[Aaron stanton]

Hi,

I am looking at starting my carpet cleaning business but would really like some hands experience/training before I buy any expensive equipment. If there is anyone in the Northamptonshire area that could help I would be very grateful . Also was thinking of getting a prochem machine are these any good? Which portable machines are the best?

Any advice would be welcome cheers

[Paul Moss]

You can come and spend as much time as you want with me and learn all the tips and tricks. I will offer you a cheap price of £100 per hour.
You will be making a grand a week before you know it 

You will have to travel to Wales though 

[Chris waters]

There are loads of training courses about,cleansmart do them and they also sell airflex machines. I have an airflex storm and it's greet but I'm sure there are others on here that will recomend other machines 

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Have a word with a supplier, alltec near can bridge are worth a drive to, have a look and have a go with machinery then ask them if they can find a suitable person who you can shadow they'll have loads on their database.

Shaun

[Aaron stanton]

Thanks for the advice, I will be paying altec a visit soon and hopefully getting booked on to a training course. I want to make sure I know exactly what I'm doing before I do my first job. I will also practice on my family's carpets once I have my first machine.

Any other advice would be much appreciated

[from edge2edge]

Aaron Buy a good vacuum cleaner(sebo bs36 takes some beating) and vacuum all carpets very thoroughly and tell your customers that you dont hoover but you  thoroughly vacuum their carpets using a German Industrial Vacuum Cleaner.Also buy furniture sliders which will make the job of moving stuff alot better and remember to put furniture tabs under furniture before placed on  cleaned carpets.Read as many posts on here as your brain can handle and choose what works for you(this is an ongoing learning curve)..............Regards Alan

[Jennifer w]

Hi Aaron, my advice for what it's worth would be to start a business that's more in demand, and scaleable. I reckon it's a hard slog to earn a net profit higher than the average wage if you are just doing carpet cleaning. Certainly not achievable for a few years I wouldn't think.

Good luck with it though if you do go for it.

Regards

Jen w

[Aaron stanton]

Thanks Alan,

A couple of good tips I will remember for sure. Just need to make some final decisions on the machine and get some hands on experience then it's time to start hopefully.

I was thinking of starting with carpet cleaning and then adding other cleaning service in the future once I have learned some good knowledge in carpet cleaning. I suppose my only worry like any new venture is will I get enough work??? Do you think it is a big enough market for new comers???

I was thinking of trying to do it part time initially and keep my current full time job do you think this is realistic???

[Chris waters]

I think to give up your job to clean carpets is a big mistake,it will take you quite a long time to build up a good customer base. My advice would be to buy the best equipment you can afford,get as much training as possible and ask as many questions as you need to.

It's a good living if you work hard and offer a good service. Don't be too cheap and don't cut corners, this business relies on repeats and referrals and you will have to work hard on marketing.

When I first went self employed I waited until I was so busy I couldn't afford to go to work,that's when you give up your job.

[wayne zabel]

I have been full time now for 4 years after being part time for about 14 months.I went on 2 training courses before buying anything.You have the NCCA and Cleansmart both within easy reach.

It was very hard work doing both CC and full time job, especially as I'm not in my prime.I kept at it though as I wanted to be a CC and be self employed.

I wasn't earning a great wage and had to do a 35 mile round trip to work every day,so for me it was a no brainer to go full time CCer especially as my kids had grown up and become independent.I went full time when I thought I could sustain a decent amount of work.

I didn't need to be earning big money.Obviously we are all in different positions and I don't know yours.

If you are in secure employment earning reasonable money you have a big decision to make.CC can be hard at times especially the early part of the year.

Thankfully I'm as busy as I want to be most of the year - that said many CC on here would say they were slack with my work load.

As for Prochem machines,I started with a Powermax but upgraded to an Airflex Turbo and quite franlkly I don't know how I cleaned with the Powermax when I compare it to the Airflex.

Good luck with your decision.

[Aaron stanton]

Cheers guys,

I am definitely prepared to work really hard at it and do the best job I possibly can, like you say a lot of jobs will be repeat jobs and referrals. Maybe if possible I could reduce the hours I do now in my current job or get another part time job to run a long side carpet cleaning just to be safe, I am going to visit Alltec hopefully this weekend so should hopefully get some sound advice on equipment there.

There are some training courses coming up in September so will try and get booked on one of them also some companies give free training once you buy a machine I have noticed, there is also a convention on at wicksteed  park in September so I will defo be going to that, lots to learn !

[Chris waters]

What's the convention Aaron?

[Aaron stanton]

It's carpet cleaners carnival organised by the Ncca at wicksteed park September 20th free to members £20 for none members

[Shaun_Ashmore]

The repeat work doesn't come straight away IMO to make a decent full time wage I'd say nearer 5 years to get there but then as wayne has pointed out it depends on your own cost of living.

Shaun

[ian harper]

Hi Aaron

Have a look on ebay and you find you will get far more for your money than buying direct. many people like yourself start up and fail only to sell everything at a really great price. you will be able to get everything you need on ebay for the price of any new machine.

Buying a new machine you will need to add on all the other stuff you will need and that can add up. The other advantage of doing it this way is that you get to talk to someone thats had a go and failed. this way you get the REAL STORY OF STARTING UP.

What you not getting on here is that story as these people have moved on. you need to look at getting a morning and evening cleaning job so you have the day to build, that way you get to have a wage and live plus learn what does not work.

I had a cleaning supervisors job working in M&S and running a school clean in the afternoon that gave me an income of £200 a week

The investment your going to have to make learning by your mistakes can be high but its well worth it.

Look at getting a Joe Polish marketing pack from ebay as well this will give all the basics on marketing this is your road map.

look at city and guilds or NVQ in cleaning science its far more advanced than any of the other courses around. its really an apprenticeship in cleaning. if things do not work out you will be able to walk into a cleaning managers job at the end. having a plan B is always good. Join BICSs as this will give you contacts within cleaning for both work and if you need plan B

good luck

Respects

Ian Harper MBICSc

[Ian Gourlay]

Aron

You could also do a search on here as question is asked time and time again

But you need to talk to successful guys and see if they will tell you their story . If you go to a supplier  this could be a good starting point. As you live Near Motorways it makes life a lot easier as you have two that are easy to get to and third a bit harder. But without knowing you how old capital kids etc and as others had said how much you earn now can not advise.

Some find it easy go out and buy 3Ok plus truckmounts from day one and make a success others fail

[Aaron stanton]

I have a budget of between 3-5k for everything so I will be starting small getting an average machine I guess! Unless I go down the leasing route and get a more powerful machine? I have started looking on eBay but worry about buying a dud machine. At least if I buy new and from a local I have peace of mind and get 1-2 years warranty and somewhere to take it with any problems.

I am looking to get some proper cleaning qualifications as well as training from the various courses available from the various suppliers and organisations.

I have been to kerstar in northampton which sell the prochem range and I am planning on visiting alltec this weekend are there any others near northampton that anyone can recommend???

Thanks for all the advice

[Emil Dinev]

Aaron, give Martin of Clean station a call, he is based in Hendon, NW London. He can built a machine for you out of an used machine using its body and putting in all new vac motors pump by your choice all new wiring, piping and fittings. This way you virtually buy a new machine at half the price of a brand new one. He will also give you 6 months warranty. Martin is a great guy, very knowledgable and reliable and is a pleasure to deal with him. His website is http://www.carpetcleaningmachinerepairs.co.uk you can find all contacts on there

Emil

[Aaron stanton]

Thanks Emil I will check out that site.