Cloth diaper pickup and delivery service
Collect used cloth diapers weekly, have them professionally washed, and deliver them back clean to local families.
- $2k-9k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
15,801 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.6% in a year
NAICS 812320 “Drycleaning and laundry services (except coin-operated)”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A weekly subscription where you pick up sealed pails or bags of used cloth diapers from parents' doorsteps, get them washed to a hygienic standard, and drop off a clean supply. You can launder parents' own diapers or supply a rental set. The washing is done through a partner commercial laundry rather than your own equipment.
Your first three steps
- Call commercial laundries and laundromats in your area to find one that will accept soiled diapers and agree a wholesale price per pound
- Survey local parent groups and cloth diaper communities to test interest and set a weekly price
- Sign up your first 5 to 10 families on a trial basis and buy the pails, liners and delivery bags you need
Who pays
New parents who want to use cloth diapers without washing them at home, plus gift buyers such as grandparents and baby shower guests.
How it makes money
A weekly or monthly subscription priced per diaper count or per bag, with optional extras such as a starter diaper set, pail liners or wipes.
Skills that help
- Reliable routines and route planning
- Friendly, discreet customer service
- Careful attention to hygiene
Watch out for
- Many laundries will not accept soiled diapers, so confirm this in writing before you promise anything to customers
- Check with your city or county about a business license and any health department rules on handling soiled textiles
- General liability insurance, and check your auto policy if you use your own vehicle for business deliveries
- Hygiene and cross-contamination: keep clean and soiled items strictly separate in your vehicle
- Customers may pause when their child is potty trained, so plan for steady turnover
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: cloth diaper pickup and delivery service
Researched with live web search for United States: 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 cloth diaper pickup service?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $2,000 to $9,000, depending on your vehicle, pails and bags, and whether you supply rental diaper sets. Washing is done through a partner commercial laundry rather than your own equipment.
What should I check before starting a diaper pickup service?
Many laundries will not accept soiled diapers, so confirm this in writing before promising anything to customers. Check your city or county for a business license and health department rules on soiled textiles, plus liability insurance and your auto policy.
How much can a diaper pickup route earn?
Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many weekly subscribers you have. Estimates assume at least about 10 hours a week. Customers may pause once a child is potty trained, so plan for turnover.
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