To ask for your idea on how to expand my business?

[AnitaAcer]

I run an ironing business from home, part-time and I love it. However, I now want to increase my hours so I can work full time. I would like to add some more services to my business but not sure what? I know of cleaning businesses that offer ironing, but could I be an ironing business that also offers cleaning? Or is that strange?

Basically, I want to add a few more strings to my bow, not just take on piles more ironing.

Any ideas much appreciated

Handbag cleaning! I would have paid good money to send my handbags to be cleaned, polished and sanitised.

Also, you could offer minor clothing repairs: sewing on buttons, that kind of thing.

Actually, how about sewing on name tags on school uniforms? Again, i would have paid good money for someone to do that.

Concierge /housekeeping /girl Friday stuff...

Such as organising shopping, theatre tickets, finding and booking holidays, diary organisation, birthday party organising for adults/kids, gift buying and wrapping....

Almost anything cna be out sourced!

I would absolutely pay for bed changing, it's one of the jobs I hate most but love the results of most 😂

Packing up houses?

I would pay to get name tags sewn in too!

Question - What would you call a one-woman service that offered everything the.client would want? Cleaning, ironing, shopping, decluttering, dog walking, etc.

A domestic Jack of all trades?

I would have thought you'd be able to go full time with cleaning alone, I'd love to hire a cleaner!

Yes to a full shirt service with home delivery as well. My DH takes his to the dry cleaners, it's a pain dropping off and picking them up.

Yes to clothes repairs if you have the skills, if not I'm sure there are courses you could do.
Also putting children's name tags on everything. You can get the iron on ones now which you could do as a back to school in September service.
You need to target busy working parents who don't have time to do any of this themselves and also have spare cash.
Other ideas :
Shoe cleaning / polishing.
Furniture repair / cleaning / restoration ( a bit specialist but you could go into it).
Do you have a big washing machine ? If so a duvet/ pillow /bedding laundry service
One off cleaning service for specific things that no one has time to do like fridge, oven cleaning or freezer defrosting. You take the frozen food to yours clean the clients freezer and then put it all back, if you have a big enough freezer.
Carpet washing, although you'd have to invest in a good carpet shampooer.
Preparation for selling a house - you go in, declutter, clean up and get the place looking good for selling or renting.

I totally read the situation differently and I'd been looking at how much you charge and start outsourcing to others.

The drop and collect service, online booking for slots, get others doing the extra services mentioned, mark up hours, get contracts and start a local firm, invest in a website or app, grab a few vans and there you go!!

That way even when you have a holiday or are sick you are earning, you don't over time actually have to do the ironing or cleaning, you just have to ensure quality and values and make sure everyone is happy.

So don't sell by the hour sell by the service and grow that way, if you try and grow by your own hours you'll always have a top limit for earnings!

Depends how much you'd like to grow really 👍

Domestic Angel!

I lived in a family home and their weekly cleaner came for a whole day. Changed all the beds, cleaned entire house, several wash loads, remade beds, ironing too.

And it's housekeeping? So you'd be offering a. Full housekeeping service.

If you live near an area with 2nd homes there is a big market for housekeepers who get the shopping in before they arrive, sort any issues and make sure their house is spotless and flowers in for arrival, some pay until 500 a month for this service.

I know a guy who does this and he's so successful, he just sorts the whole house, gardening, cleaning, shopping etc

Airbnb renters as well as second homes. You could manage the key exchange, letting in guests and clean up at the end.

I would say 50 %of customers want half cleaning /half ironing.
I also clean air B&B properties on a change over schedule..
And 2 boats also on air B&B...
Full time hours op.

I've seen someone advertise sewing on name tags for £1/item. It takes me ages if sewing, my hourly rate would be about £2/hour! But I dont have the disposable income to outsource lots of jobs and have since discovered stick on ones I cleaned my oven over lockdown and it took hours!!

@Popc0rn

Question - What would you call a one-woman service that offered everything the.client would want? Cleaning, ironing, shopping, decluttering, dog walking, etc.

A domestic Jack of all trades?

Jacqueline of all trades

@AnitaAcer

Putting a wash on and hanging it out to dry And folding it up would be VERY highly prized!

Cleaning windows (inside)

Basic gardening like weeding borders and driveway at the front of the house.

Cleaning out and organising the fridge and freezer

Also, some basic batch cooking - a few lasagnes or cottage pies, stuff like that I could freeze.

In case you’d not realised I’m exceptionally lazy