§1What this business is
Dry cleaning is not really dry: clothes are tumbled in a liquid solvent, most often perchloroethylene ('perc'), which is filtered, distilled and reused. Fabrics like viscose and other synthetics that react badly with water must be dry-cleaned. The same shop runs a 15 kg washer-extractor and tumble dryer for wet washing, and a vacuum ironing table and steam press for finishing.
Capacity: 50 dry-clean and 90 wet-clean garments a day (15,000 and 27,000 a year); 60% use in year 1.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone in a city or large town who can run a neat counter and a reliable pick-up service.
Who it is not for
Someone in a village or small market with little demand for dry cleaning.
Advantages
- Steady urban demand from working households
- Small working capital
- Repeat customers and pick-up/drop service possible
- Hotels, hostels and offices give bulk work
Drawbacks
- High break-even (about 50%)
- Solvent handling needs care and enclosed machines
- Damage claims on costly garments
- Competition from app-based laundries
Skills you need
- Fabric and stain knowledge
- Machine operation and solvent recovery
- Customer service and tracking orders
- Bulk contracts with hotels and hostels
Why difficulty 2/5: Easy to run once machines are in; the margin depends on keeping volumes high.
§3Market
Who buys
- Urban households
- Office-goers
- Hotels, hostels and institutions
How it sells
- Walk-in counter
- Pick-up and drop service
- Bulk contracts
Good to know
- The report cites a global dry-cleaning and laundry market expected to reach about $181.4 billion by 2022.
- It also names heavy competition as a restraint on the market.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Washer-extractor, 15 kg | 1 | ₹2.70 lakh |
| Electric tumble dryer, 15 kg | 1 | ₹1.15 lakh |
| Vacuum ironing table | 1 | ₹22,500 |
| Steam-cum-electric press | 1 | ₹7,500 |
| Portable steam boiler (5 kg) | 1 | ₹15,000 |
| Semi-automatic dry cleaning machine | 1 | ₹3.40 lakh |
From: PMEGP sample project report — Dry Cleaners (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- Detergent powders and chemicalsconsumables and water ₹4.85 L in year 1
- Dry-cleaning solvent (perchloroethylene is the most used; alternatives trichloroethane and petroleum spirits)recovered by distillation and reused
From: PMEGP sample project report — Dry Cleaners (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
§5Licences & registration
- Shops and establishment registration / trade licence
- Udyam
- GST
- State Pollution Control Board consent where the state requires it for solvent use
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CM YUVAUPActiveUp to ₹5 lakh, interest-free
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
A ₹9.97 L service project: PMEGP and MUDRA fit; a smaller set-up can come under UP's CM-YUVA; CGTMSE for collateral-free cover.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Samadhan report: plant & machinery ₹7.70 L + furniture ₹0.60 L + working capital ₹1.67 L = ₹9.97 L; shed 800–1,000 sq ft own/rented, not costed.
Working capital: Working capital ₹1.67 L (bank ₹1.50 L) — detergents, solvent and chemicals; customer credit is short.
Year not printed on the sample report — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
A local service business; it has no goods to export.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Garment damage or loss claims
- Solvent fumes and safety
- Power cuts
- Price competition
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working dry cleaning & laundry unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Shops and establishment registration / trade licence, Udyam), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Dry Cleaning & Laundry?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.