[wynne jones]

I started out of the back of a Fiat Bravo using a Numatic ctd 572, pile brush and a pump up sprayer from B&Q!  

Made £21,000 profit in my first year with that gear. Alot of bones for a 17 year old!

Needless to say, I bought a van and Prochem SteamPro machine in year 2. Still got the brush tho!  

Tony

Yep where there's a will there's a way, but after a while you want to make it easy on yourself.  

[mike roberts]

I agree with Colin on this one,

oven cleaning is a good starting point, I started off with a low budget 4k, used oven cleaning for 18 months part time to raise enough for really good equipment for my commercial kitchen / extraction system cleaning business which was the main aim, would not have survived without the full time job tho, I am by nop means alan sugar but my best advice would be, research, research and then some more research, know your target market and also your local competition. It is always handy to have more than one string to your bow.

Good luck, don't get disheartened you are entering a cut throat market where the customer expects to pay peanuts and has no Idea of the costs involved in setting up a cleaning Co.


MCM

Hi Mike, looking at your old post back in October I thought oven cleaning was dying ??

So many franchises out there....  locally to myself we have 4!

Dont wish to be rude and sure I will be shot for this (quick change my settings) but carpet cleaning is the last cleaning business I would be looking to start up.. probably my last psot in the carpet cleaning section  are you prepared to have no work wk on wk then suddenly jump at a drop of a hat ?
Guys on here have been established for yrs fair play but takes so much time to build up a loyal database... quick buc no chance hard graft low rewards for yrs.

[wynne jones]

Wynne,

Then run a Groupon campaign which means you don't have any marketing costs to build your business. Apparently you can earn over £300 per day doing this.

Love it

OK somewhat tongue in cheek  , but seriously for someone keen and no money maybe it makes sense.

[Colin Day]

I think you're spot on about the carpet cleaning, Mike!

As with oven cleaning, I know someone in my area who has recently taken a franchise with "Ovenu" and from what I hear, he isn't impressed so far....

I offer oven cleaning for up to half the price he does if a customer has their carpets cleaned by me, how can this guy compete with that?

[Richard Basey-Fisher]

a lot depends on your own personal situation.

buying the right equipment is of course important but its getig the phone to ring is the real battle.

I disagree that you need thousands to invest and  start up  .

leasing is a good way to get decent kit and keep your £  for working capital. and also you will get tax benefit on the full lease term.

You need funds for working capital to keep your momentum during the early days .

I would say wait until march as you will find it tough in jan feb.

training first would be your best avenue

[Andrew Briscoe]

I could be wrong, but i think you need 3 yrs accounts to be able to lease equipment, however best call and check, there might be away around it.

Andrew

ps, i started with a grand in 1989, working along side a carpet sales business.

[Richard Basey-Fisher]

I could be wrong, but i think you need 3 yrs accounts to be able to lease equipment, however best call and check, there might be away around it.

Andrew

ps, i started with a grand in 1989, working along side a carpet sales business.

depends on personal situation homeowner etc and also you can lease if you have guarantor

[Gabriel Nagy]

When I started I did buy professional stuff, of course being to some training courses and asking around...I have invested around £8900 including advertising, etc...I use a Powrflite 600 PSI. I think you'll definitely need a van for the equipment and chemicals. Advertising is the hardest part of the business and getting well with the customers. Anyway...go to some courses and you'll find there all you want for the business to start...some of them will provide training free if buy equipment from them or buy starter package...£1500 is quite less money to start..and my opinion do not go to peoples houses with some hired equipment because some of them will know about it and your reputation will go down. Good luck and feel free to ask if got something you want to know.

[Colin Day]

I could be wrong, but i think you need 3 yrs accounts to be able to lease equipment, however best call and check, there might be away around it.

Andrew

ps, i started with a grand in 1989, working along side a carpet sales business.

