I truely can't understand how all these one man show's come on this forum and boast they're all rich, drive corvettes, own a big house, take trips, vacations, bla bla bla.

I've been in various businesses for over 30 years and as a one man show, there is no way you can make money. You make a salary...........NO MONEY. Then you suffer or get an outside job for the winter....

I want someone out there to TELL THE TRUTH, if you're making more than $ 50,000 cleaning carpets as a one man show......tell me how you're doing it and give us all a detailed description so that we all can be sucessful.

                   NIGHTRIDER

t least 4 of my techs earn well over $50K Nightrider.

You need a plan man.

I'm new to this forum, I'm from Montreal Quebec and I have tried to do it all myself but was unable to do it all. My girlfriend helps me alot but I do not make more than 25,000 during the cleaning season. It is true I work for the winter elsewhere. NightRider where are you, who are you, what is the name of your company, maybe I know you or you know of me. Get back I would like to know

 PLEASE READ THE POST.........ONE MAN SHOW

I WANT THOSE WHO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, MAKE THEIR CALLS, GO CLEAN THE CARPETS, ANSWER THEIR CELL WHEN IT RING, BOOKS APPOINTMENTS, OR HAS AN ANSWERING MACHINE, LOADS AND UNLOADS HIS PORTABLE ALONE........GET THE POINT.................

ONE  MAN  SHOW...........

                         NIGHTRIDER

FREEDOM.........HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE.......LET'S MAKE IT EASY AND WHY DON'T YOU JUST TELL ME WHO YOU ARE AND WE'LL SEE.

                    NIGHTRIDER

LilNiteRidrhood wrote: t least 4 of my techs earn well over $50K Nightrider. You need a plan man.

Are you hireing?  I am house broken won't bite the kids.  I go to the door when I want out.  Is there anything else I have to know about carpet cleaning?  I used to have experience but due to chemical missuse  and exposure I forgot.  I ????

It's hard to be a one man show...but with cell phones...lab tops..gps...automated Voicemail boxes...anyone can seem big time...

if there are really people making 50.000 or more a year. please tell me how you are doing it,please let me know, I live and work in a big city and there alot of carpets to clean, but it's hard to get the customers. Sears offered me some work and so did Home Depot, but they don't pay, they are looking for slaves. I thought the slaves were freed long ago, but it seems slavery is here to stay. they want me to clean a whole house for 40-50 dollars, i am not stupid to accept that, and they are having trouble finding people to work for them. please let me know how you are all making so much money, where am i going wrong.

alright........now we're getting somewhere........stanley is out.....no answer so he is not making 50,000

who's next to be honest

sorry freedom.....you're the first one to be honest ( come to my club and we'll talk) I'll send you a private message with my phone number

                        nightrider

freedom and nightrider both from Montreal both use same size font.

OMG I'm on the goddamn floor laughing so hard.....

THAT'S ANOTHER ONE DOWN........SPLASH IS NOT MAKING 50,000 EITHER

SO THAT'S STANLEY, SPLASH $$$$$ DASH

WHO ELSE??????????????????????

I am me..Stanley...and Mr. Steamer...I got the idea for Stanley from nightrider...he told me to add a few characters...

He's at least 35 people here....lolololol can you say time on your hands...lol

Steamdragon is my Cousin

how many people are you Jack Quack from Quebec...lol aka nightrider

Are you asking if I actually made $50,000

or if I brought in that much.

Last year was my first year in biz for myself and I "brought in" well over $50,000

and this year will be much better.

I know of a few quite successful owner operators.

If all your equipment is paid for  it's quite easy to make money as a one man show IMHO.

Freedom wrote: if there are really people making 50.000 or more a year. please tell me how you are doing it,please let me know, I live and work in a big city and there alot of carpets to clean, but it's hard to get the customers. Sears offered me some work and so did Home Depot, but they don't pay, they are looking for slaves. I thought the slaves were freed long ago, but it seems slavery is here to stay. they want me to clean a whole house for 40-50 dollars, i am not stupid to accept that, and they are having trouble finding people to work for them. please let me know how you are all making so much money, where am i going wrong.

stick to TELEMARKETING

i LIKE THE HONENSY THAT IS SHINNING THROUGH HERE.............SOONERJOE, I WILL MESSAGE YOU PRIVATELY AND TELL YOU SOME SECRETS TO INCREASE YOUR PROFITS 10 FOLD.

STEAMINPILE.........THERE ARE TOO MANY IFS AND BUTS IN YOUR EQUATION, ONE MAN SHOW MEANS WHAT I WROTE AT THE BEGINNING.........YOU CAN COUNT ALL MONIES COMMING IN GROS ( GET BACK TO ME) IF OVER 50 G'S TELL US HOW YOU DID IT(TRUTHFULY)

STANLEY...........FORGET IT....YOU'RE OUT.......YOU JUST DRIP LITTLE BITS OF NONSENCE LIKE A KID DIPPING HIS TOE INTO THE POOL BEFORE HE JUMPS IN. IF YOU WANT TO BE SERIOUS.....SAY EITHER YES OR NO TO THE QUESTION.

                        NIGHTRIDER

Flyers,flyers,flyers

small newspaper ads

small yellow page ad (drawing more response this year since I put my handsome face in it, It's helping draw in customers from previous employers and past aquintances from years ago)

word of mouth

pounding the pavement to land a whole bunch of commercial work.

brought in just under $55,000, didn't make a big percent in profit though because of initial start up costs of my van,TM,etc.

FINALLY.........Congratulations Steaminpile, are you a one man show, who answers your phone, do you have a helper. I like the picture in the Yellow Pages, shows customers you're not a fly-by-night operation, and people like to put a face to a voice over the phone, creates confidance. That's GOOD.

