[Mike Osbourne]

Hello everyone,

My name is Mike and I found this site a couple of days ago (at 3am) and it has pretty much made my mind up to go for it. I got made redundant in january and have been at my wits end as the average job in weston super mare north somerset seems to be around £12k

I've read a lot and initially I thought I'd start cheap with 2nd hand kit or maybe the Alltec package cos they seem to give the impression they will make you successful if you follow their advice and are a grafter (that's me )  However experienced guys seem to think alltec machines can be a bit iffy and not much power so am I right in thinking this plan is sound.

1 get trained (would do NCCA, but no courses for ages), where can I get trained on the CFR kit

2 Buy kit, CFR machine c. £2500? what else do I need apart from machine, chems etc?

3 Do I HAVE to have a van? I don't have any cash left after a machine what are my options, would my Mondeo be a total non starter even for a few months ?

4 marketing, a mate will do some free leaflets, but I will doorknock or whatever I need to do to make it work.

Please respond, you would be doing me a great favour.

Thanks

Mike

 

[keen2clean]

hi mate i actually baught my machine from a guy down your way and he said he just cudnt make it work down there. Not to put you off im sure if anyone trys hard enough with the correct marketting it can work.
I found a van pretty much essential but im a bit of a weed and roll my machine into my van
You can pick up a suzuki super carry quite cheap these days very cheap to insure and tun.
Ashbys i find are a great supplier
Any questions mate email me at keenerkleaner@fsmail.net
im not that experienced but will try and help ya, u are in the right place for help and advice tho everyone i freindly and very knowledgable.
regards ray

[stains-away]

Hi Mike, theres an NCCA course in Leicester on the 26th & 27th of May,I dont know if theres any places left with it being short notice but worth a try if you can make it up there, Andy

[craigp]

good idea to keep over heads low, its tough getting going, don't want to be negitive just that best be prepared. very competitive biz.

[spickandspan]

NCCA  over rated i manage very well without them.

[Derek]

The NCCA courses are comprehensive and generic....they do not sell products but will give you knowledge on all types of equipment (machines and chemicals) carpets, upholstery fabrics.
You will learn a lot... this will give you more confidence to go out there and do the job.

You only have to read these boards to see the diverse ideas and comments ..very often contradictary... you need sound basic knowledge from the outset....go on a course

[craigp]

i'never never been on NCCA course either, like spick and span i've got on just fine too.

theres no real need, it wont determine your success not by a long shot,

keep the dosh. you'll need it.

[Mike Halliday]

Craig & spik n span, how do you suggest he learns how to clean carpets?

MIke

[carpetclean]

NCCA  IS A MUST  people are becoming aware of these trade bodies. last three jobs i have had are from the ncca web link.
Just to mention about starting up  I bought a speedster from woodbridge was given a very good discount. 450 psi and two heaters that get very hot . cfm is very good. well built and tidy it is very good value for the money. i bought it as a back up to the t/m but feel it would hold its own as a main machine

[spickandspan]

Hi Mike when i started back in 1992 i bought a Prochem machine and that included a FREE course.
Like many machine manufactures they will give you some FREE training NCCA and other like those to me just want your money you will be far better keeping it in your pocket as you will need it, when i started many guys said you wont have made it until you have traded for about seven years and it sure seems  true.
Also dont let the advertising run away with you monitor ALL work and find where it comes from, I wasted lots of money on useless adverts and flyers.

[Matt Townend]

NCCA course will give you a good insight and show you the do's and dont's.  It is worth going on the courses to meet other carpet cleaners some of which have been in the industry a long time.  Just speaking to them about what systems they use, techniques etc is very educational.  Its a goldmine of info.

I would get a van its really hardwork trying to get the gear in and out of a car.  Looks more professional as well.

Buy 2nd hand gear all my machines were bought 2nd hand it will save you thousands.  Some people find out cc isn't for them and sell their starter kits which have hardly been used.  Check the used equipment section on this forum.

Best of luck

[John Rimmer Marshall & Rimmer Ltd]

Here we go again if its not witch is the best machine its is the NCCA any good or not. I have been on my own for about 12 yrs and am not in the NCCA that does not mean i never would be as i feel there could be potential benefits, and have the utmost respect for Paul Pearce who i have known for a long time
However i do beleave the vast magorety of the puplic have no idea about
trade organisations and if you asked them what the NCCA was or stood for
they understandably would not know or care. Ok it might be up to us to tell them but would they still care ?

