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Step-by-step guide

Laundry and ironing service: your step-by-step start

Wash, dry, fold and iron clothes for busy households, students and small businesses, priced by the kilogram or the bag.

  • 18 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 1 hour
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • Organised people with a washing machine, space to dry and iron, and backup for power and water cuts.

Think twice if

  • You do not want to find and talk to customers yourself.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 14 days.
  • Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.
  • The main risk to plan for: lost or damaged clothes: count and label every bag.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How laundry and ironing service worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Pricing and getting paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Set a price per kilogram and a collection day3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Buy a scale, bags and labels3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first customers: who to message5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Run your first collection round3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Keep a bag register: name, kilograms, date, paid3 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Approach a guesthouse or salon3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Decide whether a second machine would pay3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R500 to R8 000 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Washing machine
  • Hanging scale
  • Bags and labels
  • Iron and board

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.