Starting a biz need some help

Hi guys ive been reading this forum for quite some time trying to get tips for starting my business. Ive been thinking about this for about 2 yrs now, whats the hold up u ask well, stupid me i keep finding partners that decide they dont want to do labour oh well. So ive decided im going to try to go it alone im just waiting for the new carpet cleaning dates for the class they advertise here but wanted to know, how much money do i really need to get this business going i plan to do commercial cleaning at night and res if anyone wants their carpets done at night. I live in canada so canadian prices please i was thinking no more than 15 g , get a used cargo van , and buy some used equipment fornm this shop, also could you let me know what exactely i would need, the plan is to start with the carpets and expand into air ducts and hard floors. please any and all advice is welcome peace. Need to get a move on. Also is this even possible as a one man show?

Thanks Adwa thats good to know , so at least this isnt a pointless goal , now i just have to get off my arse and get into gear. That was really worrying me though i didnt want to get the thing started and then find out it couldnt be done. So any idea on how much to get this thing going is 15 G realistic starting price or unrealistic? Hopefully i can get a small biz loan so if this thing flops i wont have to pay off the entire loan. Not that im thinking it will flop just trying to be realistic. Side note read a government study that soon trade skills are going to be in high demand, so hopefully i can get in at  a good time.

ccwannnabe....

Let me ask you one thing...

why carpet cleaning?????

Sorry didnt post this previously Adwa but i was thinking 15g for the van , portable machine, flyers , insurance and cleaning supplies. Is 15 g to much ?

do you have any contracts orr leads set-up already???

how do ypu plan to create work???

really  ccwb it's up to you and what kind of service you want to provide..

to start up from nothing 15 g may not do it, if you have to buy equipment and advertise...

I think you misread Adwa...

What you need is a few good commercial contracts...(I hate Commercial lol)

does anyone else have some input???.... I hate to see a newbie loose his shirt

well I started the easy way...I Sub-contracted for a long while... I started out with a portable but quickly moved into a truckmount...

if your subbing the only out lay you have is your equipment

This is my first year out on my own I have two trucks... so you could say we are both at a starting point....

I've already spent 20 g's on just advertising since april if that gives you any Idea...

thats nothing else..just getting the jobs.... I have alot of my own customers which I've stole from subbing over the years, which helps out alot...

I couldn't see me starting from scratch... you need a lot of money to make it...

cash flow is very important

if I where you... I'd do residential evenings and weekends... maybe focus towards evening appointments... people are looking for that now adays all you need is maybe 2 to 5 calls a week to get you rolling....residential is quicker money in too... no invoicing and waiting

 

as a one man shot it's hard to work and answer the phones, so I hire some days and my wife does it some days....and I do it when it's slow..

it's slow this week and last... because I haven't put out any ads for Aug..  I want to breath this month and take it easy...

so right now I book them my brother does them

I have around 13 calls from now until friday saturady we are off..

keeping asking maybe you'll get some place... all we can do is ask