1st Portable Extractor - Buying Decisions

maxima wrote: Thats no Problem what so ever! My thinking about the business now is the R.O.I. , How soon can a new cleaner expect to gain return on the equipment alone. Lets think about it how may carpets would You have to clean to pay off machinery ranging from $5-9K Thats a lots of dirty carpets And then at that break even point is the equipment still in good enough condition to keep on going??? Someone please reason with me or help me talk this out, I need to see some realistic numbers here because just beginning this can be discouraging.

You need to go and get more training in buisness management. If you are so worried about breaking things and if you will make any money you are starting off with the wrong frame of mind. 

 Go do something else like in a factory where you won't hurt yourself or someone else. 

IF you can't take risks in life go work a a dounut shop and serve coffee

maxima,

Sounds like you will not be doing the cleaning yourself and will be relying on employees.

BE PREPARED

Suggest you keep it simple.

Sounds like you are attempting to get as close to a truckmount as possible at portable pricing. When firing up these overpowered monsters you will experience fuse blowing problems, awkward and heavy equipment for one operator. More to think about and more to go wrong.

If you already have a handle on 125 restaurants you already have the nucleus of a good business. The extra money you will be spending on labour and chemicals will more than offset the extra for a truckmount.

Go for the Mona Lisa, you will not be disappointed.

And don’t buy propane! Stay away from dangerous open flames. I am sure your insurance agent will agree.

Restaurants and truckmounts are like bacon & eggs they go together.

P.S.
If you are a restaurant manager and must stay after your already long shift for security reasons what would you choose:

A 2 hour truckmount job or a four hour porty job? The choice is very clear for most managers and if they are already being cleaned by a truckmount it will be hard to knock them out.

Since i bought my TM I am saving many hours per month on my restaurant/resi. acct's..

And lovin'it.......................

maxima,

I have given your new endeavor some alternative thought. That’s of course if you don’t take the excellent above advice.

Buy my Drain Vac. Perfect for restaurants and very efficient. Can be a one man operation and equipment can fit in a hatch-back or the trunk of a car for that matter.

You will have 100ft. vacuum capacity, truckmount pressure and hot water in restaurants is as hot as truckmounts. It can stay outside like a truckmount or be taken inside.

Drain Vac $2,495.00
Optional Cat Pump 2000 PSI $850.00
drainvac.com
Wand & hoses approx. $700.00

Canadian Funds
U.S. approx. 18% less.

You do not require any labour costs to fill and drain this unit and the cat pump can also pressure wash and allow you to clean hard surface floors like kitchens in restaurants. It’s sounding better all the time.

I would not be concerned with the Drain Vac sitting on the toilet because customers will not be in the restaurant when you are cleaning. And the dirty water gets dumped into a toilet anyway regardless of the portable you choose. With the portable you have to pay someone to do it, with the Drain Vac you do not.

I have seen worse things going on in a restaurant kitchen than any carpet cleaning machine in a washroom.

maxima,

Judging by your questions & comments you sound like a very cautious suspicious and fastidious person and there’s nothing wrong with that. But, be aware that the employees you hire are generally only hanging around long enough until a better job comes along. Most will care more about themselves than you and your customers and your equipment.

Be prepared for aggravating calls from those restaurants in the middle of the night. The nature of most employees is that they do not want the stigma of their friends thinking they are cleaners. And PHD’s wont’ apply.

This is not a fast dollar business and has its share of problems. (You are already in the “what if” stage).

The way I see it is that you are best to go the Drain Vac route for cost cutting, efficiency and simplicity. Utilizing your existing van that you have concerns with. It can be used inside or outside.

If you still are thinking portable truckmount. Looks like you can’t do better than the Prowler. Or maybe dougs advice is best. What if you look for an easier more profitable business?