Things You'll Need:
- Commercial-grade washer and dry
- Cloth-diaper materials
- Baby-safe detergent
- Marketing materials
- Vehicle liners and waterproofing material
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Step 1
Decide what kind of service you would like to offer: full service or pick-up and delivery only. Full-service cloth-diaper businesses provide the diapers to the clients, pick up the dirty diapers, launder them, and deliver the clean diapers back to the clients. Pick-up and delivery-only businesses do just that; they pick up the diapers, take them to a laundry service, and then deliver the clean diapers back to the client.
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Step 2
If you are offering a full service, purchase a commercial-grade washer and dryer for cleaning the diapers as well as baby-specific laundry soap such as Dreft. Buy the detergent in bulk from a warehouse club store such as Costco or Sam's Club to save money. Also, purchase the supplies needed to make the cloth diapers. You will need the following: a sewing machine; cotton thread; 100-percent cotton fabric,or similar such as fleece, jersey or terry; Ultrex fabric (or other waterproof material); snaps and/or Velcro; and 1/4-in. and 1/2-in. wide elastic.
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Step 3
Make numerous cloth diapers. You may choose to make a couple different styles in case parents have specific preferences, such as Velcro fasteners versus snaps. You also will need to make diapers in several different sizes. It may help to come up with some sort of marking on the diaper to identify the size. Wash all your cloth diapers so they are clean for the first use.
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Step 4
Spread the word about your business by establishing contacts with the maternity/labor and delivery ward at your local hospital as well as with birthing or lamaze-class instructors, day cares and OB/GYN clinics and doctors. This will give you access to potential clients.
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Step 5
Create marketing materials such as fliers, business cards, brochures and even a website to advertise your service and break down your costs or package offerings. Use your contacts to market your business to expectant and new parents.
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Step 6
Clean out your vehicle and line the back section with vehicle mats and waterproof liners. You'll be transporting a lot of dirty diapers as well as clean diapers, so you want to keep your vehicle as clean as possible and protect its interior in case of accidental spills or dirty-diaper bag breaks.
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Step 7
Acquire clients and ask them to refer you to their friends. Offer a referral discount on future purchases to help build your business.
