Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Phil @ Extreme Clean on February 07, 2013, 10:23:26 pm
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Well been thinking of selling the lot and trying a new approach what do you think i could get for my setup.
Van Sign written (i'l be changing my name)
Full DF setup
Gutter Vacuum Setup with ladders also van sign written on back doors for this.
Also website added with it.
only thing to change contact details and phone numbers
what could i realistacally expect to get for the lot ?
Thanks Phil.
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Phil,
I'll give you fifty quid ;D
What are you on to?
Simon
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If you've got a good database of customers and a good reputation then you're selling a business.
If not, you're selling your gear.
How much do you think it's worth?
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Well that's the wheel trims sold Thanks Simon. Now how much for the rest lol and not onto anything just thinking of a fresh start New name New way of doing things iv'e got nothing to lose so come on Simon how much would you price my vans worth about 3kish full DF setup 3000w Gutter vac Setup and sign written with website ???? :)
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If you've got a good database of customers and a good reputation then you're selling a business.
If not, you're selling your gear.
How much do you think it's worth?
Yes Ash just selling all the gear ready to go mate.
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Phil, sorry mate, it's worth next to nowt, you are the business, if someone is interested they would want to look at your books and at £20 a room your stuffed.
Stick with what you've got and start earning a better that average wage.
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Simon not selling as a ready made business, selling as everything ready to go to make your own business :)
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Phil,
I'll give you fifty quid ;D
What are you on to?
Simon
I think you should take my Van for your Rust bucket with that big heavy engine thingy in the back ;D
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A DF machine did not even go for £500 on Ebay not so long ago!
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sell the van seperate, take off the signage. Is the van in good condtion? if so, keep it! Why sell to buy another!?
Sell the df on here or ebay and sell it seperate from the van. Is the DF system in good condtion? did you buy it new? I think you can get a good price for this.
Why change the name? Have you had many complaints?
If I where you i'd take a breather away from carpet cleaning for a month. If you can afford it. (maybe get a temp job??) Sell the df system in the meantime.
Get 20,000 flyers made. (search on here for tips on high converting leaflets). Search online every night (spend least time as possible on here) for businesses that need carpet cleaners, copy down the emails, telephone number and addresses of these people. Get a new website made, get rid of the cheap prices on it. Buy a hwe machine, doesn't have to be fancy. Get a 2nd hand steamPro or something. Just make sure its in full working order etc.
Then spend your days door knocking and leaflet dropping. Do this as a job, from 9 till 5. When your not dropping leaflets you should be door knocking and when your not doing those two you should be sending out letters.
With ever customer you get, put thier details on database and market to them few times a year. Give each new customer 3 or more business cards, leave them overshoes etc etc
starting from scratch again is a pain, getting a new van, new signage, new website, new trading name etc
You just need a new way of thinking and hot water extraction machine!
Take action now. Action is power. You could spend the next 2 years asking questions on here, you'll only learn by doing.
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Swop your kit for some powerwashing equipment and become zstremeclean drive & patio cleaners.
Powerwashing will give you a better income and their is less Competition & less price objections, I'm cleaning a drive next Wednesday for £220 they decided not to have the living room clean as they thought £70 was too much money.
Trust me this is the best advice you will receive, the powerwashing season will start in a month or so. You can even save some money and go back into carpet cleaning in sept
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Phil,
I don't think you've thought this through properly. You already have the basis for a good business, why tear it all up to start all over again?
Your core problem is you are trying to apply an LM system to the general carpet cleaning market where you're not getting the results and so can't build a loyal customer base and so are permanently skint and have no money to invest in better equipment. Your website is on page one in Fleetwood and if it said the right things would get you business. Another problem is that you bought DF instead of choosing it - the difference being that if you chose it you would know its limitations and point your business towards the market it applies to, instead of the general market in which you can't really compete.
Instead of selling everything, why not address the issues that are holding you back?
Simon
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if you own everything out right then what about a loan to give you a push
lets say £5k over 5 years to ease the repayment burden. £80 a month plus interest,
second hand HWE, (you've got agitation with the df) £1500
new improved website with some serious SEO £500
£55 ticket to the TACCA training day ;D
that leaves you £2945 to spend wisely on advertising and riding the storm.
don't take this approach lightly though and make sure you do everything in your spare time to push for work. i think that's what i'd do if in your situation,
and if its no better you should be able to sell up and pay the loan back.
