How to Start a Dry Cleaning Business in 11 Steps – A Curated Guide by chotu

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laundry business online

Starting a dry cleaning business in 2025 can be one of the smartest moves for entrepreneurs looking for a stable, recurring-income venture. Clothes never go out of style – and neither does cleanliness.

Whether you’re planning a local shop or doorstep pickup service, this step-by-step guide by chotu will help you launch, manage, and grow your dry cleaning business – with zero technical hassles.

Step 1: Research Your Market & Target Customers

Before investing, understand your audience.

  • Are you targeting working professionals, students, or households?
  • What services are most in demand – dry cleaning, stain removal, steam ironing, or express delivery?
  • Who are your nearby competitors and what do they charge?

Tip: Customers today prefer convenience – pickup, WhatsApp orders, and doorstep delivery

Step 2: Choose the Right Location

A visible and accessible location drives walk-ins and trust.

If you’re starting small, you can even begin from home with a pickup-only model.

With chotu, you can still serve customers digitally by sharing your store link – even before opening a physical shop.

Step 3: Register Your Business

Make your business official.

Register your entity under:

  • MSME (for government benefits)
  • GST (for invoicing & taxation)
  • FSSAI (if using cleaning chemicals)

 Pro Tip: Add your business on Google Maps and use chotu’s store link to appear in “Dry Cleaning Near Me” searches.

Step 4: Buy the Right Equipment

Essential tools for a professional dry cleaner:

  • Washing, drying & pressing machines
  • Steam iron tables
  • Chemical solvent tanks
  • Racks & packaging materials

You can start small – expand as your customer base grows.

Step 5: Create a Service Menu & Pricing

List down all your offerings:

  • Dry Cleaning (Shirts, Sarees, Suits)
  • Wash & Fold
  • Steam Press
  • Pickup & Delivery Services

Upload this on your chotu store with clear pricing, combos, and offers.

Customers can view your full catalog and place orders directly on WhatsApp.

Step 6: Build Your Online Store with chotu

You don’t need a developer or a laptop.

With chotu, you can:

  • Create your dry cleaning store online in 5 minutes
  • Add prices, offers, and delivery options
  • Enable WhatsApp orders instantly
  • Track customers, payments, and history automatically

 All from your mobile phone – easy, fast, and affordable.

Step 7: Offer Pickup & Delivery

This is where the real magic happens.

Use chotu’s WhatsApp automation to:

  • Schedule pickups
  • Send delivery confirmations
  • Share invoices
  • Notify when clothes are ready

Customers love real-time updates – it keeps them loyal and happy.

Step 8: Launch Offers & Subscriptions

Attract customers with:

  • “First Wash Free” offers
  • “Monthly Family Pack” discounts
  • “5th Order Free” loyalty deals

You can set all of this up directly in chotu’s offers section, and even automate renewal messages.

Step 9: Hire & Train Staff

A well-trained team ensures clothes are handled safely.

Train your staff to:

  • Identify fabrics
  • Use correct chemicals
  • Communicate politely with customers

Quality + Service = Retention + Profit

Step 10: Track Sales & Performance

Data-driven growth = smarter business decisions.

Step 11: Promote Your Business

Promote your store link on:

  • WhatsApp status & local groups
  • Instagram & Facebook Pages
  • Google Business Profile

Post before/after results, reviews, and offers.

Every share brings you one step closer to new customers.

Why Dry Cleaners Choose chotu

✅ Online store setup in seconds

✅ WhatsApp ordering

✅ FREE plan available

✅ 100% mobile-friendly – no coding required

Start Your Dry Cleaning Business Today

The demand is growing. Your customers are ready.

All you need is the right tool to manage, track, and grow your business – from your phone.

With chotu, you can launch your dry cleaning store today, take WhatsApp orders tomorrow, and grow every day after.

👉 Sell Online with chotu

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is chotu?
Namaste. I am chotu, your friendly shopboy. I make ordering from your shop simple on WhatsApp.
What does chotu do?
Customers can see your full product list online (like Zepto/Blinkit). They add to cart and order directly on WhatsApp.
Is chotu like Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto or Blinkit?
No. Those are delivery apps made for buyers. They control prices, delivery, and own your customer data. chotu is an ordering app made for you, the shopkeeper. You keep full control: prices, payments and your customer info.
Is chotu same as WhatsApp Business Catalog?
Almost, but one big difference: With chotu, you get a ready-made catalog for your shop type. No need to type a single word. Just turn OFF items you don’t sell. Plus, you get a QR code and link to share anywhere.
Do customers order with me directly or with chotu?
Orders come straight to your WhatsApp. chotu does not know what is ordered or who your customer is.
Do customers need to download chotu?
No. They can order by:
  • Scanning your QR code


  • Clicking your shop link

(If they install chotu, it only makes reordering easier.)

So, there are two apps?
Yes, the red chotu app is for buyers, golden chotu Owner app is for you, the shopkeeper. You can install both if you want.

How will my shop look?
Like any online store (Amazon/Flipkart). Buyers can browse, search, and add to cart. Click on LIVE DEMO to see how your shop will look.
Do I need a laptop, Excel, or English?
No. Only a WhatsApp number is enough. Works in all Indian languages. chotu runs only on mobile.
How much does chotu cost?
Starts ₹999, one-time payment. No rent. No subscription. No commission. It’s your shop forever.
How do I get paid?
Customers pay you directly, not through chotu. They can give cash in hand or through UPI (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, etc.). No change in payments at all.


Will chotu deliver orders?
No. Delivery is your choice.
  • Ask customer to pick up


  • Send through your boy/helper
  • Use Rapido, Dunzo, etc.


Can customers pay cash?
Yes. As always.
How will I know if I got an order?
You’ll hear a “ka-ching” on the chotu Owner app and get the order on WhatsApp.
Can customers order at night?
Yes. 24×7. You can deliver when you are open.
My customers have cousins in the USA, can they also order?
Yes. Your shop is now open to the whole world, 24X7.
How do I promote my shop?
When you buy a shop, you get a shop link and a QR.
  • Share shop link on WhatsApp Status, Groups, Instagram, YouTube, etc.


  • Print QR on your shopboard, visiting cards, no-parking boards.


Will I get new customers?
Yes, through your link/QR and local promotion. With VIP Pass, your shop ranks higher on chotu search.
What is VIP Pass?
VIP Pass is a value added service with extra benefits:
  • Higher ranking in customer searches
  • Ability to edit your shop details
  • Priority customer support
How do I buy the VIP Pass?
All shops come with a built-in FREE VIP Pass. You do not need to purchase it right now. You can login to the chotu Owner app to buy the VIP Pass later.
Do I need GST or a physical shop?
No. Just a WhatsApp number is enough. Physical shop is optional.
What does owning a shop mean on chotu?
Like you buy a shop in the real world, you are buying a space in the digital world, which is yours forever.
What if I don’t get orders at first?
Share your shop link with existing customers. Once they try it, they will reorder and refer new buyers. If you have a Google My Business profile, you should update your shop link there too to get more orders.
Who is behind chotu? Can I trust it?
The team has decades of experience at Microsoft, Oracle, airtel and studied at IIT & IIM. They are building chotu with only one purpose: make ordering with local shops as easy as UPI made payments.
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