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jasonl

  • Posts: 3183
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #20 on: November 22, 2010, 08:31:03 am »
My equipment cost £3500 new , van £1500 second hand .

Within 2 years I will be turning over just below the vat threshold in a year , that means 50k net potentially , though training courses to America and other foriegn places ;D , a nice car , home office to be built and pension payments will reduce that significantly. (and my tax bill)

That is the model I have chosen , I can then invest my pension in the real money spinner, commercial property vis a SIPP .= yes you can make a lot out of carpet cleaning.


The other model I have done is to scale the business , by adding Fire and flood , this is peppered with problems , mainly to do with employing people and paying them during quiet times, also the capital required is huge.  This is because I can supervise 3 vans on the road , adding just one extra van is not viable ,as my own earning power is reduced whilst spending time , getting work for, supervising ,and keeping van  2 on the road, so really I would need to jump to 3 vans  an one go , which means 15k investment , plus staff recruitment and training costs. 
I clean carpets
I dry Buildings

MAX Carpets

  • Posts: 869
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #21 on: November 22, 2010, 08:55:26 am »
its a very hard business this! but it seems like a new start up around here every week!

collins ReVive Stoneworks

  • Posts: 339
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #22 on: November 22, 2010, 09:22:35 am »
Karl

why would you want to clean carpets when you have your marble business? On my floor info site the marble video is one of the top plays i have. this shows demand for the service.

why?

looking at the hits on the many site i have they are down by a massive amount. again showing that demand is down.

I have never had such bad response from leaflets as i have lately.

my database again response is down.

I have no shame is saying that its hard for me at the moment.

But I am optimistic and am planing and making changes as i believe that the hock in carpet cleaning is that when you do work you earn much more than many professionals do.

Respect

Ian Harper



Thanks Ian truth is Marble stone restoration is a very hard work and fiflthy dirty

job with many issues and every job can be very demanding to get right.

carpet cleaning was a business i got in many years ago, that i loved to be honest,

no matter how hard i tried i could never really make a good living, maybe this area who knows i tried the alltec fastracky hing free rooms to get in the door etc newsletters cards referal cards, pink flyers etc etc,

there were many that just done yellow pages and were busier with no other marketing,

so in the end i blew out , just got plain tired, slowly broke as they say,

but i loved cleaning carpets and liked many of my  customers

so i went into stone as an added extra including floors of all types

after ten years reality kicks ya,

carpets and stone dont really go together unless you have a couple of vans

and different shirts, public perception i think. i may be wrong though?



Karl collins

JandS

  • Posts: 4265
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #23 on: November 22, 2010, 10:39:51 am »
£50 per week on fuel is a lot.

John
Impossible done straight away, miracles can take a little longer.

fitz2kleen

  • Posts: 373
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #24 on: November 22, 2010, 11:03:43 am »
its a very hard business this! but it seems like a new start up around here every week!

I think theres a new starter in everyones patch [ patch meant in loose termes] but I have seen them come and seen them go.
The key word is 'determination' these fly by nights are as much use as a chocolate fire guard the problem is once a cuzzy has been done by one of these its double the work to get them back in the mind set to use a reputable company.

regards Marc

M.Acorn

  • Posts: 7223
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #25 on: November 22, 2010, 11:36:50 am »
It`s a hard slog for me at the moment,i earn more than i did as a head chef,doing around 65 hrs a week,on a salary,my quality of life is much better,i always have loads on the go if i am not working.
When i first started my wife and bro in law were running a domestic cleaning company,which turned over 120k plus within 3 years of starting,inland rev did a review of their business,saying the 20 self employed cleaners they had on the books should be employed by them,so the rev screwed it up for them completely,and they sold the business on.
They were subbing to me,so after my first year i was on my own.
I was lucky that i had secured a few letting agents before they closed,it`s not been easy,but i am not in this game for an easy ride .
I do find now that i work from one payment to the next though,and constantly looking forward to the next big job.
I have weeks were my phone won`t ring once,then i have weeks when it does not stop,just wish it could be more consistent.
Have cut right back on my advertising,was paying over £1500 a year to Yellow pages,more or less come out the book now,but not found any difference in the amount of calls i am getting
What goes around comes around

Paul Heath

  • Posts: 600
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #26 on: November 22, 2010, 04:02:05 pm »
"totally agree wynne, some idiots on here have even bought new truckmounts and vans before they even new what a wand was." 
d  is that something you hold aloft in your right hand while dressed in your "pink overshoes" ?? ;D ;D ;D

wynne jones

  • Posts: 2918
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #27 on: November 22, 2010, 04:21:31 pm »
Advertising £25 I think this is where you went wrong. Even if you don't do traditional advertising you would be hard pressed to get anywher on £100 a month.

The other thing is equipment costs. I don't understand people who buy new kit when they haven't even cleaned a carpet. I wouldn't even buy a new portable to start. Then WITH THE CASH YOU MAKE go out and get a decent 2nd hand truckmount at a 3rd of the price of a new one. Then the world is your oyster at £50-£100 an hour.

 

totally agree wynne, some idiots on here have even bought new truckmounts and vans before they even new what a wand was. :o

It just goes to show you can't stop a determined idiot.  ;D

And I guess there is your answer. If you don't give up and keep learning you will get there. If you come from a less competitive marketplace you need to shift your thinking.

I would say you need a lot of moeny in the bank to survive your first couple of years and putting it all in to new vans and kit will mean someone else gets the chance to make a success of it MUCH more cheaply!

This is going to sound a bit American but the first thing you should do now is start thinking succesfully. It#s not can you make money in CC it's How can I make money in CC (like others do) Sounds like Derek is living proof it's possible even in this economic climate.

