[Savorason]

Hi All

Having been unemployed for a while now, I'm exploring the possibility of starting my own cleaning operation. I'm totally new to the business.

Recently I contacted and received some literature from Global Cleaning Contracts Plc. They sell contracts and help set-up individuals like myself in my local area, according to their literature. I wonder if this is the best way to go about starting and, if anyone know about the credibility of Global Cleaning Contracts Plc.

Your advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Savorason

[CLEANEAST CARPETS]

Hi,I started this Spring and decided against a franchise,instead I opted to get my machine (advantage) and IICRC training from Alltec.A 3 year old van professionally sign written and I was ready to go and have not looked back.The only regret I have is purchasing a Rotovac which I have used only twice,as it is to heavy for me and I struggle to get it in and out of the Kangoo

Barbara

[Art]

Barbara,

 Why don't you put the rotovac for sale on here?


Regards Arthur

[Ian Gourlay]

It was on EBAY

But it was a strange auction.

I reco Rotovac owners are causing the price of secondhand ones to fall as they keep saying they are heavet they do not do this etc

Happy Christmas

I was on the Time for You Web site last week.

They are giving away an Ebook on how to start in office cleaning.

Some interesing letters included.

Not much advise on estimating though.

Interestingly they use £13 an hour as Office Cleaning Price.

But looking on Some of their Franchisees site they only charge £9.50 for Domestic

[DP]

Many on here (including me) are against franchises and not without good reason. I spent a year investigating lots up and down the country from regional to master franchises. Some will allow you to make money and others simply wont. Either way you will always end up with the very thin end of the wedge.

Although the numbers never add up, the real killer is always the contract which not only denies you of any recourse to the theft of your money but often goes on to entitle them to everything you ever had before you met them.

Not that I am bias of course.

Remember the whole ethos of a franchise is to sell you the "possibility" not the "reality" that comes later and usually with a bump.

[Savorason]

Thanks all for your advice. Guess I'll put this company's proposals under the microscope and, simultaneously explore the alternative .i.e
do it myself, like Barbara.

Best Regards

Savorason

[martin19842]

hi there,

global are good if you want to create cashflow, you basically purchase the contract, at a multiple of about 6 times the monthly billing, they will then pay you the monthly billing, less 20%.

if you buy the contract on credit, then they will deduct a monthly installment from you before paying you each month.

if the contract terminates, you cannot guarantee to see any of your investment money back.

IF YOU cannot get your own work then the global route is an answer, however it is considered a costly way to start your own business.

If you want to take a look at the  thread subject "Construction Clean Consultancy" or email me martin.sales@btinternet.com  then this is another avenue of cleaning you may like to take a  look at .

regards

martin sales

[CMS]

Please don't go down the 'franchise' route.

I have had a lot of dealings with these companies (as a Director of one). Believe me, we didn't care what crap we sold you.

You will never buy the contract, you will only buy the 'benefit' of the contract - there's a difference.

As one of four Directors I was the only one from a cleaning background.

Global, and others like them are a sales company, not a cleaning company. They may as well be dealing in apples!

That's why I got out.

[dustycorner]

Hi Savorson,

Iwouldn't touch Global with a barge pole, it won't be your business really has a franchisee your nothing but a glorified manager anyway. You will be charged a monthly management fee which will far outweigh tthe support you get and encouraged to buy equipment and cleaning materials from them ( they will offer an account to do this just look at the interest they will charge for this benefit! ).

The contracts they will offer you will tend to have a short lifespan so its possible you won't get back your investment.

Cheers Mark.

[Eureka Ventures]

I 'franchised' with Global approx a year ago because, like you, I had no idea how to price a job.

CMS and Martin are experienced operators. They have my utmost respect, not just because the quality of their comments are consistently good, but that they are so generous with it. As a newbie you could do worse than review the archives for their posts.

Had I stumbled upon this forum a year ago my course would have been different, no doubt.

Cheaper!

That said, though, I view the past year as time spent serving my apprenticeship.

That's the way my cookie crumbled. Good luck which ever route you decide to take.

Freddie

[Savorason]

Many thanks to one and all for your advice. What an eye opener.

Cheers

Savorason

[exoclean]

One thing you should bear in mind once you have made the decison into going into business is that you have made a choice and that choice is having the freedom to make choices.

Its not always about the money, some people earn far more than we do being in paid employment but what they dont have is the freedom to make choices. Come Monday morning thay have to be in at work and they have to do what they're contractually obliged to do. Being self-employed, you choose. You choose how much money you want, how much effort you put in, what jobs you want and the lifestyle you lead.

Going the franchise route will only restrict  those choices, they will tell you how much to spend on their products or licence and how you do your business. Very few will give you any real support and those that do will charge you an arm and a leg for the privlege.

You will make mistakes, thats a guarantee but I forgot who said "The man who never made a mistake never made anything". It might have been Napoleon. Learn from you mistakes and move on. Use this forum as a source of invaluable information. Take your time and read everything that applies to you. Marketting, Cleaning advice, Health & safety, Method statements and much much more.

I wish you luck in your new venture

Paul

[martin19842]

hi there,

exoclean, i like that philosophy and fully endorse it.

however i  must say ive never worked as hard as i have in the past week, even being self employed, or runnning your own business, the rush to xmas means that you cannot let your clients down.

by the time oi got home last night at about 6.30pm i personally had done 36 hours straight on site work, and my team had done nesar enough the same but they had an  eight hour down time break during the night.

i am off to site meeting s thids morning, and then its full speed from 8.00am tomorrow Sunday morning through till Friday.

so everybody have a great weekend, and lets all make the most of the xmas break.

regards

martin

[AJCleaningServices]

...The only regret I have is purchasing a Rotovac which I have used only twice,as it is to heavy for me and I struggle to get it in and out of the Kangoo

Barbara

Barbara,
WM System may offer a solution to your problem.
Regards,
Arthur