despite what many will tell you, carpet cleaning can be started quite cheaply, i started with a karcher machine 12 years ago and literally £100 in my pocket and a sheer determination to succeed,some common sense, oh and some free training
the key is to start part time and build up a customer base, which in my case took about two years, and plough your profits back into the business to buy decent machinery etc.
only then is it sensible to do it full time and buy a truckmount etc
incidentally i still have customers i first cleaned for with the karcher, and although i now own a t/m they really couldn't care a less, as long as i do a good job, which is now a lot quicker.
Your'e probably never going to be a millionaire, but from being a nearly penniless window cleaner, i now own two properties, 4 vehicles, and in process of buying another house and just got the t/m,
granted it's taken 12 years of hard work but it's been worth it!
regards
steve