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UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Luc on June 02, 2013, 01:56:11 pm

Title: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Luc on June 02, 2013, 01:56:11 pm
Im keeping busy with just cleaning carpets but im thinking of branching into other areas, adding more  strings to my bow. Im thinking of doing a leather restoration course and also a hard floor course. Im also looking into buying a new rotary system for lm cleaning.
If you guys dont mind me asking what other areas  apart from carpet cleaning have you guys succesfully added to your business that have been profitable .
Im happy with what im doing but im looking at other areas that I can make money and providing more of a service to my existing customers.

Many thanks
Luc
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: derek west on June 02, 2013, 06:37:05 pm
I'm considering ovens. i just can't seem to find more carpets to clean. frustrating cos i love cleaning carpets and would rather do that all day than any other add on.

seen a company that does training and equipment as a full package, only problem i have is room in my van.


Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Len Gribble on June 02, 2013, 07:01:27 pm
Gardening green thumbs get a fortune out of me and very little equipment  :o >:(
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: bennymon on June 02, 2013, 07:03:40 pm
Same as Derek I quite like carpet cleaning so to top it up  I have a mate who does oven cleaning I do the advertising and take a cut . I get more calls for ovens than carpets  now . ;) del
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: creighton foyle on June 02, 2013, 07:26:40 pm
whats the company Derek ?.

 the training I have seen advertised in the past for oven cleaning always seemed very expensive compared to carpet cleaning training.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Carpet Dawg on June 02, 2013, 07:41:03 pm
Oven cleaning courses are over priced IMO.

Do a search for Colin Day's post where he pretty much outlined, step by step how he cleans ovens. Think he used very easy to find products that you can buy on the high street.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Mike Halliday on June 02, 2013, 07:47:26 pm
Why spend time doing something that pays less than carpet cleaning?

Oven cleaners around here charge £55 -£70 and it takes them 2-3 hours.

Unless you have a ready market for it then why go looking for it,  you would be better spending your time looking for more carpet cleaning
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on June 02, 2013, 08:07:14 pm
I think oven cleaning is easier to get customers compared to carpet cleaning, Derek why didn't you carry on with the pressure washing? just as hard to get cc customers but it's still an add on.

Shaun
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Carpet Dawg on June 02, 2013, 08:21:31 pm
If I was going to add anything on it would be pressure washing or/and window cleaning. Wouldn't want to do any of that work myself though.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: derek west on June 02, 2013, 08:40:41 pm
tried mike but any other methods ive tried don't seem to generate enough to cover the costs.

i think you can earn around £40 to £50 an hour from ovens, certainly 4 a day is achievable.

this is the company i was looking at,

http://www.ovencleaningequipment.co.uk/training/


didn't like pressure washing. and TBH, worried i won't like oven cleaning as well. probably why i'm dithering about the idea.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Carpet Dawg on June 02, 2013, 08:52:21 pm
or contract cleaning. But again, get someone else to do the actual cleaning. Will also lead to commercial carpet cleans.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: cannon on June 02, 2013, 09:13:18 pm
Oven cleaning is the pits on many occasions I would have happily walked out half way through a job, connected up a hose pipe to the van exhaust and ended it  ;D

Its horrible work (though some people claim to enjoy it) and less £££ per hour than other services quite a bit less.

But its not all doom and gloom  ;D

Initial outlays low, demands quite high, lower marketing costs compared to carpet cleaning infact very little additional cost, much lower consumables cost.

The best thing about oven cleaning is your getting in to customers homes, after their oven comes up sparkling good as new clean if any other work is required your the one who should get it.

But like I say I don't like it and soon as I get the chance Ill hook up with an oven cleaner and ditch it.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on June 02, 2013, 09:19:29 pm
Derek I didn't like PW either funny how you either get along with it or not, window cleaning would be a good add on if I were to start again as you have regular customers from day 1 and also the a base of customers to market to.

