[Barry Livingstone]

When you look at all the carpet cleaning machine sales on ebay every week, all the business for sale, people selling up.

The question is. this must be an easy money maker or too easy an industry to get into, anyone can now buy a machine for 500.00 put an ad in the paper and off you go..

And with the recent thread on prices it shows we have a top end and a bottom end with the guys in between told there prices are to cheap but the bottom price guys dont say a word on these forums.

to be honest i dont think alot make as much as they say the do on a weekly basis  (not as 1 man bands).

Not all the machines on sale can be due to IVE GOT A NEW TM............

come on tell the truth.......your no making enough to get by on so you are selling up and getting a job no shame in that.

god loves a trier better to have try'd and failed than never of try'd at all.................

Plus do all the fast track guys make loads?
why are some franchise operators getting out of so called good busnisess as resales are up?
And now the domestic cleaning market is going the same way..

could be that a big bang is around the corner.......as rates have gone up again and repos are going up also, its the service industry that gets it first.

 

And its not just our industry you can get TRAINED to become a TILER in five days now..........................

[cleaning co]

james  think u find theres a lot of Xullxhiters in carpet cleaning 
some of these cleaners dont work for days sometimes , when u hear some of them saying they are booked up for next month 12 hours aday !!!  well u make u own mind up !!!   flying pig comes to mind !!!   the most hours ive ever done in a day carpet cleaning in 12 years is 7 hours !!!  and even with yellow page ad tom ad bt ad  all half page leaflets van sighns etc etc  even after 12 years i can hav spells were my phones dont ring for days    and thats the truth !!!      now wait an c all the bull replys to this post lol

[derikraven]

same here, I can go a week and hardly earn a penny and then the following week be rushed off my feet. It's the nature of the business. Fortunately, I have a castle and lots of cottages on the estate to keep me going in quiet times

[carpetguy]

I have two machines for sale right now........Von Schrader and Rotawash 400, as I recently was floored by my heart letting me know, it was needing to slow down.

I had a period, when I averaged 5 jobs per day, at lower end prices, about 10-11 years ago. The work was generated through local newspapers ( 3 of them ) was typical low cost cleaning type advertising, some are still offering similar, or even lower prices !!

It was absolutely knackering and, although it generated a lot of work / money it tended to be the lower grade jobs and not clients you would choose to be regulars.

At 62 and after 20 or so years in the business I will continue doing some work, but only rugs / upholstery/ single carpets, which a modern lightweight, but powerful machine will handle.

You are correct about the bull...t, but it's normal for males to exaggerate about, their earnings and their success with women !!!!!!!!!!

The market is still there, but there are more people looking for a piece of the cake.

Concentrate on your existing clients for future work, by way of referrals and returning to carry out additional work.

I'm sure there are a few fast trackers doing well, remember...........out of 100 people who attend courses, only 20 of them will implement what they've been taught and only 1 of them, will implement it in full.

robbie

[cleaning co]

yes i agree with u when i done lots work aday it was cheap cheap work     and i hav found after 12 years u will not get nowere near this amount of work at higher prices  so id say anyone on here who recons they are booked solid to xmas and is qouting jobs at 150 -300 pounds a time is talking bull and they are doing mass leaflets at 20 a job and most jobs are one carpet jobs
gary

[John Kelly]

Carpet cleaning has always been a relatively easy business to get into, bit like window cleaning. You do need the guts to decide to set up then the gumption to keep going and make a go of it.
Before the internet all these second hand machines used to change hands in the papers and the likes of exchange and mart. Granted there are a lot more avenues for purchase now.
There are people who just want to be self employed and the self direction and freedom that brings. These people are quite happy going about their daily routines and making a living, sometimes not a very good one, but they are happy. This applies to carpet cleaners, small shop keepers, couriers etc.
Then there are people with a bit more drive and business acumen who decide they want to manage their enterprise, not work in it. These are the people who will employ staff, chase work and contracts and if succesful, usually end up making quite a good income.
Locally we have identified over 400 companies who either clean carpets, could clean carpets or dabble in it. Only 150 of these are dedicated carpet cleaners. The rest are general cleaners, contract cleaners, builders, car valeters, window cleaners, maintenance contractors etc.
These are all competition for your services which enthasises the need to market your own customer base.

