[richywilts]

hey guys hows it going hope ya all having a nice relaxing weekend as title says ive grown my window cleaning business fairly big now in terms of domestic and worried with the weather in the winter that now i have staff im not going to be able to provide work so looking at going into carpet cleaning. i have over 500 customers who use us for other servcies like driveway cleaning,fascia cleaning and conservatory cleaning so im looking at adding carpet cleaning

im prob going to have a budget of 4-5000 pounds to get it started, so few questions

what system would be best van mount or ninga type cleaning machine
which course would people advise to go on
whats the most profitable way to work is it better to clean say one or two big houses or lots of houses doing single rooms i.e lounge n hall

cheers guys

regard richy

[john steel]

What another one!!

[davep]

Your by me so to be honest there's no work out there. 

[steve scotter]

Go for it!

4-5k is more than enough to start up a carpet cleaning business, a ninja is a very good machine, truckmounts are good but a real pain when they go wrong.

I would do what work comes along.

If you always try to do the best job that you can you will not go far wrong, I did very well at it and then got into the insurance work, I had ten full time employees.

Steve

[Neil Williams]

so looking at going into carpet cleaning.

Mark D'a will be chuffed to bits if you do.
There'll be someone on here with a higher ratio of daily disasters than him

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Look for a new machine if staff are using it, try a training course and see what others that are on the training course are opting for, also window cleaning insurance will not cover it, you need treatment risk insurance try the sponsor at the top of the page.

Shaun

[Darren O]

£90 for your window cleaning insurance £40 on top of that for your carpet cleaning insurance and that includes treatment risk its easy but you will spend a fortune on trying to get customers

[Robin Ray]

We added carpets to our window cleaning company a while ago and our insurance premium did not change. Naturally we did wonder about this as we wanted to make sure everything was covered. When we asked they said that the window cleaning was much higher risk than the carpets therefore it would be no extra.

As for the machine I got a ninja but if we were doing it again I would of opted for something with more power.

Rob

[richywilts]

what machine would be superior to a ninja then id rather buy right first time round then buy twice

[D Ingram]

Good idea Richy i think with all these leather suites and laminate floors going down all us carpet cleaners on here should look at adding a reach and wash system to our vans and go round window cleaning.

After all a pole system for window cleaning is far  cheaper than a 18 grand truckmounted carpet cleaning system and thankfully folks haven't replaced their windows with laminate or leather!

As Mr Ashmore quite rightly posted GET YOURSELF ON A NCCA TRAINING COURSE FIRST
before you even think of going down this road it will save your a lot of sleepless nights carpet cleaning is not about having a powerfull machine its about learning the skill and this will not come over night.

[richywilts]

yeah i do understand its a skill and thats why i asked which course is best too go on, but if ya dont try out something you will never know n i would try and employ someone with experience.

i didnt realise how much truckmounts cost to be honest do most people get finance on these sort of machines its a large investment

[D Ingram]

Richy nice to see your taking the advice given, and yes most of the guy's do have finance on these machines as they look at them as being a good investment in their business.
Some start with top end portables and increase work then go truck-mounted and other's i have met got straight for the truck-mount and market market market.
Which ever road you take it will be awhile before your are bussy every day with carpet cleaning as it takes awhile to get your name out.

So do your maths look at your market place and this will deside which road to take. After all it your return on investment.

Rug suckers don't become professional over night it takes time a very long time.

[gwrightson]

We added carpets to our window cleaning company a while ago and our insurance premium did not change. Naturally we did wonder about this as we wanted to make sure everything was covered. When we asked they said that the window cleaning was much higher risk than the carpets therefore it would be no extra.

As for the machine I got a ninja but if we were doing it again I would of opted for something with more power.

Rob

Rob, an interesting point you make , but i would look at exactly what sort of cover you aquired !!

Are you infact reffering to personal insurance and public liability or treatment risk?  I would have thought the risk and damaging a window and repacing if the nned be would be far less than replacing a £5000 suite or a through lounge axminster.
I know what risk i would prefer to take on .

Geoff

[Rick Ward]

That's the first I've heard of an insurance company not charging- summat aint right methinks!!

[Helen]

That's the first I've heard of an insurance company not charging- summat aint right methinks!!

If only...........

If this is correct Rob, let us all know the name of your insurers please?

[Robin Ray]

Gleanham is the insurance co.

And if I droped a ladder on someones £50,000 Aston Martin it might cost a bit more to repair than their £5000 carpet.

Rob

[Helen]

Gleanham is the insurance co.

And if I droped a ladder on someones £50,000 Aston Martin it might cost a bit more to repair than their £5000 carpet.

Rob

We are with Glenham too. PL and employers Ins.
"Treatment "risk or property being worked on is not included as standard and is an extra item and we had this added in as an extension (their name for it). It is also issued with a separate certification. The sub sections that needed to be checked on this, were "where" the work was being carried out aswell, so we are insured for property worked on in situ and for being taken away and worked on from our premises.
Ours covers all forms of cleaning services and is quoted as one. We also have the option to increase our cover temporarily if necessary for specific work.
In all honesty when we first used Glenham, none of this was made clear by the agent and it was only reading the very small print and questioning them in depth that we managed to get this info

[Robin Ray]

Thanks helen I will look in to it. 

[Helen]

Thanks helen I will look in to it. 

Best to....as we found out they don't volunteer the info