Cheap Startup

[knapster]

Alright folks, I need some opinions.
Is a used TM with vehicle for $10-12k gonna be sufficient for residential and some commercial work?
Has anyone else started with less and succeeded?
I know there are no guarantees on anything, just curious what others have experienced when they made the jump to being an entrepreneur.
Been looking at used Hydramasters and an El Diablo...
I see lots of Boxxers for sale, is this indicative of a weak machine or people just not making it in the biz?

Thanks
Ray

"It isn't who you know, it's who knows you"

 

[tres davis]

A used van w/ machine for 10k sounds like an absolute nightmare.

I would rather have a new porty, new brush pro and a few other specialty tools if I had to start with 10k or less

 

[Desk Jockey]

Tres is right. You're likely buying (2) problems. An old van and an old machine. Entry level units are fine as long as the hours aren't too high.

Likely they have several thousand and are selling off to buy something new. Although without knowing the particulars one or the other could be fine but doubful both are.

I think you could find a solid used machine for 10 but not a van and machine for that.

 

[hogjowl]

Age discrimination!

 

[Old Coastie]

Doesn't Butler have a lease program?

 

[knapster]

Tres is right. You're likely buying (2) problems. An old van and an old machine. Entry level units are fine as long as the hours aren't too high.

Likely they have several thousand and are selling off to buy something new. Although without knowing the particulars one or the other could be fine but doubful both are.

I think you could find a solid used machine for 10 but not a van and machine for that.

Thanks Rico, that's what my gut was telling me. I looked into portables at first but itseems none of them have the suction and definitely don't have the heat.
Is it true that Direct Drives don't get as hot as dollar for dollar slide-ins?

 

[knapster]

Doesn't Butler have a lease program?

I'll look into it. Thanks

 

[DAT]

I got myself a 500psi portable, tm3 and home depot pump spayer. I encap there, compound over there, and HWE everywhere that i can. Id get a good TM when i am good and ready. I produce good results too. Im only at 3 - 5 clients per week but it is building aftet 4 months

 

[Desk Jockey]

Thanks Rico, that's what my gut was telling me. I looked into portables at first but itseems none of them have the suction and definitely don't have the heat.
Is it true that Direct Drives don't get as hot as dollar for dollar slide-ins?

190-210 in general. Newer machines have higher capacity and heat reserves capable of more now.

190 is plenty hot for general cleaning. If the specific job requires more then either agitation or stronger or more chemical will do it.

The Cleaning Pie:
Heat
Agitation
Chemical
Dwell Time

 

[knapster]

Thanks Derrick, that is inspiring.

 

[DAT]

I looked into portables at first but itseems none of them have the suction and definitely don't have the heat.

Works well for me... Suction is fine and heat is swell.depends on what machine you get. It a little slower but once you get hang of it, set up time is fast. I will probably do this for a couple years. I use crb/encap on area that do not need hwe. Just use renovator and vacuum it after it dries 30 mins. Sauce it with HWE in nasty areas. Still produce good result.

 

[Zee]

Don't buy anything.... Until you worked for a company for a year or two...

Then you'll be more informed if and/or what you want to buy.

 

[DAT]

I didnt do that.

 

[Bob Pruitt]

Ask Mark to help you find a used Butler...if you go used. I am a recent start up/ 1 month now, and was somehow able to finance a new Butler...240 degrees, 1200 psi and 500 cfm vacuum. Lease might make sense.

 

[Cleanworks]

Whenever you buy used, you have to have the mechanical aptitude to wrench on it yourself. There are lots of deals out there but they all need work of some sort, no matter what the seller says.

 

[Desk Jockey]

This looks good but you'd have to verify it.

Carpet Cleaning Van/Hydramaster CDS - business/commercial - by owner - sale
https://bozeman.craigslist.org/bfs/6084784327.html

 

[knapster]

Thanks guys. Any qualms about trailers? That may be another option for me as I have an F-150. Biggest issues I see with them are going to be in those annoyingly small apartment/condo parking lots where parking nazis run rampant

 

[knapster]

Don't buy anything.... Until you worked for a company for a year or two...

No plans to start right away, just looking around... getting a plan.

"Failing to plan is planning to fail"

 

[icleancarpetz]

Here s what you do…

Go look on jondon websites and other sites and see how many guys bought into the hype of big packages with all the shiny nuts and bolts with the promise of living large from carpet cleaning. Its easy to figure how many of them couldnt make the monthly payment on those packages and now must sell them cause they cant make the monthly payment. You just might get a deal off of someone elses misery.

You can make it rather painless for 10-12k and a used dependable van. Just need to pin point a good entry level machine slide in and you're mechanically inclined.
Also get a buffer and pads with good encap and you're in.
As you move along you will figure out what is and is not needed and who are the bull spitters selling hype on both the chem and equipment side.

