[neil 47]

Is Carpet cleaning a short term solution to pay bills for the majority of us all ?
what we have done is create a job for ourselves not a business

It seems of late that many are packing in after years of hard work only to be left with money for a old tm and van .

Surely any other business would of increased in value for the hard work you put in, but with cc the work is continuously hard to keep up a steady stream.

And it seems good health is the number one thing , its not like steven hawkings , he makes thousands and cant walk or speak , a cc gets a sore back or ankle thats it game over .

what is the answer ? 

[Simon Gerrard]

Well I've been carpet cleaning for nearly 40 years and have built a very successful business that more than pays the bills. I live in a big house and have travelled the world, paid for my children to go to university and always have money in my pocket. I think the answer is to see carpet cleaning as a career and dedicate yourself to becoming successful, it's all about attitude.

Simon

[Matt Steele]

Ha ha, well said Simon, I think that about covers it 

[Kinver_Clean]

The answer is to put as much cash away as possible at an early age.
I am 72 next month and put enough away in the 80 s to put deposits on property. That is now paid for and gives me a nice income.
I also put quite a bit in a pension fund. That pays out 1/4 of the amount my property pays out for the equivalent fund and when I die will stop with no return of capital.
My property will be passed on to my family.
In the meantime the fund managers bask on their yachts in the Caribbean.

My son is now in the process of getting his second flat.
Look after your money yourself- why pay someone else a fortune?

I will get virtually nothing for my business when I pack it in.

[Kev Loomes]

I've only heard of one packing it in recently, maybe I haven't noticed. How may approx Neil? Any big hitters?

[John Kelly]

Carpet cleaning is a business like any other. A lot will plod along making a wage and be quite happy doing that, others will make good money even staying a one man band through a combination of correct pricing, effective marketing and being in the right location. Others like Ian Rochester will not be happy with that and want to take the world over. Ian lives in a very small town in North Northumberland but has managed to build up a very substantial business with I believe 20 employees at the minute, not all carpet cleaning but by doing what I think is a must if you want to emulate this and that is by diversifying into other aspects of cleaning.
About 20 years ago we set up a little local association a bit like TACCA where we only let pro's join. Out of about 20 members all bar 2 are still going, one who is not packed in and the other sadly died. All those remaining have been succesfull with a lot of rented property, other businesses, nice houses amongst other rewards.

[neil 47]

Hi Kev

one was chris hawkes and i noticed a Truckmount as well on solutions web site plus a lot of kit for sale with cc saying they had other jobs .

Simon

your right dedication is the way , but its hard work and Ive done my fair share and not as fit as i once was so your way isnt a option for everyone .

I can get the work I just don,t want to much . all I want is 3 Lr and a hsl for about £1500 a week and id be happy .

[stuart_clark]

John

NCUCA ? And was it John Megison who died ?

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

I guess many people who set up a business dream of selling it on to a willing buyer but if you look at the number of empty shops on the high street I think that blows that theory apart.

When it comes to the service sector you are even more dependent upon your level and match of skills and a buyer is probably going to find it difficult to obtain those quickly.

Selling (for example) a cc business on is also difficult as it is rare that the client list of the selling business would match with the client list and methods of promoting a business  of a buyer's existing business.

People laughed when I bought my cc business in 1999 and I said that I was planning to get out of the business as soon as I could after my 50th birthday.

Well in January 2013 I did sell my business, less than one month after my 50th and I managed to sell it for more than eight times what I paid for it.

As you may know though I am still a cc. I am now the hired hand for the new owner. I can tell you it is so liberating not having the responsibility of having to own it and manage it. That said I still plan to be fully retired within the next 3 years.

I know the debate will continue to rage but from my perspective the answer is that to be successful your major effort needs to go into being good at "doing business" rather than being the best ever carpet cleaner.

Rog

[Hilton]

Carpet Cleaners like Simon or were lucky enough to put be able to put money away to buy property are far and few between, most just earn a living which in its self there is nothing wrong with, at least they are giving it a go.

Some years ago I tried to buy out a few CC in my area and the value they put on the business's was ridiculous some were trading at just 40k but some reason thought their business were worth this or more and could not understand that it was in fact worth one third of this or less plus a few assets. Most of these are now well gone from the scene and just gave up with out a penny.

CC can be a famine or feast type of business trying to get some consistency is part of the battle and as a stand alone for new starts these days I think have gone.

Take as much out as you can when you can because as already mentioned as a re-sale it is practically worthless.

[stuart_clark]

I sold part of a contract that I have in place for nearly twenty years to a franchise last year in south yorkshire! Made me a healthy proffit,

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Not too sure what you mean with 3 lr and hsl for £1500 if it's 3 living rooms and a hall stairs and landing then approx 4 carpet cleans for £1500 that's not bad at all!

If I were to retire now or in the near future I'd turn to mush I am planning for my retirement and have been for quite a long time but looks like the kids will get to it first.

Shaun

[Simon Gerrard]

Carpet Cleaners like Simon or were lucky enough to put be able to put money away to buy property are far and few between, most just earn a living which in its self there is nothing wrong with, at least they are giving it a go.

Hilton,
I don't think that is true, that people like me are few and far between, at the very least it shouldn't be.
I think the people most likely to succeed are the ones that commit their heart and soul to becoming successful and see carpet cleaning as a career and not just something they are prepared to, 'give a go' to.
I don't mean that disrespectfully to anyone less successful it is just that becoming successful requires a fantastic amount of self belief and see themselves, yes, in a struggle at the outset, but have a vision of what they can achieve if they dedicate themselves to never being defeated. Their are millions of square yards of carpet out there and millions of would be customers falling over themselves to find someone they can trust enough to call, 'their carpet cleaner.' It's just a matter of finding them and being worthy of that level of trust.
Will the guy with a Puzzi 100 ever find success? Probably not, but  then that depends on your definition of success. Can the guy with a Puzzi 100 today with his eye on an all singing all, dancing twin, vac portable tomorrow and a truck mount thereafter become successful?
You bet your life he can. And the reason why? Because he knows that in order to become successful what you do tomorrow has got to be better than what you do today, so it is the endless pursuit of excellence that drives him forwards because there is no progress in standing still.
Success is all about attitude and what you are willing to do to bring success to your door and the opportunity to do just that is open to everyone, you only have to say, 'I want!'.
I could go on but I'd better shut up.

Simon

[Len Gribble]

Contracts may have a value??? Domestics don’t!!!!!

[mark_roberts]

What is success?

A lot of you seem to be measuring it by wealth.

Since Ive become a father success is now how well i bring up my daughter.  Time invested in her rather than striving for 'business success' is what im aiming for now.

IMO

Mark

[stuart_clark]

Mark

but you are a Paddy ! Lol

only joking mate, be at quay west on saterday night if you fancy a bevvy ?

Stuart

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Mark you still have to provide for your child money always comes into it, then there's the saving for a rainy day or pension, quality of living.

Shaun

[John Kelly]

A balance is the best option. Time to spend with your family but also having enough money where you don't have to worry when an unexpected bill lands on the mat. That is the holy grail.

[Simon Gerrard]

Which comes from building yourself a steady and reliable income to support your family which in the world of carpet cleaning means being able to establish a loyal customer base so that you're not frittering away needless amounts of money on advertising which in turn  means you can if you choose, work less and still have a good income.

Simon

[Teddycare]

John how right you are, I have been wiping my feet on bills on the said doormat since Christmas, and if I could be bothered to pick them up at least I have the money to pay them, and as said before don't just have a good time save save and save for those rainy days, or in carpet cleaning terms from New Year to spring, and I don't like to shout but I think it's finally arrived.