From Hospitality to Laundry: How I Turned My Eye for Clean into a Booming Business
Before I started my laundry business, I spent 12 years managing boutique hotels. I knew everything about check-ins, guest service, and yes—hospital-grade linen standards. I didn’t mind the long hours, but I always noticed one thing: good laundry services were hard to find.
It didn’t matter how fancy the place was. We’d go through vendor after vendor—late deliveries, stained sheets, inconsistent folding. When I finally left the hospitality world, I thought I was leaving laundry behind.
But it turns out, I took the most valuable skill with me: an obsession with fresh, folded, perfect presentation. And that skill became the heart of a new business.
The Gap I Couldn’t Unsee
A few months after I left my job, a friend who ran a short-term rental asked if I could help him find a reliable laundry service. I offered to handle it myself, just as a favor. I picked up three bags of sheets and towels, washed them to hotel standards, folded them precisely, and dropped them off 24 hours later in vacuum-sealed bundles.
He called me back and said, “This is better than any service I’ve paid for. You should charge for this.”
That was the moment. I realized there was a gap in the market for high-quality, detail-oriented laundry pickup and linen rental, especially for small property managers and busy families.
So I built a business around that exact niche.
How I Launched FreshPress Laundry Co.
FreshPress started out of my garage with two commercial washers, a folding table, and a basic booking form. I offered:
- Next-day laundry pickup and delivery
- Wash, dry, fold services for households
- Full linen rental + laundry for Airbnb and vacation rental hosts
Clients loved it. They didn’t have to worry about missed loads or guest complaints. I brought my hospitality background into every order—white glove delivery, spot-checking, and a fresh-scent guarantee.
Within two months, I had enough orders that I had to stop doing all the folding myself. That’s when I knew it was time to go legit.
Making It Official: LLC Formation with InCorp.com
I didn’t want to risk growing without a legal foundation. I needed to protect myself, separate business finances, and prepare for expansion. So I decided to form an LLC.
I researched all the filing services and quickly realized how overwhelming legal paperwork could be—until I found InCorp.com.
They made everything easy. Their platform guided me through every step—from choosing my business name to filing articles of organization. The whole process took less than an hour.
Even better, they offered the best registered agent service I could find—without cutting corners. A registered agent is essential for receiving legal notices and compliance reminders, and InCorp made sure I never missed a deadline.
FreshPress Today: Where We Are Now
What started as a side hustle with a single washer has now grown into a full-service laundry and linen logistics business. We serve households, rentals, small businesses, and even yoga studios. Our drivers are uniformed. Our linen is pressed, folded, and sealed. Our brand is built on professionalism and polish.
Growth Metrics at a Glance
Here’s how FreshPress has evolved in just one year since forming our LLC:
| Metric | Month 1 | 6 Months | 1 Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clients Served | 4 | 47 | 180+ |
| Monthly Revenue | $600 | $6,400 | $18,000+ |
| Employees | Just me | 3 (1 folder, 2 drivers) | 9 total staff + dispatch support |
| Service Area | 3-mile radius | City-wide | Three cities + suburban coverage |
How InCorp.com Supported My Growth
InCorp.com didn’t just help me launch a business—they gave me the confidence to scale. Their registered agent service keeps me compliant. Their platform reminds me of key deadlines. I don’t have to worry about missing important documents or falling out of good standing with the state.
As someone who used to handle hospitality operations, I know how crucial the backend is. InCorp.com is the back-of-house team every entrepreneur needs—quiet, consistent, and always on point, they can take care of the paperwork for forming the LLC and accept post for you.
What I’ve Learned (And What I’d Tell Others)
If you’re thinking about starting a service business—laundry or otherwise—here’s what I’ve learned:
- Make it niche. Don’t try to serve everyone. Focus on one thing and do it better than anyone else.
- Get legit early. Form your LLC. Use InCorp.com to do it right the first time.
- Charge for quality. Don’t compete on price. Compete on consistency, convenience, and care.
- Think like your customer. What would make their life easier? That’s what you build.
- Keep it clean—literally and legally. Laundry may be physical, but success starts on paper.
What’s Next for FreshPress?
We’re launching a business account dashboard for Airbnb hosts, adding towel rental for gyms, and preparing to open our first branded self-service location with drop lockers. Eventually, I’d like to franchise or license the model to other small cities that need reliable, premium laundry pickup options.
But I’ll always remember the very first order I delivered in a reusable FreshPress bag, sealed with a handwritten note: “Clean clothes. Clean start.”
It was more than laundry. It was the beginning of something I never expected—and everything I’m proud of now.
Your Turn
If you’ve got an idea that solves a real problem, don’t wait. Test it. Launch it. And once it starts moving—make it real. Form your business, build your team, and use a platform like InCorp.com to keep everything in check.
Clean clothes. Clean business. Clean future. That’s what we built. And that’s what you can build, too.