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Barry Livingstone

  • Posts: 646
Good time to RE-START?
« on: June 13, 2008, 04:58:21 pm »
Hi i thought id try and take the easy route for a few years, but the company am working for is now pulling out of Scotland ......yeah yeah i no what you lot are saying down south ...lol....

But really is there a good time to re-start CC AGAIN .......ive been in touch with my leaflet supplier and hes ready to go!.......

So whats the market like for you guys the now in general?...
Oh and am looking out for some 2nd hand CC stuff the now.....

And before you ask why did i stop.......to stop the ex taking for for a fool.....and more ..$$$$$$$$ than i could be bothered with...
Carpet, Upholstery cleaning & hard floor cleaning.
                     Fife, perth and tayside.

Mr Dvae

  • Posts: 442
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2008, 05:02:42 pm »
now is the best time do start..... and the same answer at any time of year

regards

Dave

Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2008, 05:05:56 pm »
You will be able to pick up cheap kit over the next year or so that's for sure.

Barry Livingstone

  • Posts: 646
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2008, 05:26:54 pm »
yeah due to the fact CCs are chucking it in !!! i no 2 or 3 cleaners that arent doing so well, they say they are but you see there van sitting in the asda car park .....!
Might just go TM straight away to get back with a bang!
time to do the sums i think?
Carpet, Upholstery cleaning & hard floor cleaning.
                     Fife, perth and tayside.

Dave_Lee

  • Posts: 1728
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2008, 06:11:05 pm »
I dont think the present economic climate is the time to start anything, although I started in the midst of a reccesion back in !980. It was hard work trying to get going and nothing really happened for two years. Then as the reccesion receded, things got gradually better. Met a guy the other day who had put all his money into an estate agency franchise. He signed up just before the market went bump. He has to pay rent on his premises and his broadband etc and only has a couple of Grand left for his launch. But he has been advised not to launch yet as he would just be wasting his time and throwing his money away.
Dave.
Dave Lee, Owner of Deepclean Services
Chorley Lancs. Est 1980.
"Pay Cheap -You get Cheap - Pay a little more and get something Better."

john rees

  • Posts: 391
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2008, 06:31:45 pm »
Hi James,
              I have to agree with Dave totally, I've never had so many phone calls as I have had lately from carpet cleaners asking if I want to buy equipment from them or asking if I have any jobs going! I think it's only the long established cleaners with the large customer base will survive. Sorry I couldn't be more positive but I would hold fire at the moment if I were you, but you will surely pick up some bargain price equipment now ready for when you restart in the game when it picks up a bit.

                         All the best
                                           John
john

Paul Kettless

  • Posts: 221
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2008, 06:42:30 pm »
Either that or you back it up with an additional income.

Monies for me are ok as a boost of income to a growing concern (established cleaning side)  I could not survive on carpets alone at the moment.

I hope you have plenty of money set aside for advertising, as you are going to need it.
Complete Cleaning "you really can tell the difference"

Barry Livingstone

  • Posts: 646
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2008, 06:53:39 pm »
I was thinking along with leaflets cold calling on commercial customers, if there are 300 local company offices around me, so some must need carpets cleaned!...either that if ive a TM go to my local RACE track and see if they need a mobile carwash...the foam type! they have events on all weekend every weekend!..........or have i just told you all my secret ...lol.... :P

I think you should be able to maket your way out ofthis so called CRUNCH...from a standing start....well it wouldnt be standing cos, id mail all my old custys.
Carpet, Upholstery cleaning & hard floor cleaning.
                     Fife, perth and tayside.

maxcarpets

Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #8 on: June 13, 2008, 08:01:51 pm »
Now is a great time to start....................training as a Baliff!

Len Gribble

  • Posts: 5106
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #9 on: June 13, 2008, 08:44:00 pm »
Two estate/letting agents have closed last week in my town wonder which ones will be next; also have a large office block near me car park 1/3rd full.

James123 Go for it, there’s a couple of TM for sale in buy section look good (both are upgrading)

Justin

Be polite but forceful 8)

Len
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. (Sidcup Kent)

*paul_moss

  • Posts: 2961
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #10 on: June 13, 2008, 08:55:38 pm »
Two estate/letting agents have closed last week in my town wonder which ones will be next; also have a large office block near me car park 1/3rd full.

