Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: marcosborn3 on July 13, 2009, 03:38:48 pm
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I am looking at starting up my own carpet cleaning with room for expansion into upholstery cleaning i am booked up to go on the two day carpet cleaning course i just wonderd if people would reccommend the upholstery cleaning course and also what is a goo machine to start off with
look forward to your input
thanks
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you will get better response if you fill out you profile to include your location
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Thanks for the pointer have done that
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If the 2 day course you are doing does not specifically cove upholstery then yes it would be good for you to do the uph course. It is different to carpet cleaning.
As to machine - whats your total budget and how have you split that into various spends ie machine, training, advertising etc etc
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i have about £500 - £800 for a machine as dont want to spend lots incase does not all work out what are the pluses with buying a second hand machine will start advertising via word of mouth and leaflet delivery training is all sorted and will have the money for the upholstery course
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Marketing is the skill to starting up you need a decent budget each month set a budget and get the best coverage and the most for you money. Try i mixture of diff methods leaflets advert books internet. you need new custys at the start to gain the word of mouth. Do a good job be well presented and the rest will follow.
Leasing a better machine maybe a better idea than a second hand machine there is normally a reason for someone to be selling . Unless you can pick on up from an experienced cc on here.
Wait till you have done your training till you jump in the bear pit of buying a machine as you will understand more clearly what you need. Machine is important but all the equipment you use from vac to agitation machine ( of some sort) etc etc could go on.
best of luck
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For ma second hand machine you need to be looking at something like this on Ebay.
2 x 3 stage vac motors and 135 psi pump. That would be the minimum I would be looking at.
Trouble with the likes of Ebay is you definately need to know what you are looking at and for in a 2nd hand machine.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carpet-Cleaning-machine_W0QQitemZ330343451494QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_HomeGarden_CLV_Cleaning_CA?hash=item4cea010b66&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:1686|293:1|294:50
This machine is about £1500 like he says new, but he also including a power brush which is worth a few bob like he says. Then you have the cleaning fluids to boot.
From Herts. to Middlesborough is a long way to go to have a look though.
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You could call your janitorial suppliers and see if they have any 2nd hand machines you may be surprised but Joe is right you do need at least 2 vac motors this will stop you from over wetting carpets and therefore stop shrinkage and obnoxious smells.
Best money is on a training course you'll learn the basics so you can (IMPORTANT BIT) learn how to talk technical to your customers so you'll sound like an old head not a newbie and that will save gain you far more customers.
Shaun
PS If you want to buy your machines and 'go bust' price yourself cheap and under cut everyone, that's how to get in and out of the trade before the dust settles, word of mouth doesn't really happen for 12 months down the line.
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Good luck , its right crap time to start , the phones not ringing , clients want cheap and cheerful , and commercial work is taking so long to get payments but luck mate
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Here is another machine on Ebay in your price range and Alltec have a good reputation - but does anyone know the seller?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190320177077&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching
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Mark
As joe said alltec has a good back up for spares etc.
Richard made a good point on the marketing side too.
As shaun said dont go too cheap to start as the temptation is there to do that just to get work.
As once your in the cheap bracket it going to be hard to get out of it.
Maybe go to your nearest machine cleaning suplier as they sometimes have used set ups for sale and you might get a 3 month ticket on the machine in case your pump or motors go..
good luck
clinton
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Appears to be Safeclean owned by Valspar selling this machine.