[scott.]

hi.. im in the process of starting my carpet cleaning business, and i live in the south east..near slough.
looking in the yellow pages for this area, it's full of ads..
was wondering...is there really enough work for everyone in this game?? its gettin me worried :-/

[Big_Fish]

Hi,
We are also in the South East, in Hertfordshire.
There is plenty of work. Yellow Pages is only a small piece of the pie. Over time your marketing will encorporate many different areas. Yellow Pages always looks daunting, Yell.Com is another angle on YP that is worth a try (enhanced listings are better).
Work out your target market early on and aim your adverts directly at your chosen area.
Leaflets can also be a good way of getting work, hand delivered by you in the areas where you want to build up recommendation & repeat business.

Try to turn your worry into motivation.
"Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due"

Monday is a good day to start.
(is the rain hammering down in Slough?)

Regards,
BFN

[Bryan H]

Scott

I work in Berks area, in fact I have been out to Langley today, just up the road from Slough of course!
It can always be difficult starting in any new business, as I well remember.  But this area is VERY heavily populated as you will know and I can assure you that there is more than enough work for everybody who wants it.  just requires a lot of initial effort to find your own niche market.

Bryan  

[paulchambers]

The carpet cleaning is the easy bit getting customers is the hard bit . Its the case of keep going you will get there and dont be put off when you get no work a second income may be required until you get on your feet cc

[Dynafoam]

The carpet cleaning is the easy bit getting customers is the hard bit .

Now that remark worries me.

I would argue that any untrained idiot can get a carpet cleaning job.................

Cleaning a carpet to a professional standard is an entirely different matter.

John.

[paulchambers]

Once agian a good reply  

[Big_Fish]

...And getting a second job means that you are able to put less effort into the marketing, legwork, research and training needed to make a successful business from scratch.
The harder you work early on pays dividends long term.
It's like sowing seeds, some will thrive and others will fail but if you've not planted enough at the start there won't be a big enough harvest.

Legwork costs very little other than time and determination. Determination and success go hand in hand.
Having a realistic goal, eg: To double turnover every 3 to 6 months is achievable and leads to a healthy full time income after about 2 years.

BFN

[scott.]

Thanks lads !   I take your point....and yes, its tipping it down here...might clean the place up a bit I am fully trained, so im fairly confident, but like most, have shelled out a great deal of dosh starting up etc..was just worried about recouping it fairly quickly. I do have a second income anyway, working at night, but its not enough, so i hope its as good as they say.

[Big_Fish]

...and lasses

[Dynafoam]

Scott,

.........so i hope its as good as they say.

It's as good as you make it

(Which is pretty much the point that BNF made)

[scott.]

AND LASSES !

[Ian Gourlay]

Although I agree with Paul about second income it can slow down development of core bussiness.

Trey the knock two days knocking could fill your diary for a fortnight. At least you will know potential demand.

[scott.]

cool ! I do understand what youre saying...I have a structure in place, whereby the second job wont prevent me from doing this..its called "my mrs"  and you will probably think im nuts, but i would be happy with just 1 or 2 job a day.