Remember where ever you go, whatever you do, you take the way you think with you.  :)
It's not expensive, you just can't afford it.

fitz2kleen

  • Posts: 373
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #28 on: November 22, 2010, 04:50:05 pm »
This is going to sound a bit American but the first thing you should do now is start thinking succesfully. It#s not can you make money in CC it's How can I make money in CC (like others do) Sounds like Derek is living proof it's possible even in this economic climate.

That unfortunatley is right and I hate american sayings.

We dont just cc as you will find you have to give your cuzzy a reason to chose your in pref to mr £8.99 a room.
We can send a plumber,sparkie builder,painter/decorator  to a clients propery on request.
With the emphasis on why look around when I can supply everything for your needs, With proven tradesmen you have an all rounder for your cuzzy.

regards marc

derek west

Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #29 on: November 22, 2010, 04:58:41 pm »
heres my key to being a successful carpet cleaner.

"i would pay my prices"
"i would only trust and choose me to clean my carpets"

am i a successful carpet cleaner? not yet.
will i be a successful carpet cleaner? hell yeah.
will i be a millionaire? no thanks.

and i'll do it all without the aid of girl glides and pink overshoes, all though they would match my jumpers. ;D

clinton

Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #30 on: November 22, 2010, 05:01:51 pm »
Thats just right derek

What would have happened if you had chose the really top prices for one room would you have got repeat work?

oor dont forget the 7k average suite too to clean ;D

wynne jones

  • Posts: 2918
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #31 on: November 22, 2010, 05:30:01 pm »
Spot on. Listen to these guys.

Half the problem is the established guys talk about their prices and new guys think this is what they should be charging and wonder why the phone don't ring.

The key is filling your week and yes you may not make a lot for a lot of hard work but that's tuff. It's the surest way to a big custybase as I call it. ;D
It's not expensive, you just can't afford it.

Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #32 on: November 22, 2010, 05:55:35 pm »
The key is filling your week and yes you may not make a lot for a lot of hard work but that's tuff. It's the surest way to a big custybase as I call it. ;D

Spot on. It's all very well some spouting about charging more so you work less, but you've got to be very brave to see that through to a conclusion.
I've always believed in offering a quoting a fair price for a fair job and that will get you over 50% conversion. It's quite a balancing act these days, carpet right are selling carpets just about as cheap as we can clean them for (at this point I'm ignoring underlay and fitting but remember this is what customers are comparing).
Today I earnt £60 but this afternoon we had 6 enquiries of which 4 are now booked, one still to be contacted and one wanted it doing 30 minutes before I got back to him! That's the nature of this business.
Then of course there's competition which seems to be rising steadily, and that further drives prices down. Good for the customer not so smart for us.
I said last year things would get worse before they got better, and that is showing now. So if you want to come into this game then fair enough, but don't fall into the trap of thinking because you read stories on here about doing £700 jobs that that is the norm because it's not.

Neil Grainger

  • Posts: 1273
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #33 on: November 22, 2010, 06:00:20 pm »
Neil, you hit the nail right on the Head.

Been a tough few months but phones has rung well today so hopefully can get some nice money in for Xmas.

Hows it been for you.

Steve. Taylor

  • Posts: 1036
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #34 on: November 22, 2010, 06:22:21 pm »
Early this morning cleaned 3 7k suites 2 small lounge carpets £150 each then heard that horrible noise comming from the machine. ???


















































REACHED ACROSS AND TURNED THE ALARM OFF :'( :'( :'(
Steve T       All the gear but no idea!
www.leatherrepairsouthampton.co.uk

Dave_Lee

  • Posts: 1728
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #35 on: November 22, 2010, 06:27:51 pm »
Several years ago whilst at a CC meet, I was sat next to a guy who was pleased to tell that he had turned over £50,000 that year. So did I was my reply. Thing was it had cost him £25,000 in marketing whilst mine was £600..
Dave.
Dave Lee, Owner of Deepclean Services
Chorley Lancs. Est 1980.
"Pay Cheap -You get Cheap - Pay a little more and get something Better."

jasonl

  • Posts: 3183
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #36 on: November 22, 2010, 06:35:38 pm »
Several years ago whilst at a CC meet, I was sat next to a guy who was pleased to tell that he had turned over £50,000 that year. So did I was my reply. Thing was it had cost him £25,000 in marketing whilst mine was £600..
Dave.

That is the beauty of this business ,, 70k worth of cleaning can be done with £1000 worth of chems and 10k worh of ads , and another 10 for vehicle costs , meaning 50k  net profit,  it is the lack of need to be vat registered which makes it worthwhile.
I clean carpets
I dry Buildings

Matt Lindus

Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #37 on: November 22, 2010, 06:58:49 pm »
Why does a NCCA meet look like a job seekers club. All penny-less and stink to high heaven.

wynne jones

  • Posts: 2918
Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #38 on: November 22, 2010, 07:32:14 pm »
Sounds more like an AA meeting. :-\

I'm sure there are some switched on guys in the NCCA. I just think people are expecting too much for too little.
It's not expensive, you just can't afford it.

Re: can you make money cleaning carpets?
« Reply #39 on: November 22, 2010, 09:02:29 pm »
Been a tough few months but phones has rung well today so hopefully can get some nice money in for Xmas.

Hows it been for you.

3 weeks ago 75% capacity
2 weeks ago 100%
Last week 100%
This week 75% might reach 80% as today was nearly a write off
Next week hardly anything on the board at this stage

I can only hope today was the start of the pre christmas enquiries, but as I said earlier...who knows