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I must say Phil...
(can't believe this....) I agree with Simon.. :o :o
You have the makings of a specialist cleaning company... I only do LM and have not got DF... I make a good living, promoting the fact that it only takes 1 hour to dry, and I do not pump gallons and gallons of water into the customers carpets.. It is quieter, quicker, and more eco friendly..
I charge more than I ever did using HWE, and get lots of repeat business... I only used Solutions products for years, but have now tried and like Environ (thank You Paul Moss ;D ).
So rebrand if you must, but stop using the DF products and get some other ones and brand yourself as LOW MOISTURE - QUICK DRY.... etc
just a thought mate.
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Cheers for all the advice And Mike i am adding pressure washing to my business along with hard floor cleaning and gutter vacking. I done drives last year with a lad who's dad set him up it was great except stopping and starting cause the machine used the water quicker than it filled the tank lol.
Also i want to go the HWE route and change the whole way i work and my DF is on Ebay at the moment with all the trimmings haha so someone buy it PLZ. ;D
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Phil,
But if you sell your gear you're out of business anyway and can't serve anyone who comes along in the meantime. ???
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I'l be buying different setup Simon and Derek that is a good Idea but i don't think i would get a loan off anyone. ;D
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You won't sell it at that price, no chance, might as well buy a new setup.
Also this on ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dry-Fusion-Machine-all-you-need-for-Dry-Carpet-Cleaning-business-/181075292472?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a28edb138
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carpet-Cleaning-Machine-Full-Dry-Fusion-Setup-/281059456694?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item417072f6b6
If you get anywhere near 2 grand for it i will bare my hairy arse at the top of Blackpool tower. 8)
Also in the first photo, it looks suspiciously like there is a HWE wand or upholstery tool .... mmmm,
unless it's my eyes. ;D
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If you read it says the Machine only 3 year old, 20 pads, restore Brush, Aquarius pro valet spotter sebo bs36 chems alot of extras there.
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Phil,
It just looks like a battered old machine with some accessories, you won't get anything like £2k for it, not when there are good looking DF machines on the market for a grand less.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dry-Fusion-Machine-all-you-need-for-Dry-Carpet-Cleaning-business-/181075292472?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a28edb138
Simon
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thats Been hammerited i know cause i know who swapped it him it's exactly the same as mine it was owned by the same person i bought mine from and then mine comes with all the accessories ;D
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Good luck to you, i hope you get what you want for it, if there is any justice you should, but the market dose not work like at the moment, the price you paid new for it makes no difference on what people will pay for a used machine, you can get some amazing bargains on Ebay at the moment. Like i've said, i have seen one on Ebay for £500 not so long ago and it did not sell and it looked in better condtion than yours.
I bought this low speed rotary for £60 not long ago -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140898781340?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
Why would i need to spend all that money, when i get a rotary so cheap on Ebay!
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'and then mine comes with all the accessories'
which looks like a pile of junk in comparison to the other guy's which is a grand cheaper!!!!
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Well maybe the loan route is the way to go all though i don't think i have a good enough credit rating anyone recommend a company Cheap interest ?
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Swop your kit for some powerwashing equipment and become zstremeclean drive & patio cleaners.
Powerwashing will give you a better income and their is less Competition & less price objections, I'm cleaning a drive next Wednesday for £220 they decided not to have the living room clean as they thought £70 was too much money.
Trust me this is the best advice you will receive, the powerwashing season will start in a month or so. You can even save some money and go back into carpet cleaning in sept
That may soon change #shootmyselfinfoot
;D
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Well maybe the loan route is the way to go all though i don't think i have a good enough credit rating anyone recommend a company Cheap interest ?
Phil,
No point in re-financing until you've got a clear idea of where you are going and have solved some of the basic issues that are holding you back, otherwise you'll be in exactly the same situation a few months down the line, only this time up to your neck in debt.
Simon
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Re-finacing will give me funds to market and advertise thats really what i need decent website decent seo and in local papers etc NO FUNDS NO ADVERTISING, NO ADVERTISING NO FUNDS!!!!! it's a big circle.
