MONEY LAUNDRY-ING I started my now million-dollar side hustle at home – how a ‘personal pain point’ changed it all
AFTER having a laundry epiphany, a hustler has turned dirty clothes into a million-dollar money maker.
Laurel Hess is the co-founder of a company called Hampr, a service that outsources all of your laundry needs.
As laundry became a nuisance to the mom of two, Laurel decided to turn her pain into profit.
Laurel told Time.com, “I had a stay-at-home mom friend who was always asking if she could do things for my marketing company to earn extra money.
“She couldn’t shop for Instacart, she couldn’t drive for Uber — she had five kids at home.
“I told her I didn’t have any work but offered my laundry as a way to earn extra money,” she added.
It was then that Laurel realized there was an entire market for people who needed to make extra cash from the comfort of their own homes.
After successfully pitching the idea to the partners at the marketing firm she worked for, they collaborated on turning this concept into a company.
What is Hampr?
Much like other convenience apps such as Uber, DoorDash, and Instacart, Hampr provides a service to those looking for a little help.
The personal laundry app customizes all of your laundry needs – from temperatures down to detergents.
Customers can choose whether their clothes are sorted by family member, color, detergent preference or even soil level.
Users just input all the details about their laundry into the app and a “washr” will wash each load according to their specifications.
Once they are finished, the washr will return them fresh, clean, and folded.
How it works
The company launched in 2020 and has over 10,000 users on its platform.
In total, 500 of them are called “washrs” which are contractors who pick up and wash clothes for Hampr members.
To start, you must download the free Hampr app, and choose your plan.
Customers have the option of two plans: hampr Lite or hampr Loaded.
Hampr Lite is pay-as-you-go. Lite users can utilize the service without an annual membership.
This plan allows you to use 13-gallon kitchen bags to place your order.
Just note that one bag is equal to one load and the cost per load depends on your market.
Hampr Loaded is a full membership that comes with four antimicrobial hampers, access to promo codes, and same-day orders where available.
The annual membership for this plan is $39 per year.
Once your plan is picked, users will then be given a welcome kit with four pop-up hampers, instructions, and QR codes.
You then load up your laundry, schedule your order, and a washr will pick up, wash, dry, fold or hang, and deliver your laundry within 24 hours or less.
How you can earn money too
According to Hampr, the company has over 500 washrs with their top earner averaging $2,000 in a four-week period.
In order to be eligible, hampr washrs must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be able to pass a general background check
- Have a valid US driver’s license and auto insurance
- Have access to a reliable vehicle
- Be able to lift 20-30 pounds
- Have an iPhone (iOS 10 or newer) or Android (5.1 or newer) smartphone
- Have a washing machine that is at least 4.2 cubic feet
Washrs are paid 70 percent of what Hampr charges per hampr/load.
Additionally, Hampr charges a service fee on orders of less than four loads with washrs receiving a portion of that fee.
Washrs get paid weekly with the money being deposited directly into your bank account by Friday.
Plus, washrs keep 100 percent of all tips.
As always, keep in mind that any extra income is taxable and must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
There are plenty of other laundry services too, simply search on Google to see what’s available in your area.
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