Most teenagers don’t like to do laundry. But Cory Perlson, 19, does about 1,000 pounds of it every day.

The communications sophomore at the University of Arizona, with three UA students as partners, started AZ Laundry two months ago. It provides laundry, folding, and dry cleaning services for the UA community. They are seeing rapid growth.

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"I figured if I could get 30 people to sign up for the service, it would be like having a part-time job," Perlson said. "When we quickly climbed over 100 orders I knew we had something."

It didn’t happen by chance though; Perlson and his partners, Turner Binkley, Phil Lauterbach and Stephen Goldstein did their homework.

All wanted to start a business of their own but couldn’t think of a business they could start on campus. At the same time, Perlson’s laundry was building up in his dorm room in the Coronado residence hall.

"I didn’t like using the dorm facilities for my laundry," he said. "But I didn’t have a car to drive to a laundromat either. Then I thought about how many freshmen didn’t have cars either and we realized there was not a pick-up/delivery laundry service on campus."

Over the next few months, the group ironed out some particulars of how the business would be run. Perlson went to a dry cleaning and laundry convention in Las Vegas. Then the partners attended each of the new student orientations at the UA. They gave away T-shirts and pens. Finally, they had 30 volunteers promote the business during freshman move-in week to spread the word and begin taking orders.

Students are able to buy various plans, by the half-semester plans, whole semester, all year long or pay per-wash.

"The pay-per-wash is a way for people to see what the service is like before signing up for a plan," Perlson said.

Within two months of taking orders, Perlson bought a 14-foot box truck for pick-up and delivery and AZ Laundry had amassed more than 220 clients, averaging 1,000 pounds of laundry every day. And they have a 24-hour turnaround.

The unexpected jump in volume made Perlson realize the business needed a place of it’s own.

AZ Laundry signed an agreement with Sparkle Cleaners and now resides in the back of the local chain’s store at 2643 N. Campbell Ave.

In this spot Perlson has a 150 pound washer, a 150 pound dryer, two 35 pound commercial dryers and four employees he hired after putting an ad on craigslist.com.

"It is just amazing to me how far we’ve come in less than one year," Perlson said. "And to think that we did this ourselves is just amazing. Most people work for years to build something of their own. I’m still just 19."

Lauterbach, 19, a business accounting major at the UA helps keep the finances in order.

"I like the challenge of it, it is a good business," Lauterbach said. "It has been great to see the overlap from the classroom to the business. I can ask my professors questions and I have really been able to put what I learn to practical use."

A key to success has been keeping the customer happy.

"When it comes to laundry that means be quick, fold it nicely and don’t lose anything," Perlson said.

To keep track of everything each client is given two bags, one for dry cleaning and one for laundry. Each bag has an individual barcode. When the bags come in, they are scanned and weighed. The weight is deducted automatically from the plan the client has. Each load is separated for lights and darks and washed individually, then folded individually and put back into the washed bags and is ready for delivery that night.

"I’m enjoying it," Lauterbach said. "It is a fast, easy and convenient service to college students. They have a lot on their mind as it is, so one less thing for them to think about and spend time on is great."

"We also have many disabled clients who can’t do laundry on their own," Perlson said. "It is a great service we provide."

When it comes to the laundry business, Perlson has it in his genes. His father and grandfather were both in the business.

"My dad has a 70,000 square foot laundry and dry cleaning business back in New York," he said. "Whether or not he really wanted me to follow in his footsteps, here I go."

Perlson’s father came out to visit recently, and according to Perlson was impressed with what his son had put together.

"That means a lot to me," Perlson said.

While Perlson has taken some business classes, he is fairly pleased with what he has helped put together.

"Business classes are good," he said. "They can show me how to balance my business finances, how to manage my business and how to market it, and all that is important. But they can’t teach desire. They can’t teach dedication to what you are doing. It has to be a part of you."

That dedication is causing Perlson and his group to look outside of Tucson for expansion.

"We are already in the process of starting a new operation in ASU and even some Southern California schools," Perlson said. "I am actually heading out to California in the next few weeks to look at starting one there. Then we would have our headquarters here in Tucson."

The sight of so much potential has spurred interest from outside investors.

"I have had many people call me up and asking to buy my business," Perlson said.

This could lead to a rise in competitors for AZ Laundry, but the group isn’t worried so much about it.

"As long as we keep giving top quality service and support to our customers, they will keep giving us business," Perlson said. "It is hard to compete with a company that runs so smoothly."

Part of running smoothly is Perlson’s belief – the ship doesn’t run without the captain. He spends around 70 hours a week working on his business.

"It’s a little hard to live up to your parents standards for school and my standards for this," he said. "I am definitely not making straight As right now."

Perlson has every intention of completing school, but it doesn’t hurt to have a growing and expanding business established at graduation.

"The best thing is, I have no regrets about anything we do," he said. "I know that I am delivering a needed service, at a good price and I am taking care of my customers. Make your customers happy and you will be happy."

A simple business truth that really works.