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Phil,
You're already at the top of page one, the problem with your site is what it says, solve that problem, which would cost you nothing and you might start getting more enquiries. If you went out leafleting all day every day, you would get work at very little cost. Your problems revolve around not looking at the problems you've got and trying to solve them by identifying them and making changes to how you perceive and do things within your business.
Simon
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To go out leafleting all day every day,that’s work you don`t get
Paid for. :-\How many jobs would that bring in over a period of say
3 months ???.Nobody knows that I know.To be page 1 on google and
Wait for the phone to ring.Which is the best option ?
Apologies if this `thread`is going now off topic.
Lewis Doubtfire
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Phil,
Simon and Hector make some very valid points. You need to find jobs that suit your kit. I've got HWE stuff but I'd be barmy to chase cruise ship work because I don't have a set up like Simon's.
I've been using DF since 2002 but I don't make a fuss about the name because customers don't give a toss. All they care about is the result.
Pretty much everything in this world is bought through emotion, not logic. If you compare your site to my "correct-office" one in my signature you'll see two very different approaches - yet we are using exactly the same kit.
You are telling people all about you kit and I'm telling them how fantastic their carpets will look.
You already have the set up to earn a decent amount of money - if as Hector suggests, you find the right niche.
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Creighton Foyle I'm sure does lm or dry cleaning I'm sure because of the usp he does well from it.
Shaun
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Gary,
Nice website and I'll bet it brings in the business?
I think Phil would do well to research other df and LM users sites and see how they go about marketing the same type of service. Even better if he went out for a day with an experience lm'er so he can improve on his quality.
Simon
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Well maybe the loan route is the way to go all though i don't think i have a good enough credit rating anyone recommend a company Cheap interest ?
Solutions will lease you a HWE machine, I suspect others would too.
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Thanks Simon.
It did until it got whacked by Penguin.
It was built purely to push low moisture cleaning in the same way that Hector does.
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You need a day with hector hell show you how to market, one guy I'd love to show me how to lm properly.
Shaun
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Yes I love your site as well Garry, has it rose back up the rankings again yet?
Shaun
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Yes that is a good site but i have a free site and no money for a professionally made one so i have to go with what iv'e got.
How would i go about leasing and what is the cost etc or should i just wait and keep plugging away.
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Phil,
You already have a workable system, why spend yet more money on another one when your core problem is marketing and that won't change even if you changed systems and won't until you focus on it as a priority.
Think of marketing as the spokes in wheel that all feed into a hub in the centre - sales. You appear to have very few spokes in your marketing wheel and so low sales. You're not on Google maps / places, your site doesn't rank well in surrounding towns and doesn't 'speak' to your potential customers.
You don't need a new site, you need to make it work harder for you, increase keywords, remove the section knocking hwse (because it puts people off) register with as many free online directories as you can, remove your prices, (because it removes the need for them to call you) then double them and go out and do a survey for every job.
Compile email lists of potential commercial customers and email them with well written and focused material.
Go out leafleting, houses, supermarket car parks, football sports event car parks.
Each of these things and there are many more cost you nothing and just require your time and commitment. If you spend all day, every day marketing your business with your existing system you will get work.
You also need to work on the df system and try different chemicals and techniques to squeeze every ounce of performance from it so that you improve quality and thereby increase customer retention which is a vital another spoke in your marketing wheel.. Each time you go back to a customer, or they recommend you, it costs you nothing.
Do these things and with the money from the extra sales, re-invest it in better equipment.
Not 'simples' but certainly 'doable.'
Simon
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1360353045_wot e sed.gif)
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Phil,
You're already at the top of page one, the problem with your site is what it says, solve that problem, which would cost you nothing and you might start getting more enquiries. If you went out leafleting all day every day, you would get work at very little cost. Your problems revolve around not looking at the problems you've got and trying to solve them by identifying them and making changes to how you perceive and do things within your business.
Simon
We both know that trudging the streets with leaflets is not going to produce the fruit. It has to be done on a truly massive scale to keep a one man band relatively busy.
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Yes, but it is a whole lot better than sitting on your arse waiting for the phone to ring and spending the day moaning about how little work you've got.
