40k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Mobile blast cleaning service
Take blasting gear to customers' sites to strip paint, rust, graffiti and grime from masonry, steel, trailers and boats.
- A$8k-35k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Boat detailing shed or workshop
Run a covered detailing bay near a marina or boat storage yard, restoring boats for owners and dealers.
- A$8k-35k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estate and end-of-lease clearance team
Run a small crew that clears whole properties for families, executors, landlords and agents, with sorting and a broom-clean finish.
- A$20k-70k
- Full-time
- Out and about
Photo: FotoRieth on Pixabay