An increasing number of parents are interested in the environmental and economic benefits that cloth diapers offer, but not all parents want to deal with washing them. Cloth diaper services provide and launder cloth diapers so that parents don’t have to. Through 2022, the global diaper market is projected to reach an annual revenue of $67.46 billion. A significant portion of this growth is expected to come from environmentally friendly solutions like biodegradable disposable diapers and cloth diapers. This growth should create many opportunities for new cloth diaper services.
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Start a cloth diaper service by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Cloth Diaper Service
- Form your Cloth Diaper Service into a Legal Entity
- Register your Cloth Diaper Service for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Cloth Diaper Service
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Cloth Diaper Service
- Get Cloth Diaper Service Insurance
- Define your Cloth Diaper Service Brand
- Create your Cloth Diaper Service Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your cloth diaper service. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Cloth Diaper Service Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a cloth diaper service?
The startup costs involved in opening a cloth diaper service are fairly low. A service generally needs:
- One-size diapers: $220 for 12 pack
- Large diaper bags: $30 each
- Transportation; It’s very efficient to use your personal vehicle.
- Rubber gloves: ~$10
- Washing machine; Using your personal washer is ideal.
- Detergent: ~$14 per 68 loads
- Cloth diaper pail: ~$50 for 7 gallons, 1-2 day pail
How many cloth diapers business owners need to purchase initially depends on what brand of cloth diapers they get. Some brands offer just one size, while others have two or three different sizes.
Business owners who want to keep their startup costs as low as possible can begin by purchasing just three weeks’ worth of cloth diapers. This should be sufficient for one client, as it allows:
- 1 week’s worth of diapers to be with the client
- 1 week’s worth of diapers to be in the laundry
- 1 week’s worth of diapers as a backup emergency supply
For Mother Earth Baby, a basic full week’s supply is 80 diapers, so three weeks would be 240 diapers. (If using a brand that has multiple sizes, a service should purchase three weeks’ worth of diapers in each size available.)
While this only provides enough diapers for a single client, more diapers can be purchased as additional clients sign up. The one-week emergency supply should suffice for a week while new diapers are ordered. This lets business owners use the first payment that new clients make to pay for any additional diapers that are required.
Business owners can further reduce their upfront expenses by using their own car and washing machine. A special car isn’t needed, as most vehicles are big enough for diapers. A special washing machine also isn’t required, although it’s important to have hot water.
Read our cloth diaper service purchasing guide to learn about the materials and equipment you’ll need to start a cloth diaper service, how much to budget, and where to make purchases.
What are the ongoing expenses for a cloth diaper service?
The ongoing expenses for a cloth diaper service businesses are fairly low. They primarily include:
- fuel and maintenance for a vehicle
- detergent
- hot water
Who is the target market?
A cloth diaper service’s ideal clients are busy parents with a decent amount of discretionary income. If you are able to find a nursery business that uses cloth diapers, that could be an easy way to increase business.
How does a cloth diaper service make money?
A cloth diaper service makes money by charging for the rental and laundering of cloth diapers. Most services charge a flat weekly or monthly fee.
How much can you charge customers?
Many cloth diaper services charge between about $25 and $50 per week. Mother Earth Baby, for instance, offers a basic diaper service for $25 per week and an all-in-one diaper service for $50 per week.
How much profit can a cloth diaper service make?
How much a cloth diaper service can make depends entirely on how many clients it has. Nelson reports that services can have annual revenues around $25,000 with 20 clients.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Many cloth diaper service businesses increase their revenue slightly by offering cloth wipes and selling cloth diapers. Cloth wipes are typically an add-on service that’s between $5 and $8 per week. Cloth diapers may be sold new or used, with new ones commanding much higher prices.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your cloth diaper service is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your cloth diaper service were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?
Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate cloth diaper business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Services Contract
In business where services are provided on an extended basis, a services contract is often put in place outlining terms and conditions of service.
Cloth diaper services should require clients to sign a services agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, and service level expectations. An example of a service contract can be found here.
Some cloth diaper services try to achieve higher customer satisfaction by not requiring customers to sign long term contracts. Most cloth diaper services operate week to week and can be cancelled by the client at any time.
Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your cloth diaper business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.
Labor safety requirements
It is important to comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements.
Relevant requirements include:
- Employee injury report
- Safety signage
- Etc.
Certificate of Occupancy
Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a location:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a cloth diaper business
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
- If you plan to purchase or build a location:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your cloth diaper business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Cloth Diaper Service needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Cloth Diaper Service.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a cloth diaper service
A cloth diaper service may be marketed by partnering with doulas and midwives, through social media and via flyers posted on local bulletin boards. Many clients will also find you via online search, which demonstrates the importance of having a website.
How to keep customers coming back
A cloth diaper service can set itself apart from similar businesses in the area by providing high-quality diapers that are easy to use. Parents are paying for convenience, and they’ll want a cloth diaper that’s quick and easy to change.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
Anyone who is personable and also self-motivated may enjoy running a cloth diaper service. Business owners interact with clients on a periodic basis, as new people sign up and others need to change their plans. Much of the day-to-day work, however, is independent and involves little person-to-person interaction. While diaper exchanges are typically scheduled for a particular day, they can be done any time of that day—including in the evening or at night if necessary.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a cloth diaper service?
Cloth diaper service owners spend much of their time exchanging and cleaning diapers. On any given day, they may:
- drive to client’s homes, where they pick up dirty diapers and drop off clean ones
- count how many dirty diapers a client used, so they know how many to drop off the next week
- wash diapers, which sometimes requires multiple cycles
- dry diapers, which may require letting them air-dry
- sort diapers for the next week’s deliveries
When not doing these things, business owners are frequently marketing their business and managing bills.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful cloth diaper service?
Business owners should be familiar with both how to use cloth diapers and how to properly launder them. Although they’ll only be laundering the diapers, clients may have questions about using them—and they’ll expect business owners to know how to use the products they provide.
Many cloth diaper companies (which sell cloth diapers) and cloth diaper services offer classes on properly using and washing cloth diapers. For example, Jillian’s Drawers offers a free cloth diapering class, and Diaper Lab in Boston has a course for $30.
There are also books that have helpful tips on how to use cloth diapers. Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert and Cloth Diapers are two popular titles.
What is the growth potential for a cloth diaper service?
Cloth diaper services serve a single geographic area, such as a city or small regional area. Since you will probably be doing daily drop-offs and pick-ups, you will most likely be relatively limited in how far you can go. However, once you have enough income to hire additional drivers and maybe even additional branches, there is no limit to the area you can reach.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a cloth diaper service?
When washing cloth diapers, it’s extremely important to disinfect them. A good wash routine, Angie Nelson says, will use water that’s at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. It also may involve multiple washings—some services use up to 13 changes of water when washing diapers.
How and when to build a team
Cloth diaper services can be run as one-person operations. If revenue grows enough, one or more employees may be hired to help with pickups, dropoffs and laundering. It is important to find employees with good social skills (if they will be delivering the diapers).
Read our cloth diaper service hiring guide to learn about the different roles a cloth diaper service typically fills, how much to budget for employee salaries, and how to build your team exactly how you want it.
Useful Links
TRUiC Resources
Industry Opportunities
- The Real Diaper Industry Association Can Help You Start Your Cloth Diaper Business
- Learn about more Family Fun Business Ideas!