12-22-2014, 10:24 PM
Rick, my story is different from most guys here. I was a wholesale rep and or manufacuters rep in the plumbing field for 20 years and got burned out with the travel and low margins. I did not know what I wanted to do long term but I like to paint so I started a painting company that serviced apartment complexes. After a year or so 1 complex asked would I consider cleaning their apartments as well as paint them. I said sure. In a couple of months this same complex asked me if I could clean carpet, I said sure. Hence the start of a floor cleaning business.
So I bought a used truckmount (1985 Hydramaster PTO van, hoses, wands for $800.00) and it actually worked and I used this truckmount for 5 years. It finally died and I broke it down for parts and sold many of the parts for more money than I paid for the whole truckmount.
However, before it died, I offered a large church that I did turn key services (vct strip/wax, tile & grout cleaning & carpet cleaning) for 5 years, the following:
I told them I would clean half of a large social hall the old way (HWE) and the other half with a new way (encap). I informed them that I would check back in a week and we would compare the 2 sides. Also, I told them I would re-clean whichever side they did not like. You guessed it, they loved the encap side and I have been sold on your chemicals and the encap method ever since.
I do not miss the expenses or pulling a wand!!
So I bought a used truckmount (1985 Hydramaster PTO van, hoses, wands for $800.00) and it actually worked and I used this truckmount for 5 years. It finally died and I broke it down for parts and sold many of the parts for more money than I paid for the whole truckmount.
However, before it died, I offered a large church that I did turn key services (vct strip/wax, tile & grout cleaning & carpet cleaning) for 5 years, the following:
I told them I would clean half of a large social hall the old way (HWE) and the other half with a new way (encap). I informed them that I would check back in a week and we would compare the 2 sides. Also, I told them I would re-clean whichever side they did not like. You guessed it, they loved the encap side and I have been sold on your chemicals and the encap method ever since.
I do not miss the expenses or pulling a wand!!