[Kyle warrington]

Hi All
I am looking to start my own business in the Bristol Area and am looking for some advice and tips.
I would like to offer carpet cleaning and oven cleaning as I think they will each bring in some good business.
I have been out with My mate Richard from Personal Touch Cleaning Services (North Devon) so I have a good understanding of the basics now.
I Would be greatful of any advice and info on the following =

Machines to go for ? for carpet cleaning and oven cleaning
How to market myself ?
Issues people have had starting out?
Vouchure Deals (do they work?)
Suppliers to go for or avoid?
Training?

[AshWhite]

Here's a tip:

Forget everything Richard told you




The first things I would say are take a look at how busy you expect to be for the first 12 months - and halve it.
Then, take a look at how much you've set aside for marketing for the first 12 months - and double it.

That's not me being a tw@t, its a harsh truth that many find (including myself) at startup.

Good luck!

[Aquakleen Restoration Services]

Totally I agree with Ash!

[feldon]

Here's a tip:

Forget everything Richard told you




The first things I would say are take a look at how busy you expect to be for the first 12 months - and halve it.
Then, take a look at how much you've set aside for marketing for the first 12 months - and double it.

That's not me being a tw@t, its a harsh truth that many find (including myself) at startup.

Good luck!

Scarily true

To put it into context you will probably earn more working in Tesco's stacking shelves at least for the 1st two years but if you work hard, very hard then you might make a decent living 3 - 5 years down the line.  I've only been doing this for two years and am still struggling. I did oven cleaning for 9 months but gave it up as to be honest it was soul destroying and did not give the return that carpet cleaning can, that being said it is a much easier sale.

[james roffey]

Ash is spot on

Been going four years invested £15,000 in the business i am sure many will say you don't have to spend that much they are right but it will take a lot longer to establish yourself without, as has been said do not underestimate marketing costs and strategy above all else if the phone don't ring it doesn't matter if you have a triple vac all singing and dancing  machine.
I do carpet cleaning only and i know a local oven cleaner no idea having seen his equipment how you could combine the two, but some do maybe not using the correct equipment ? not sure though.
I had my oven done by him recently and he charges about £50 for a double oven i could earn more than double that easy per hour carpet cleaning.
But that is the point when i am working my hourly rate is pretty good but deduct running costs and the hours i am not working, still glad i did it though it does give me a living and a lot more time to spend with family.

Previous comments are right though you would earn more at Tescos, no overheads at all, if you do go through with it look at it as an investment for the future, remember though about half of all new business's don't survive more than five years. i would advise some half decent equipment, do a professional job don't undercut everyone as you want to build a good solid client base, although this increases risk as you will lose out on some customers the ones who will always want a lounge done for £15 no big loss i believe, and research on every forum, library, internet on how to market your business i found  guys who were doing well and studied what made them successful, some seem determined to become the next Richard Branson of carpet cleaning and quite frankly are out of my league as i just want to run a small business earn a few quid have a holiday once in a while and spend more time with my family, something i could not do before.
But they have the recipe for success and have made it work, the vast majority on here are doing a good job, so you have started in the right place, good luck

PS Paid that loan off in January full and final settlement so less overheads this year, probably more investment though :

[Richard Basey-Fisher]

Ash your off my friends list lol

[AshWhite]

Ash your off my friends list lol

[Billy Russell]

Ash your off my friends list lol

You've got to have friends to have a friends list!


 

[Richard Basey-Fisher]

wondered when you would pipe up little blower how's the sheep you Welsh prickle

[clinton]

Some good posts above for you kyle.

Looking at the number of start ups this last years some think its an easy option into business.

Good luck .

[Simon Gerrard]

Gone are the days when you could buy a cheap machine and then place an advert in your local rag and hey presto, the phone starts ringing and you're a carpet cleaner.
These days it takes a great deal of dedication, perserverance, the right equipment, training and most importantly of all - the right attitude!! You also need quite a bit of money, not just for the proper equipment but more so for the advertising and marketing required just to keep you're head above water, let alone make a living.
Many newbies believe that being competitive is about price - it is not, it is about quality and with limited budgets find themselves skimping on equipment and training and cannot produce results worthy of having their customer's think of them as, 'their carpet cleaner,'and without a high customer retention rate you simply cannot build a successful business.
If I were you I'd be doing a lot of research into your competitors, looking at how they do things, with a firm eye on trying to find ways of doing it better, so that there is something unique and distinctive about what you do that has you stand OUT from and not IN the crowd.
Good luck

Simon

[Russ Chadd]

Some good posts above for you kyle.

Looking at the number of start ups this last years some think its an easy option into business.

Good luck .

Hey Clinton.. hows it going?

[Robert Watson]

Good post Simon

[clinton]

Hi Russ.Going ok thanks and the same as i last spoke to you.

Hope you have some luck selling the prowler it looks in great condition.

[Paul Moss]

Kyle, window cleaning would prob be best to start off for your first couple of years.

[Len Gribble]

Paul

You beat me to it

[Ian Gourlay]

Kyle

If you use search facility you should find the answer to your questions.

Problem is to answer them all would require writing a start up guide, but I am certain a few hours on search facility you will find posts on marketing, best companies debates on equipment. etc.

I would also suggest a phone call to all suppliers would help. As you are in West Country give Soultions a call but bear in mind their machines are not supplied with heaters, although some would arque you do not need them. But general consensus on here is you do at least need  the option

[Daren Morrish]

I totally agree with Simons advice, and in addition would suggest the following:

Get your hands on as many quality books as you can regarding,

1. Marketing

2. Copy Writing

3. Branding

4. Selling

5. Internet marketing

6. Advertising

If you do this you will realise the amount of work ahead of you and should avoid a lot of expensive mistakes, (unlike myself.)

The actual cleaning of the carpets themselves is the easy bit.

Daren

[Mike Halliday]

I think the carpet cleaning knowledge is played down too much in favour of marketing knowledge, as though the hard thing is getting the work not cleaning the carpets

but really they go hand in hand, if all you are going to say on the phone is....... "that will be £20".... then OK but if you are going to charge a premium price you need to talk the talk. having the carpet cleaning knowledge makes it a lot easier to put your self across as a competent carpet cleaner capable of quality work who is worthy of a good price.

so learn about marketing but read everything possible about carpet cleaning.

[wynne jones]

If you want to pour money into kit, van, training chemicals and OK with being a few grand down this time next year I say go for it.