john, i have spent daft money setting up this business, but thats how i sell myself, people on here keep saying its a cut throut business so without standing out, you don't really stand a cat in hells chance, theres a lot of guys starting up on here with a £500 quid sec hand machine thrown into the back of a laguna, and i wish them all the luck in the world, but really, deep down all there gonna do is take a few jobs of the other guys, nothing sets them apart. its not the old days anymore. theres less carpets, theres more choice to diy. without my set up i'd be getting a few jobs here and there, the set up ive got is memorable, its in your face, it oozes quality and affordablility. thats my angle, starting out in business, you have to have an angle unless youve been going 20 years. i'm not saying you have to spend loads of money like me, and if i could of thought of a cheap angle, believe me i would of done so, but either way you need an angle that sells yourself.
i'm not decieving my customers in anyway what so ever, i have been trained by the ncca and enjoyed every minute of it, just because i'm not a member doesnt mean i'm decieving my customers, if asked i would tell them "i could be a member but i' wouldn't be so affordable" (tongue in cheek,) and as long as i can promote my business as trained by the ncca then i'd recommend there training course, it was very easy to follow and very enjoyable, so was the prochem, so was the cleansmart and the ltt, if i was worthy of advice for a start up i'd say training was essential and the more you get the more confident you can be to your customers, my other advice would be, make sure your giving your customers something that stands out from your competitors,
ian
the ncca do not vet there members once theyve been trained, theres no ongoing training, other than paid for.you dont have to retrain every so often, you dont have to have health and safety certificates, in fact you could go to the training and fall asleep and pass the test, then show your insurance and bingo your a member for life as long as you cough up. ive toyed with becoming a member and still may do so, but that will be purely to get work from them, allthough from some of the comments ive had from others, i doubt i will, maybe the ncca should spend some of that membership on SEO cos there no where to be seen when you type in carpet cleaners in your area. and theres no excuse for that when city-visitor and zettai can beat them and there nothing to do with carpet cleaning.
bye eck, is that the time.
sorry guys, ive been sleep typing again.
derek