[Ian Gale]

Hello everyone,

After reading this site and some other sites over a period of over a year I have decided that I would like to start my own CC business.
I would like to ask you friendly CC'S for some advice.  I will try to give you as much information as I can think of, but I will probably forget something so if I do please ask.

I have just short of 10K to invest so here goes.
On the training front I was going to go either with Altec or NCCA although a little more research is needed so if any of you nice people have any advice to give or experiences I would be very pleased to hear from you.
As for marketing I was thinking about leaflet drops by the thousands targeting medium to high income areas, yellow pages and papers.  So again if any of you friendly CC have any advice or magic leaflets that work and don't mind sharing I would be very grateful to hear from you.
I would like to gain a reputation for quality and not being the cheapest in town (not saying this is right or wrong way to go just the way I would like to operate that’s all).
I have just short of 10k to invest so I will have to buy the best machines I can afford leaving money for marketing too, so again any advice will be gratefully received.
The final problem I have are the doubting Thomas of the world.  Mainly my wife who has reservations and looks down on the idea a litttle. I am working in IT at the moment and earn between 20-25k at the moment but need a min of 13k to survive.
Which brings me to my final question.  I know this is a very hard question to answer but I do need to ask it before I commit myself.  Do you think it is possible to NET 13k in the first year after what I have wrote above hard question I know but I would like to ask it.

Thanks very much for taking your time to read this post and as I said any advice good or bad would be gratefully received.

[Big_Fish]

Hi,

13K ia achievable.
Starting a business from scratch is very hard work and will take time to get established.
Working hard at marketing (of the right kind) is equally as important as training.
You already sound like you have some idea of your desired target market, you have to find ways to make your advert/leaflet etc stand out from the others out there until you begin to get established.

Providing a professional service from the very first customer is a sure way to get a good name and eventually recommendation will follow.

Have you looked at business building programmes & start-up packages? 10K will hardly cover start up costs of that also includes getting a van. A smart van speaks volumes. The majority of domestic customers who are prepared to pay for a first class service deserve and expect to have a tidy van on the drive.
Work will also be generated from a clean sign written van.

Prochem make portable machines that are good for starting up. Check out A&M Cleaning Supplies in Watford
Tel: 01923 671587 for their start up packeages.


Good Luck

BFN

[scott.]

Ian,

There is also the prochem training course that you can attend, depending on where you are geographicaly, i guess the alltec one may be closer to you. In my opinion, i think they are as good as the rest of them.
you need a small van, a machine, the necesary products,and tools...(which dont cost a lot) and the know-how...provided at training... As a lot of people on here will probably agree, the marketing is the biggest headache, especially if you live in a sparsley populated area...advertising on free listings, such as yell.com and touch, are free...as is van graphics. a reasonable ad in yellow pages only costs about £360..an leaflet drops can be a bonus....i know this probably of no help to you, but tell your mrs that the money is good, depending on where you live in the country. personaly, i wouldnt bother with local paper ads..theyve never worked for me.....just tell people what you do, and keep telling them...word spreads fast.

[martin19842]

i also agree, I am in slightly different arena, but deliver the service, for the money you want to charge, sell the cleint the benefit VALUE FOR MONEY not cheap is best.

we have spent not a lot of money, but have a new van, clothing, all the right chemicals, commercially equipment, mops, vacuums etc, and the correct paperwork.

turn, smart on time, clean vehicle, and do the job, that client talking to other people is brilliant, and the word will spread, when leaving the client, offer to leave say three cards,  something like "i'll leave a couple of cards and if you know anyone that needs the service get them to give me a call, thanks" sometimes they might even say my friend down the road is talking about having some work done.  

how good is that a Hot referral.!!

good luck, the motto is work hard and achieve the results and earn the money.  Set yourself a target and reach the target.

regards

martin

[Fintan_Coll]

Ian, would you not consider starting up on a part time basis say in youre spare time, Saturdays and the like. Hold on to your day job for a while if you can, when you get your business built up a little you will know the time is then right to go full time.

[martin19842]

fintan,
thats a good idea, but the thing is, you are then trying to do two things at once, and i think that we will all agree, whilst not being rocker science, this industry does demand dedication and concentration.

i got to a situation where basically i had, had enough of working for someone else, and therefore i have gone self employed, admittedly partnered to a national property services company, therefore maybe slightly easier,  But still a risk.

so good luck to all

reagards

martin

[Len Gribble]

Ian

Before committing yourself/money to this industry it’s worth contacting a cc more or less local to you and find out is it for you!

Len

[scott.]

big-fish!
Blimey, things must be expensive up in herts!
I managed it with 4k ish, and that's with a smart van too...maybe you mean truck mount costs exceed 10k, but certainly a portable business dosnt cost that much, if you dont fall for the sales pitch of some of the training academies....shop around..there is more than 2 companies that make these machines with the same spec, at half the price..and a good van can be aquired at auction, or even ebay..they are the major purchase requirements, yeh

[Big_Fish]

Hi Scott,

If you take into account a van, signwriting, insurance, tax, fuel.
Training, machinery, equipment, solutions, consumables.
Marketing & advertising.
Telephone, computer, stationery, printing, postage.
Bank charges, workwear, accountancy, Public Liability Insurance (maybe with treatment risk), membership to NCCA or similar...and the list goes on.