Hey up mate, I made it to Penrith on that Monday afternoon. Took the kids to "Raghead" as my little one mis-pronounced it and spent a few quid in Norris' fishing tackle shop.

How was Manumission...? (Give it large!)

I seen a "Carlisle Cleaners" van in Helston today, they must be expanding....

[wynne jones]

Credit cards are still the cheapest way to borrow, you certainly have an incetive to pay them off before the 0% deal runs out. You can still get 12month 0% deals.

[AshWhite]

Anyone else get the feeling that the OP stopped reading a page ago?

[Andrew Briscoe]

I could be wrong, but i think you need 3 yrs accounts to be able to lease equipment, however best call and check, there might be away around it.

Andrew

ps, i started with a grand in 1989, working along side a carpet sales business.

depends on personal situation homeowner etc and also you can lease if you have guarantor

I stand corrected Richard, i know you can take out an insurance, but it makes it expensive.

Colin, i told you i am too old for clubbing  

I picked up a cleaning job in San Antonio Bay, makes you remember not to leave things unattended.

[Kriss]

I can imagine 1500 is not a lot, but like some of You said before, the best idea for now is get some training and start part - time. I drive for living so I keep saving a money and with time I will upgrade my equipment. I am wonder if any of you know machine like SENSEI PC7854 or NINJA 135 PSI from Ashbys cleaning equipment, and is that the right equipment to start with?    Thank You for all Your replays 

[Mark Lawrence]

Is it only me, I hear this all the time when people say that they will only spend about £1500 to start carpet cleaning - under the illusion that they will hopefully make a killing. Usually part timers who want to earn extra cash.

Did a quote last week for a lady who said that her husband used to do carpet cleaning on his days off shift (fireman). But had to stop when he got promoted to a 9-5. These people usually want the cash for a holiday every year or to boost their partners income for instance.

If Kriss is 100% committed and serious to build his business and not the above, then I hope he succeeds. If he isnt then I hope he re-thinks what he thinks he can gain and actually do something that he will enjoy.

Just out of interest, I wonder what the percentages in relation to serious business builders v make a killing and not tell the tax man are in this industry.

Mark

[Paul Moss]

Mark I would say the percentage is quite high and I would guess that a good 30% of the cleaners that come on here are part time cleaners.

[Carpet2Clean]

Hi Kriss..I started out with only £1,200...I bought a brand new Prochem Galaxy,Prochem chemicals & Brush & had change over to buy a £25 Mr Site website,also if you BUY Prochem you get a 1 day training course free..I run my business out of my car to get started..I got lots of referrals with this machine and the Mr Site website worked a treat first page on google...6 months into business i bought a transit connect van another new Prochem machine (Steempro) & more websites..This is now my 4 year in business but if you look at my other post their are carpet cleaners in my area using Karcher Puzzi they also are making good money....I hope this helps you out...(Richard)

[Kriss]

Dear Mark

       I passed my class 1 license couple years ago, before that a was sweeping london roads, being a warehouse man, and working on a forklift truck. I love challenges and I know driving is my last job working for somebody. I wanna work for myself, and sooner or later I will make it. Just a matter of time.

[Kriss]

Dear Richard (Carpet2Clean)

   This is exactly what I mean. Not everyone is lucky to have all this thousands of pound to invest   Yes your post helped me out. Thank You  

[mike roberts]

Credit cards are still the cheapest way to borrow, you certainly have an incetive to pay them off before the 0% deal runs out. You can still get 12month 0% deals.

Personally I think thats the worst advice so far I have seen on forum well done  current climate borrow on credit card genius... to make it worse borrow on cc to support your new company .... Business plan use cc  please if you have not got the money behind u dont use cc last last last option even then dont do it !... if you use cc and every thing goes 'pear' shaped what happens ? u end up paying 30% interest fantastic!

Post the other day 'everything has gone quite' .... clue there somewhere... only  way cc's keep busy is via leaflets 1000's every month is that what u really want to do ??

[Kriss]

no cc