One word of caution, you are nuts to bound yourself with one supplier of any kind. Once that vendor supplier begins to behave like a nut, your business will be screwed-screwed. Also stay away from proprietary equipment. You will be bound to them and only them.

USE YOUR MONEY WISELY DUDE. Ask lots of questions and believe almost nothing of it, throw most of it away and retain very little of it.

 

[knapster]

Here s what you do…

Go look on jondon websites and other sites and see how many guys bought into the hype of big packages with all the shiny nuts and bolts with the promise of living large from carpet cleaning. Its easy to figure how many of them couldnt make the monthly payment on those packages and now must sell them cause they cant make the monthly payment. You just might get a deal off of someone elses misery.

You can make it rather painless for 10-12k and a used dependable van. Just need to pin point a good entry level machine slide in and you're mechanically inclined.
Also get a buffer and pads with good encap and you're in.
As you move along you will figure out what is and is not needed and who are the bull spitters selling hype on both the chem and equipment side.

One word of caution, you are nuts to bound yourself with one supplier of any kind. Once that vendor supplier begins to behave like a nut, your business will be screwed-screwed. Also stay away from proprietary equipment. You will be bound to them and only them.

USE YOUR MONEY WISELY DUDE. Ask lots of questions and believe almost nothing of it, throw most of it away and retain very little of it.

Don't trust anyone... got it!

 

[icleancarpetz]

You csn trust. Just need to weed them out. Ive met quite a few great guys over the years whether on the boards, class.

For the most part carpet cleaners guys here are willing to help and share a few things. Ive learned off of the boards and tweeked a few things. Ive also bought quite a bit of things wish I hadnt. Like anything else, you live and learn. I think most cleaners are great guys. Its the ones in your back yard that you dont want to get close to…keep them at a distance or else.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Thanks guys. Any qualms about trailers? That may be another option for me as I have an F-150. Biggest issues I see with them are going to be in those annoyingly small apartment/condo parking lots where parking nazis run rampant

Just an added aggravation, parking, fuel. The snow would suck.

You could definitely start out that way, lots of guys do. You'd eventually move to a van.

 

[icleancarpetz]

i will never forget…i needed a sprayer a few years back, asked lots of questions on the ics board. A few days later I get a call from a guy and started talking to me about his sprayer and that he had an extra sprayer and how carpet cleaning had been really good to him and he would be willing to send it to me. I never asked him fir it. Next thing I know i get this multisprayer in the mail. Never did get the guys name nor did he have a return address on the package.

Still have that multisprayer to this day.
Taught me a lesson…give back and be willing to help. Dont be selfish.
I'll never forget that dude.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Send it to me Raf and I'll never forget you!

 

[DAT]

You csn trust. Just need to weed them out. Ive met quite a few great guys over the years whether on the boards, class.

For the most part carpet cleaners guys here are willing to help and share a few things. Ive learned off of the boards and tweeked a few things. Ive also bought quite a bit of things wish I hadnt. Like anything else, you live and learn. I think most cleaners are great guys. Its the ones in your back yard that you dont want to get close to…keep them at a distance or else.

@Mikey P. Is in my backyard...do i have to worry about him?

 

[hogjowl]

Yes

 

[Cleanworks]

@Mikey P. Is in my backyard...do i have to worry about him?

Nah, he's an elite cleaner. Your customers probably can't afford him.

 

[DAT]

Nah, he's an elite cleaner. Your customers probably can't afford him.

Yeah they can...ive been cleaning a long time in house cleaning. All the household i currently clean are wealthy people. I do their windows as well and they have ask me to do their carpets...they have been my source referral as well.. Other thn that, ive been hitting trailer parks... I cant get any higher than $120, but i am ok with that.

 

[icleancarpetz]

There are exceptions to that rule. There's a fella I encouraged to break away lose from his job as he was carpet cleaning for a company for many years. Top cleaner. He was and still is a darn good cleaner. He eventually got enough nerve to try on his own and did well for himself. So much so he started another business auto transporting vehicles. Allowed his son to run that part. He and I get along well and respect each other's turf. There are exceptions to the rule.

 

[Cleanworks]

Yeah they can...ive been cleaning a long time in house cleaning. All the household i currently clean are wealthy people. I do their windows as well and they have ask me to do their carpets...they have been my source referral as well.. Other thn that, ive been hitting trailer parks... I cant get any higher than $120, but i am ok with that.

That's just a joke. Mikey is as big of a threat to you as you are to him. It's possible for carpet cleaners to cooperate in the same area and still profit. I have several that refer work to me and vice versa. Sometimes we even share large jobs or fill in when ones not available.