How to Start or Expand Your Dry Cleaning Delivery Route
Get more customers, simplify operations, and grow your business by offering convenience and dependable service right to your customers’ doors.
Dry cleaning routes used to be a luxury. Now? They’re an expectation. With consumer demand shifting toward convenience, offering pickup and delivery services can help dry cleaners tap into a whole new stream of revenue. And if you already have a route? Expanding it efficiently can drive serious growth without increasing your square footage or equipment costs.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to build on your existing route, this guide walks you through everything you need to know to start your dry cleaning delivery route or take it to the next level.
Why Routes Matter More Than Ever
Americans spend roughly 37 billion hours each year waiting in lines and driving to appointments. That’s a lot of time nobody wants to waste, especially when laundry and dry cleaning can come to them.
Offering delivery service gives your customers:
- Convenience (goodbye, errand list)
- Time back (and time = money)
- A reason to stick with your business
Plus, route customers are more loyal. Once they’re signed up and used to seeing your van every week, they’re less likely to shop around. Win-win.
Step 1: Decide If You’re Ready (Spoiler: You Probably Are)
Before launching, take a quick inventory:
- Do you have enough production capacity to take on more volume?
- Can you designate a driver (or be the driver at first)?
- Is your current point-of-sale system route-friendly?
If you answered yes to at least two of these, you’re likely ready to start your dry cleaning delivery route.
Pro Tip: You don’t need a whole fleet to begin. A reliable vehicle and a consistent schedule are enough to get started.
Step 2: Choose a Route Strategy
You’ve got two main options:
- On-Demand Pickup/Delivery: Customers request pickup as needed via text, web, or app. Flexible, but harder to plan logistically.
- Scheduled Route Service (static): You offer regular weekly pickups (e.g., every Tuesday/Friday). Easier to manage, more predictable.
Most successful cleaners begin with scheduled service and layer on-demand later.
Step 3: Define Your Service Area
Start with your current customers. Pull a zip code report and find out where they live. Then, use a radius of about 3–5 miles from your store as your first “zone.” Expand outward based on demand.
Consider:
- Traffic patterns and drive time
- Neighborhood demographics
- Day/time feasibility (schools, businesses, etc.)
Pro Tip: You don’t have to conquer the whole city. Focus on consistency, not coverage.
Step 4: Get the Word Out
Here’s where things get fun and where many dry cleaners fall short. You could have the best delivery route in the world, but if no one knows about it, it won’t grow.
Use a combination of:
- Email Marketing: Announce your new route and include a signup link.
- In-Store Signage: A simple “Now Offering Pick-up & Delivery!” near the register with a QR code to a signup page.
- Door Hangers: Target neighborhoods in your service area.
- Social Media: Show your delivery van in action. People love local stories.
- Direct Mail: Encourage signups through beautifully designed postcards.
- Trigger-Based Email Campaigns: Convert counter customers into route clients.
Step 5: Simplify Customer Signups
Make it simple to join:
- Add a “Schedule Pickup” button on your website
- Accept signups by phone, webchat, or even a text message
- Offer a one-time discount to incentivize a pickup
Once a customer opts in, communicate clearly.
Step 6: Organize Your Operations
Start with a basic checklist:
- Assign pickup/drop-off days by neighborhood
- Invest in route bags with ID tags
- Create a delivery manifest (your POS might do this)
- Confirm orders via text or email
- Offer contactless payments or charge cards on file
Pro Tip: The easier you make it for customers to hand over their clothes, the more often they will.
Step 7: Expand Wisely
Once your first zone is solid, move into new zip codes. Use this method:
- Target one neighborhood at a time
- Advertise 2–3 weeks in advance
- Offer a trial promotion (e.g., 20% off first delivery)
- Add consistent customers before expanding further
Slow and steady wins the route race.
Ready to Go Further? Get the Right Tools for Growth
If you’re serious about launching your delivery route, we highly recommend checking out The Route Pro, an outstanding resource for dry cleaners looking to build routes the right way. They’ll walk you through systems, training, and sales techniques to get your delivery service off the ground with confidence.
Whether you’re just getting started and want to build your customer base first, or want to expand your existing route, BeCreative360 can help you generate local leads through our targeted marketing services:
- List Builder: Get access to the best mailing lists based on household income, location, and homeownership status to find potential route customers in your area.
- EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail): Send beautifully designed postcards to entire neighborhoods without needing a list. Perfect for announcing a new route.
- New Neighbor Program: Automatically reach new residents in your zip code with custom offers. Perfect for capturing loyal, long-term route customers before your competition does.
- Door Hangers: Our custom-designed door hangers help you canvas neighborhoods with eye-catching offers. This is perfect for route drivers to get to know their neighborhoods while building local visibility and trust.
No matter where you are in your route journey, we’ll help you reach the right customers and keep them coming back for more.
Contact us today at create@becreative360.com or 949-270-1609.
Ready to get started? Download our Route Service Launch Checklist (PDF).
