Diaper rental and laundry service

New parents wanting cloth diapers without the laundry, plus daycares and families who gift the service.

A weekly subscription per baby, priced by the number of diapers supplied. Add-ons include wipes, wet bags and starter packs.

• Running a routine and managing stock
• Care with hygiene and quality control
• Marketing to new parents
• Basic equipment upkeep

• Check zoning and whether your unit can be used for commercial laundry
• Check sewer discharge rules and any required permits with your municipality and local public health unit
• Commercial general liability and property insurance, plus vehicle cover for deliveries
• WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire help, with rules varying by province
• High utility costs for water and heat, which can squeeze margins
• Quebec businesses should check French-language requirements for labels and customer materials
• Large upfront spend before you know demand, so test with a small customer group first

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $90,000, depending on your unit, commercial washers and dryers, diaper stock and delivery vehicle. Because the spend is large, it makes sense to test demand with a small customer group first.

Estimates put monthly revenue at typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on how many subscribers you have and the prices you set. High water and heat costs can squeeze margins, so look at costs as well as revenue.

Check zoning for commercial laundry use, plus sewer discharge rules and any permits with your municipality and local public health unit. Also check insurance, WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire help, and French-language requirements if you operate in Quebec.