Shaun
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: cannon on June 02, 2013, 09:26:44 pm
tried mike but any other methods ive tried don't seem to generate enough to cover the costs.

i think you can earn around £40 to £50 an hour from ovens, certainly 4 a day is achievable.

this is the company i was looking at,

http://www.ovencleaningequipment.co.uk/training/


didn't like pressure washing. and TBH, worried i won't like oven cleaning as well. probably why i'm dithering about the idea.

Derek there's a fella next to Pontefract offers training I think he offers equipment aswell.

I think its  http://www.ovenbrite.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx 
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: bennymon on June 02, 2013, 10:12:27 pm
The guy who does the ovens for me can sometimes be there 2and a half hours for £50 quid if its a minger and some of the ranges and agas can take up to 5 hours for £110 .and it's filthy work . Del
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Allan Simmons on June 03, 2013, 07:24:38 am
Derek, Although we don't do ovens we know a few carpet cleaners who do and run their oven cleaning using a small trailer for the gas bottle and dip tank, that way they only take it out when they have an oven to do. One guy runs Berlingo's for carpet cleaning and a trailer for the ovens.  I've seen one who's trailer has advertising banner sides, and it has his advert for ovens and/or carpets on it.  One guy we know says the cross sell is easy and although the ovens aren't as profitable they go more often.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: John Kelly on June 03, 2013, 07:57:08 am
I used to love pressure washing. Getting paid for playing with a hosepipe. Prefered that to carpet cleaning especially in the summer.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Hilton on June 03, 2013, 01:48:07 pm
In my patch a guy I knew bought one of the oven clean franchises (not oven clean), he was trying to sell up after 6 months absolutely hated the work...

Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: neil pownell on June 03, 2013, 02:49:05 pm
We added oven cleaning last year, one thing we have found where carpets tend to be seasonal and there is a definite decline in the winter months, ovens remain steady.

3 ovens a day is easily do able, we dont even use a dip tank, just a soak tray, boiling water and the cleaning solution (vanquish and astonish), and while some I have found myself running away screaming like a girl from, once you get into a routine, its not usually too bad. Failing that I send the wife to do them  ;)

Cross selling has already been mentioned, and often while you are there up to the waist in the oven the customer decides they then want a chat, mentioning you also do carpets has often led to them booking that as well.

Ditto EOT cleans, while many younger tenants will eventually run around with a bottle of cif, when it comes to carpets and ovens they haven't got a clue the time, so we get calls to do both on the same day.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: wynne jones on June 03, 2013, 05:50:49 pm
The most lucrative add ons are cleaning more carpet, protector and setting up the maintenance of the carpet. Which would you prefer protecting a carpet or cleaning an oven?

Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: SteveAllan on June 03, 2013, 06:36:41 pm
Couldnt agree more wynne. We did it the other way round, started ovens then added carpets, now dropped ovens, crap job. I cant imagine doing one without a dip tank though, you need to be done in an hour and away.
Carpets, Hard Floors, Gutter Cleans for us now.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Carpet Dawg on June 03, 2013, 07:28:51 pm
Hi Steve

Just out of interest mate. How much do you charge for gutter cleaning?

Thanks
Tony
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: SteveAllan on June 03, 2013, 08:03:15 pm
£2.50 a metre, normally charge from £50 for the average house.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: garyfindlay on June 03, 2013, 08:16:09 pm
Gigalo would be a lucrative add on. In and out in jig time, and you could clean the curtains as another add on  ;D
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Craigp on June 03, 2013, 08:38:28 pm
There is a third way, get higher prices for the carpets you do - do.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Steven Butler on June 03, 2013, 09:21:17 pm
Although I don't clean ovens at present I do intend too very soon. Now although I agree it's clearly not a nice job, it earns money and that's what we are all trying to do isn't it. Personally I think if its adding to your turnover you should look past the actual job you are doing no matter how crap.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Hilton on June 03, 2013, 10:49:54 pm
Don't agree,

Only if its adding to your profit.....
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: wynne jones on June 03, 2013, 10:59:00 pm
Although I don't clean ovens at present I do intend too very soon. Now although I agree it's clearly not a nice job, it earns money and that's what we are all trying to do isn't it. Personally I think if its adding to your turnover you should look past the actual job you are doing no matter how crap.

