Who else here has a CleanCo?

Joined
Jun 20, 2016
Messages
6,513
Location
Bc
Name
Jeff T
When I bought my second company, it came with a van. It was a 1986 chev. It has a Cleanco compact in it. The van had 1.4 million Km on it, and the unit had an estimated 125,000 hrs. on it.... Reliability? Yes, they are reliable.... The guy did his whole career in that van(27 years)......
 

dgardner

Moderator
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
5,109
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Name
Dan Gardner
When I bought my second company, it came with a van. It was a 1986 chev. It has a Cleanco compact in it. The van had 1.4 million Km on it, and the unit had an estimated 125,000 hrs. on it.... Reliability? Yes, they are reliable.... The guy did his whole career in that van(27 years)......
125,000 hours? That's 15 hours a day, six days a week, continuous operation for 27 years with no vacation. Wow.
 
Joined
Jun 20, 2016
Messages
6,513
Location
Bc
Name
Jeff T
125,000 hours? That's 15 hours a day, six days a week, continuous operation for 27 years with no vacation. Wow.
Those are his #'s...... But, he did work 5-7 days a week..... And only took 2 vacations in 27 years...... Put both his kids through university on rug suckin....... Man, the stories that van could tell.......him and his brothers started up one of the only resto companies locally at the time..... He continued with cleaning, and his brother still runs the resto company........
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bob Pruitt

Brian H

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
3,711
Location
Detroit Michigan area
Name
Brian H
When I bought my second company, it came with a van. It was a 1986 chev. It has a Cleanco compact in it. The van had 1.4 million Km on it, and the unit had an estimated 125,000 hrs. on it.... Reliability? Yes, they are reliable.... The guy did his whole career in that van(27 years)......

Jeff,

I'm thinking that you have the comma off by one digit. I don't buy 125,000 at all but I can certainly believe 12,500. There is no way any carpet cleaner could put those kind of hours on a machine. 15 plus hours per day with the machine running, 365 days a year, for 21 years!

Also 1.4 million kilometers is equivalent to about 840,000 miles. I am really, really finding that hard to believe as well. That's 40,000 miles a year for 21 years. With the machine running 15 hours per day that would leave 9 hours per day to drive and do other stuff, like sleep, eat, etc. to put on that many miles.

Assuming the prior owner used 3 of those hours every day to drive, he would have to average 36.5 mile per hour for the entire 3 hours, every day, 365 days a year. Possible yes, but not likely...
 
Joined
Jun 20, 2016
Messages
6,513
Location
Bc
Name
Jeff T
We
Jeff,

I'm thinking that you have the comma off by one digit. I don't buy 125,000 at all but I can certainly believe 12,500. There is no way any carpet cleaner could put those kind of hours on a machine. 15 plus hours per day with the machine running, 365 days a year, for 21 years!

Also 1.4 million kilometers is equivalent to about 840,000 miles. I am really, really finding that hard to believe as well. That's 40,000 miles a year for 21 years. With the machine running 15 hours per day that would leave 9 hours per day to drive and do other stuff, like sleep, eat, etc. to put on that many miles.

Assuming the prior owner used 3 of those hours every day to drive, he would have to average 36.5 mile per hour for the entire 3 hours, every day, 365 days a year. Possible yes, but not likely...
well.... When I pulled out the machine, the odometer read 400,000...... Like isaid in a prior post, these are HIS #'s... He told me he went through 3 motors, 4 transmissions, and a slew of other things..... Believe what you want... It makes no difference to me... Oh, he also told me he bought the unit used, and installed it himself..... Let me guess, you don't believe that either..... Like I said, believe what you want.....
 

Bob Pruitt

Member
Joined
May 22, 2016
Messages
2,677
Location
earth
Name
Robert Pruitt
The Cleanco is a beautiful machine and seem to have support scattered around the US. Not stainless tanks like the Butler but similar IMO. Mark would know much more. Is it significantly less to purchase? 4.7 blower and better heat.
 

PrimaDonna

Megatron
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
2,865
Location
NorthEast, USA
Name
MB
Isn't the fact that Marty bought one....after YEARS of deciding enough for you? If that isn't, the fact that he bought a second one in such a short time period should say a lot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sierra Clean Care
Joined
Jun 20, 2016
Messages
6,513
Location
Bc
Name
Jeff T
Sounds to me like $6.99 @ room...Well, maybe some other upselling...
Well.... The clients I received with the company, are approx. 350-500 per job average.... So, I don't think the 6.99 rule does not apply here.... He was one of 3 companies back in '86...... He killed it for like 15-18 years..... The van was used for carpet and resto 7 days a week..... His brother had a set of keys, and would come pick it up whenever it was not out cleaning carpet..... I still do resto jobs for his brothers company...... MY POINT IS...... CLEANCO'S ARE VERY RELIABLE.......
 

PrimaDonna

Megatron
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
2,865
Location
NorthEast, USA
Name
MB
I subscribe to Meg's business model - $2500 per job, 2 jobs per week. And considering pairing it with Marty's nap model. 50 hours? Hmphhh.....

We do more jobs than that a week. And it a bit less per job. Just a bit.

I have agree an Sutley/Burdick business hybrid would be epic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dgardner

Cleanworks

Moderator
Joined
Oct 22, 2012
Messages
27,863
Location
New Westminster,BC
Name
Ron Marriott
I have never owned a Cleanco but have used them a lot over the years. I used to work for a company that had a fleet of 12 cleanco's and a few assorted other tm's. We had very few problems with the Cleanco's and they were the simplest to use and to train new employees on. We had some Cleanco Classic's which look a little bit like a butler and the rest were were the Cleanco Compacts, which look like Marty's. Some people confuse the 2 because the Classic appears much smaller than the Compact. They call it a Compact because they integrate the Waste tank with the cleaning unit. The Classic has a separate waste tank.
 

PrimaDonna

Megatron
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
2,865
Location
NorthEast, USA
Name
MB
that bit will need to become a ton if you want to become the SFS Multi Truck Queen, I guessing.

We/I don't. At one point, years ago I thought that was the ultimate goal. But with that many trucks, employees and Growth brings many new issues and concerns.

We are teetering on the verge of OUR sweet spot. After my 10 years working with John and in the industry, countless trainings, observing others and balancing the lifestyle we want....I think he best place for us is a 2-3 truck operation. And building our Fiber Protector and color repair market.

This may change (as it is a diffentt dream/goal then the one I had coming into the industry, young and naive). But for now that is our goal. And it's ok if it changes again. That's the wonderful thing about what we are doing. We have the scaffolding to scale up or down if we desire or need.

And THAT is a great place to be.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom