[Tref Griffiths]

Hi Guys,

I'm a newbie to both this forum and the industry so please be gentle with me!  

My situation is that I'd like to start carpet cleaning, initially around my work and on a limited budget. Last year I went through a very difficult break up and I'm looking for something that will initially earn me some extra pennies over the next year and eventually bring about a reasonable income for me and my daughter. I've worked for myself before so definitely understand how much hard work this is going to take to make it work, but I'm convinced that this is the way to go!

I'm about to get myself some proper training and somebody has been kind enough to offer me a day or two out with them to learn the ropes - so far so good!

No being a little excited and impatient old sod I'm furiously researching. Thankfully I've found this forum and another which has really helped me get my head around things.

So my question is this:

If you had £1k-1.5k to spend on equipment only (I have a marketing budget separately) then what kit would you choose as a starter machine?

Currently I'm thinking that a low-risk, cost effective option for me would be to start with a LM operation and work my way up?

Be great to hear the thoughts of you guys - I won't buy anything until after my training but it doesn't hurt to gain opinion of those more experienced!

Many thanks

Tref

[Radek Jablonski]

If you get difficult time again probably you will not get support from governent if you are self employed. But I am not in Uk so not sure.

With 1.5k you will not buit up your business properly.

guess you want to work with your estate car, if I am wrong and you will have a van then better start doing windows or power washing, equipment is cheaper for doing this.

And do forget about the other forum, they will put you to purchase some of their stuff. Be carefull.

[Tref Griffiths]

Thanks for the reply Radek

I don't require government support - I have a job so I can sustain myself over the start-up period.

I have spoken to lots of people who have started small and worked their way up - I don't buy into needing to the  "spend big or go and do something else" philosophy. I want to do carpet cleaning - if I need to up my budget a little I can, but I need to keep reins on expenditure.

Perhaps I should have asked "if you we starting up today on a limited budget, what equipment would you buy"

Many Thanks

Tref

[John Kelly]

You could start the low moisture route quite easily with that budget. This method is still belittled by some people, however I have lots of customers, successful customers, who only use this system.
Personally I also think its best to have all methods at your disposal so down the line you could add an extraction system which will enable you to tackle all jobs.
Pricing and marketing are the most important parts of this business and where many fail.
If you can make it I would try and attend the TACCA day on 7th June. You will meet a lot of genuine people there and see a lot of what is available in the flesh.

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

You will get many replies saying £1.5k is not enough but that's nonsense. If you are willing to set up with used equipment off Ebay ect then it's plenty. I would forget the LM route to start off my self, it limits you to what you can do and you can always have a second hand rotary too as well as an extractor. I always say to new starters save your money for marketing and get the best used gear you can afford and then upgrade you equipment over time.

These are the types of machine you could go for -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Prochem-comanche-carpet-and-upholstery-cleaning-flood-restoration-machine-/111358471787?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19ed7b6e6b


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carpet-cleaning-machine-Powr-Flite-PFX1350-Extractor-carpet-cleaner-wand-hose-/111363425981?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19edc706bd

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grace-5020-Carpet-Cleaning-Machine-And-Aquarius-Pro-valet-Spotter-/281346958654?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item418195e53e

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Truvox-Hydromist-President-Twin-vac-carpet-cleaner-240v-1-of-2-/310969207366?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4867358a46

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alltec-Professional-Plus-Carpet-Cleaning-Machine-/261488427869?pt=UK_Vacuum_Cleaners&hash=item3ce1ecc35d

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/carpet-cleaner-/271505227760?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f36f8fff0


If you can wait, then the best time to buy on Ebay is the last 2 weeks of December up to about the end of March.

[Tref Griffiths]

Thanks John - would love to attend the TACCA event but sadly am away for 2 weeks from the 7th - maybe next time? Really interested in what machine you'd look at for a LM start-up?

Thanks also to DCS - great post and many thanks for the links. Will have a look through them all shortly.

What you guys think of the Jaguar Cub or one of the other "mini" machines as a start-up system? Would these machines be capable of a decent job in most situations?

Thanks guys!

Tref

[Paul Moss]

And people wonder why they are struggling.

[Tref Griffiths]

What do you mean Paul?

[Paul Moss]

Tref, how would you  do this if this or other forums did not exist for free information and help.

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

To be fair Paul, he does seem to be taking this more seriously than some that have been on here and has said that he is "getting proper training and somebody has been kind enough to offer me a day or two out with them to learn the ropes"

I would rather help someone and they did a good job rather then making a complete fook up. I started up by finding by accident this forum and taking a interest by asking loads of questions. It's the way of the world, competition doesn't scare me, I crush competition. 

[Tref Griffiths]

I'd do exactly the same as I'm in the process of doing now Paul - I'd get myself some good training and spend some time with an old pro who is out in the field doing the job - I'd pick their brains and probably ask many of the same questions I'm asking now.

Luckily, in this day and age we have the internet too which acts as a great supplement - with great forums such as these where I can ask away and some people will be kind enough to offer the benefit of their own experience.

I'm sure we all started somewhere ? Let me assure you I will be doing this the right way - I've no intention of being a £5 per room merchant working from the back of a Vauxhall estate - but I do need to start slowly with regards to initial outlay and limit my risk and earn the money to buy better equipment as I go - I wish I had £20k to shell out on state-of-the-art equipment, but the reality is that I don't I'm afraid.

From little acorns, mighty oak trees sometimes grow........

Cheers

Tref

[Mike Halliday]

I've got one of these for sale for £600 basic machine or £800 with a wand and handtool

http://www.amtechuk.co.uk/shop/Powr-Flite_PFX1350_Perfect_Heat__carpet_cleaning_machine-pid-173.html

Bought it earlier in the year as I needed the wonder wand and cfr tool, but now it's just in the way, I'll keep the tools and supply a normal wand and great hide-hose handtool.

[creighton foyle]

john kelly would never openly push someone to his website on this forum but if you go to his site you will see he does a good rotary starter package at well under your budget.

most of my work is low moisture (dry fusion) but i still ended up having to buy another hwe machine after selling my airflex thinking i wouldn't need it anymore. (i was wrong)

also from my personal experience and with hindsight  i needed to start up by using hwe in order to learn that i could do a good job using lm and to learn when i couldn't as well.

finally all training courses teach hwe method, there must be a reason for that ? so maybe you should start that way and change to lm later if you feel you need or want to.

shame you can't make tacca day.

[Pete Blackburn]

Tref, tread with care. The numbers don't work for new starters, even the guys with 30+ years under their belt have to spend 000s in order to persistently market existing and new customers to keep a small income stream.  And remember that the best you can do from this 'game' (not industry) is to earn a wage and that unfortunately is far from been 'a business'.

Ask a private, small business accountant what they typically see as a net profit for a self employed carpet cleaner as an average figure.  That will give you a clear indication.

Sorry to be a little negative but either way, good luck, and think very carefully.  

Regards
Pete

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I can't see how you will make money from day 1 or day 100 part time, to make a decent regular income I think 5 years is required but one thing I would advise is start a window cleaning round it's money from day 1 then add carpet cleaning to your already regular customers a small round could be done on a Saturday and Sunday building up to as many days as you want when or if you decide to go self employed full time.

Shaun

[Tref Griffiths]

Mike - many thanks for that - if it's still available when I come to buy I might be knocking on your door 

Creighton - good advice there - giving me lots to think about!

Shaun and Pete - thanks for the views. I don't mind hearing the negative or some might say realistic views - Although I can commit to 3 days a week plus evening and weekends, so I have enough time on my hands. I'm also a reasonable marketer and have a few ideas on how to bring work in. Thanks

[Darran Pryce]

I agree with John. Low moisture all the way.  You will get great results most of the time if done right.

We have been cleaning this way for ages and customers love it. Really quick drying times. Less tackle needed, not as heavy to lug around.  We do a lot of apartments in Leeds city centre. Parking and lugging gear around is a nightmare. With low moisture you don’t need much to lug around.  Saying that I’ve just purchased a small trolley.

Used Surround and Dynamall with both great results.  For me Dynamall has the edge.

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

If you are going to go down the low moisture route get yourself a craftex sabrina maxi 5010 as well if you have the budget. I have picked them up for a few hundred on Ebay and they are the best 1 vac machines I have used and you can use it for stairs, upholstery and if you come across a minger where your lm system may struggle you could go over it first with the craftex and then post bonnet with your lm system.

http://www.janitorialdirect.co.uk/craftex-sabrina-maxi-5010-carpet-cleaner.html

I started by working fri,sat,sun nights at tesco and carpet cleaning during the week until I had a few k in the bank and I was happy my advertising worked so I think you are doing the right thing.

Just a word of warning as someone has posted. - I have only been going 5/6 years but I can tell this is a declining market for domestic work long term and it's the quietest I have ever had it at the moment. We usually have a steady stream of work from the start of May up to Sept and we are snowed under from Sept to Xmas.

That's why we are adding other services over time so we do not rely on just one service.

[Darran Pryce]

If you are going to go down the low moisture route get yourself a craftex sabrina maxi 5010 as well if you have the budget. I have picked them up for a few hundred on Ebay and they are the best 1 vac machines I have used and you can use it for stairs, upholstery and if you come across a minger where your lm system may struggle you could go over it first with the craftex and then post bonnet with your lm system.

http://www.janitorialdirect.co.uk/craftex-sabrina-maxi-5010-carpet-cleaner.html

I started by working fri,sat,sun nights at tesco and carpet cleaning during the week until I had a few k in the bank and I was happy my advertising worked so I think you are doing the right thing.

Just a word of warning as someone has posted. - I have only been going 5/6 years but I can tell this is a declining market for domestic work long term and it's the quietest I have ever had it at the moment. We usually have a steady stream of work from the start of May up to Sept and we are snowed under from Sept to Xmas.

That's why we are adding other services over time so we do not rely on just one service.

Totally agree with the above.

We use the Sabrinas. cracking machine.  It only comes out if a real stinker.  Most jobs  we use low moisture with very, very good results. 

We statred off cleaning windows, then added carpets (4 years ago), gutter cleaning along with end of tenancy cleaning and upvc restoration. 

[Tref Griffiths]

Thanks guys for the excellent advice.

What about pre-vac machines - what do you think would give me the most back for my limited buck?