[Jade Crompton]

Hi Guys

Just left my nurse position (NHS) and thought id start something of my own, I've bought a cheap Transit van, looks tidy although a little big for me am only small. i was going to buy a airflow mini but my boyfriend said i won't be able to get it in & out of the van. he's done a bit of researching and said that i should get 1. airflow, Storm or 2. Ashbys Enforcer.

He said i can mount it in the van, like a truck mount and use up to 200ft. we are past the point of no return as i have loaned 4k to do this. i am worried if this does not work. can anyone please enlighten me, on what to expect from this carpet cleaning industry. i need my phone to be ringing off the hook! i was paid well at the NHS but its not for me! 

[maxcampbell]

The best place for a portable is just outside the customer's door.

Van-mounting a powerful portable is possible, but you will still get times when you either have to get it off the van, or turn the work down - maybe not many.

You have hoses going across gardens, and vac hoses are very hard to clean, so you get an inside hose and an outside hose. Then you got the extra solution hose, and the solution cooling down before it gets to the house. Then you've got to hook up to their power, which if you're running a heater on the porty means 2 leads.

Folding aluminium ramps must be worth a try - the longest ones that fit the van would give you the shallowest incline.

Lastly spend as little on equipment as you can - doing the jobs is the easy bit, making the phone ring is where you need your attention as much money as you can get.

[wayne zabel]

Good luck with your new venture,you really have given up a lot in terms of job security,paid sick leave,paid holidays,pension ect ect for the perils of Carpet Cleaning and self employment.

Don't expect the phone to be hot for many,many months.

[Robin Ray]

Well done for making the jump.

The things to get worked out are:-

1, Marketing.. without this you will have no work the best way to start off is with leaflets (1000's & 1000's) Don't expect to get too much in the way of work before next march as Jan and Feb are traditionally slow months. First and foremost carpet cleaning is a marketing business. 

2, Training. You will learn a lot more than you think good places to start are Prochem, Alltec, Ashby's or Cleansmart depending on where you live. Training is what will set you apart from the rest.

3, Equipment. Don't buy until you have done some training. Buy something with the best performance possible. it will save money in the long run and make doing a good job easier and quicker.
You will need something with at least 2x3  stage vacuum motors and ideally a pump with 400 psi or more, at the very least 135psi. Some of the larger machines can be easier to handle than it looks as they have wheels on the handles which makes loading  easier. A good time to pick up a second hand bargain is Jan or Feb as people who are struggling sell of their equipment.

Have Fun! it is hard graft but it is rewarding and the customers can be interesting.

[Tony Stewart]

Good on you
Look on ebay for some folding disabled ramps.
Put up some little signs in the newsagents around you and advertise that you are local
Place a cheap advert in a local parish magazine for Xmas
get a notice up at your old place of work
try and get a cheap deal in your local paper.
run off some leaflets and drop them in places and street where you would like customers
You need to make the phone ring rather than be a great carpet cleaner - that will come

[Jade Crompton]

All Fantastic replies Thank you!!!! I've come to the right place........

Am going with the enforcer and diving right in! thats the only advice am ignoring am buying before the training....i have no choice.

am buying the best and training will follow. all the marketing advice i will do also. leaflets first!
 I've spoke to ashbys and i know what i want, lease papers in process! ill complete just after xmas and get the leaflets printed in-between time and posted out!

[tim handley]

Get some training first!!!!!!    Then start leafletting etc etc, do your own carpets, do some friends and family, then off ya go........
you shouldnt be going out into folks houses to clean without any training, might bite you on yer bum big time............
start small and build it up, it will  take off slowly. Once you get some internet exposure/addwords/website etc etc you should start
to do well, thats how it went for me anyways. Oh,  and good luck.......

[sean oregan]

I also would wait until you have had training.
Keep a look out on eBay, clean trader for a small machine i.e. Airflex mini , Alltec express.

Don't think of yourself as a carpet cleaner think marketer (is that a word)

[Steve Chapman]

Carpet cleaning is probably about 10% cleaning carpets and 90% marketing........

Unlike a lot of businesses you need a constant flow of new customers...........

You can be the best carpet cleaner in the world but without enough customers coming your way you won't have a viable business......

[elliott cleaning]

Absolutely wrong  - if your the best carpet cleaner in the world you don't need 90% marketing. For the best carpet cleaners their clients do the marketing for them.  I can assure this is correct - my advertising/ marketing budget for the last  16 years has been £ 0.  Yes, spend as much time as you have spare talking to people but you don't have to spend money - but you do have to be good at your profession and that doesn't just mean being able to clean an average carpet - you have to be able to clean the  so called  ' impossible stains'. Your reputation will be built on being able to do what the average carpet cleaner can't achieve at which stage clients will seek you out as opposed to you having to seek them out

[Robin Ray]

Absolutely wrong  - if your the best carpet cleaner in the world you don't need 90% marketing. For the best carpet cleaners their clients do the marketing for them.  I can assure this is correct - my advertising/ marketing budget for the last  16 years has been £ 0.  Yes, spend as much time as you have spare talking to people but you don't have to spend money - but you do have to be good at your profession and that doesn't just mean being able to clean an average carpet - you have to be able to clean the  so called  ' impossible stain'.  Your reputation will be built on being able to do what the average carpet cleaner can't achieve at which stage clients will seek you out as opposed to you having to seek them out

You do have to get those customers who do all that marketing for you from somewhere in the first place.

[elliott cleaning]

Correct Robin - you can spend a fortune on all kinds of 'advertising’ . As I mentioned above, you need to talk to people as much as you can. Personal contact is worth a fortune in saved leaflets and advertisements. Like in any service business - even more so in an industry where you are intruding into their space you have to have that contact.  If you can't sell yourself then selling your service can be an uphill expensive struggle. You've probably been in the business a while and know that one very pleased client can bring you in more easŷ referrals  than 5000 leaflets would

[Robin Ray]

Absolutely.

In the beginning using every avenue possible is necessary. You are right though that actually talking to people cant be beaten.