[sturner]

Hi

I am considering going into the domestic carpet cleaning business and like the idea of the size of the market that's right on my doorstep.  I have sales and marketing experience and am pretty well organised, but no experience outside of a failed carpet shampoo with a vax.

Give the choice, would any of you go in this business again now, if you had a choice?

What advice would you give to someone considering this occupation?

Regards

Steven

[lee_gundry]

try filling in your profile.

you may be on someone,s doorstep,so to speak.

Lee G

[sturner]

Thanks for pointer Lee.

I've included some info, to be honest there isn't a lot to add.

Regards

Steven811

[Martin S]

Steven,

I can only echo what Lee G has just said.  

I am in a similar position to you with regard to getting into the business.  

These forums are a fantastic source of information (I'm still trawling through past posts).  Some of the guys on these boards have years of knowledge and experience of CC and most are really generous in imparting their time and knowledge of the industry to others, including new starters.  

As Lee says, you or I maybe on his doorstep, the least we can do is fill in a profile (even a rough geographical area is better than nothng at all).

Regards

Martin S

[Ken Wainwright]

If you are a one man band, it's the best job in the world. You live and breathe through your diary. If you want to work, you take bookings. If you want time off, you enter it in the diary and everything fits in around it. No premises to open and lock, no staff to worry about. It's great. Then you go out to earn your living and you meet all sorts of fascinating and interesting people of all generations and all income groups. If you're really good, you become a friend of the family. Even the "undesireables" with minging carpets can be be an education in life. I'd certainlydo it all again. It's a better job than being a test pilot for Slumberland

Safe and happy cleaning:)
Ken

[Mike Halliday]

If say, I had to move to a different area on the other side of the country and had to sart from scratch I would'nt start a carpet cleaning bussiness.

its too hard in the beggining, Ok after a few years it gets easier but I know a number of bussiness that can provide a good income almost emmediatly without all the marketing bull sh*t you have to put into a new carpet cleaning bussiness.

Please don't ask me what bussiness because I'm trying to get my wife to do one of them and don't want anyone else in this area jumping in first.

Mike

[paulchambers]

I also moved to a new area, Starting from scratch though hard and sometimes de moralising . Once you start to get work hopefully it will escalate and you we have a sense of achievement . Just keep plodding on

[Phil Marlor]

Yes is the answer to your question, plus I would never work for someone else.

As Ken says you are in control, somtimes I can be home by 2.00pm or 3.00pm and see the kids and still have earned £150/£200, how many people can say that.

I somtimes think about people travelling to London ( a lot of people commute in Stevenage) at 6.00am on the Train and getting home at 7.00/8.00pm, "NO THANKS" what sort of a life is that, I dont care how much they earn.

Although like at present I have so much work I tend to not enjoy it as much, I know that sounds strange but you can be too busy.

Its hard work, the Mrs is a kept woman so she thinks its a bloody good business to be in, and if she is happy my life cant be too bad.

Phil

[Derek]

Hi

I live on the outskirts of Leicester...I was born and raised here.

I have been in the cleaning business for over thirty years and therefore I am stuck...all my client base is here.

I would love to move to another area but as Mike has said I don't want all the hassle of starting over again.

Phil has got it right... work to live not live to work... I made that mistake and it got out of hand....

Derek

[sturner]

I really appreciate the honesty of the replies.

Thanks loads

Steven811

[woodman]

Would I go into this business again?

Yes only sooner than I did.

Would I do it differently?

Knowing what I know now, probably

But we all have to start somewhere and remember you learn most from your failures before you've cracked it.So you already have a head start.