[clive ware]

Just out of interest, how many people on here have going from working on their own cleaning carpets to running 2, 3 or more vans?
In my late forties now, getting knackerred and weighing up options for the future.
Cheers

[Paul Moss]

Clive get trained up on other disciplines that are physically less demanding but also more profitable 

[clive ware]

Trouble is Paul, I`m flat out with carpet cleaning!

[dan paton]

clive if your flat out carpet cleaning u must know by your own books wether u can put another van on the road or not . if your flat out all the time surely a bit more creative marketing and hey presto another van

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

Or put your prices up

[wynne jones]

Or put your prices up

Beat me to it.

Although if your body doesn't allow you to work at all it doesn't matter what your prices are.

 

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Trouble is clive people are buy you not your hoppo Chav who you have employed, my get out plan is to pick and choose my jobs at a price that many may say no to I'll have to hone my sales techniques more, I plan to get my son working with me when he leaves school as he will (so I've been told by him) be taking his a levels then he can fund himself with wages and not get so many freebies.

Shaun

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Hi Clive

Following a serious operation a few years ago I started using a helper-principly to do the work whilst I supervised. Once I'd recovered and was able to do the work again myself I chose to continue using a helper.

Looking at my figures I reckon I can compoftably double my t/o compared to one man and a van by employing a second pair of hands to accompany me to every job.

The advantage of this is depending upon how you chose to employ the second person means that if it's quiet or or you chose to take a day's holiday you don't end up paying the helper for dead time.

Secondly the additional person will act as a "pace maker" so that when you are tired or unfocused they will help motivate you to keep going.

Finally I'm sure you agree that in many cases your clients are buying you as an individual-not your company. So as Shaun says putting a second van on the road with a "nobody" will not be as effective as you seeing all the clients but with a second pair of hands to boost your efficiency by at least 100%.

Rog

[dan paton]

good post rog ... more marketing clive as u will need a lot more punters to get through in a day

[david@zap-clean]

There's so much more to running a carpet cleaning business then cleaning carpets - we/you all know that.

As a business model, it's identical to many other businesses.  So, look at these to see how they manage to 'scale up' successfully.  There are a number of ways to grow...

[Steve Chapman]

We have 3 vans operating, & I now spend most of my time doing quotes i.e. actual visits, marketing, database & doing the paper work / running the office.

It works out quite well for us but you do have to constantly keep your foot on the gas & think about marketing all the time.

It does mean I can give that personal touch to all the customers and not feel rushed when seeing them, also giving time to upsell & talk about our add on services

On the downside you have to bring in a massive amount of work each week, so can't afford to get lazy about it,

Steve

[Warren Aldridge]

I'm in the process of 2 workers and 2 vans.

If you go for it, you need to scale up quick and get off the van to really drive the business and not hang about with just a helper and yourself. That way is not very profitable, you essentially need to double your income for only a slight improvement on the profits. Push through that level very quickly and then prepare for cold calling letting agents, offices, property maintenance companies etc etc..... look to quadruple turnover.

I'm getting off the van due to Anklosing Spondilitus on my spine which makes physical labour a nightmare.

At the moment because its all an experiment and trial and error. One helper didn't work for me at all though.
I've also put my prices up to the point where I wasn't converting any new business, I'm down to a happy medium.

Good luck

[Ian Gourlay]

Hi Clive

Following a serious operation a few years ago I started using a helper-principly to do the work whilst I supervised. Once I'd recovered and was able to do the work again myself I chose to continue using a helper.

Looking at my figures I reckon I can compoftably double my t/o compared to one man and a van by employing a second pair of hands to accompany me to every job.

The advantage of this is depending upon how you chose to employ the second person means that if it's quiet or or you chose to take a day's holiday you don't end up paying the helper for dead time.

Secondly the additional person will act as a "pace maker" so that when you are tired or unfocused they will help motivate you to keep going.

Finally I'm sure you agree that in many cases your clients are buying you as an individual-not your company. So as Shaun says putting a second van on the road with a "nobody" will not be as effective as you seeing all the clients but with a second pair of hands to boost your efficiency by at least 100%.

Rog

Rog

I presume you have your helper on a flexible or zero hours contract.
Was it somebody you new

[Kinver_Clean]

I found that when I had someone with me, once they had got into the swing of things we were quite a bit more than twice as fast- never could fathom why.

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

Hi Clive

Following a serious operation a few years ago I started using a helper-principly to do the work whilst I supervised. Once I'd recovered and was able to do the work again myself I chose to continue using a helper.

Looking at my figures I reckon I can compoftably double my t/o compared to one man and a van by employing a second pair of hands to accompany me to every job.

The advantage of this is depending upon how you chose to employ the second person means that if it's quiet or or you chose to take a day's holiday you don't end up paying the helper for dead time.

Secondly the additional person will act as a "pace maker" so that when you are tired or unfocused they will help motivate you to keep going.

Finally I'm sure you agree that in many cases your clients are buying you as an individual-not your company. So as Shaun says putting a second van on the road with a "nobody" will not be as effective as you seeing all the clients but with a second pair of hands to boost your efficiency by at least 100%.

Rog

Rog

I presume you have your helper on a flexible or zero hours contract.
Was it somebody you new

Ian

The works contract was drawn up by a friend who specialises in employment law. My helpers were defined as workers and not employees nor self-employed.

Some helpers were people I knew others were introduced to me by people I trusted. Only one person never really worked out.

Rog

[Steve Chapman]

The works contract was drawn up by a friend who specialises in employment law. My helpers were defined as workers and not employees nor self-employed.

Some helpers were people I knew others were introduced to me by people I trusted. Only one person never really worked out.

Rog

Surely they have to be one or the other, how were they paid etc

Steve

[clive ware]

Thanks for your replies. Will take them all on board. Probably best to try and find a good helper first. I do worry though if for any reason I cant work, I`ll have no money coming in! 

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I've thought of that and I'm going to get rid of the wife and kids that's where my money goes.

Shaun

[Ian Gourlay]

Just googled workers contracts but did not get very far, but found an article on Mcdonalds having all their staff on zero hours contracts

Also National Health Service also doing it.

Think I need to talk to my Solicitor again perhaps pay her to set soothing up.

Guys learn from me plan to get off the van before its too late. I am now fighting a rear guard action.

[Jim_77]

Know what you mean after the hotel I stayed at in Rhyl