To all dry cleaner owners how do you figure your actual cost of getting a shirt cleaned,pressed and starched.

Question

I'm trying to figure out my actual cost of getting my dress shirts laundered,pressed and starched. I guess you would include cost of labor, supplies (hanger,soap, starch), rent,electric etc. How much do you guys charge for a shirt and how much profit do you make on each shirt. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Dry cleaners, or any other business owner, charges enough to pay their rent, electricity, phone, advertising, labor, benefits, taxes, insurance, other liabilities, other expenses, and still try to make a small profit to provide them with the lavish lifestyle that some bean counter imagines they might have.  

Then they post a schedule of charges for the items you may wish to  clean, press and starch.  If you agree to the pricing, you can contract with them to clean your laundry.  This is your Actual Cost.  No excel spreadsheet or additional time expenditure is necessary.

A business does not disclose all of their expenses or all of their proceeds for a novice consumer, or a disgruntled employee, or a competitor to undercut or argue about what they consider to be "fair".  If you are a high volume user, or a frequent user, they may have a loyalty program to retain or show appreciation for your continued business, but otherwise, the charge is what it is, take it or leave it.  

If you are still anguishing about something to put on a spreadsheet, find out what the government is doing with your taxes and how much they are wasting on your behalf.  Then spread the word to everyone you encounter and start a movement to increase your disposable income by eliminating government waste and reducing taxes.  

Then you will no longer need to agonize over a few cents of profit you may be resentful about paying or your competitor earning.