ok...i have Ive been cleaning family and friends carpet using HOST(CRB) & Releasit with some success....so now i want to do it full-time seriously BUT i dont have a van nor money. I have a 1998 infiniti I30....what wud you do????????

IMO I would get rid of the host machine. I don't know many people getting good results with just that machine. I could be wrong though. I would get and Hos orbot machine with out the spray borg. The handle fold and the machine is fairly light, IMO it will work great with good chemicals and Ricks pads. I use the fiber plus and the max pads. I hope this help although it's only one suggestion. good luck

First off, call HOST and take theri 99.00 at home course. You will then be listed in the HOST database as a certified host cleaner. Some pople LOVE host. Their machine is great to use as a pre scrub. Next when you can buy a 17 inch floor maching with pad holder and shampoo tank, Rick sells them here, for a few hun bucks you can now pad cap, encap and shampoo. Buy some of Ricks pads and your in business. Then buy magnetic signs for your car. Use your car until you can save for a small van or even a pickup truck with a topper on it.

You may not like the answer but here it goes.

Ask your self why you want to go full time cleaning, what you see now as good fast money once you go full time may not be in the end.

Make a plan: figure what you need for insurances, equipment, van or car, training, chemicals, money to live on while you start up, marketing capital.
You get the picture.


After all that you then can figure out what is needed to charge for your services. Do this before you quit you money maker, to many think this is easy buy a lot of things which end up being sold off quick.


Save for what you will need down the road,and keepo doing what you are doing, chances are if you do not have the money for a van at this point you are not really ready to go full time one major indecent will kill you.

thanks guys.... i do own a 20in floor machine that ive used with good results on commercial grade. But i must say my Host machine and releasit DS works very well esp on plush carpet. I havnt had any luck in the job market because im a convicted felon....so thats why i wanted to try this business full-time. Im learning but pretty confident in my work, i was just concerned about image using a car vs a van...but i do want to know how to market vlm cleanin..thanks in advance

You market clean carpet not the way you clean the carpet. Sure it's great to say low moisture but not needed. Now you say, you have quick dry times, no doors need to be open, non toxic.

You market those points. You can do it, get some business cards printed up along with some flyers or door hangers, wear a nice shirt (long sleevs to cover any ink) and pants then hit the street. You might want to add office cleaning, this is something that can be done at night. So it dont matter what type of car you drive. And if a customer says why dont you have a van, you say it's in the shop, got hit by a deer last week so I am using the old family beater.

I just started my business this feb. because I was depressed about the job I was going to everyday. I found a 20" low speed rotary for 200.00 off craigs list and found Ricks products online when researching carpet cleaning. I spent about 500.00 on pads,chemicals, business cards from vista print( not the free ones w/there website on back), and magnetic signs from them for my car too.I drive my Chrysler town and country to solicit for commercial work. Clean hair cut, dress shirt, dress pants, dress shoes, tape measure, paper and pen, and business card in hand I walk in and ask for the person that makes the decisions for the floor care. Have confidence and ask for a chance to measure there floor and give them a competitive quote to have it cleaned. Also ask some questions about how often it is cleaned and so forth. People in the commercial arena most of the time dont see what you drive and once you get the job they have already committed to you and wont say no because of your ride. I had previous experience in carpet cleaning so my suggestion is read like crazy on this post and dont over promise on stains to your customers. Dont forget it will take a couple of weeks to start getting in your work and takes up to a month to get paid because it is commercial. With perseverance you will succeed just be ready for alot of no's but the yes is what makes it all worth it. The other posts are right on too!