Brand new! Help please!

FredC

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Jul 13, 2011
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Cimex getting hard to load?
:biggrin:

13999343610_cbb73ddc06_o.0.jpg
 

Russ T.

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Slater, IA
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Russ Terhaar
Doesn't Aussie Grant transport his porty on his bicycle? and look at his work.
:clap:

He does do great work!

It would be tough though, in America. I don't know about other markets (actually, yes I do) but American residential carpet cleaning is DOMINATED by the Truckmount.

Show up in a taxi (or your bike :clap:) and you're in for quite a time with a discriminating homeowner.

SAVE a couple grand and put it down on a used 20K Truckmount. You're payment will be VERY reasonable as you grow your business.
 
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DAT

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Bill Cheryl
You all so discriminating against porties, sheesh. Im doing alright. Vlmimg there and porty over there.. Although i did have to spend to make money...spending only $1600 wont get you far in carpet cleaning though..
 

claybalz

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Springfield mo
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Clayton
Thank you all for the advice it is appreciated and helpful! Have plenty to think about and learn as for the haters (sooper hero/desk jockey). What could you get out of getting on someone's thread and bashing them? Did you not read the post before you commented there is NO competition in my area. Why discourage any person from getting into the business and bettering themselves? Losers
 
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Dolly Llama

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Larry Capitoni
Did you not read the post before you commented there is NO competition in my area.

then there's no carpet to clean in your area if that's true .
What's your zip code ?




What could you get out of getting on someone's thread and bashing them?


not bashing, just a dose of honest reality .
If you want someone to blow smoke up your azz, go to an Amway rally.
if you want the truth... the good, bad and the ugly, you're in the right place

Why discourage any person from getting into the business and bettering themselves?

there are plenty guys here that run portys.
Pay attention to guys like Goomer and WillyP


IMNSHO, with the squirt box you're considering and the minimal investment you're able or wiling to put in, a better part time biz model would be car detailing..not residential

If that's "bashing" to you, you needs balz made of something tougher than clay :yoda:

..L.T.A.
 

BIG WOOD

MLPW
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Matt w.
Thank you all for the advice it is appreciated and helpful! Have plenty to think about and learn as for the haters (sooper hero/desk jockey). What could you get out of getting on someone's thread and bashing them? Did you not read the post before you commented there is NO competition in my area. Why discourage any person from getting into the business and bettering themselves? Losers
I think you took their criticism the wrong way. They just want you to be successful, and ENJOY your job. Believe me, cleaning carpet as a one man show can be a lot of work, with a truckmount. I can't imagine how much harder it could be with a portable that has half the pressure, heat, and suction.

If you have the capability to save up some more money, and buy the proper tools needed to OWN a business, then you should humble yourself to these guys' advice. So some research on those two. They're very successull entrepreneurs in this field of work. They only want you to succeed.

As for the machine your'e considering to buy...I feel it's made to be a backup unit only, not the main tool for everyday work. If you still don't think that they're right, go to Mikey'sFest and try out both a Truckmount AND a Portable and you'll see the difference. Consider the trip to Mikey'sFest an investment in your new goal as a business owner. It's no different than paying to take a class, which you'll need to do also

I wish you the best, and so does desk jockey and the weird muppet above
 

BIG WOOD

MLPW
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Matt w.
And if you have no competitors in your area, and a sweet full time job currently, then borrow $10k and start your business with a setup that can get you bigger jobs. Your current job should be able to make the payments on a loan like that.

If it can't make those payments, then your debt to income ratio is not at the point where you can get in this business properly. Keep doing research, take some classes, and keep saving up or paying off current debt, and make a goal as to when you can get in this business. And keep asking questions on here.

And I'm serious about making the trip to Mikey'sFest. It's unbeleivable how inspiring it is to get the feel and encouragement of being a professional carpet cleaner. I'll be disappointed if you don't take that advice seriously. You don't know me, but I'm willing to bet money you'll agree with me if you attend
 
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TomKing

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Sep 18, 2012
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Indianapolis
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Tom
Hey guys.. I'm new to all of this so of course in need of a little help! What portable to get? I currently work full but looking to get into cleaning mainly residential property on the side for now. I'm 25 and very ambitious I plan to expand into a full service business. I'm currently torn.. I know you get what you pay for and I was sold on the mytee 2002cs contractor special $1699 comes with a wand ready to go pretty good deal right? 120 psi, hot water, and 3 stage vac. But as I read I'm scared of the 120 psi.. I want to do a professional job and also invest in something I can use down the road! Considering the mytee itd5 I know it's a better machine more options adjustable pressed but would really rather save the extra 1500 dollars for now!! I understand that more psi and more heat is better and cleans faster. But my question is how much.. is the difference worth stretching the budget? Does anyone do much tile work with there carpet machine? I know it wouldn't be an option with the 120 psi any advice is very appreciated!
Welcome!

