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Starting and Building a Business

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DaisyDigitool View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DaisyDigitool Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Starting and Building a Business
    Posted: 31/January/2018 at 9:52am
I started sharing marketing tips that have been working for my family's cleaning business - referral source marketing is the subject of my latest video as it's had such a dramatic effect. Have any of you given it a try? 
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annfully View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote annfully Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20/February/2016 at 7:07pm
In a lot of other countries...a shop vac and foam is considered big business
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Soil Lint Green View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Soil Lint Green Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19/July/2012 at 12:08am
I agree with DC.  It seems for every 100 people entering any business, the rule that applies is 95 will fail.  It is partially due to capital, largely due to business sense.  Heck, I made a living years ago in a computer related business with a $0 investment.  You could have $1million to start a company and still fail if you make a good employee and nothing more.
It's ORY GUN, not OR A GONE. Learn to talk.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Temple Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28/June/2012 at 8:46am
Make sure you put in a full days work even if you dont have any carpets to clean. Work on your truck, pass out flyers, Drop into the supplier stores look at products and ask questions. Work on your SEO. Look at new services to ad. Take classes.     -    Good Luck.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grout Guy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27/June/2012 at 10:24pm
Show up on time, be professional with clients on the phone, email or whatever. 
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John L View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote John L Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05/June/2012 at 2:35am
Originally posted by akpowerclean akpowerclean wrote:

Hey Liggykoa
P.S. Take a look at the rude replier's website "rant" page and you will see what he's about. 
Akpowerclean
www.akpowerclean.comSmile

The rant page, And where might that be? 
I've been hearing that Ken H has the most powerful portable called the Titan at a fair price ck him out. Ed V also has the most powerful portable ck him out.
TMI has many nice powerful portys. Steambrite has them too. 
 


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akpowerclean View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote akpowerclean Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04/June/2012 at 5:33pm
Hey Liggykoa,

I found your questions to be intelligent and I admire your patience with the rude reply.
Sounds to me like you are doing things right. Doing your research ahead of time.

My thoughts on the matter is that you need to decide what your business model is. Do you want to be a sole operator and do all of the work yourself, do you want to start slowly and work up to having employees or do you want to start out more in the managerial position and grow your business? If you are in a position to work for a carpet cleaning business for a while and learn the ropes that would be a good idea. That way you can know better what the pitfalls might be. Also you will be able to say that you have experience in cleaning carpets. The easiest way to get a job with a carpet cleaning company is to take an IICRC carpet cleaning technician class and get your certification. When you apply for a job and you can show you have this certification you will be hired in a snap. I have hired hundreds of employees in the past 34 years and anybody with certification went to the top of my list. In this forum there are a lot of words about customer service etc.. which are all absolutely true and extremely important. Also important is learning marketing. Start spending time now learning about internet marketing. With the right internet marketing you can quickly show up on the first pages where people are looking for your services. If you know you are going to start a carpet cleaning business go ahead and get a domain name now and build a website as soon as possible. This is huge for ranking. How you end up marketing your business depends on many things such as big city or small town, your goals, your budget, the niche you choose, the type of method you use etc... However the internet is going to the foundation for what ever you do. Some people may disagree with me. They may say they are doing fine with just word of mouth referrals etc... Many people have built a website and got nothing out f it because they simply had a site sitting back there in page seven of Google where nobody ever saw them. Learn your internet marketing skills and a website will be the best return on investment there is.
Back a few years ago other marketing worked well such as yellow pages , radio , television all which I used quite successfully. But now they don't work so well and can be a waste of your money depending on your market.
Your original question was about portables.

We use van mounts for 90% of our work.
Expensive to buy, high maintenance but they far outshine any other methods in my considerable experience.

If you are mechanically inclined you might look at purchasing a used van mount system.

For portables my criteria has been at least 150 psi, a water heater heating water to at least 150 degrees enough suction to use at least 20 feet of hose.

If you can afford it  you might get a Rotovac power wand to use on traffic areas or extra dirty areas.

These goes through the water much faster but doe a much better job.

You can get this stuff used as long as you are able to do maintenance yourself. Things do break down a lot.

I always purchased the Mytee brand of portable. I think because they met my criteria and they were the best price I could find at the time. I don't know if they are the best or not. 
Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. I wish I was as smart as you when I first started my business. I just jumped in head first without knowing anything. Lucky for me it was in Alaska in 1978 when the economy was booming. I might not have made it in an economy like we are currently experiencing. 

That's why I am saying learn marketing.

Good luck.

P.S. Take a look at the rude replier's website "rant" page and you will see what he's about.

Akpowerclean
www.akpowerclean.comSmile
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duckcountry View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote duckcountry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26/March/2012 at 4:43pm
Watch this video first.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Db_OuOym4Kc?rel=0

The questions you then ask after will tell us if the business is for you or over your head and you will just wind up a dead prospector.  Any general store would sell a prospector the tools of the trade since they do not stand to gain or lose based on your individual success.  Another wannabe is standing in line behind you bursting with over-confidence and yet lacking in the most important tool = common sense.
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote carpetologist Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26/March/2012 at 4:01pm
Liggykoa,

This site is loaded with more useful advice than most others and the equipment TM & Portables new and used are plentiful. Took me years to accumulate and offer the industry the best that I could find to sell and be proud of it.

I only wish a site like this was available years ago when I went through hell climbing the ladder.

Ted
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Liggykoa View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Liggykoa Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24/March/2012 at 9:54pm

Ok, I'm sure from a seasoned vet’s point of view such as yourself my question is retarded but at the same time it’s still a question I would like answered. So if you don't want to help me out or give me any USEFUL advice do me a favor and keep your snide little comments to yourself. Thanks

 

Again for those who might actually like to help someone.

 

Can someone give me a few TM or a few portables they recommend for a start up or any other useful advice is also welcomed.

 

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duckcountry View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote duckcountry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24/March/2012 at 7:57pm
Engage your brain schmuck
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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Liggykoa View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Liggykoa Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24/March/2012 at 3:30pm
Like i said im not starting for a few years, once I get a tightly made business plan and enough captial to back it do I plan to start and as for learning how to clean carpets thats what I just started doing and what I plan to do for the next few years. As for driving and what car im not to sure what you ment by that but if I can whip around HMMWVs, LMTVs, and Paladins (type of tank) from my Army days I think I can manage to drive a van around town. So what type of TM and portables do you think I should look into?
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duckcountry View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote duckcountry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24/March/2012 at 1:20am
Why do you think that you should not learn how to clean carpets first?  Which car should I buy even tho I do not know how to drive?
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Liggykoa Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23/March/2012 at 4:36pm
Hello everyone,
This is my first time posting on this fourm but so far I have learned so much from you guys thanks. I plan on starting up a CC company within the next few years once I have done enough research. I was woundering if you guys could give me a list of 5 TM and 5 portable units I should look into as a starter for my company and any other information you can think of would be great. LOL and please no S*** talking between TM and portables.
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