[magic_carpet]

here is a great van for carpet cleaning
ht tp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180266742340&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008

close space between ht and tp

[*c4carpetcleaning]

In the 10 years of sign written vans i never had one job which was attrubuted
to anyone seeing the van and calling the number, several people would approach
me when cleaning, and they still do to the same extent.

I don't believe that for a minute, how on earth can you say that, do you ask everyone who walks down the street or passes your vehicle, no, so you dont know if vehicle advertising works, or not, in most cases it does.

[derek west]

2nd job i did, (started 6 weeks ago) was from a women who saw my van at trafic lights and got my number, (£135) and a bloke rang my wife only yesterday and said i'm behind your van and wanted a quote,
AJB, maybe your livery's phone number was wrong. lol, really cant believe 4 years and no phone calls from ya van. have you got a picture of it?

[Jim_77]

I can count the num,ber of DIRECT enquiries from seeing my van on the fingers of one hand.

Normally seeing the van is in conjunction with seeing your advert in a directory or online.  In most cases customers who mention "well I've seen your vans around" (little do they know it's only one ) have been looking through the directories and made the connection with the logo on the page and the sign on the van.

Unless you ask absolutely every customer, you have no idea!

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

    lots of people see the van at customers ans get the phone number i find

[RAM Cleaning]

I started in a car (hatchback toyota), before upgrading to a van.  The main reason for this was to keep my outlay low in the beginning, its ok to say you need a van you need this you need that, but you have to be realistic when starting out and do it the way you can afford.  It is no good going out and spending 3k on a van 2k on a machine and another 1k on all the bits you need when you may only have 2k to start with.  I have seen so many people start up in this industry around my way going out and getting the loans for the machines and vans and not having any cash left for the most important part.................advertising.
When starting get what you NEED, not what you would like, once you get the work and you get repeat business then look at upgrading everything, machine vans etc.

So stick with your car until you know you can make a living from this cutthroat industry before spending all your cash.

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

I would like to thank everyone for there imput.
After much thought i have decided to start with a van.
One reason why was the safety aspect some of you mentioned,
i must admit that safety never even crossed my mind.
I am sure i will be back again over the next few months,
for a bit more advice.Cheers chaps.

[Ian Rochester]

Another satisfied customer 

[Ian Gourlay]

Put signs on your estate.

[RAM Cleaning]

personally i think a kangoo is too small, by the time you have all your bits of kit and a backup machine on, it will be tight, and without sideloading doors, its a pain to get to the stuff thats not by the door, a side loading door is a must, and twin side loading doors are even better

[sherco]

A mate of mine was killed several years ago, he was a Mobile mechanic and he used his estate car for work, he was involved in a accident, a tool kit hit him on the head and killed him instantly. Unless you can secure things down properly which i dont think you can in a estate car. Get a van.

[RAM Cleaning]

a lot of good estate cars do have the tie down rings in the back, but you could also fit a good quailty dog guard to help objects fly through.  Unfortunetly the same can happen in a van if you dont secure things down and you have no bulk head or protective cage fitted