Question:

Have you ever been on a carpet cleaning job?

Have you ever seen a portable run and a truck mount? Do that side by side you will know what I mean. You are already talking about equipment limitations. Bad place to start.

Have you ever worked for your self? Being a good carpet cleaner and good business owner are two different things.

Has any one in your family ever run a successful business? Being a great entrepreneur is most often caught not taught.

There is so much to know before you just buy some equipment and jump in. It's not about the gear.

Some of the best cleaners on this board could get good results with bad equipment. I am sure Mark and Mike could take an old Castex, a 2 jet wand, a floor machine with modern chemicals and get some good results. They would just have to work their asses off.

I would suggest at your age you go to work for a carpet cleaner for 2-3 years. Learn the trade and then start a business.

If you are a hard worker and determined to make it there are 30 guys on this board that can't find great techs and would happily hire you. Pending a good interview process.

Move to another state get prepared and then move home ready to dominate.

The one thing that you said that no one new posts is that you intend to start part time and keep your regular job. Smartest new guy statement I have heard all year!!!
 

TomKing

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Indianapolis
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Tom
Thanks for the info Scott! I know that working for a company would be ideal! But that simply isn't an option for me.. I have a pretty good job and couldn't afford to let It go as of now. But I do know nothing is more valuable than experience! But as for the mytee 2002cs.. you guys think it would be regretful they call it the contractor special! Lol the fact that it's $1699 is a huge benefit for me! I know you get what you pay for and I'm going cheep! I can do without the luxuries and conveniences as of now. But if it simply won't do a good quality job for residential homes and maybe get my foot in the door to a few businesses I'll need to look into something else..
You say you can't afford to go to work for another company. So you already make over $50k?

Most good techs at good companies make $45-$55 k. Some on here have techs that make more.

What are you expectations of earning as a single truck operator?

With no name for yourself. Asking how to spend less than $2k to start you are not going to even be equipped to go compete.

People on here love to help guys get started. I remember when lots of these Owner operators got started in the last 5 years. Heck 10 years ago I met Mike and we started talking. I went to a class and did not even own a truck mount.

What people are trying to do is not discourage you but help you from F ing it up. There are lots of small things that matter a lot.

The first thing you need is some experience and then a mentor. Equipment is one of the last things to worry about not the first.

The old saying start wrong end wrong certainly applies to this business. Cleaning carpets is not all that hard. Running a good business is a every day full on battle.
 

Zee

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Nov 2, 2007
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SoCal jungle
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.
I noticed over the years, that those newbies that say they have a good job and just want to do part time stuff, are the guys that have a boring but cushy union job where they're not utilizing their full potential and are looking for something else. (BTW Tom, he isn't the first newb that said that)

Unfortunately -many- fail to understand that this business isn't as peachy as they saw from the guy at their neighbour's house that just made "two hunnert bucks in lik fortyfi minutes" .

They only focus on what's visible: THE MACHINE.

Not the required knowledge... And the effort to be able to get customers, after all their uncles, aunts, cousins got their carpets cleaned.
 
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Mikey P

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I noticed over the years, that those newbies that say they have a good job and just want to do part time stuff, are the guys that have a boring but cushy union job where they're not utilizing their full potential and are looking for something else. (BTW Tom, he isn't the first newb that said that)

Unfortunately -many- fail to understand that this business isn't as peachy as they saw from the guy at their neighbour's house that just made "two hunnert bucks in lik fortyfi minutes" .

They only focus on what's visible: THE MACHINE.

Not the required knowledge... And the effort to be able to get customers, after all their uncles, aunts, cousins got their carpets cleaned.



probably brake mid turn too...
 

Desk Jockey

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Oct 9, 2006
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A planet far far away
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Rico Suave
I'm not a loser...or does a loser feel like a loser?

I'm a winner or at least I feel like a winner...or is that weiner???

Ohh well, I'm good with it either way. :shifty:
 

ruff

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Ofer Kolton
Tough love. All valid points. Not that he asked for all of that, but then he got it.

Lucky, ain't he, if he knows what to do with it.
 
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