[Terry_Burrows]

I have been saying for a long while now,we are in a ression its just that some areas have been ok,while our areas have slumped down on spending money on carpet cleaners wood flooring has not helped
but I do think the carpet will return in a big way,wood flooring like all new things will pass,many people who have this flooring,say to me hate it wish I never had it

[Macarthur]

You could say I learned the hard way. In my first year I was pricing all my work low, getting loads of work, put all my prices on leaflets and getting amazing response rates.  Then after a year wondering where all the money went, on costs thats where.
 
Since putting my prices up it is true that I am getting less work now, but I would say I am better off financially and am no longer killing myself to get the work.

Nigel.   

[carpetguy]

For some strange reason, a lot of carpet cleaners don't, or are reluctant to clean suites, which seems crazy to me.

We have always cleaned suites and you are much more likely to sell protection for upholstery, than carpets.

Also, people with laminated floors still have suites !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

robbie

[Mike Osbourne]

People with laminate flooring usually have leather suites and relish the chance to tell you on the doorstep.

At the prices most people charge here for suites, I'm not suprised there is a general reluctance to do them over carpets. Suites are generally harder work and are more likely to throw up problems (even if you go by the book).

The business is hard, just like any other, because everything finds it's own level. There's lots of competition cos it's easy to get started.

What everyone needs to know before they start is the ones who succeed put time, energy and money into it and most aren't prepared to do that long enough for it to be profitable.

[John Kelly]

Contrary to what some people say, leather suites are easy to clean. You just need to learn what to avoid and watch out for. But £95 for an hour and a halfs work, its canny money. It is a bit boring though.

[Mike Osbourne]

John,

You mean you don't use a microscope?!

[Barry Livingstone]

ok im mid range priced and i have some days booked in december most november

 but i lost my number this year due to moving house due to the EXWIFE so im down on this time last year.

[carpetguy]

So what, if suites are leather, they still need cleaning and leather is actually easier and quicker to clean than fabric

robbie

Problems with suites?  What problems are you referring to ? Do you never have problem carpets ?

[Phil Marlor]

Whether I'm booked up or not I always seem to go out to work EVERY morning, just had my best year ever which I put down in part to buying a new TM in March.

I think a lot of people start in this business and after about a year they realise its hard work and to be honest its not the most exciting of jobs, but the money I think is bloody good.

I'm not a 5/6 jobs a day person, that would do my head in, all that setting up/breaking down/travel etc and at the same time trying to get to each job on time.

So to sumarise, earn loads and home before the kids and usualy booked up 1/2 weeks ahead, however, I do very little marketing/advertising, dont get up early and a bit lazy, I could easily earn double what I do with more effort.

I dont do Carpet Cleaning bulls*it either!

What was the question again?

Phil

[DanielWelford]

To be honest i dont do bad. Very rarely am I quiet, and only have a day off if I decide, not due to lack of opportunity. Its the same with any successful business, and thats knowing your local market, and pitching to that.

I operate in a predominantley working class area, and therfore my prices are pitched towards the lower end, and therfore my service has designed to reflect this i.e I dont prevac, get custys to do etc. It doesnt mean my service is crap or splah/dash as some of the 'more well to' do refer to us low lifes, just not as comprehensive. You sells Rolls Royce to the rich and Vauxhalls to the not so rich.

Furthermore, I watch every penny I spend and keep costs to the minimum. If it aint necessary it aint bought. Therfore God forbid) it should go quiet, my breakeven is so low, I aint gonna worry.

Dan

[carpetguy]

Two good posts from two perfectly happy individuals doing the same job, differently.

robbie

[homenclean]

I am normally booked up a week in advance for my self and an employee but it has taken 15 years and thousands of pounds in pointless advertising to reach this point, acheiving the right advertising and maintaining a tight budget is difficult but i have found small adds in a handfull of publications works better than 1 or 2 big adds in yellow pages and thomsons.

This business provides my self and family with good standard off living, new cars nice house 3-4 holidays a year, but i put the hours in and work hard to maintain my customer base, when i am not on the Wand!

It is a fantastic industry to work in it offers variety, interaction and low running costs, you dont ever hear of many carpet cleaners going bust and if they do it is probably because they are too lazy to go and make it happen.

John

[Barry Livingstone]

just as i thought the poll would be.......

Its like anything if you work hard at it, it pays in the long run.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I've never not had a full days work on for well years honest.

Shaun