Dry cleaning pickup and delivery business

Busy professionals, condo and apartment residents, older people and small offices that want to skip the trip to a dry cleaner.

You pay the plant a wholesale price per item and charge customers a higher retail price. Delivery fees or monthly subscriptions can add to this.

• Organized and careful with tracking items
• Reliable driving and timekeeping
• Friendly customer service

• Commercial general liability insurance, plus cover for customers' garments while in your care (ask your broker)
• Agree with your partner plant who pays if a garment is damaged or lost
• Check whether your municipality requires a business licence, and register your business with your province
• Winter driving and parking can slow down your pickup routes

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on your vehicle, equipment and marketing. A partner plant does the cleaning, so you are not buying cleaning machines yourself.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many customers and routes you serve. Revenue is not profit, so allow for partner plant fees, fuel and insurance.

Check insurance: commercial general liability plus cover for customers' garments in your care, and ask your broker. Agree with your partner plant who pays for damaged or lost garments. Check whether your municipality requires a business licence, and register your business with your province.