Simon
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I disagree. The time your out doing this fruitless task your not earning one single penny for your time. If you are lucky enough to get a job that has to cover the cost of not only doing the job but the waste of a day finding it.
He and new starters would be more wealthy if they worked in supermarkets.
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He and new starters would be more wealthy if they worked in supermarkets.
And building a client base slowly but surely, and getting referrals etc..
Try to talk sense Blacky ;)
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I'm not good at the nitty gritty side keeping lists finding commercial contacts letters etc i'm better on the job grafting and as for doubling my prices i don't think that is the answer i did 2 bedrooms today £24 each i even knocked off £3 so £45 the 2 took me an hour that to me is good money especially in my area.
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I'm not good at the nitty gritty side keeping lists finding commercial contacts letters etc i'm better on the job grafting and as for doubling my prices i don't think that is the answer i did 2 bedrooms today £24 each i even knocked off £3 so £45 the 2 took me an hour that to me is good money especially in my area.
Well then you're wasting your time in this business because you've got to be good at so many things, especially the the things you don't like doing.
Simon
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Why knock off £3?
That's your petrol money (or part of it)
Shaun
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You keep rattling on about not getting prices in your area. So travel a little, surely there's a richer area within a few miles. BUT in my experience the richer they are the less they want to pay!
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Phil,
At the very least try something new. Take your prices off your website so that people have to call you for a price and get it out of your head that price is the only reason people book you, trust me, it is not. Make your home page more appealing by researching other people's site who do df and see if you can generate more calls. Progress is about change and trial and error. If you do nothing, nothing will change and youll be in the same situation in a years time.
Simon
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Simon,your advice to Phil is absolutely `spot on`.
This `thread`has been as good as any day spent
At a marketing and advertising course.
Phil`s always had problems on this `score`.
I personally think Phil has`nt got what it takes thru`
Perhaps no fault of his own.
I think he`s as well out of it if whats being written
Is anything to go by.
Lewis Doubtfire
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Thanks for all advice gonna have a play with my website today doe's anybody have a survey form i could use or were i could get from Thankyou.
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As i have said before, you are in a gold mine of an area when it comes to carpet cleaning.
I have just searched " carpet cleaning fleetwood " and you are at the top of google on page one as Simon mentions, but their is one problem.
You are not showing on page one on the local places listing, looking at who is there, most of them are based in Blackpool ect. There is no one from fleetwood on A to G, you could easily get on the A listing if you got your local listing sorted out. Have you registered your local places business listing??? ..... It does not look like it, i can't find you anywhere when i search you on maps!!! You NEED to sort this out, go to https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=lbc&continue=https://www.google.com/local/add%3Fservice%3Dlbc
If you do this, i GUARANTEE you will get more calls, a lot more, customers are far more likley to call you if your address is showing, especially as you should be the only one with a Fleetwood address. If you do this you will also have two listings on page one of google, i have three listings on the first page of google for my favourite keyphrase search term.
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Thanks for all advice gonna have a play with my website today doe's anybody have a survey form i could use or were i could get from Thankyou.
Take note of what Gary said in his post which I thought was excellent.
Pretty much everything in this world is bought through emotion, not logic. If you compare your site to my "correct-office" one in my signature you'll see two very different approaches - yet we are using exactly the same kit.
You are telling people all about you kit and I'm telling them how fantastic their carpets will look.
Simon
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I know it's not a DF but this therma-dry kit may make you re-think on the price ect of yours -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CARPET-CLEANING-SYSTEM-CRAFTEX-THERMADRY-/261167372190?pt=UK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA&hash=item3ccec9d79e
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As i have said before, you are in a gold mine of an area when it comes to carpet cleaning.
I have just searched " carpet cleaning fleetwood " and you are at the top of google on page one as Simon mentions, but their is one problem.
You are not showing on page one on the local places listing, looking at who is there, most of them are based in Blackpool ect. There is no one from fleetwood on A to G, you could easily get on the A listing if you got your local listing sorted out. Have you registered your local places business listing??? ..... It does not look like it, i can't find you anywhere when i search you on maps!!! You NEED to sort this out, go to https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=lbc&continue=https://www.google.com/local/add%3Fservice%3Dlbc
If you do this, i GUARANTEE you will get more calls, a lot more, customers are far more likley to call you if your address is showing, especially as you should be the only one with a Fleetwood address. If you do this you will also have two listings on page one of google, i have three listings on the first page of google for my favourite keyphrase search term.
