How to Start a Laundry Business in the UK (With App + Pickup & Delivery System)

Starting a laundry business in the UK can be a smart move if you want a business with consistent demand and repeat customers. People always need clean clothes, and today they want it faster and more convenient than ever. That is why pickup and delivery laundry services are growing quickly, especially in cities and high-density residential areas.

The good news is you do not need to build a massive laundromat to get started. Many successful laundry businesses begin with a small operations setup and scale using an app, online bookings, and a simple pickup and delivery workflow. In this guide, we will break down how to start a laundry business in the UK and how using an app-based system can help you grow faster.

Step 1: Choose Your Laundry Business Model

Before you invest money, decide which model fits your budget and goals. In the UK, most laundry businesses fall into one of these categories:

1. Pickup and delivery laundry service
You collect clothes from customers, wash and iron them, then deliver them back.

2. Dry cleaning partner model
You manage customer bookings and logistics, and a partner facility handles cleaning.

3. Laundrette with additional delivery services
A physical store helps with walk-in customers while delivery brings in extra revenue.

If your goal is to scale quickly, pickup and delivery is often the best option. It is easier to expand into new postcodes without opening multiple shops.

Step 2: Research Your Local Market and Competition

Laundry is local. Even if the business is digital, your customers will search for services in their area. Start by researching:

• Who already offers laundry pickup and delivery in your city
  
  

• Their pricing per kg and turnaround time
  
  

• Whether they have an app or only WhatsApp bookings
  
  

• Common complaints in their reviews
  
  

• What services they do not offer, like same-day delivery or subscription plans
  
  

You can use this research to build a strong offer. If competitors take 48 hours, you can focus on a 24-hour promise. If they have confusing pricing, you can offer transparent packages.

Step 3: Plan Your Services and Pricing

Your services need to be simple to understand and profitable to deliver. Most UK laundry businesses offer:

• Wash and fold
  
  

• Wash and iron
  
  

• Dry cleaning
  
  

• Bedding and duvet cleaning
  
  

• Bulk laundry for salons and gyms
  
  

• Commercial laundry for restaurants and Airbnb hosts
  
  

For pricing, you can use per kg pricing, per item pricing, or fixed packages. A simple approach is:

• Standard turnaround: 24 to 48 hours
  
  

• Express turnaround: same day or next day with an extra charge
  
  

• Minimum order value to keep delivery profitable
  
  

Pricing should cover labour, detergent, utilities, transport, packaging, and payment fees. Many businesses fail because they underprice delivery and overpromise speed.

Step 4: Register Your Business and Stay Compliant

To start legally in the UK, you will need to set up your business properly. Most founders start as a sole trader or limited company. You should also consider:

• Public liability insurance
  
  

• Employer’s liability insurance if hiring staff
  
  

• Health and safety basics for chemicals and equipment
  
  

• Data protection compliance for customer details
  
  

• Proper invoicing and payment tracking
  
  

If you are taking orders online through a website or app, keep your policies clear, including refunds, cancellations, and service expectations.

Step 5: Set Up Your Operations and Delivery Flow

Even with a great app, your business wins or loses on operations. A smooth laundry workflow typically looks like this:

1. Customer places an order through app or website
   
   

2. Pickup is scheduled automatically
   
   

3. Driver collects laundry with order confirmation
   
   

4. Items are weighed and sorted
   
   

5. Washing, drying, ironing, and quality checks
   
   

6. Packing and tagging
   
   

7. Delivery scheduled and completed
   
   

8. Customer receives updates and invoice
   
   

To reduce errors, use tagging and order tracking from day one. Customers hate mix-ups, and even a few mistakes can damage your brand early.

Step 6: Why You Need an App for Pickup and Delivery Laundry

Many laundry startups begin with phone calls and WhatsApp, but this becomes messy when you start getting daily orders. A laundry app helps you automate bookings, reduce missed calls, and improve customer experience.

A good laundry app system usually includes:

Customer app features

• Booking and scheduling
  
  

• Live order status updates
  
  

• Online payments
  
  

• Service selection and pricing clarity
  
  

• Address saving and reorder options
  
  

Admin panel features

• Order management dashboard
  
  

• Customer database
  
  

• Staff assignment and delivery scheduling
  
  

• Payment tracking and invoicing
  
  

• Offers, discounts, and referral systems
  
  

Driver management features

• Pickup and delivery task list
  
  

• Route planning support
  
  

• Delivery status updates
  
  

• Proof of pickup and delivery
  
  

This is where many businesses grow faster. Instead of manually managing each order, your app becomes the core system that runs the operations.

Step 7: White Label App vs Custom Laundry Software

If you want to launch quickly, a white label laundry app is a great choice. It gives you a ready platform where your brand name and design can be applied, and you can start selling immediately.

If you want advanced workflows, deeper integrations, or a unique customer experience, custom laundry software may be better. Custom development works well when you have clear growth goals like multi-branch expansion, franchise modules, or corporate customers with contract billing.

At BestatServices, we help laundry businesses launch either way, depending on your budget and timeline.

Step 8: Get Customers Using Local SEO and Simple Marketing

Once your operations are ready, focus on visibility. Most customers will search on Google for services near them. Your marketing plan should include:

• A Google Business Profile with photos and service areas
  
  

• Local SEO pages for each area you cover
  
  

• Reviews strategy after every successful delivery
  
  

• Instagram and Facebook short videos showing the process
  
  

• Partner deals with gyms, salons, and student housing
  
  

• Referral rewards for repeat customers
  
  

A great app helps here too, because customers can easily reorder and become regulars.

Final Thoughts: Start Small, Scale Fast with the Right System

Starting a laundry business in the UK is not just about washing clothes. It is about building a reliable service that customers trust every week. With a pickup and delivery system, clear pricing, and a strong app-based workflow, you can build a business that grows steadily and runs smoothly.

If you want to launch your own laundry platform, BestatServices can help you with a ready white label solution or build a custom system tailored to your business model.

Want to launch faster? Book a free demo with BestatServices and see how our laundry app and pickup delivery system can work for your business.