Howdy Rowdy.
Naturally, I can't comment on pricing over there, but a couple of questions:
Do you already have a vehicle to transport the equipment??
Is it a van ?? or something that you can easily load a fairly heavy, and (can be), large machine into without solution spilling??
Ramps make loading/unloading machines easy and safe.
You say you know nothing at all about carpet cleaning, so, on a budget, I would recommend you start with a Cimex & forget all the others.
Uh-oh, that'll upset a few. 
A few reasons why:
If you go with hot water extraction, (or cold water), (HWE), with no experience, and without spending money on courses, you could be damaging carpets via over-wetting or other concerns, and get a bad reputation before you even get established.
Stain removal is also more difficult with these methods.
These can be temperamental machines and you need to know a bit about vacuum, psi, flow & recovery rates, etc; or know a good, cheap electrical mechanic.
Upkeep on them can also be more than a reliable Cimex.
Some won't like this, but that's okay,
FORGET the 175rpm floor polisher, you know nothing about carpet cleaning, and with this machine you may well do serious damage not only to property but maybe also to yourself.
These machines are a beast to control
UNLESS you know how.
Yes, I can use them very efficiently one-handed, but this come with time & experience, something I believe you do not have.
If you go with a Cimex, you will have a machine that is the easiest & safest of all carpet cleaning equipment to use, very economical and ultra safe to use.
Coupled with Releasit products, you WILL be able to do PROFESSIONAL jobs with none, or very little training.
Wisest words I ever had spoken to me were by Rick Gelinas when I first met him, I'd had over three decades in the cleaning business.
"Forget all you know about carpet cleaning, listen & do as I say".
That was about ten years ago, & I'm still doing what Rick said, and my original Cimex, (bought not long after), just had it's very first major problem last week, all fixed now though.
Any questions you may have, don't worry if you think they're silly or stupid, we've all asked them, and I still do, just come here and ask.
Lounge Lizard Shorty.[/i]
I don't regret my past, I just regret the times I've wasted with the wrong people.
Take me as I am, or watch me as I go.
I'll retire when I can no longer do what I love, or I no longer love what I can do.
Stop moving, start dying........
