[matcare]

Hi folks. 

I ran a small carpet cleaning operation for a couple of years, but did mainly "subcontract" work for a larger company.  ie You do all the work, take all the financial risks with machine, van, insurance , chemicals etc,  they supply you with work that they've got from marketing. Steady work, but a lot of effort for a meagre return.   I also did some private work, but due to a variety of factors, could never really plan far ahead.  After my van died, I mainly gave it up for a while, just doing a few private jobs, until my machine died as well, and has been sitting under the stairs for 18 months. 

Recently I went for a job that looked too good to be true.  Everything was supplied, but on closer inspection, you were out of pocket by £150 a week (due to van and machine rental, insurance, hire of card machine,) before you'd even earned anything, and to top it all, they were a "bait and switch" merchant. There were promises of £1500 a week, but conning old ladies is not my style.   I made my excuses and left, just like the "fake sheik" from the News of the World. 

To cut a long story short, I am going to get my machine fixed, and have a reliable van sorted out.  I also want to add some extras, like oven cleaning and gutter clearing, maybe window cleaning as well, if I can do that right. 

Should I do some refresher training?  I am a lot more focused and ambitious than last time, and know what I am capable of doing, if I can get the work in.  I do have a large database of customers from quite a large postcode area, but it's not bang up to date. 

I've done the working for someone else thing in the meantime, but it just doesn't motivate me at all. The only people I know who earn a decent salary have to commute every day to London and back, or work in some sort of capacity as self-employed or a small business owner. 

Any good advice from anyone? 

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I would do a iicrc course the reason for that is that it will help you in tell the customer why and what you are doing it can be a great sales aid because you will be classed as a professional cleaner not just a cleaner, another add on could be reach and wash window cleaning you could get a regular income and also sell your other services.

Shaun

[Neil Jones]

Again I'd say get some training to reinforce what you already know. I would also start off with just carpet cleaning and market that then add more things as you become established, going in trying to do everything at the same time will cost you more and may take your eye off establishing a certain aspect. As the saying goes, jack of all trades......

[matcare]

OK, thanks for the replies so far.  I did the Ashby's three day training in 2007, and a one day course by Chemspec (I think) about a year later.  Will look into the IICRC courses.  I want to learn, not be sold products!

[Warren Aldridge]

What kind of money do you earn working as a carpet cleaner for someone else?

[Steve Chapman]

If I were you I would get a part time job to give you some cash flow and spend the rest of the time leafleting and building a good database of customers,

It will take 18 months to 2 years to build a business to live off,

Steve

[matcare]

What kind of money do you earn working as a carpet cleaner for someone else?

As a self-employed "subcontractor", a good, full week would work out at around £12 an hour, around £400 a week, but i had to really graft for that.  But taking into account all running costs, it was a pretty hand to mouth existence, with very little to re-invest and grow the private side of things.  A couple of good private jobs would get me that in a day, but it was usually word of mouth, as I couldn't invest in much marketing.

I haven't actually worked doing any carpet cleaning for about a year, I went off and tried a couple of other things, but setting up again was always in the back of my mind. I did some part-time cleaning work, which included a bit of carpet cleaning, but was paid an hourly rate, not much above minimum wage.

[matcare]

If I were you I would get a part time job to give you some cash flow and spend the rest of the time leafleting and building a good database of customers,

It will take 18 months to 2 years to build a business to live off,

Steve

I am doing that already, and have a lump sum to invest in repairs, chemicals, marketing and training.  I know how hard I can graft, and what the potential rewards can be if you are the one taking 100% of the cash, rather than having to hand over up to 80% to a larger company.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Getting and keeping customers is the hardest graft infact it's more like an art, many cleaner has had the shiniest machine and had no or little work.

Shaun

[clinton]

Maybe get a web site up too for a starter.

That will help you start a client base.

[Ian Gourlay]

If I were you I would get a part time job to give you some cash flow and spend the rest of the time leafleting and building a good database of customers,

It will take 18 months to 2 years to build a business to live off,

Steve

I am doing that already, and have a lump sum to invest in repairs, chemicals, marketing and training.  I know how hard I can graft, and what the potential rewards can be if you are the one taking 100% of the cash, rather than having to hand over up to 80% to a larger company.

What were they spending getting customers were they presold, do you have selling skills? 

So you were doing  £2000 of work a week for them , at what price per foot.

What concerns me is you say you have not got much for marketing , and although some people say Web Sites bring work in I think you will still need to invest in old fashioned marketing

[matcare]

If I were you I would get a part time job to give you some cash flow and spend the rest of the time leafleting and building a good database of customers,

It will take 18 months to 2 years to build a business to live off,

Steve

I am doing that already, and have a lump sum to invest in repairs, chemicals, marketing and training.  I know how hard I can graft, and what the potential rewards can be if you are the one taking 100% of the cash, rather than having to hand over up to 80% to a larger company.

What were they spending getting customers were they presold, do you have selling skills?  

So you were doing  £2000 of work a week for them , at what price per foot.

What concerns me is you say you have not got much for marketing , and although some people say Web Sites bring work in I think you will still need to invest in old fashioned marketing

Hi Ian, I don't know what the marketing budget was, but they had a mix of flyers, telesales, Yellow Pages, word of mouth, repeat custom, newspaper ads.  A fairly large and well established firm.

A full week would be around £2000 of work, which would get me around £400, depending on their cut.   Some weeks though, I would be doing 2-3 days for them, so would only get £250-300, plus any private work I could get. 

Most of it was on a fixed price per room, pre sold, the price quoted was the price the customer paid.  Majority of jobs were in three-four bed semis or terraces, or small flats, very little variation in size.

I've got a fairly reasonable budget for marketing, haven't got a website up yet, but am working on it.  I've also acquired some sales skills in the last couple of years.  

As I mentioned before, I rushed into it last time, without much planning, but am planning meticulously this time, learning from past mistakes, and am much more confident and motivated.  

[Jamie Lindsay]

Wat was there fixed prices ?

[Craigp]

£2k a week T.O for them is good, and that was using a portable?

What area are you?

[Jamie Lindsay]

Glasgow area... was meaning fixed prices per room?

[robertphil]

thinking of doing window cleaning on ladders? its very popular with the oldies

[matcare]

Wat was there fixed prices ?

Usually about £30 a room, for average sized houses, depending on any promos they had going.   

[matcare]

£2k a week T.O for them is good, and that was using a portable?

What area are you?

For them that was good, and they had 3-4 guys out doing the sweaty stuff, while they took the lion's share.  It was a portable, Ashby's Ninja.  I'm in S.E. England.

[robertphil]

where in the south east. if youre nearby i could funnel you in a bit of ladderwork if you wanted

[Ian Gourlay]

How man rooms were you doing a day . 12 thats amazing did you move furniture . what happened when you hit a dirty carpet.

name and shame the company  you owe them nothing