Start a linen laundry for local businesses

Wash and return towels and bedding for holiday lets, B&Bs, salons and gyms from a small unit.

Staff folding freshly washed linens and clothing in a professional laundry service.

Startup cost£30k to £90k

Monthly revenue£3k to £12k

Time needed30+ h/week

First incomeMonths

£30k-90k
Full-time
Own premises

Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.

Official data

4,463 UK companies in this field, 30% registered in the last 2 years

SIC 96010 “Washing and (dry-)cleaning of textile and fur products”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.

What it is

A small commercial laundry in a rented unit with industrial washers and dryers, handling regular linen for local businesses. You collect, wash, dry, fold and deliver on a set schedule.

Your first three steps

Speak to local holiday let managers and small hotels to find out what they pay now and what turnaround they need
Price up a unit, second-hand commercial machines and a van, and work out how many regular customers you need to break even
Offer a trial week to two or three businesses and agree clear terms on pricing and collection times

Who pays

Holiday let hosts, B&Bs, small hotels, salons, spas, gyms and cafes.

How it makes money

Price per item or per kilo on regular contracts, with weekly or twice-weekly collections. Repeat business customers give more predictable income than households.

Skills that help

Organised scheduling and routes
Comfortable with machinery
Reliable with business customers

Watch out for

Planning, lease and business rates for your unit, check with your council and landlord
Trade effluent and water discharge rules, check with your water company
Public liability insurance and cover for customers' goods, plus employer's liability once you hire
High machine, energy and van costs, so work through the numbers before committing to a lease
Heavy reliance on a few large customers

Deep research report · UK

Everything you need to start: linen laundry for local businesses

Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: 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

Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a linen laundry business in the UK?

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £30,000 to £90,000, depending on your unit, machines and van. Machine, energy and van costs are high, so work through the numbers before committing to a lease.

How much can a commercial linen laundry earn?

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on how many regular customers you win and how much linen you handle. Relying heavily on a few large customers can make income less steady.

What rules should I check before opening a linen laundry?

Check planning, lease and business rates with your council and landlord, and trade effluent and water discharge rules with your water company. Also check insurance, including public liability, cover for customers' goods and employer's liability once you hire.