Truckmount Carpet

I own 2 Ninja portable machines, a Hydramaster 4.8 truckmount and a 2001 Vortex truckmount.  Although the portables do keep costs down, they also keep profits down.  Portables break too often, require too much effort to set up and are too darn slow.  I was not able to make any money with them.  The van-mounted Hydramaster is a huge leap forward, but it is NOT a true dual wand machine.  The Vortex is an excelent machine.  I can run three wands from the Vortex with no loss of cleaning power to any of the operators.  It has a faster set up time, faster cleaning time, and drys carpets faster.  For $1100 a month, it is a real bargain.  Advertising and labour costs dwarf my equipment costs.  The biggest drawback is that I can only clean in one place at any given time.  The biggest benefit... No other company in Hampton Roads Virginia has a Vortex and my customers regularly ask for "The big truck".  I also like the Hydramaster for good profits. 

The truck has about 500' of hose, but there is room for a lot more (although no more will fit on the reel).  The heat exchanger is over 6 feet long.  The water is actually hotter when running on at least two wands.  I do not understand why this is the case.  There is seating for three in the truck (in the cab).  Yes, it can easily handle dual wands.  We have never used this machine at full capacity.  We dial down the vaccum, run water pressure at 500 psi and still leave any carpet dry in less than two hours. 

I do a lot of commercial work.  Although my source generally pays only 4.7 cents a square (for commercial work), there is a lot of work.  Most jobs are well over 10,000 square ft.  For example, my next job is 28,000 sqaure ft.  The job will pay a little over $1300 and will take 3 technicians about 5 hours to complete (at night) with one truck.  The price seems really low, but we typically clean over 100,000 square a month for the referral agency.   

My truck is three years old.  If you want a photo, I will email it to you.

Nightrider..

I will make money on the job, and yes, I know that it sounds crazy.  I couldn't make a fair profit with my van.  The Vortex turns and burns.  

I have a BSBA in accounting.  Numbers are my thing.  This space can easily be cleaned in five hours (low-grade commercial carpet).  I have done it many times.  My customers are satisfied with the work.  Net on this job is $900.  I kill my competition with these prices (no, I don't murder them.... but it is a thought).  My goal is to net over $200k next year.  

Advertising costs scare me.  How does $60k a year sound?  Yeehaaa that is scary stuff, but it works.  I am buying more trucks this year too.  No, they will not all be Vortex machines.  They are not well suited to residential work.  I can't split the damned trucks in half.  

Best of luck to you in your business adventure.  Have fun!

Sincerely,  Barry

Hiring people is difficult.  

How do I know who to hire, how many people to hire, whether they should be seasonal or full time?  If someone has a formula that works, tell us about it.

Stanley wrote: Hey Doug...who services your two prochems????

Sinclair Sales in Chatham.  Thats where I purchased them Chatham is closer.

Stanley wrote: Doug do you find that the internal parts dry out and crack fast???all those little hoses?? or the Belts??? Do you do any service yourself?????is your van Insulated???

The parts are fine.

Hoses are fine

The vans are insulated.

I went to the 405 units because the Bruin II unit was to high maintence with constant belt problems

WE do alot of our own service.

The 405 has little to service compared to the bruin

Well to Tell you the Truth Doug...this unit use to be hell.....I got it from Sinclair T.O. but every week something use to blow...solenoids....to control the temp...overheating shut down...and all the little by-bass hoses use to dry up and crack...the belts use to break 1 a month at least...I remember a time I went threw 6 belt changes in a week...1 a day in real hot weather.....But Carpet cleaning not being my only background..I pulled most of the crap out....changed a lot of the hoses to black steam pipe...

reworked the temperature water wasting system...no more emptying my fresh water tank while I cleaned at low temperatures or furniture...

I also have a belt made by a company called power fist...rated for real high temperatures ...so now I only change the belts every six months...

It was a great learning experience...I really know the ins and outs of that machine, and I think my improvement have improved the overall proformance...

I haven't been down a day for the last two years....I just maintain with regular maintenance...That machine works six days a week..I love her and she loves me..