Did you really set up a company for 4K?

I still say 10K is pushing it.

And, no we don't run a truck mount and didn't have a new van to start with either!

To do it with a new van and have everything in place, I think a realistic figure is probably nearer 20K.
Many people will take out loans to start a business because the set up costs are higher than initially planned.

Regards,
BFN

[scott.]

hi big-fish
sorry, yes it was around 4-4.5k....and i guess youre right, there are other things to consider, however a lot of those are indeed un-necesary, like accountant(do it yourself) van insurance-just sold the car and transfered the insurance over at no extra cost...ncca membership(not necesary)...i have a full time job working at night, so i went into this with the attitude that i wouldnt rush in feet first and spend spend spend..i planned carefuly as there was no rush, and eliminated the un-necesary spending, and carefully shopped around for the best bargains and cutting out any and all of the things that wernt required. I used to do overtime during the day in my current job, and as this dried up, cc was to be the replacement, and so have set a goal of 1 or 2 jobs a day, which far exceeds my former earnings, and as you would probably agree is well worth spending 4k or even 10k, as these outlays would very quickly be recouped, with a bit of effort....so would you agree, that new starters should adopt a similar aproach.. I do not rely on it for a living, however i do anticipate making it into a sucessfull business one day.
regards

[Big_Fish]

Scott,
As a second income your approach sounds fine.
However as an only income with a family, it's necessary to have everything ready from the beginning.

I stand by what I said, especially the training & memberships, the full on marketing and professional image.

We are coming at this issue from different ends of the spectrum.
Perhaps we are both right and should agree to differ.

BFN

[scott.]

big-fish
Im not disagreeing with you; on the contrary, i think youre right....however, even as a full time career, which i hope to make it one day...there is still no reason to pay out for things that arnt needed, if you get my drift.
professionalism does not have to be costly.
maybe im just  shrewd, but all the things you mentioned, i have...minus the un-essentials. weather or not its a full or part time operation, i think the basic principles are the same..just less work load.
regards

[John_McGavin]

Just thought I'd add to this conversation.

I started up same as Scott whilst keeping my full time job. I done my CC work in the evenings and the weekends with the occasional sickie here & there if the customer needed it done on a week day  

6 months down the line, I now work part time (2 or 3 days a week) for my employer and the rest of my time is for my business. My plan is to leave my job after christmas and concentrate 100% on the business.

Now this is the only way I could have done this. I have a family to support and mortgage like most people, so needed the security of a guaranteed income until I had enough at the back of me to go on my own so to speak. This has allowed me to slowly build up my business and buy all the equipment needed.

Scott, dont know how you done it for under £5k mate   Ive spent in the region of £12 to £14k getting myself a good tidy van and all the equipment and training.

I also agree with the other comments. As ive spent more time on the business (after going part time with my other job) my business has grown significantly. Im sure if you gave your business 100% from the start it would grow way quicker than starting up the way we have.

At the end of the day I think it all depends on the individual on how they want to start up. If I was a single guy I would have took the plunge but with a 3 year old daughter and wife to support plus a big bloody mortgage I had to take the longer route  

John

[Big_Fish]

Hi,

It's incredibly interesting to hear how we all got to be where we are. Just goes to show how different we all are but still all striving to achieve the same thing.

Personally I can't imagine what it would be like trying to juggle a job and a business (however part time).

BFN

[scott.]

hi john & big-fish
aw well, i guess its time i tried to justify my figures, roughly.
I sold my car, and bought a nice tidy van at an aution, with an additional cost of £400 ...I dont count the value of the car as it was already mine...training £300..portable from woodbridge engineering £1500...insurance for van..an extra £100..advertising..£500...gear and stuff..£500..0870 number free from global telecom..van graphics £83...accoutant..free (do my own books)....business cards..free from vista print.com....bottle of beer..asda £1.79....thats roughly it , in a nutshell.....if you can tell me what else i could be spending my money on, id be gratefull...cant get rid of it quick enough.

[Ken Wainwright]

Hi Scott

You have a posotive attitude, an enquiring mind and a positive approach to your new venture. You truly deserve to succeed.

As to what kit you need to buy, the list is so long and often diverse. I'd suggest finding a trusted carpet cleaner who will allow you to spend some time him/her. By seeing a job in progress you will better be able to assess what you need. If you are unable to source a suitable mentor here on Clean It Up, try Tim Ogden over on another forum, he may know one or two people who may be able to help/guide you.

Good luck.

Safe and happy cleaning:)
Ken

[Dynafoam]

Scott,

if you can tell me what else i could be spending my money on, id be gratefull...cant get rid of it quick enough.  

Insurance - treatment risk and public liability - would get rid of another lump.

[scott.]

got that too john .....might give it to the starving carpet cleaners in orkney fund.

[John_McGavin]

Scott, Im just down the road from Orkney, so feel free to send me the cash & I'll pass it on for you  

John

PS I see where I spent the rest of my money on ...... you only bought the one bottle of beer  

[scott.]

yes john
I spray the beer on after, in student lets...its a substitute for odour fresh, and keeps them happy, as they say it smells georgeous.