Thinking of starting an equine rug washing / repairs business

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ruby82

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Hi All,
So I am really fed up with my current non horsey job and I am thinking of setting up an equine rug washing and repairing business. I am wondering how many of you would use such a service. Or do any of you own such a business and is there allot of demand for this type of service? I am based in W.Yorkshire. Thanks
 
We use a rug cleaning and repair service down here in the Midlands and I know lots of other people who do as well. Ours offers a collection and delivery service provided there is a minimum of 5 rugs. They will either just wash the rugs or will reproof them as well depending on what you want.

We've often spoken about doing something like this ourselves as it always seems to cost a kings ransom but when you weight up the cost of acquiring the machines, water, power, liquid, re-proofer etc decided against it. The biggest challenge that our local supplier says she has is finding space to dry everything without it getting musty and her needing to wash them again.
 
My friend has just set herself up doing the repair side and, despite being supremely talented and giving it a really good shot, she's really really struggling with it.
 
Thanks for your post it's really useful, Its really hard to estimate the outgoings you mentioned e.g water and power etc against the estimated demand. I have looked at the washing machines so I am aware of the outlay for them but I would also require premises aswell, I know some big yards have on site facilities but still seems there is a demand especially in my location. Thanks again
 
Hey poppy - thanks for your post, I hope the repair side picks up for your friend, I can imagine it's a struggle and that's what scares me as I am used to a good wage coming in every month but my job makes me very unhappy!
 
I'd have a look around places such as large livery yards / riding stables that do competitions, or tack shops/feed merchants and see if you can spy a suitable location for your business - if they already have the on-site facilities in some way, could you expand that business for them? If folk are visiting for one reason it's VERY easy to drop a few rugs off/collect rugs at the same time, plus its visible to the horsey fraternity.
 
I do rug cleaning and repairs - i pick up fr yards and also have a couple of tack/feed shops that are collecting points for me. You do need to remember that the bulk of the cleaning and repairs probably happens in a 4 or 5 month period - over the winter it is much slower and only 'emergency' repairs with a few rugs being cleaned. Certainly for the first year or so you may need to have another job while you build your business:)
 
Me & my mum did this for a few years, but have just packed it in due to low demand. There are a lot of places that do it around here (s.yorks) so we were finding it hard to compete price wise as obviously everything has gone up but you can't charge too high a price! It's no good as a main job, but if you can get your prices down its alright for a bit of pocket money! We used to charge £13 for a wash & reproof on a newzealand. xx
 
ruby82 said:
Hi All,
So I am really fed up with my current non horsey job and I am thinking of setting up an equine rug washing and repairing business. I am wondering how many of you would use such a service. Or do any of you own such a business and is there allot of demand for this type of service? I am based in W.Yorkshire. Thanks
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Hi,
We may be able to help you on your way to starting an equine laundry up.
please contact me on philmortimer@btinternet.com
cheers
 
I have my own business, collect and return rugs to yards , to lay out for washing machine sewng machine rug wash and proof materials buckles etc, you would need a minimum of £5000, and that is for reconditioned machine, not new.
My main problem in the last year or 2 is getting the money out of people after I have returned rugs! I have a large equestrian centre I do, billed them 16th feb wash 80 numnahs = £120 have phoned them twice now still no payment! So if you do decide to do it, don't leave rugs unless they have left you the money! Oh and I work from home, so no premises to pay for, and at the moment I am doing courier work to make ends meet.
Good luck!
 
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