How has a TM increased your business?

I'm a new business owner (1 year) who started with a portable. I do mainly commercial so the portable has been handy...but I wouldn't be 100% honest if I didn't admit it does have some limitations. BTW - I have been in the business as an employee for over 15 years and have used pretty much everything under the sun.

I am in a position that I could lease a new TM if I wanted to, however I really just don't know if it will do much for my business at this time?? I think the main reason I haven't gotten one is I'm very adverse to debt.

Any suggestions? Try to convince me   

    I do know the difference and you're right that a TM is nice to use for residential and low level commercial. I've just kind of developed this niche of doing commercial and the porty does fine...making good money because I don't have much debt. That all being said I am getting somewhat tired of working evenings and weekends doing the commercial. If I want to increase my sales this way it means working nights...so maybe getting into more residential is the way to go...I just don't really know

    Well all I can say to this matter is when I started my business 13 years ago I to used a portable and a srubber to clean both commerical and res carpets. I have been using Tms for close to 9/13 years now and if someone came up to me and told me that TMs where banned in Canada and I had to go back to portables,I would quit the business right there.

I totally understand that because you are using a portable your daily expenses are very very small and I am sure no one on this board will tell you that TMs can cost alot to operate. That being said there are many many really good smaller TMs that you can buy/lease that are 100% better in all ways than a portable.

Dont get me wrong portables have there place in the carpet cleaning world but if you end up taking the plunge to a TM your business will increase(mine did hughly) and you will kick yourself for not doing it eariler.

   I recently leased a Suburban because of our cold climate it allowed me to carry my equipment and keep the back heated...made more sense for me than a van because it's a family vehicle as well.

Now that I have that I don't think there are any TM's that are going to work for that vehicle?? Has anyone had success with a trailer?

Don't waste your time or money with a trailer in cold climate!    

Get an AirStream trailor they are insulated??
    

Edited by doug - 18/February/2007 at 8:25pm

Hook up the $60,000.00 trailor and head south?