[richard roderisk]

Hello - been finished up from work...

mate mentioned carpet cleaning as a possible business. just wondering what equipment i'd need initially to get started and a rough estimate of starting up costs please?

i'd be hoping to do domestic and small commercial carpet cleans if possible.


WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE

[Helen]

Thought you "finished up" last May and went into window cleaning...maybe I got the wrong person....anyway search starting up on here and you'll get loads of info

[robert meldrum]

Did you fail to make a go at window cleaning ? II months is not really long enough to build a round and you'll find carpat cleaning set up costs are ten, maybe twenty times as high as window cleaning.

 

[davep]

Maybe he got finished up from windows?

[richard roderisk]

still doing my window cleaning, doing ok but need another string to my bow

especially for winter months

[Colin Day]

Carpet cleaning will probably be the most expensive string to your bow than any other.

Most window cleaners I know simply wouldn't have time to clean carpets, because they are stacked out with work. It's took them a few years to get there, carpet cleaning is more difficult to get to that stage where you have regular work.

3 Years in and I have quiet spells, it's what I do in those quiet spells that fills the diary up for the next week... or two if I'm really on the ball....

My advice would be to plug away, or at least choose an add on that isn't as expensive as carpet cleaning....

[Simon Gerrard]

I really don't think that now is the time to be starting a carpet cleaning business.  You could end up spending a lot of money on equipment and I hope training to get very little by way of return because of the economic situation. I'd find more windows to clean, it doesn't get any more profitable than that.

Simon

[clinton]

Simons right and collin with there posts mate.

Maybe go out fora local c cleaner guy to you and just see whats involved work wise..

I know there are afew guys on this forum that do c cleaning and windows too so they might be enlighten you more.

Good luck anyway

[richy27]

I agree some training is essential.

Looking from the outside in on carpet cleaning as a business model it looks straight forward but its not . the cost of investing in good equipment is on the tip of the ice berg. Unless you are a good sales person and hot on customer service then i am afraid its not something to get into on a whim.

Getting the ball rolling in any service based industry requires a good level of working capital and the correct market approach.
If your looking to make a quick buck then this not the business for you. Its all about building a client base and getting recommended to build momentum.

from your original post you were looking to increase your work in the winter  . I would say in most areas cc in jan feb is not the best .

Although i agree with simons post about training i disagree with the fact  at the moment is not a good time to sart up

i would say there is never a better time to begin a venture this sort of climate encourages people to shop around , gives you more of a chance to knock down the price of advertising . but all hinges on the fact that you will require a fair bit of capital to get you going if you haven got it you are not going to make it simplz

[Robin Ray]

Carpet cleaning is an add on to our Window Cleaning round and it is a struggle to fit all the work in at times.

For the carpet cleaning to be a viable add on it is important to have a really good established customer base from the window cleaning, other wise its just a load of expensive equipment. If I was starting from the begining again I would still start with the window cleaning because its so easy to get the work and the outlay is relativly small. Once you have the customers trust you can offer them all sorts of extra services and they will always use you.

From a bussines point of veiw adding carpet cleaning or any other service to a window cleaning round wont really make any more money. However it is less mind numbing.

Before you invest in carpet cleaning equipment consider waterfed pole equipment, gutter cleaning equipment, and pressure washing equipment. These will maximise the turnover from your existing work.

What ever you choose to do building the customers trust is the key.

[Jamie Pearson]

We started as a window cleaning company.

[Sarah Kirby]

Hi Richard,

As Helen said there is plenty of info on here about starting up. Carpet Cleaning is no different to any other business...they all have highs and lows and all take time to build up. It can be an expensive outlay but shop around, check ebay etc..., you good get some good deals. Ignore the negative comments, if it feels right for you then put the effort in and Im sure you'll do ok.

Best of luck.

Sarah

[richard roderisk]

THANKS SARAH, BOOKED 4 JOBS THIS WEEK, MUST BE MY CHARM HEHEHEHE

[greencleaning]

Domestic cleaning is fairly straight forward as in reality all you need are cleaning products you can purchase in any supermarket and some customers. Most people will either get cleaning undertaken each week for 1 to 2 hours or every two weeks. Depending on your location you could charge £10 - £20 per hour for this service which is above minimum wage but only just so many cleaners start themselves and have a few customers and then employ people they can trust to do most of the work for them - at minimum wage.

[garyj]

Best bit of advice I can give is anyone with the word 'Green' in their name totally ignore anything they say.