[jon2009]

currently working in retail earning 22,000 had enough of it and want to work on my own doing carpet cleaning what do you think??will i earn as much???is there enough  work now everybody seems to have laminated floors???

[Derek]

Hi

If you are prepared for a lot of hard physical work, a good cash investment then I suggest you look into it further.

I would suggest you book onto the next available NCCA two day training course (Tel 0116 2719550) and get some inside knowledge...You can then decide your next step

Regards
Derek

[woodman]

Hi Jon

Why aren't you working today I thought every retail outlet was open on Bank Holiday's and it gets you out of the rain

In answer to your question yes you should turnover more than 22k after a year or two I know lots of furniture guys that are now doing cleaning.

As for Laminated Flooring, it's a fad that will soon pass, I have taken up 1000's of sq mts of the stuff basically because it's crap,doesn't like water and people soon get fed up with it.

Carpets are here for ever my old son so get on board ,
so long as your not in my area of course

[DaveR]

Hi Jon,

There can be good money in carpet cleaning but remember it may be some years before you'll achieve £22,000 net profit so you'll have to be financially secure enough to ride out the initial lean times.Remember also instead of getting holiday pay you'll be losing money and clients whilst in holiday. The same applies if you're ill, when the wand stops so does the money!

Hope this helps
Dave

[Phil Marlor]

Agree with all the above comments, first 3 years are difficult, then your off and running as this is the time the repeat business starts to kick in (thats if your any good).

Also remember when you start to turnover 22K its not all yours, it comes as quite a suprise to people how much running a business costs.

Its tough, plenty of competition out there but rewarding if you can get through those 1st few years.

I have had 1 holiday in 5 years my wife had to more or less drag me to Majorca last year, its difficult paying for a holiday and earning no money for 2 weeks, its feels like your paying twice.

Nothing is easy in life, if it was everyone would do it!

My old man always said that, God bless him.

Phil

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Mick HOLIDAY as we know him is probably in make up for 'wish you were here' as we speak, he does Ok and has more time off than anyone. I personally just work to supply my wife's habit....M E A D O W H E L L shopping centre.

Shaun

[ALEXDH]

There was a pretty long chat about this now in the FAQ

I stand by my comments in there

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=carpetequipment;action=display;num=1075583526

[The Great One]

Hi guys

don't see why no one takes a holiday on this forum?

I am off for 3 weeks to rio on the 23rd may, business doesn't have to stop just because you are not here.

If you are self-employed then yes i do agree, you will not get paid while you are away, if you have a business you can.

also earning £22,000 in a j.o.b (Just Over Broke) you are taxed at source on £22,000.

If you earn £22,000 in business you pay tax on the profit which can be considerably less than £22,000.

In my most humble opinion of course...

Regards

Martin

[woodman]

Hi Guys

Don't go into business for yourself if your worried about losing holiday pay, you should stay put and doff you cap to your guv'nor every time he grants you a day off.

I don't give a flying do-dah about holiday pay,sick pay,bank holidays etc etc.

The benefits of working for your self and the sheer satisfaction of knowing you have no one to answer to but yourself far out weigh any holiday pay non-sense. :

Have to agree with Martin, take your Holidays you've earned them and you need them, the diffirence is you decide when and for how long.

[Ian Gourlay]

I like you worked in retail for a number of years.

You have a lot to loose.
Monthly Pay Check

Sunsidised Mortgage

Removal Expenses.

Furnishing Allowance

Living in Diffrent Parts Of UK

Company Car

Pennsion,

Holiday pay.

Future Promotion,

Sick Pay

Early Retirement

However,

You gain personal freedom

How are you going to find your customers

to take 40k a year plus.

[woodman]

Begs the question Ian, if you had all that, why did you leave to become a carpet cleaner ?

[The Great One]

Hi guys

Hoidays are very important, gives you the distance to see things from a different angle and keeps you fresh.

Build a business
and all those so called benifits will seem pointless.

company pensions are worthless

Get you own company car (you choose the car)

you can still retire early

With a job you are told what to do, when to do it. You  can be fired or made redundant at any time, even for a small transgression. Some jumped up jobsworth always on your case, and to get any where you have to kiss some serious behind.

I have finally left my job on saturday...

Am I nervous?

Oh yeah

Am I excited

Yeah Baby!

I did my carpet cleaning part-time around my full time job, 4 hours sleep a night, 27 hour days (sometimes) 7 months later i am free. The sacrifice was worth it.

Regards

Martin

[ALEXDH]

Good luck martin 606, you have taken the final step before me , easy to say but dont work too hard and make sure you give your family and friends some quality time, remember you probably would not be in this postion without their support.

best of luck I admire you

Alex

[Len Gribble]

Jon2009

I see many posts I want to start up a carpet cleaning business, what is the upside/downside?

Don’t just jump in you may regret it do you home work first, look at the competition, what type of clients, the list is endless, if your decision is to go a head do not buy any machines your first port of call is what Derek recommends go on the NCCA training course first.

I would also add be very frugal and keep a nest egg for the bad times!

I see quite a lot has been put up about holiday pay, sick pay etc the way I read it one make a decision to become self employed you know the risks!

By the way Shaun is lucky he has Meadowhell (Meadow Hell) where ever that is, I have Bluewater, Lakeside and the dreaded Bond Street, not to mention Marbella

Len

[Dave Parry]

Jon,
Listen to what Len says about a nest egg. When I started out one June, I gave up my job and after buying my kit recconed I had enough money left to live 9 - 10 months on. I just made it round to the next April, when business picked up and saved me, and I had earned some money as well, it just seemed to disappear. If like Alex and Martin you can work and carpet clean I would say that is the best way. It may be hard work, but at least you can decide its not for you, without any major financial worries.

[neil 47]

I started out about 8 months ago ,
first i listened to all the advice that was given out on the boards  no 1 get training i, am now IICRC passed
no 2 bought a portable aqua 40

no 3 got insurance
no 4 10,000 leaflets
no5 advertised
no 6 felt dejected when thing wern,t happening as fast as I thought they would.
so  I am now working while building the buiss up which is now happening, if a bit slow but at least I have a bit of security while it gets going as I,m in for the long haul
I am glad that I found these forums as they and the lads on them have helped me no end, and find that  cc are the friendliest people i have ever worked with so thanks everyone


Neil

ps well done martin606

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Len Meadowhell is the biggest shopping centre in Europe and are on first name terms with my Mrs.

Shaun

[The Great One]

Hi guys

Thanks for the congrats lads. gave me a warm glow

I used to work nights (161/2 years in the casino industry) great to be out on my own again, lost my last biz 21/2 years ago at -£72,000.

So even if you are in major debt, work full time you can still get back up and stand tall.

many, many thanks for your support

Regards

Martin

[Shorty]

I started my first business in 1971, contract cleaning.

I was also doing a fair amount of carpet and a little bit of upholstery.

Twelve years ago, I got rid of the contract cleaning and all staff.

Now it's just the wife and myself.

I have found that whichever side of this business I have delved into, be it carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, mattress cleaning, fabric protection, spot dyeing, water damage restoration,  leather cleaning  with repairs and re-colouring.  Each one could very easily be a stand alone business in its own right.

I'm now 59, & the only regret I have is that I didn't get into this earlier.

Get some training under your belt, brush up on your marketing and bookwork, grab it by the horns and go for it.

Good luck,

Cheers,

Shorty.  

[Derek]

Hey Shorty

You have just written my life story although I started in 1969

I have just got to pluck up the courage now to sack the wife... .... the trouble is she has control of the cheque book

How did she get that....just don't ask

Cheers
Derek