I could really use some guidance. It would mean the world to a soon-to-be business owner.

[nihilistblues]

So, I need a little bit of ‘hand-holding’ and I hope you all can help me, or at least point me towards some helpful resources, such as by sending useful links. My plan is to start a commercial cleaning business, starting just with myself as the sole employee and hopefully growing from there.

Often what I hear on here, watch in videos, and read in my manuals conflict a bit. I know how to operate my equipment, but no idea what situations I use each one in, what chemicals/pads to use on what surfaces, or what order to do things.

I also do not know rates for each of my services. Obviously, that will vary greatly on institution and what their specific needs are, but a general understanding of how to come up with these rates would be a HUGE help.

I have an appointment with the Iowa Small Business Development Center next week, which should cover the legal and financial side of my business. Everything else, I am lost on.

So, I have a 2005 Chevy Astro, and for equipment I own...
- 1 Mop Bucket, with mop and several brooms
- Several of those giant grey round trash buckets that you see everywhere.
-Several Vacuums such as a couple Tennant 3120’s, Nobles UltraGlide Dual Motor, Proteam NexGen 15,Dyson Ball, and a few Wet Vacs
- 1 Micromatic 12E Auto Floor Scrubber
- 3 Advance Advolution 20xp Floor Burnishers
-2 Buffers, one Advance Whirlamatic, one seems similar quality.
-2 Clean Steamers, one is a Technovap Carmen Plus, one is a Kleenjet Mega 500V.
- 1 Windsor Compass 2 Handsfree Restroom Cleaner
- 1 Advance AquaClean XP Carpet Extractor

Please tell me what to do.

Also, a bit of context- I am 27 and for the past two years was starting to believe I’d never be a functional member of society- until learning I had sleep apnea and celiacs disease, which is why my stomach was always upset and why I would fall asleep at random times. Now that I have fixed those problems, I am stoked to start my own business.

If you all are helpful enough, I’ll let you come up with names for my company and vote on what it will be. Can be as cheesy, strange, it can literally be whatever you all vote on. Or if you don’t want to, I can do it myself. Just thought it’d be fun.

I hope to hear from the community. And thank you all.

 

[mrotto]

wow, your asking a lot!

If you were going into carpet cleaning, i would be happy to do a ride along and by the end of one week you would know everything you need to know.

But commercial cleaning is a whole nother field. Sorry, I cant help you there.

 

[mrotto]

you list some of the things you need to learn. but as they say, you dont know what you dont know.

 

[nihilistblues]

you list some of the things you need to learn. but as they say, you dont know what you dont know.

Any videos or tips you have for the carpet cleaning side of it? What I’ve got down is- vacuum first, apply shampoo with extractor, then vacuum dry. I’m sure there is a lot more to go, but I’m not sure if there is anything I won’t organically learn or if I am approaching this entirely wrong.

I’m going to be starting with churches, ones with preschools attached, as I am told they tend to be more forgiving and a good place to start out.

 

[carpetcleaner228]

dude just go on youtube. There's thousands of videos about it. How are you gonna run your own business if you can't even figure out the easiest part of it?

 

[nihilistblues]

dude just go on youtube. There's thousands of videos about it. How are you gonna run your own business if you can't even figure out the easiest part of it?

Ah, wonderful. Just the advice I was looking for.

I will run my business well, no need for your concerns.