Research the possibilities. Before spending your advertising budget, consider where your advertising will do the most good. Since dry cleaning is a local retail business, find local publications or advertising possibilities that will best get your name in front of your customers.

Pick one conventional advertising venue and stick to it. The idea is to train your customer to see your ad repeatedly. Run a weekly newspaper ad in the same space each month. Insert a coupon into local coupon promoters' monthly mailing. Consistency is key here.

Supplement your conventional advertising with creative local solutions. Consider advertising in church bulletins, on bus stop billboards or on shopping carts in a local market. You can connect directly to local customes at a much lower cost than traditional advertising.

Create an online presence. More and more, people turn to the Internet to find information about local businesses. Your website needs to be informative, not necessarily elaborate or expensive. If you aren't sure where to start, Intuit (the company that makes Quicken and Quickbooks) offers very inexpensive website design and hosting services that can give you an online presence within hours.

Send holiday greeting cards. This is a great way to personalize your service while cutting through the junk mail glut. Pick three or four holidays spread throughout the calendar (Valentines Day, Fourth of July, Halloween, Christmas, for instance) and send out cards thanking customers for their business. Give the card a personal signature and include a coupon if you like.

When your clients are in your shop, gently remind them of the excellent service you're providing. You're not just cleaning clothes, you're a cleaning expert that makes sure the whites are white and the colors bright. You give their clothes straight pleats and an even, crisp finish. Your expertise helps their expensive clothes last longer. The point is to develop a dialog with clients that leaves them feeling good about the service you provide.

Keep existing customers happy. Your existing clients are not only your best source of business, they are your best source for growing your business. Greet your customers by name and with a smile. Create a "many happy returns" card that gives free cleaning for a certain amount of business. Send coupons and cleaning tips to customers who give you're their contact info. And ask people to refer their friends. Simply asking for referrals is an easy and surprisingly effective way to grow your business.