Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Shez on March 24, 2012, 12:17:48 am

Title: starting up
Post by: Shez on March 24, 2012, 12:17:48 am
hi guys lost my job..got some money put away and was thinking of starting a carpet cleaning business not sure if there is any money in this profession if yes how much cash will i need to start of please help :(
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Jim_77 on March 24, 2012, 12:54:05 am
No money in it, we're all broke :(

You'll need at least 50 grand
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Mike Halliday on March 24, 2012, 06:29:28 am
its Ok jJim he lives in  glasgow ;) ;)

10 grand should get you started, earning will depend on so many thing but i would think 20 grand in your 1st year with half of it being profit
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Shez on March 24, 2012, 09:45:30 am
Guys thanks for the advice appreciate it 8)
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Mike Halliday on March 24, 2012, 10:55:09 am
i wouldn't start cleaning ovens, if you want to start a company cleaning carpets & upholstery then concentrate on that.

old chinese proverb say..... man who chases 2 rabbits will catch neither

put your efforts into the one business and once that is going them look for other avenues to follow.

Plus oven cleaning is a low income business, from the prices I've seen and the amount of time it takes its not got the earning power of carpet cleaning.
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Steve Rothwell on March 24, 2012, 12:37:19 pm
Quote
old chinese proverb say..... man who chases 2 rabbits will catch neither

How about this for a bit of philosophy then ??   ;D ;D

(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1332592606_-philosophy-1321247150.jpg)
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Kinver_Clean on March 24, 2012, 12:46:42 pm
Almost anyone can clean carpets after a day's instruction.

It is the marketing which is important and trickiest. Always ask where the cust found you and keep a record so you can chop ineffective ads.

And you MUST keep proper accounts up to date. Once you get going see an accountant to see what he needs at the yearend.

Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Mike Halliday on March 24, 2012, 01:07:20 pm
 It's a cheaper business to set up and run, an oven cleaner plumber roofer garage etc..etc..etc..etc I know couldn't start carpet cleaning even if he wanted to, he is booked up solid all year round... How many carpet cleaners can (honestly) say the same thing...?

did he mention oven cleaning? he asked about carpet cleaning........... we could use your example for any other business but he wants to know about CC

 if we are offering alternatives then he would make more money pressure washing than oven cleaning...... I know a pressure washer who's booked all year, how many carpet cleaners can say that
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on March 24, 2012, 01:20:14 pm
I'd suspect that carpet cleaning can yield a better hourly rate than oven cleaning if you can get regular customers but carpet cleaning is a slower start up.

Shaun
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: heritagecleaning on March 24, 2012, 01:46:07 pm
It would be cheaper to start a business selling your bottom down the docks and you quickly pick up repeat work. £50 average per sailor and you can comfortably clear 3 or 4 a day.

 :o
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Mike Halliday on March 24, 2012, 01:47:01 pm
Colin, I'd delete that response as well as it makes you look stupid or at best a little bit childish
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Mike Halliday on March 24, 2012, 01:54:17 pm
I'm glad you took my advice and removed those daft posts, your reputation is already in the gutter no need to make your self look more stupid
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Colin Day on March 24, 2012, 01:55:12 pm
I'm glad you took my advice and removed those daft posts, your reputation is already in the gutter no need to make your self look more stupid

I'd expect a bit more from a mod... You're a disgrace!
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Colin Day on March 24, 2012, 01:56:39 pm
And while we're talking about reputation, I'm happy for you to explain on this open forum exactly what it is I have done wrong.

Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Mike Halliday on March 24, 2012, 02:00:21 pm
I'm just pointing out that your hastily written posts make you look daft, which you realise a bit later so then have the sense to delete them,

Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Colin Day on March 24, 2012, 02:03:40 pm
I'm just pointing out that your hastily written post make you look daft, which you realise a bit later so then have the sense to delete them,



No, you said my reputation is already in the gutter... Tell me exactly what you mean....

Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Colin Day on March 24, 2012, 02:05:24 pm
We all know what you're getting at, which makes you a very bad choice as a mod. Aren't you guys meant to be helpful, impartial and professional.... ???

Shaun, Ian and Doug seem to manage....
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Billy Russell on March 24, 2012, 02:08:15 pm
It would be cheaper to start a business selling your bottom down the docks and you quickly pick up repeat work. £50 average per sailor and you can comfortably clear 3 or 4 a day.

 :o

Ask Jim Neal, that was his first venture into business!!!! But now he's a carpet cleaner he just does this evenings and weekends!!!!!!

I hear he's quite good at upselling!!!!!!!!!!!