Flyers, are they colour or black and white, do you think there's a difference. Do you rock bottom out on your prices as a door crasher.

Pounding the pavement for commercial work, this technique works well in large cities as opposed to over the phone telemarketing, because you're in their face, one on one, you can hang on to his leg if he keeps saying NO......Nice touch be persistant, don't forget he's a salesman too or once was.....run out get your machine and give a demo. GOOD FOR YOU.

Steaminpile came through like a Prince in shinning armor, I believe the $55,000 and at least he's HONEST, he didn't say it was all clear, he has expenses, he works hard and will succeed.

Tell us the hardships that you come accross and what you do to overcome them, or perhaps you don't know how to overcome and I or others can help.

              THANK YOU STEAMINPILE

                    NIGHTRIDER

THANKS BUDDY, DON'T FORGET, BE IN EARLY TOMORROW, WE HAVE TO GET ALL THOSE CD'S SHIPPED OUT.......LET PETER BE SPLASH TOMORROW.....HE NEVER WINS THE DRAW. CALL ME ON MY CELL RIGHT NOW I HAVE THAT INFO YOU WANTED.   TAKE CARE BUDDY BOY.

                        NIGHTRIDER

I JUST LOVE TALKING TO MYSELF

OH YEAH I FORGOT, GO VOTE FOR ME

AND I'LL SET YOU FREE

biggest struggle I had was starting with a small operating capitol and with doing mostly commercial I was always waiting for cash.but still had to pay my suppliers.

Winter was tough so I started doing strip and wax jobs that helped alot.

also my scuzzy apartments and restaurants kept me going.

wasn't a cake walk and I worked hard to get where I am but I'm starting to be a busy guy.

pricing is middle of the road

I want to build a good clientel that will call again and again so I don't have to break the bank on advertising forever

seems to be working so far.

flyers are black and white on bright pastel paper

Thanks Steaminpile I enjoyed reading your post.

It was down to earth and we could use a bit of that with the insanity that has been going on in the last two days.

It's good to see someone isn't giving up!!!!!!! 

Thanks splash I remember when I was a chick,  but I have three chicks of my own now. Guess Again!

I'm sure the Women at Kleen Kuip also thank you for the compliment. 

Sorry ADWA, One of the guys in the office Carl thought you were working for KleenKuip. I told me you weren't, I'll stop using Splash $$ Dash soon. I just want to bug Stanley a little more.

                         NIGHTRIDER

nightrider wrote: Sorry ADWA, One of the guys in the office Carl thought you were working for KleenKuip. I told me you weren't, I'll stop using Splash $$ Dash soon. I just want to bug Stanley a little more.                          NIGHTRIDER

This type of post needs to be taken to the General Discussion section...it has nothing to do with carpet cleaning...further more we have to stop getting sucked into this type of useless debate...

Lets move along nothing to see here

WRONG STANLEY........LOT'S TO SEE HERE.......WANT PROOF................YOU CAME, LEFT YOUR INPUT, RAN AWAY, AND WILL BE BACK LATER JUST TO SEE WHAT I WROTE AND WHAT OTHERS HAD TO SAY..................SEE........LOTS TO SEE HERE

             NIGHTRIDER

Stanley & Nightrider

You know what?  Great minds thinks  alike but with these two.

Smaller minds seldom differ!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everything becomes the great debate.  The unfortunate thing for everyone is with all your aliass no one can tell who is winning or who  for that matter is even  posting  right?  If it looks like someone has become popular just invent someone to cut him up into small pieces. I guess I should quit and wait for the backlash from the YOUNG AND THE USLESS.

Doug.......you're comming close to the butchers block.....careful, you might end up on the KleenKuip Forum Board of Smorgasbord.

                      NIGHTRIDER

nightrider wrote: Doug.......you're comming close to the butchers block.....careful, you might end up on the KleenKuip Forum Board of Smorgasbord.                       NIGHTRIDER

Got your attention.  I am to poor to pay attention.

Got a tell ya NightRider, I have visisted 100's of cleaners at their homes, OFTEN the lonewolves or single truck owner operators are by far the best off finacially.

I AGREE PADMAN..........WHEN I DO SOME WORK IN NEW YORK STATE AND IN VERMONT..........I MAKE MONEY TOO...........I CAN GO GET 22 CENTS SQ. FOOT AMERICAN IN A RESTAURANT IN VERMONT, BUT I CAN'T HERE IN MONTREAL........I'LL GET MAYBE 10 CENTS AND LESS IF IT'S BIG.

                             NIGHTRIDER

Doug........You have no idea, how crappy restaurants are to do......especially with this Dodge gas guzzling MONSTER. If I have a $ 500.00 restaurant of 5000-6000 sq. ft. I'm there for 7 hours, setting up , cleaning and packing up. Gas will cost me at least $60.00 2 guys @ $70.00 .....Total expense $ 140.00 plus $ 60.00= $ 200.00.  Balance $ 300.00 for me.

Not Bad considering I was sleeping or screwing around on here or at the club playing cards.

                        NIGHTRIDER

$500.00 for 6000 feet?

how the hell do you stay in business?

no wonder you live in a crappy 1 BR apartment.

What would you charge Bill Wong? A plate of food?

Well Splash............It's hard for me to say..........BUT thats the best I can do here in Montreal..........I have even gone as low as 5 cents sq. ft to get the carpet cleaning ( 20,000 sq. ft ).....I might make very little there but it's the maintenance and renovation contracts that I am after.........Carpet cleaning is just a door crasher.....then I get all the rest like Kitchen Hoods, brick pointing, roof repair, which I sub out on a 20 % commision and keep the maintenance contract for me......Monthly checque.

                             NIGHTRIDER  I don't think Bill Wongs exist here anymore