I think i did this before i got a card and entered the number they told me too if thats the correct thing you mean ?
i have just setup again allthough i don't know how to add my business ?
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Yes, that's what i mean, some times it takes a while for them to verify it for you, it will probably say pending in your google account. Give it a few weeks, if it's still not working i will help you out with it.
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Simon,your advice to Phil is absolutely `spot on`.
This `thread`has been as good as any day spent
At a marketing and advertising course.
Phil`s always had problems on this `score`.
I personally think Phil has`nt got what it takes thru`
Perhaps no fault of his own.
I think he`s as well out of it if whats being written
Is anything to go by.
Lewis, Phil is at least ten times better than me when I started.
I genuinely used to feel physically sick when I had to try and get business (I came from a local gov't background and had never sold anything in
my life).
People on here are quick to suggest carpet cleaning training but the same applies to marketing training. I was lucky enough to meet David Jenkins of Fastrack fame, who convinced me that I could be a marketer if I really wanted.
I have well over a hundred copywriting / marketing books (which I have read). I was taught a few things by (allegedly) the UK's highest paid copywriter. I also spent a small fortune on internet marketing training with a top American marketer (much of which is now obsolete). In all, I reckon I have done the equivalent of two degrees in my spare time.
My point is that If I can do it anyone can. I've gone from having a horrible knotted feeling in my stomach just thinking about marketing to really enjoying it.
Phil, try these (buy as a pair on Amazon)..... "The Ultimate Marketing Plan" and "The Ultimate Sales Letter" by Dan Kennedy.
When you have finished those get "How to Sell at Prices Higher Than Your Competitors: The Complete Book on How to Make Your Prices Stick" by Larry Steinmetz
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You actually should be operating on the other end of the spectrum by being good at keeping statistics and that nitty gritty stuff first and foremost... and then do the graft on the back end of that effort.
What you need is a partner who is good at that and you do the graft
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The point about putting out your own leaflets when you are not busy is you can test leaflet and diffrent areas.
When you find what works you can then think best way to distribute in Mass
company , or organize helpers yourself see thread on leaflet distribution.
I think Sales is one of those things some can some can not. Yes you can suceed at from anybackground , You can Half suceed or you are completley useless.
Very few people become top Salespeople in Direct Selling most leave unless they are out to con the public with dubious offeres and preasure
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Yes, that's what i mean, some times it takes a while for them to verify it for you, it will probably say pending in your google account. Give it a few weeks, if it's still not working i will help you out with it.
[/quote
I got that card and registered last year ???
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You actually should be operating on the other end of the spectrum by being good at keeping statistics and that nitty gritty stuff first and foremost... and then do the graft on the back end of that effort.
What you need is a partner who is good at that and you do the graft
Thats exactly what i need allthough no one will without a wage to start my dad was offered as he got made redundant he was a manager for the council so ideal on the phone and meetings etc but he needs to earn money so got a job instead of helping me build up then earning with me >:(
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Garry,like yourself Phil was also 10 or perhaps 20 times better
Than me when I also started.Experience is your best and biggest
Teacher.Phil`s been like this now for ages,he dos`nt seem to be
Moving along anywhere at all.I think it`s possibly a self confidence
`thing`.There again if ya`ve no finance to invest,enough said.
Phil,with all the hotels,pubs,guest houses around your way,the levels
Of soilsage ya get and encounter,ya do need I would say nothing
Less than a 10 or 12 gallon inject / recovery HWE set up with the
Hand tools,accessories etc.Vaccing,and rotary on it`s own `won`t cut it`.
Truck mounts were nearly unheard of in this country when I started.
In fact they were.A truck mount we know is `out of your league`.as
It is with a lot of us.
Phil,I agree,Blackpool,Fleetwood and most surrounding areas are broken
Down dumps.I like Blackpool,but stay North shore.
Last summer in one edition of the Blackpool Gazzette there was a photo
Of the full council,meeting to clear the travellers and `druggies`,and street
Walkers of the night and day problem.Any improvement yet at all?
