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Looking for start up help |
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Mr. Mike 
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Joined: 07/November/2009 Location: NY Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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 Topic: Looking for start up helpPosted: 08/November/2009 at 4:14pm |
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Hello everyone,
My name is Mike and I'm looking into starting up a CC business in upstate NY. I live in a suburban area with urban areas close by. I'm not sure if a TM or portable unit would be best for me. I work full time on the afternoon shift and I'm looking to do this during the day before I head to work. By reading this forum I've seen that picking which machine is like picking what oil you use in your car....a million choices. I am a bit nervous about spending all this money and then not being able to make anything back...there is a ton of knowledge on this forum as well as sarcasm (which I enjoy) if at all any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also if I do go with a portable extractor will it do a good job...I'm just afraid I'm going to show up to a job ith a portable extractor and customers will say..."um no thanks its not what I thought" or something along those lines. Again any help would be greatly appreciated and any tips for starting up would be great too.....Thanks in advance....
Mike
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RIP IT
Senior Member 
Joined: 16/May/2008 Location: Brisbane Status: Offline Points: 154 |
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Posted: 08/November/2009 at 4:39pm |
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Yes you can do a very good job with a quality portable but sadly you can't change some peoples opinions so easily regarding HAVING to use a truckmount to get a great result.
If you're starting out part time then the quality portable ( even a well cared for second hand example ) will not place a huge amount of financial burden on you until you can decide on expanding when the $ allow. Whatever you do, use good quality chemicals, pre vaccum and take your time. GET TRAINING. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
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Dont treat people like customers. Treat them like friends.
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Michael
Carpet Cleaning Specialist 
Joined: 18/June/2005 Status: Offline Points: 557 |
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Posted: 15/November/2009 at 2:29pm |
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Good advice from Rip It. I have a porty and I've built a good reputation. A truckmount would help me do the same job faster. Other times, it seems like a tm would turn a really irritating job into a breeze. At least I have a lower overhead. ;) On the customer end, maybe customer opinions re: tm vs. porty vary by region? In the last few years, it's only come up a handful of times. I have a tm guy I refer to customers who feel they must have one--he refers porty jobs to me (e.g., high rises) since he doesn't have one.
Fact is, no matter what you offer, there will always be a customer out there who's looking for something else. Shrug it off. Be good at what YOU offer--you can't be all things to all people.
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duckcountry
Master Carpet Cleaner 
Joined: 29/October/2005 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1082 |
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Posted: 15/November/2009 at 8:08pm |
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My suggestion is that if you are a one man operation (Owner/Operator), stay with the porty. When you get ready for putting a crew minus you on the truck then it is time for a truckmount.
I am a solo act these days, porty and bonnets are my way to go and with a 58 year old back and body, rotovac is my pain killer. |
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Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity?
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CarpetCleaningNJ
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Joined: 11/January/2010 Location: New Jeryey Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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Posted: 11/January/2010 at 12:39am |
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or you can try a all natural organic dry cleaning that dies in 2-4 hours...
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PowerPRO Organic Carpet Cleaning
1-800-CLEAN-MY CARPETS 1-800-253-2669 HTTP://WWW.ABOVEANDBEYONDCARPETCLEANING.COM |
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RIP IT
Senior Member
Joined: 16/May/2008 Location: Brisbane Status: Offline Points: 154 |
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Posted: 11/January/2010 at 1:30am |
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Using a properly set up portable with gas heater, glided wand and booster box vacuums as well as vacuums in the machine you can easily get drying times below 2 hours ( dependant upon climatic conditions ). It doesn't snow in Brisbane.
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Dont treat people like customers. Treat them like friends.
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prouddadx3
Groupie 
Joined: 06/November/2008 Location: Boulder Status: Offline Points: 86 |
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Posted: 11/January/2010 at 2:03pm |
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One of the biggest advantages to a TM is the heat. When I was first certified 100 years ago they had the rule of 18. once you reach 118 degrees every 18 degrees hotter doubles the ability of the shampoo to clean. A lot of portable systems have introduced heat. You may think about the possibility of targeting apartment buildings with several floors. They have to use portables. I also agree with the post on training. Good luck
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CarpetproKC
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Joined: 29/August/2009 Location: Kansas City, MO Status: Offline Points: 80 |
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Posted: 12/January/2010 at 12:28am |
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Truckmount all the way.
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Ed Valentine
Carpet Cleaning Specialist
Joined: 14/September/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 770 |
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Posted: 12/January/2010 at 8:51am |
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Mr. Mike;
Although everyone has provided their opinions and experiences, I would suggest looking a little further into --the right---powerful "Portable/TM" systems that would certainly more than do any job period. And on a tight budget to start.
They're out there; just look.
Very best;
Ed Valentine
cross-american corp.
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CarpetproKC
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Joined: 29/August/2009 Location: Kansas City, MO Status: Offline Points: 80 |
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Posted: 12/January/2010 at 12:45pm |
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Mike,
My experience with using a portable inside customers homes was this: 1. Having to unload bulky machine from back of van into customer house.- My machine weighs about 80 pounds. I threw my back out three times loading and unloading this beast from the van. I have never had back problems prior to this. 2. Carrying portable up customers stairs- This was just awkward, there is no way around it. 3. Filling up buckets of water from their tub and dumping the water down their toilet. I had to carry a ton of hand towels with me to wipe up sloshed water plus I think its a nuisance. I never felt good about using customer's water source because I dont want someone coming into my house and using my water. 4. I popped fuses daily- even if they were plugged into bathroom outlets. Embarrassing and a hassle. 5. Set up and tear down times were just ridiculous. I got my truckmount and it has improved by business exponentially. I make more money, I do it faster and I have better results. Mostly I got the truckmount for ME because if I dont feel good about my tools than I cant do a good job. If you feel good about using a portable then go for it but I know people selling quality (older) used truckmounts from 3-5000. |
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prouddadx3
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Joined: 06/November/2008 Location: Boulder Status: Offline Points: 86 |
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Posted: 13/January/2010 at 5:11pm |
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I wouldn't use a Portable unless I had too but some of the portables have auto pump outs and auto fills. I'm not sure how much hose can run off them but I think you have to go up stairs in most cases which would be a drag. Apartments and portables go well together.
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imagecarpets
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Joined: 18/January/2010 Location: US Status: Offline Points: 1 |
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Posted: 18/January/2010 at 7:13am |
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Best of luck then.
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Carpet Expert
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RIP IT
Senior Member
Joined: 16/May/2008 Location: Brisbane Status: Offline Points: 154 |
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Posted: 18/January/2010 at 4:19pm |
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for 7 years I ran my portable always mounted in the van using a vac booster box and little giant gas heater ( two booster boxes gave me 45 metres of hose run ). it did a great job and now I use a Prochem Legend GT which does make set up/pack up times a bit faster and obviously makes cleaning a bit quicker too. and so it should as it cost 4 times what the portable did.
if you are starting out spend your money carefully. A used truckmount could cost you a lot of $ in repairs compared to a brand new high powered portable.
it's possible to make a good living using portables as long as you market yourself well and always take the time to do a great job.
when your business grows you can always upgrade if you need, but I dont see the point adding to the pressures of trying to start a new business with unnecessary debt levels.
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Dont treat people like customers. Treat them like friends.
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prouddadx3
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Joined: 06/November/2008 Location: Boulder Status: Offline Points: 86 |
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Posted: 18/January/2010 at 4:24pm |
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I've never heard of booster boxes. How do they work and how much do they cost?
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