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: derek west on March 24, 2012, 02:26:15 pm
It would be cheaper to start a business selling your bottom down the docks and you quickly pick up repeat work. £50 average per sailor and you can comfortably clear 3 or 4 a day.

 :o
i'd get a training course first before you attempt anything like this, otherwise you'll make an ar5se of it. ;D
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Colin Day on March 24, 2012, 02:35:08 pm
It would be cheaper to start a business selling your bottom down the docks and you quickly pick up repeat work. £50 average per sailor and you can comfortably clear 3 or 4 a day.

 :o
i'd get a training course first before you attempt anything like this, otherwise you'll make an ar5se of it. ;D

You can make PILES of cash though ;D
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: heritagecleaning on March 24, 2012, 03:17:38 pm
I was going to add something about agitating then extracting, but I don't think we need to bring it down to that level  :-X
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Carpet Dawg on March 24, 2012, 07:04:35 pm
I'd invest in some anal bleaching products or a reducer like "Spray and Go" from Chemspec should do the trick. (if i was you)
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: jim mca on March 24, 2012, 10:07:02 pm
Shez

Take a look at restormate.co.uk if your are serious go and do the training and then go from there if you post your budget then you will get more help but marketing in glasgow for a new start could be very expensive really depends on your budget and how much you need to make per week.

Jim
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Ian Gourlay on March 25, 2012, 07:43:35 pm
You need to know marketing and realize there will be loads of competition

But you do need to seek out training and read the years of good advise on here.

If you read between the lines and go back years you will fine some succeed and do really well   others fail and actually end up with CCJs etc  so do be careful

I always advise look at other options from making cup cakes and having a stall in your local shopping centre , Silk Screen Printing for those who watch the apprentice. Chimney Sweeping  Ebay, etc the world is your oyster. I would read Duncan Bannatyne's Anyone Can do it  or Wake up and Change your Life , you will see there are loads of markets you could enter so be really sure you want to spend 5 years chatting to us
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Simon Gerrard on March 25, 2012, 08:05:35 pm
I think you've really got to do your homework if you're thinking of starting up in this economic climate. You also have to WANT to be a professional carpet cleaner and not just be attracted to it because it's a relatively cheap business to get into. All of the best carpet cleaners I've come across over the years are very passionate about what they do and spare no effort in building a successful business based on loyal customers, a completely different thing to just wanting to make a few quid.

Simon
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner on March 26, 2012, 01:44:26 pm
Shez,what Simon Gerrard and Ian Gurully have written is the best
Sound advice to date on this `thread` in my opinion anyway.
Certain areas of carpet / upholstery cleaning can be very lucrative
Others not so.
Experience as to what to take on and what jobs to walk away from
Will only come with experience.



Lewis  Doubtfire
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: clinton on March 26, 2012, 05:23:46 pm
Some good advice above shez..Took me a good few years to get established and after 20 years still going..

Some do make it and some dont as ian said..

Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Helen on March 27, 2012, 12:21:49 pm
I think you've really got to do your homework if you're thinking of starting up in this economic climate. You also have to WANT to be a professional carpet cleaner and not just be attracted to it because it's a relatively cheap business to get into. All of the best carpet cleaners I've come across over the years are very passionate about what they do and spare no effort in building a successful business based on loyal customers, a completely different thing to just wanting to make a few quid.

Simon

Sense at last! any new business set up in any industry in this economic climate, must have money behind them, loads of research and be serious to near obsession about it.
I don't think there are any "old timers" on here, that can say, they are doing exactly the same as 4 years ago and I mean financially and marketing/advertsing methods.
to the OP, if you really are serious and not just jumping at the first thing that comes along, then why not set up part time and try to get a part time job aswell. If you got a redundancy payout you really don't want to put it all in to something that may not work! :)
Title: Re: starting up
Post by: Richard Basey-Fisher on March 27, 2012, 03:43:18 pm
I am now into year 5 . when i started out i first did some training (NCCA ) then went away and researched how i was going to market my new venture.

IMO you need to have at least 6-12 months of personal expenses whatever that maybe in working capital carpet cleaning is not a get rich quick scheme it takes time to build up a database of clients. Now i am in year 5 i amnow making a decent living but i tell you it was a struggle at times to get there.

problem is looking from the outside in carpet cleaning looks like an easy business to start .  Cleaning the carpets is the easy bit  , getting the phone to ring and selling your services is the real battle.

I would say most cc business s that fail early on is because they have little or no working capital to see them through the early stages.

Mind you in saying all that if i asked myself the question would i want to start cc now my answer would be no as although i myself am doing well this is from repeat and recom clients not from new customers as these are becoming harder to find