What Simon and others are saying is,your in a good position for marketing
And advertising.Ya can read all the books ya like that are out there,,,
It`s having what it takes.
There`s an old saying,,,,,,,,,,,,,You can take a horse to water,but you can`t make
It drink.
Lewis Doubtfire
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Phil
Have you knocked any doors and asked if they would like a quote for gutter cleaning build up your sales confidence this way and then target commercials The first door is the hardest door but you need to learn a few closes e.g. how does that sound after you give your price then say nothing until the custy has answered
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I think you need to remember February is not the time to make harsh decisions, a lot of carpet cleaners are suffering a slow spell, it always happens. Things can look a bit bleak and you can start think that some thing needs to change but nothing you do will effect that a smaller amount of people want their carpets cleaned.
You can try harder to find those elusive people who do want our services but if all the other carpet cleaners in you area are upping their marketing you will still be onto a losing battle.
I had coffee yesterday with 2 carpet cleaners. 1 has been on the go 20yrs the other 12yrs . The 12 yrs has just applied for housing benefit and the 20yr guy has had the worst start to the year he has ever remembered..... He was asking the other guy how to apply for benefits :-\
Things will get better.
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You actually should be operating on the other end of the spectrum by being good at keeping statistics and that nitty gritty stuff first and foremost... and then do the graft on the back end of that effort.
What you need is a partner who is good at that and you do the graft
That's exactly what i need although no one will without a wage to start my dad was offered as he got made redundant he was a manager for the council so ideal on the phone and meetings etc but he needs to earn money so got a job instead of helping me build up then earning with me >:(
Phil,
The last thing you need is a partner, or any extra overheads. What you might not realise is that we have all gone through this massive learning curve to become not just good carpet cleaners, but competent business people. That requires the wearing of many hats and the learning of many skills, book keeper, marketing manager, salesperson, public relations manager etc. Most of all you have to become your own fiercest critic and yes, give yourself a good old pat on the back when you do something that moves your business forward, but you also need to have a constant eye on what still needs to be done and never think you cannot do it, because you can, but only when you try. The things that challenge you at the moment may seem daunting but only because at present you don't have the skills to overcome them, so take those challenges on, learn about marketing, websites, take DF and hone it to perfection, discipline yourself to spend every day when your not work learning then applying those new skills and sooner than you think the things you thought you couldn't do will just become a way of life.
So much about becoming successful is about how much you want it and what you are prepared to do to get it and it is in these moments when success seems so far away that you must dig deep and rise to the challenge. And when you meet with success, and you will if you work hard enough and believe in yourself sufficiently, then you will look back upon these days of hardship with a great deal of satisfaction, know that you took on the challenges and beat them.
The good news is that you are not alone. The great thing about forums is that there is always someone on hand to help with even the most obscure of questions. Case in point from Deep Clean Solutions:
Yes, that's what i mean, some times it takes a while for them to verify it for you, it will probably say pending in your google account. Give it a few weeks, if it's still not working i will help you out with it.
Simon
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Hi Guys
Lots of sensible suggestions.
What struck me is how you still struggle to justify charging prices which reflect running a business.
I would imagine you were previously earning £10 an hour and think getting £25 for carpet cleaning is excessive, but elsewhere you indicate that you are really struggling, so you are probably earning £5 an hour. I aim to take £80 to £100 per hour but do not earn £4000 a week.
What we take is not our earnings, anymore than the newsagent keeps all the money he is given. It is the start of the chain, not the end.
Cheers
Doug
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Cheap pricing is the cause of so many carpet cleaners woe's. I started in 1994 and was charging £12 a carpet. The phone never rang so I lowered it to £8. The phone still didn't ring. I met some one who called me a stupid T*** and immediately put my price up to £35 a carpet and I never looked back. The money I then started to earn enabled me to invest in other areas and 18 years later I am still here.
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And that was in Newcastle a supposedly "poor" area.
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Hello......you don't know poor ;D
Bob cratchit
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Cheap pricing is the cause of so many carpet cleaners woe's. I started in 1994 and was charging £12 a carpet. The phone never rang so I lowered it to £8. The phone still didn't ring. I met some one who called me a stupid T*** and immediately put my price up to £35 a carpet and I never looked back. The money I then started to earn enabled me to invest in other areas and 18 years later I am still here.
