New Guy seeking advice

Hello All,

I am new here and am thinking about joining the ranks of carpet cleaners. I know everyone will have a different opinion on equipment but that is one of my first questions. My neighbor has been in the business for over 10 years and I have worked with him on many occasions. He swears by Butler Systems and his seems to work really well in my opinion. What do you folks think?
I am considering a Butler truck mounted system myself but wanted more opinions.

thanks,

Bevrado87

All,
I do appreciate all advice NOT related to my question. I have given some thought to a business plan, how I will build my clientele, classes (advice on this subject is appreciated), and other things.
Like I said in my introduction, I AM THINKING ABOUT getting into the business and have a very experience mentor able and willing to help me. My question is about equipment, specifically Butler. My friend swears by the line and I have used it and like it. But, like getting a second opinion from a doctor, I wanted to hear from some of you other "professionals" out there.

thanks

I could not have said it better!

16 or so of my 26 years in business has been with the Butler Units. I have owned 4 of them. I always keep an eye on google or craigslist or the like to see if I can get a " cherry Unit " . As far as simplicity and reliability I couldn't have higher praise for the units I've owned. Less than 2 or three jobs lost to a break down in 16 years.
and I am NOT mechanically inclined and it is the most user friendly design I have ever seen , and I have looked at a lot of them. In my opinion the only unit above a Butler may be the Vortek but the Vortek is serious business, not just a starter vehicle in most cases. Only My opinion.

Edited by danmarck82 - 02/February/2009 at 2:05pm

If you get a Butler go for the HIGH HEAT option..

Conduct your own phone survey - if in US, there is the DoNotCall list, but since you aren't selling you should be fine using the phone book unless you run into some arse on the phone.  Identify yourself as a research firm and not a carpet cleaner.  Turn off you callerID. Graph out your answers, see who you potential customer is.  Using the percentage of respondence falling into that basket use your chamber's household numbers and apply the ratio from the survey to that number.  Now, divide it by the number of carpet cleaners in the phone book.  Is that share big enough to support you at your targeted average prices? 

If not, go fish - find something else to pursue.  Never argue with numbers or twist them to get the results you are happy with.  Numbers don't lie and you are only cheating yourself when fabricating stats.  Never go into this process with a hypothesis you want to prove. 

Hell, even Edison tried 1000 different ways to make the light bulb before he succeeded so you can either say he failed 1000 times or he was sucessful in finding 1000 ways it would not work.

How many businesses are YOU willing to test with surveys?  Just because Starbucks might look like a good business the question is how many more coffee shops can your city support based on X number per square mile?  Broaden you view of this whole business thing and know this... Carpet Cleaning is NOT the end all for making right your economic goals.  It does serve some people well, not everyone who jumps into a pool full of Joe Polish Piranhas.

Invest a week of calling around the cities you want to serve.  That is my take.

my butler is great, I love it, it never breaks down, and it runs with the normal heat option about 200 in the winter, and 220 in the summer...I bought it two years old, saved me about 8 grand, and only had 55 hours on it.  I have used some of the cheaper machines out there, the ones with the kohler engine, just not enough heat and suction....and ive used some of the monster machines, you know, that are in box trucks, I cant think of the name right now..

I would recomend getting 3, 50 foot section for your pressure hose, and rotate them, cause 1, 150 section will eventualy bust and you will be stuck.

John L is right, high heat option i have used, and it melts anything away..