James123 Go for it, there’s a couple of TM for sale in buy section look good (both are upgrading)

Justin

Be polite but forceful 8)
Len


 ;D ;)
Paul Moss  MBICSc
www.mosscleaning.co.uk
REMOVED FOR POSTING OFFENSIVE MATERIAL

paul wright

  • Posts: 209
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #11 on: June 14, 2008, 02:34:45 pm »
james i hav some cheap gear all that u need to be truckmounted but not the high costs of buying and running a prtrol truckmount in a huge van, email me mate

Doug Holloway

  • Posts: 3917
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #12 on: June 14, 2008, 02:54:15 pm »
Hi Guys

I started just before the last recession , had a wonderful 12 months the the problems began.

It was extremely tough and I would strongly suggest you get some other income and build part time initially.

Getting a TM is going to make little difference in the short term.

Regards

Doug

Barry Livingstone

  • Posts: 646
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #13 on: June 14, 2008, 02:56:37 pm »
they way i see it i need to get back to it and be better than whats out there the now. There is only one other TM near me and hes 20miles away.

Paul email on its way .
Carpet, Upholstery cleaning & hard floor cleaning.
                     Fife, perth and tayside.

sherco

  • Posts: 1041
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2008, 03:25:46 pm »
I have been meaning to start my cc for a couple of months now, done the training got all the kit etc i wanted to run it along side my wall and floor tiling buisness...But whats happened over the last couple of months is alot of tilers in my area who have only been doing it for a few years have packed up, so the tiling is booming in my area as i have been doing it 20 plus years and im really busy..So maybe this could happen in the cc buisness,  people wont be able to survive and the ones that can will keep busy.
Natural stone floor restoration service.
Natural stone fixing and repairs.
www.poshstonefloors.co.uk

Barry Livingstone

  • Posts: 646
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #15 on: June 14, 2008, 03:35:55 pm »
Why be a CC when yor a tiler?
plus the good thing is i dont need to be the main bread winner .....and i have all my old client list......
with all the new sales and maketing methods i picked up over the past 2 years should hold me in good stead.......i think .....i dont see as any diff as from when i started the 1st time round in 1999..
Carpet, Upholstery cleaning & hard floor cleaning.
                     Fife, perth and tayside.

Kev Loomes

  • Posts: 1353
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #16 on: June 14, 2008, 03:50:26 pm »
...people wont be able to survive and the ones that can will keep busy.

Unfortunately in this industry there will always be someone who will do a cheap job with cheap equipment to boost their full/part time job.

Even though there is a 'credit crunch' at the moment this is probably actually forcing more people to find extra work apart from their normal job. Yes some could disappear because times are hard, but then again there will always be new ones starting trying to earn extra money.

Its a vicious circle.

Doug Holloway

  • Posts: 3917
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #17 on: June 14, 2008, 05:04:46 pm »
Hi Guys

A sure sign of the times is the amount of equipment for sale on eBay.

In some ways it is very cheap to start up, but as we all know it costs ten times as much in marketing as it does equipment.

Cheers

Doug

mark_roberts

  • Posts: 1899
Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #18 on: June 15, 2008, 04:44:31 pm »
A TM will not get you business.

Getting business is up to your own personal sales abilities and drive.

Getting customers at the minute is more difficult as some idiots are quoting really cheap just to get work so your having to be more effective at selling.  A local gut quoted £60 for a job I quoted £340 for.  i got it as the customer thought it was too cheap and this guy has been going a while.

Only you know if you really have it but I wouldnt sink all your money at one go rather start small and build over time as the market allows.

Mark

Re: Good time to RE-START?
« Reply #19 on: June 15, 2008, 05:16:52 pm »
I'm really glad I got into this business, I really enjoy it. However I'm not sure if I would have started if I knew then what I know now.

I thought it was a small setup and small income business. Now I realise that if you break even in your first year you are a superstar or very lucky. That means you probably need 12 months living expenses in the bank rather than a truckmount.

I also now know that you only see the fruits of your labour a few years down the line offerring a reasonable income and a flexible lifestyle.

It's different if you have been in the job before and should be an easier ride old clients an all, but I'd try to remember the reasons I got out of it in the first place very carefully.