labahanLabahan blog
Practical tips for laundry shop owners
How to stop lost laundry, make your cash drawer match, price your loads and keep your suki coming back. Written for laundry shops in the Philippines by the team behind Labahan Manager.
Starting out
6 questions to answer before opening a laundry shop in the PhilippinesSix honest questions to answer before opening a laundry shop: demand, pricing above cost, reserve cash, who runs it, what makes you different and machine breakdowns.
How to choose laundry machines by running cost, not just the priceCompare washers and dryers by their 5-year cost (price plus electricity, water and gas), then check parts, service, warranty, capacity mix and second-hand units.
How much rent can a laundry shop afford? A simple way to decideWork out how much rent your laundry shop can afford from expected sales, then check a location for visibility, access, foot traffic, competitors and parking.
How much does it cost to open a laundry shop in the Philippines?A line-by-line checklist of what it costs to open a laundry shop in the Philippines: machines, renovation, utilities, permits and working cash, plus a sample budget.Operations
How to stop lost and mixed-up laundry in your laundry shopPractical steps for Philippine laundry shops to stop lost items and mixed-up loads: numbered stubs, bag tags, one basket per load and checks at release.
Unclaimed laundry: how to set a storage fee policy customers acceptHow laundry shops can handle laundry left unclaimed for weeks: reminders, a clear storage fee policy, sample wording and what to put on the stub.
How many loads can your shop do a day? Washers, dryers and ready timesWork out how many loads your laundry shop can finish in a day, find the bottleneck (usually the dryers) and set ready times you can keep.
Paper logbook vs laundry shop app: when is it time to switch?An honest comparison of a paper logbook and a laundry shop app for Philippine laundry shops: cost, lost stubs, cash, staff and customers, and signs it’s time to switch.
Laundry care label symbols explained: a guide for laundry shop staffLearn the five care label symbol families (washtub, triangle, square, iron, circle), what dots, bars and an X mean, and what each one means for your shop’s machines.
How to write SOPs for your laundry shop (with a sample checklist)Write simple standard operating procedures for your laundry shop: the 4 areas to cover, one-page steps with photos, training new staff and a monthly review.
The pre-wash checklist every laundry shop should use before washingA simple pre-wash checklist for laundry shops: empty pockets, close zippers, turn items inside out, separate stains, note damage, use mesh bags and read care labels.
What commercial washer and dryer warranties usually don’t coverWhat commercial washer and dryer warranties commonly exclude, from hoses and door seals to power surges and floods, and questions to ask before you buy.
Why your laundry shop should weigh every load (and how full to fill)Why weighing each load pays off: fair per-kilo prices, the right detergent dose, machines that aren’t overloaded, daily capacity planning and catching missing sales.Money
Laundry shop cash count: how to make your drawer match every nightA simple daily cash count for laundry shops in the Philippines: opening cash, cash vs GCash and Maya, expenses from the drawer, and a worked example.
How to work out your cost per load (and set a price that earns)A step-by-step way for Philippine laundry shops to work out the real cost of one load: detergent, water, electricity, rent and staff, with a worked example.
Accepting GCash and Maya at your laundry shop without getting fooledHow laundry shops can accept GCash and Maya safely: your own QR, checking payments in the app (not screenshots), recording reference numbers and spotting repeats.
Laundry shop payback period: how long to get your money backHow to work out when a laundry shop pays back its investment: the simple formula, a worked example with a slow start, and what stretches the payback period.
Laundry staff salary in the Philippines: minimum wage, BMBE and SSSWhat one laundry staff member really costs per month: minimum wage by region, the BMBE law, SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG shares, with a worked example.
A simple laundry supplies inventory: stock cards and reorder pointsTrack detergent, fabcon, bags and tags with a simple stock card, set a reorder point so you never run out, and spot unusual use with a monthly count.
Why laundry shops lose money (and a checklist to diagnose your shop)The common reasons laundry shops lose money, from price wars and free extras to downtime and cash leaks, with an example month and a checklist to diagnose your shop.Customers
How to stop “Is my laundry ready?” calls and messagesHow Philippine laundry shops can cut down “Is my laundry ready?” calls and Messenger chats: promised times, tracking QR codes, ready alerts and clear pickup rules.
How to make a clear laundry shop price list (with a sample)What to put on your laundry shop price list so customers understand it at a glance: per-load limits, add-ons, express, pickup and storage rules, with a sample layout.
How to keep your suki coming back: loyalty cards and slow-day promosSimple ways for laundry shops to keep regular customers: a loyalty card, promos on your slowest days, and service habits that make people return.
How to fold laundry like a pro: folding standards for your laundry shopSet folding standards your team can follow: same-size folds for shirts, pants, towels, fitted sheets and socks, heavy-to-light stacking and a sample fold board.
Laundry packaging that impresses customers: fold, seal, label, presentHow to pack finished laundry so customers notice: neat folds, clean sealed bags, clear labels, special items on hangers, branded bags and a staff checklist.
Self-service, drop-off, full service or delivery: pricing each fairlyWhat self-service, wash-dry-fold, full service and pickup and delivery include, who each suits, and how to price each one from labour, supplies and transport.
Why laundry smells musty (“kulob”) and how your shop can prevent itWhy laundry comes back smelling musty (kulob): damp packing, loads left in the washer, overloaded dryers and dirty machines, plus fixes and a prevention checklist.Ready to try it in your shop?
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