[Matt Seymour]

I agree with Ian.

This is not the time to be starting a cleaning business of any kind - especially carpet cleaning.

As you are still at the research stage you should quickly discover that work is a bit thin on the ground at the moment and there are a lot of people like you who are considering carpet cleaning as a career.

Even some of the experienced guys who have been going for years are finding things tough right now.

[M.Acorn]

Work has started coming in now,booked 2 jobs today,and my fax machine is churning stuff out,so it`s looking up here

[Anthony Heagney]

Still waiting on a reply from them about the exact specifications of the machine but looks like it is HWE and all its says on website is 1380W power rating, 240V voltage, 18L recovery tank, 45L recovery tank. Quite hard to rent professional equipment and i wouldnt want to buy straight away.
I have noticed the mood around the site rapidly gone down hill recently but i think its the same for most busineses at the mo??
To decent contracts you need a qualification (NHS wont put me through it as its more centered towards private sector) best plays is IPPM but there in England and costs about £1700 for the course and i dont qualify for help  ocht well what can you do!

Do not think that you could start off now (part time etc) build up my experience and training and then get myself into a position to expand when the market suits? Things will pick up....eventually. Whos to say that carpet cleaning would be the main part of the business. Other options might look and be more appealing?

Hope work picks up for you guys soon though.

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

January is always a bit tough for newer CC's but once established you can still do pretty well.

I've hit my 'happy with' figure for this week so it's not all doom and gloom.

A few spaces in the diary leave time for websites, other marketing and thinking.

Cheers

Doug

[seamus campbell]

Anthony, Which country are you based?

[Dave_Lee]

The top and bottom of it is, that most CCs wage is what's left over at the end of the week. It is not possible in this game to start from scratch and say, I'm going to take so much as a wage, because you probably wont even be taking that much at first. Fine if you've got a big lump sum that you can put into your new business to cover your wages for the first year, after all other equipment etc investments. But don't even think the business will be producing enough to run smoothly after that, it takes YEARS.
A quicker way would be to purchase an existing set up from some one who is retiring - you can have mine for £100,000, no problem, and saves you years of hassle.
Dave.
Sorry make that £130,000

[Matt Lindus]

Your only 24, plenty of life left. Keep the job you are doing and consider distance learning like the OU. With your current income, you would get all level 1 courses and courses after that free and gain points towards a degree.

Aim for something worthwhile, whilst you still have the chance, you owe it to your daughter.


Matt

[Anthony Heagney]

When putting a business plan together how do you work out your financial projections? Whether it be carpet cleaning, domestic cleaning etc  I would find it very hard to work out (even roughly) how much my i would be likely to take in my first year.
How can i pull together a realistic figure?

[Paolo]

When putting a business plan together how do you work out your financial projections? Whether it be carpet cleaning, domestic cleaning etc  I would find it very hard to work out (even roughly) how much my i would be likely to take in my first year.
How can i pull together a realistic figure?

It is a guessing game really.