Completely agree, there seems to be a race to the bottom.
Prices on websites is a bad idea, in my opinion it encourages price shopping, customers dont even need to call they will use those prices as a reference, they see right this guys charging £50 a lounge then they'll spend an hour looking at websites see how much they can beat that by.
Arent the cheap c/c'ers just relying on more espensive c/c'ers not to be so stupid as to lower their prices to compete?
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Quite a few years ago I was rushing around chasing my tail and not making much money.
I then more than doubled my prices and found I was making a lot more cash, also working sensible hours. The other benefit was that most of my custs were from nicer homes with very few really mucky carpets. And the tea/coffee was much better.
I have put my prices up every year since and have very little resistance to it.
You need to be taking at least £50 absolute minimum per hour. By the time you have paid tax, van expenses etc etc you will put less than 1/2 in your pocket.
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Hi Phil
I feel for you - it's hard to know sometimes where to go and you can end up like a rabbit staring at the headlights frozen completely. I agree with all that has been said but would add a couple of points:
Think of your strengths rather than your weaknesses. You are top ranked on Google for Fleetwood, so take the prices off the website and then deal with the enquiries when they come in. I ALWAYS go to the clients home and chat with them and do a dye test etc. Not so much for my benefit but so that they can see that you are the consummate professional. It takes a bit of courage to ask for the price and then let the power of silence come in to play. You can give the price, wait a few seconds and then say something like "so how does that sound? or " I can come and clean the carpet next Wednesday Morning at 9.30; would that be a convenient time for you?"
Also I know that people want a job done cheaply but they want the job done properly so if it is too cheap they know deep down inside that alarm bells will ring inside their head. Bear that in mind. Last week I got the job @£200 and the other guy had quoted £135. How did I get it..because I was in their lounge and all I said was "Has the other guy been out to see exactly what is involved?"
For Commercial jobs it's probably a bit trickier and others will be more experienced than me as where to pitch the price. However write out your script on a piece of paper then put it into bullet points to have to hand. Call a few and offer them a demonstration clean of a test area. When you are there it's not selling just passing on information enthusiastically. You know your DF so tell them! Don't remove a stain just remove half of it.
It's tough out there and I am like you in my second year and still only part time. I think it takes about 5 years to get the business up to critical mass when your repeats come in and the referrals come in and there is enough to keep you busy most of the week. I think that you end up feeling a failure because everyone else seems successful at this game, but remember many of the people have been in business more than the five years..............that is why there are plenty of people who read the posts and never chip in because they are in the same boat as you..and me!!!
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Good post Tony.
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Except that I would say that there are not many CC who will ever reach critical mass...you constantly have to work at it...
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Just listned to a little bit on the Free Audio Section of the Cleaners Pro Network about why cleaners fail. Its Two hours so have not listned to it all.
But 30% of carpet cleaners fail in first year. Why because its easy entry , 2 Cost Of Advertising.
Then the is E myth most guys prefer the technical get trained in that etc but do not come from backgrounds of running a business. two completley diffrent skills.
Could be why someone like Derek West apears to be OK as he came from a Market background
I will devote some more time later but I keep trolling internet nd have come across hours of stuff by loads of gurus of the type Gary 22 mentioned and although I am still in recovery mode have ot got the time as I need to organise my reluanch/
Also in same section 2 hours on dealing with Pet Odours etc
By Scott Warrington
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Ian.
Looking through hours of stuff can be daunting and it's difficult to know what is good or bad advice.
The reason I mentioned the two Dan Kennedy books are that they are simple to read / understand and the information can be put into action immediately.
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Ian.
Looking through hours of stuff can be daunting and it's difficult to know what is good or bad advice.
The reason I mentioned the two Dan Kennedy books are that they are simple to read / understand and the information can be put into action immediately.
I ordered the 2 books you recommended the other day, i think i only payed 17p for one of them used ;D
thanks
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Phil I take all back what I wrote.Stick at it.Take up Simons offer.
Seasons soon here now in Blackpool.
Glad you’ve got HWE.
Best of luck.
Lewis Doubtfire