                                                        TAke Care John

                                              

[spickandspan]

Spot on John................... Spot on   

[BRSL]

Hi mike

I hope you go down the route of training as I believe it is essential, I went with the NCCA but had been cleaning carpets for about 5 years first, but some people do say it a bit intensive when first starting, but dont be missled into thinking you will gain a lot of work from them as you live in area similar to me and have to push yourself hard as the phone dont just ring, people in the non city like communities dont look for carpet cleaners much, they need a little encouraging, but the technical advice even after care advice is priceless.

as for chemicals, I personaly stick with one main supplier as it's easy to build a good relashionship with them and push for discount, but I have solutions probably from them all which I use regulary, it's personal choice, use the ones that work for you, and ask for samples first.

As for the car, mmm id push for a van if you can as you do need to come accross professional and a sign written van works wonders, your first year counts as this is when your buiding your reconition and reputation,

a good uniform works well too just got my new shirts in, black and orange, my logo on breast, NCCA on left collor and Hydramster on the other fully imbroydered £19 each will post some pics and details if I can get the time

If your keen to start learning have a look at this EBook, it was posted here a while ago, I havent had time to look at it but it's apparently quite good, it will give you a head start http://web.archive.org/web/20010428061322/http://members.nbci.com/uphcleaner/

James

[cleansmartsupplies]

Hi Mike,

In answer to your questions, here's my advice for what it's worth:

1. Training
Look into the NCCA, IICRC, or get a free training course with your machine. Don't start without training first.

2. Machine and equipment
As a distributor of CFR machines I probably shouldn't say this, but spending £2500 on a machine if you're on a tight budget would be madness!

All you need is a decent, reliable entry level machine (at least 2 vacs + 100psi pump). A more expensive machine won't clean better, only faster (a good operator with a 100psi machine will clean just as well as a good operator with a £20,000 truck mount. It will just take him longer!).

3. Van
In terms of space, you might be able to fit what you need inside a car. However, it may be harder to get people to hire you if you don't have a van. It doesn't need to be new, just clean and tidy.

4. Marketing
Leaflets and door knocking are very good ways to get work without spending a lot. A good distributor may be able to advise you on what other low cost marketing you can use. Also do a search on this forum.

Don't expect to make much money to start with though, it will take time to build up, but the rewards are there if you get it right.

Hope that's helpful,
Matt

[BRSL]

(a good operator with a 100psi machine will clean just as well as a good operator with a £20,000 truck mount. It will just take him longer!).

    are you trying to wind some people up today Matt

hows the new office and stores going, got any newsletters to post out yet 

James

[mark_roberts]

Imagine a plumber coming to your door in a mondeo, old tatty tools, not the right tools for the job, no insurance, no offical training, no real confidence in what hes doing, not a member of any trade body, no uniform.

Now how would your wife, mother, grandmother feel?  Confident, entrusting, comfortable, willing to refer you?  I dont think so.  95% of your jobs will be to women in the domestic market.

You need to start as you mean to go on.  Become a businessman not a carpet cleaner.

I predict that when the NCCA introduces the new standard for carpet cleaning those who are members will be cleaning up the market.  Those who dont see the value in the NCCA will be losing out big time.

Mark

[spickandspan]

Rubbish Mark rubbish as the man said mrs house wife will never have heard of them?? the only people who make money from NCCA is NCCA that is my personal word.

[cleansmartsupplies]

Type the words 'carpet cleaner' or 'carpet cleaning' into Google and what do you get? That's what makes the NCCA membership fee more attractive than it used to be in my opinion.

Membership aside, the training is undeniably good.

It will be interesting what effect, if any, the new standard for carpet cleaning will have. How will Mrs Housewife know about it?

Matt

[Neil Grainger]

I made this point a while ago about the NCCA needing to market to the customer and not us,

If they do that then it would be worth doing, Not even 1% of my Customers know about the NCCA or care.

Training is excellent and Paul Pearce is top but other than the training they just dont offer enough.

Everyone knows about Corgi for Plumbing and heating, Thats why I would use them because I know they are there. Nobody has heard of the NCCA except us.

NCCA needs to improve it profile to the public