[Martin S]

Hello all,

As a potential 'newbie' to CC, currently at the 'research' stage, I was wondering if any of you that have started out in the business in the last twelve months, would be willing to share your experiences, good or bad (hopefully not too much of the latter) with everyone else.

For example:

How did you research the market potential in your area?  

How did you assess what your competitors were doing, in order to work out your pricing policy?

What training did you attend, and do you feel that it armed you with sufficient knowledge, competence and confidence, to go out into that big wide world and, 'do the business'?

What equipment did you buy initially, and, with the benefit of hindsight, would you have bought differently?

What was your marketing strategy, and what do you feel was the best way of promoting your business in the early stages?

Have you found it extremely difficult to get that phone ringing?  Or was it easier than you expected?

Were you still in other employment when you started out?  Are you still employed, or have you taken that brave step and 'gone it alone'?

Lastly, and equally as important I believe.  Do you actually enjoy Carpet cleaning, and do you see this as you new vocation, period?

I look forward to any comments you may have.

Many thanks

Martin S

[neil 47]

Hi martain

Welcome to carpet cleaning I started about 10 months ago and also moved to a new area  .  


1)Didn,t do any research just took the avice of cc on this forum and was very lucky that another carpet cleaner took me out for the day(thanks again Martin) this was invaluabe.
And would recmend you do this as a first.

2)I got the wife to ring around for quotes.

3) I did my training at alltec with paul pearce and passed the exam for IICRC . IT was a excellent 2 day course

4) I bought my machine from alltec after getting advice from other cleaners

5)marketing is the key to it allwithout it your stuffed ,it all depends how much money youve got to spend.
I leaflet and use word of mouth.

6)Its very hard in the begining but you have to keep goin and graduall work will come.

7)I still work in another job full time so I   CC AT W/ENDS AND EVENING NOT IDEAL.

8)LOVE IT  JUST LOVE IT


NEIL

[Martin S]

Hi Neil,

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply.  It can be very daunting going into something new, so it's nice to see the views of other people that have been in the same boat, to see how they have got on.  I must admit, I hadn't thought of my other half as a resource, looks like there's some work coming her way.

Do you hope to give up your current work eventually?

I wish you continuing success.

Anyone else want to share theeir experiences?

Martin S  

[Martin_Riley]

Hi Neil. How are you ? are you busy? I think if you keep going you will get there in the end. It isn't easy for any of us in the beginning. I have to admit to having second thoughts a few months after taking the plunge but am doing very nicely now.
Martin, the best advice I can give is get yourself on either the NCCA course or the IICRC one run by Alltec to get the relevant training. This will answer a lot of your qestions and give you a lot of confidence when going for it.
With regard to equipment I think that if you are serious about starting up then you will need a portable machine with two 3 stage vac motors, a 100 PSI pump and at least a 3KW internal heater. Also a twin jet carpet wand, handtool, 2 x 25ft vac and solution hoses and a couple of buckets. There are a few more things you need that can be added at a later date.
I would also try to find a freindly carpet cleaner on these boards near to you that will be willing to take you out for a day or two as this will be time very well spent.
Hope this helps, if you need any more info just ask.
By the way fill out your profile box and you will get more replies from others on this board as some are unwilling to reply to people they don't know anything about.
Martin Riley

[Ian Gourlay]

My advice is Marketing is the key.

Are you prepared to do the foot work can you afford to pay for a megga launch.

Have you any marketing experience.

Carpet Cleaning is easy

Marketing is the key.

[Dynafoam]

Let's not forget that the best cleaning is the very best marketing.

[Mike Halliday]

sorry John I can't agree with you, success in  carpet cleaning has nothing to do with how well you can clean carpet.
I know lots of great carpet cleaners ( who are cleverer & better than me) who make less money than me.

Martin, I'll give you the best start-up advise in the world, its a closely gaurded secret that normally I'd charge over £3,000 for but I'm feeling generous.

get a street map of the area you live in and markout your house, then get a protractor and draw a circle of 3 miles around your house. don't market or look for work outside this area.

trust me, in 5 years time you'll thank me for that advise

( actually you won't because you won't follow it )

Mike

[Mark Betts]

Yes, But there has to be a balance.