I can see you thinking and sometimes you have to do things you would prefer not to do. Maybe those who have done it might want to put me right, but I'm wondering whether the presumption that offering your existing customers oven cleaning is a better option because you have exhausted all possible options to clean more carpet, more frequently at a higher price.

Also someone is going to be very willing to sell you an oven cleaning package or pressure washer and tell you it's a nice little earner but you still have to go out and sell it. Who says that's going to be any easier than getting more carpet to clean?
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Allan Simmons on June 04, 2013, 08:30:50 am
The most lucrative add ons are cleaning more carpet, protector and setting up the maintenance of the carpet. Which would you prefer protecting a carpet or cleaning an oven?



Very true.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: William Sharpe on June 04, 2013, 08:43:36 am
Bathroom-shower, bath and tiles deep cleaning - good profit there, more restoration as I call it. pretty easy work- replace seals, sealants, grout whitening, polish taps and fittings. Average bathroom £140.00 aprox 3.5hrs also deep cleaning of saunas, sports hall shower blocks for gym's, sports and golf clubs always repeat work as bonus. Easy to sell up at custies house. ;) ;) :D

William
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: jim mca on June 04, 2013, 07:53:55 pm
William

What equipment and chemicals do you use for the bathrooms

Jim
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: William Sharpe on June 05, 2013, 06:37:29 am
Hi Jim, send me an email and I will respond with the how's & whats of it all -  regsharpe@live.co.uk

Cheers-
william
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Craigp on June 06, 2013, 01:47:32 pm
I wonder if whats happened in carpet cleaning will happen in oven cleaning with cheap jacks. Will we start seeing "£15 for an oven clean" or is it unique to carpet cleaning?
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: SteveAllan on June 06, 2013, 02:01:20 pm
Happened already, idiots my way with there bucket and scourer doing them for £20, same as carpet cleaning though you get what you pay for.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: wynne jones on June 06, 2013, 02:52:19 pm
Read something yesterday (although it was in the Daily Mail) a guy begging outside a London bank was making £300 a day and lived in a £300k flat in London. His equipment was a tin mug and his work clothes never need washing or replacing.

An established carpet cleaner may well turnover that but after costs and tax you are better off being a tramp!  :'(
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: jim mca on June 06, 2013, 03:10:58 pm
Read the posts in the general section on here and CT ovens will be at £25 soon they don't want to buy dip tanks or vans and as soon as they find a job there off having knackered up the business.
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: bennymon on June 06, 2013, 06:46:09 pm
Was doing a carpet job today they never got us in for the ovens but the guy doing it never had a van or a dip tank . he was using plastic box on the sink side as his dip tank .
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: *Hector* on June 06, 2013, 06:52:31 pm
With hypnosis being my add on.... Not too much competition knocking about (although more than you would think)..

once in the door I hypnotize them into having very expensive extra rooms done, and then to recommend me to all their friends..  :o :o

never seem to run out of work  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: derek west on June 06, 2013, 07:53:02 pm
With hypnosis being my add on.... Not too much competition knocking about (although more than you would think)..

once in the door I hypnotize them into having very expensive extra rooms done, and then to recommend me to all their friends..  :o :o

never seem to run out of work  ;D ;D ;D

so did your oposition work for groupon?  ;D
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: *Hector* on June 06, 2013, 08:57:48 pm
Bogg off Mr West  :P :P

 ;D ;D
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: Jamie Pearson on June 06, 2013, 09:58:09 pm
William

What equipment and chemicals do you use for the bathrooms

Jim

(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-tcRAZWQW8Ulq_d5Z6ftTd0-Qy83SlsF48TtW95jm3ZBKT27a)
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: derek west on June 07, 2013, 11:02:24 am
Bogg off Mr West  :P :P

 ;D ;D

is that a new toilet cleaner?  ;D
Title: Re: other lucrative add ons
Post by: *Hector* on June 07, 2013, 11:22:37 am
 ;D ;D