[heritagecleaning]

I was going to add something about agitating then extracting, but I don't think we need to bring it down to that level 

[Carpet Dawg]

I'd invest in some anal bleaching products or a reducer like "Spray and Go" from Chemspec should do the trick. (if i was you)

[jim mca]

Shez

Take a look at restormate.co.uk if your are serious go and do the training and then go from there if you post your budget then you will get more help but marketing in glasgow for a new start could be very expensive really depends on your budget and how much you need to make per week.

Jim

[Ian Gourlay]

You need to know marketing and realize there will be loads of competition

But you do need to seek out training and read the years of good advise on here.

If you read between the lines and go back years you will fine some succeed and do really well   others fail and actually end up with CCJs etc  so do be careful

I always advise look at other options from making cup cakes and having a stall in your local shopping centre , Silk Screen Printing for those who watch the apprentice. Chimney Sweeping  Ebay, etc the world is your oyster. I would read Duncan Bannatyne's Anyone Can do it  or Wake up and Change your Life , you will see there are loads of markets you could enter so be really sure you want to spend 5 years chatting to us

[Simon Gerrard]

I think you've really got to do your homework if you're thinking of starting up in this economic climate. You also have to WANT to be a professional carpet cleaner and not just be attracted to it because it's a relatively cheap business to get into. All of the best carpet cleaners I've come across over the years are very passionate about what they do and spare no effort in building a successful business based on loyal customers, a completely different thing to just wanting to make a few quid.

Simon

[L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner]

Shez,what Simon Gerrard and Ian Gurully have written is the best
Sound advice to date on this `thread` in my opinion anyway.
Certain areas of carpet / upholstery cleaning can be very lucrative
Others not so.
Experience as to what to take on and what jobs to walk away from
Will only come with experience.



Lewis  Doubtfire

[clinton]

Some good advice above shez..Took me a good few years to get established and after 20 years still going..

Some do make it and some dont as ian said..

[Helen]

I think you've really got to do your homework if you're thinking of starting up in this economic climate. You also have to WANT to be a professional carpet cleaner and not just be attracted to it because it's a relatively cheap business to get into. All of the best carpet cleaners I've come across over the years are very passionate about what they do and spare no effort in building a successful business based on loyal customers, a completely different thing to just wanting to make a few quid.

Simon

Sense at last! any new business set up in any industry in this economic climate, must have money behind them, loads of research and be serious to near obsession about it.
I don't think there are any "old timers" on here, that can say, they are doing exactly the same as 4 years ago and I mean financially and marketing/advertsing methods.
to the OP, if you really are serious and not just jumping at the first thing that comes along, then why not set up part time and try to get a part time job aswell. If you got a redundancy payout you really don't want to put it all in to something that may not work!

[Richard Basey-Fisher]

I am now into year 5 . when i started out i first did some training (NCCA ) then went away and researched how i was going to market my new venture.

IMO you need to have at least 6-12 months of personal expenses whatever that maybe in working capital carpet cleaning is not a get rich quick scheme it takes time to build up a database of clients. Now i am in year 5 i amnow making a decent living but i tell you it was a struggle at times to get there.

problem is looking from the outside in carpet cleaning looks like an easy business to start .  Cleaning the carpets is the easy bit  , getting the phone to ring and selling your services is the real battle.

I would say most cc business s that fail early on is because they have little or no working capital to see them through the early stages.

Mind you in saying all that if i asked myself the question would i want to start cc now my answer would be no as although i myself am doing well this is from repeat and recom clients not from new customers as these are becoming harder to find