I am sure there are more hard up "excellent" cleaners than there are succesful "average" cleaners.

Like Ian said "Marketing is the Key".

Its no good being the best cleaner in the world if no one knows you exist.

When you first start up you initially need the customers before you can start getting referrals.

Mark


Bloody ell Mike!!!

Are u hacking my PC !!!!!  

Or maybe just great minds an all that  

[neil 47]

Mike I did what you said with the map only trouble is
I,ve only 127 house,s in the 3 mile area .
What do I do now lol


   Neil

[Mike Halliday]

MOVE  

[neil 47]

They say there  crying out for a good carpet cleaner in hull, might move there  


         Neil

[Dynafoam]

Mike,

Your approach clearly works for you.

Happily mine works well for me  

John.

[gwrightson]

good advise mike ,
as you know i havnt been more than 3 miles from base
apart from odd job in Hull.
and contented with amount of work
before any one replys i say contented, with a veiw to been
even happier still my first year so cant grumble
geoff

[woodman]

Hi Martin

Marketing is the key as already said,I am doing pretty much the same in the coming months.

You could do what Mike says if you want to remain close to home, you could even wheel your machine from job to job  wouldn't need a van

For my part I couldn't be so parochial I would market further afield it's a big wide world out there working in such a tight area day in day out would drive me bananas

I can work up to 40 miles away from base and love it nothing like having a nice drive out,so long as the price is right

But it's all up to the individual.Hitting all the homes in such a small radius means you will get a mix of all sorts of customers which means you have to set your price to attract all.
I tend to target my customers and this means a much wider area to cover but as I say I prefer to do this as I like getting out and about.
This is the first thing you have to decide, what is your target segment

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Martin,

Whilst I agree that marketing/selling is an absolutely fundamental part of building a carpet cleaning business , I also believe being good at cleaning is very important.

Reasons being:

Every repeat/recommendation is one you d'ont have to pay for.(all 4 of my jobs today are old customers)

You will feel much happier with yourself if you are going around spreading joy , or at least doing a good job!

Because you want to be good you will challenge yourself to improve and you will become good.

Cheers,

Doug

[Mike Halliday]

Let me explain my 3 mile theory a bit more, if you live on a council estate surrounded by crackhouses then it won't work, if you only work in £3million house it won't work( unless thats where you live)
but if you live in an average income area then it works fine.

I can't see the point of driving across town when all the customers you'll ever need live  within 3 miles, I did 2 qoutes this morning before my first job at 9am, I popped home twice for coffee.

Imagine your van constantly driving around a 3 mile area, or having done work in 25% of houses in some streets, you soon build up a high profile. everyone knows your name

it is madness to ignor the 3 mile rule, this is why I don't now advertise in th Y/P it covers too big an area. I do sometimes work outside my area because of reccommends but these customers never get sent any reminder card or specail offers this way i stop my area ( but not my customer base) growing.

Woodman if you like driving so much get a job as a delivery driver

Mike

[Mark Betts]

Mike

My sentiments exactly ( not about woodman getting  ajob as a delivery driver   )

But,

the last month or so I have concentrated all my efforts in my local area.

Population 3500 !!!!

Last week all but one of my jobs were out in my area and I saved a fortune on deisel, plus as you say you can pop home for a cuppa in between jobs.

But the main advantage as you say is eventually I will virtually dominate my area.

There is another carpet cleaner in my village/small town and it doesnt effect me one bit. In fact I heard it on good authority froma friend that the past month he has been helping her boyfriend fit kitchens!!!


Mark

[woodman]

I'll have you know that I have been a delivery driver and I didn't mind it one bit


Trevor

[neil 47]

Mike ,please dont take this the wrong way as I ofton read your post and learn alot from them and I,m only asking this question to learn from you .
I agree with you why would anyone what to travel more than 3 miles.
why then do you put out so many leaflets

and why do drive cleaning.

               Neil
 

     

[Phil Marlor]

You old boys who need to go home for a cuppa

Customer always makes me a drink!
Many even make me a sandwich!

Must admit I work anywhere, I dont mind the odd drive out somtimes, gives me time to wake up before I see the customer.

Phil