[Ben wood]

I am a window cleaner. But looking to sell up and try something new. Now I have a lot of energy and want to build a better life for my self. At the moment I earn well from the windows but due to the weather I am not earning as much as I want. Is carpet cleaning profitable to earn a very good income as if I do this I will do it I will be putting all I have in to it and have enough savings for about 6 months. Any help would be great

[neil 47]

if I were you I would keep up the window cleaning and offer gutter cleaning , drive cleaning roof cleaning , jet washing

 and market carpet cleaning to them whilst all the time building up both sides of the business s that way you will achieve a double income and double the work seeing as you have some much energy.

And you will be able to judge which one is profitable


Neil

[Ben wood]

The problem with this is I have been cleaning windows for years and my heart ain't in it. I already offer these add ons but I would rather just do one thing that is not weather dependent.

[Darran Pryce]

We started off 6 years ago just doing window cleaning (wfp). After securing schools, nhs buildings and domestic customers all was going well until winter came. Systems froze up, snow and Ice all over, we could not get out much. 

Started to get into letting agents/property management companies landlords who then gave me end of tenancy cleaning.  Got in too carpet cleaning 3 years ago and these past two years has really taken off.  Since Feb this year we have been booked up for 2 weeks in front with carpet cleaning mainly domestic customers, but are doing more and more commercial work.

We also added on gutter cleaning (we purchased a gutter vac machine), and uPVC restoration.

Work is good with a nice steady stream of work in all avenues of cleaning.  Keep your fingers in many pies! Keep your window cleaning and add bolt ons with your business. 

[Ben wood]

So how do you for in the window cleaning if your a week behind but booked up on carpets that's my problem at the moment

[Darran Pryce]

I have people working for me.  I pay them a day rate and they go out and do the windows. It's worked past few years for me.

[simonmnickson]

Darran is a tycoon so not many get to his level 

My advice is stick to windows and realise how lucky you are as long as its WFP you do, the reasons being

1/window cleaning is repeat work carpet cleaning is not - this is the biggest factor by far!
2/window cleaning once you have your core customers no further money is needed for marketing whereas with carpet cleaning you constantly paying for marketing for new customers
3/window cleaning business due to its contractual repeat nature as a real worth to the goodwill whereas carpet cleaning is worthless as a business due to the fact that you have no contracts/regular work - just the equipment to operate the business.
4/the equipment required to operate WFP window cleaning is a bar to entry (costing 1000's and van needed too - especially as you need customers too, where'as its possible to carpet clean with a few hundred pounds invested, a car and a deal on facebook or the many discount sites so much easier to enter the trade.

WINDOW CLEANING WINS HANDS DOWN AS A BUSINESS MODEL - WFP THAT IS - traditional NO BUT WFP as real big business potential, your business is actually worth something and no constant investment year after year searching for new clients.

Carpets as a sideline,part time or add on WINS HANDS DOWN - as the hourly rate can be much higher.

[Darran Pryce]

I love you simon 

[simonmnickson]

 

man love - hmmm

[Darran Pryce]

You mean  Wo- MAN love...
 

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

Some good advise, I would certainly suggest you try it before jumping in.

We often get window cleaners enquiring about adding carpet cleaning but hardly ever the other way round. If I were younger I would seriously consider adding WC to bring the stability which CC often lacks, especially in the early days of building a business.

Cheers

Doug

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I do work for cleaning companies who did do professional carpet cleaning they use me instead as they don't want to 'carry' a carpet cleaner on their wages, 2 of the companies have very big rounds as well as contract cleaning.

Shaun

[Craigp]

Out of the pan into the fire.

Most carpet cleaners are just above broke, it will take a lot of effort and a good few years to be in the minority for who that is not true.

[elliott cleaning]

Out of the pan into the fire.

Most carpet cleaners are just above broke, it will take a lot of effort and a good few years to be in the minority for who that is not true.

Somewhat of a sweepIng statement - When I went into carpet cleaning many years ago, I had a very healthy living out of it in year one and haven't looked back since.

It was quiet evident to me when I got into this that I could have a turnover in carpet cleaning which involved far less hours worked than I would if I tried to achieve the same turnover window cleaning. I didn't even bother to take into consideration the issues of window cleaning subjecting me to working in the pouring rain - freezing cold and all other detriments the elements could throw at me.

I know quite a few carpet cleaners like myself that make a very good living from this business - but then perhaps I only know the minority and Craip is more in tune with the majority

Pick the right section of the Market to clean carpets and you will never look back

[Craigp]

Talk to Robert Saunders, he had hordes of carpet cleaners come to him for help because they wasn't making enough.

You do not get a true picture from reading on here as no one will admit not doing well

I do fine thanks Elliot as do others, but they are not the majority, (just look at all the cheapos, why are they cheap? [they are desperate for work]) but I think people should here the true picture so they are informed.

[Simon Gerrard]

I agree with Frans, it is all about how you pick and pitch your market and how good a carpet cleaner you are and perhaps that chooses your market for you.
I don't agree the cheapos are desperate for work, I think they are cheap because 1) they don't know any better 2) think carpet cleaning is about price 3) believe that in order to be competitive you have to offer the lowest prices.
All three practically guarantee operating just above broke.

Simon

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

I think it is fair to say that both perspectives are true, there are certainly a lot of CC's who struggle but a good business can be built with the right approach.

My point about adding W.C was that it gives a bit of breathing space.

Cheers

Doug