Neighborhood dry cleaning storefront

Local residents, commuters, offices, restaurants and hotels, plus people who need wedding gowns, suits or household items cleaned.

Per-item cleaning prices, plus add-ons like alterations, laundered shirts, household items and commercial accounts.

• Customer service and friendly counter work
• Organizing orders and tracking garments
• Basic bookkeeping and managing staff

• If you clean on site, check environmental rules for solvents with your state environmental agency, as some states restrict or ban perchloroethylene
• Check the business license, zoning, sales tax and any permits your city, county and state require
• General liability, property and garment (bailee) insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
• Lease terms and the cost of buying an existing shop, so verify its equipment and customer base

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on your premises, lease terms and whether you buy an existing shop. Starting as a drop store that sends work to a wholesale plant avoids the cost of cleaning machines.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on your location, customer base and any extras such as alterations. That is revenue before rent, wholesale cleaning fees and staff costs.

If you clean on site, check environmental rules for solvents with your state environmental agency, as some states restrict or ban perchloroethylene. Also check business license, zoning, sales tax and permits with your city, county and state, plus insurance.