[yorky]

     

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Hi Guys new to the forum.

I have a carpet cleaning Franchise just now and want to move to being an independent. At the moment I use a portable machine and attach a rotary machine for those commercial jobs.

Looking at machines on the market the choice is baffling. Could anyone recommend good replacements for the machines I'm using now? I want to keep to the same high standards as I do have some high level commercial customers and don't want to lose them.

I thought around £2500 for the portable machine as a guideline. 
 
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[Simon@arenaclean]

If you're excluding the vat that will get you a triple vac machine with a 300 + psi plus pump. The 600 psi Airflex turbo is a great machine, the same goes for the Alltec tripple vac but that will stretch the budget a bit and then there's the long serving Scorpion. If on board high heat is your requirement Then the Ninja or the powerflite perfect heat twin with 500 psi. The Alltec and the Airflex come in twin vac guises with 200 psi pumps. I'd suggest that if you already have tools and hoses, and they are rated for high psi you'll get them cheaper than your budget as all come with a wand and hose. Being a franchise could you get a replacement from a supplier you have a relationship with?

Anyway plenty to choose from!

Simon

[clinton]

What machine have you at present then mate

The post above is right and prob go for a 3 vac maybe..

[yorky]

If you're excluding the vat that will get you a triple vac machine with a 300 + psi plus pump. The 600 psi Airflex turbo is a great machine, the same goes for the Alltec tripple vac but that will stretch the budget a bit and then there's the long serving Scorpion. If on board high heat is your requirement Then the Ninja or the powerflite perfect heat twin with 500 psi. The Alltec and the Airflex come in twin vac guises with 200 psi pumps. I'd suggest that if you already have tools and hoses, and they are rated for high psi you'll get them cheaper than your budget as all come with a wand and hose. Being a franchise could you get a replacement from a supplier you have a relationship with?

Anyway plenty to choose from!

Simon

Thanks Simon.

All the equipment was part of the price we paid when purchasing the franchise and that's all they stock. I hope to sell this so not sure if I can part exchange it with an outside company.
I have no experience of any other Machinery or indeed products as they all had to be purchased from the Franchisee.

I would be happy for any advice on not just machined but good quality products to use ,not just the main cleaner but spot cleaners and the like.

Thanks Simon.

[yorky]

What machine have you at present then mate

The post above is right and prob go for a 3 vac maybe..

I have a powerbase 10 and powerhead as part of a Chemdry Franchise. Not sure if it's called a Velda. To be honest I am far from mechanically minded and have never taken the time to study the machines. I would not know if they are classed as good,bad or average. I take it most machined are based on the power of the heater,pumps, vac, etc.?

I do have the manuals which i'm sure would give the variouse specs. I'm just one of these people that just carries on and ignores tham short of cleaning out the filters as long as they work.

Having Said that one of the pumps packed in today.

[richy27]

where abouts are you based /email

[yorky]

where abouts are you based /email

North of Glasgow

[robert meldrum]

U K cleaning systems in Cupar have a good selection of machines and products.

[yorky]

U K cleaning systems in Cupar have a good selection of machines and products.

Thanks Robert I spoke with a chap from them. Very helpfull and I will be paying them a visit.


He pointed out a machine
CFR Echo 500, which I will take a look at as one option.

[jasonl]

I would recommend that you sell the powerbase within the Network, it has little value outside CD.
The powerbase is in fact a modified Hydramaster RX20 , sold at a vastly inflated price.  I would be very surprised if CD head office did not make your life difficult if you try and go it alone.

Have you got anyone who can front the new business for you , and mail out to your existing customers?

Good luck in your new venture, I left CD 8 years ago, and have enjoyed my work far more , and have benefitted financially, far in excess of my fellow franchisees in general.

[richie]

certainly worth getting someone else to front your new company for you because CD will have a clause that will prevent you working in the same industry for at least 12 - 18 months....if not nationwide it will certainly be within your current area.  This happened to a friend of mine that had a Rainbow franchise.  Im sure they held about £5000 till the time period was up as security.

Richie.

[murky]

I was with SM and I just carried on by myself. Still got all my ghost phone numbers etc.

As I understand it unless there is a specific clause in your contract that says you cannot trade as a cleaning co, there is nothing that they can do to stop you.

It is about the only good thing the EU has given us.

Its called free trade. You have to be allowed to carry on in your trade as a cleaner, its what you do to earn a living.

Take legal advice, show your contract to a solicitor, that will cost about £80.00 and he/she will advise accordingly.

Murky

[jasonl]

Murky,

CD are more heavy handed than SM , they make all sorts of threats, in the name of protecting the brand, including trying to take phone numbers from you , stopping free trade and not allowing the use of CD equipment  outside the network. I sold my franchises, so did not have any of the above . I know of quite a few that have though.
Seeing a solicitor would be a wise investment.

[yorky]

Murky,

CD are more heavy handed than SM , they make all sorts of threats, in the name of protecting the brand, including trying to take phone numbers from you , stopping free trade and not allowing the use of CD equipment  outside the network. I sold my franchises, so did not have any of the above . I know of quite a few that have though.
Seeing a solicitor would be a wise investment.

Yes it's in the contract. I would have thought it's actually against the law and they could be taken to the court of human rights.

PS Thanks guys i'v made an appointment with a solicitor. Best to be sure before I move forward.

[murky]

I think Ovenclean are quite strict as well. We had ours done by them a few years ago, brill job (sorry Colin).

We rang him later that year on his mobile to do it again but he said he couldnt/wouldnt do it as he had packed up with them. And he said he couldnt do it under his own name etc, I explained as my previous post but he was quite adamant he couldnt do it.

Murky

[ryan mca]

    there was a court case between a ex franchisee and a fleet washing franchise
about there non competition clause the court ruled max 6 months
  if your going to a lawyer make sure its a franchise law specialist dont use any
family connections as a front google franchise court cases get it wrong could be
very expensive

[Joe H]

YORKY

seen on ebay  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300392334214#ht_614wt_1165

[yorky]

YORKY

seen on ebay  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300392334214#ht_614wt_1165

Thanks Joe

Do you, or anyone else on here have experience of this machine.? Seems strange to get rid so soon, and he says he can't get on with it.
I have never purchased from e-bay so am always wary.

[Joe H]

I had a similar model couple years ago - CFR500
Good heat and with the Wonderwand which is normally with this type of machine - its a good combination, cleaning carpets and leaving them well on the way to drying.

The seller is a carpet cleaner and posts on here sometimes. I have met home once, seems avery nice man, pretty genuine I would say.

These type of machines recycle water and maybe this is what he didnt get on with - its a mind thing I suppose.
If you interested - contact him thro the ebay auction site - have a chat with him.

[yorky]

I had a similar model couple years ago - CFR500
Good heat and with the Wonderwand which is normally with this type of machine - its a good combination, cleaning carpets and leaving them well on the way to drying.

The seller is a carpet cleaner and posts on here sometimes. I have met home once, seems avery nice man, pretty genuine I would say.

These type of machines recycle water and maybe this is what he didnt get on with - its a mind thing I suppose.
If you interested - contact him thro the ebay auction site - have a chat with him.

Thanks for that Joe I may do that. Given the way this thread has gone it has as you can imagine though given me other things to think about and I don't want to waste the guys time.