Carpet Cleaning

Van Mounted Carpet Cleaning Unit

Brief Description: A Carpet Cleaning, a specialized cleaning service that is a $3.3 billion industry; you often see a carpet cleaner in apartment buildings after a tenant vacated the premises. Usually, after minor repairs they are the first to call. You can see their van with the specialized, steam cleaning equipment inside and the large tubes running up to the apartment to be cleaned. The large tubes carry the warm water with detergents to do their cleaning via hot water extraction.

Startup Costs: You will need to invest in a very good quality steam cleaning equipment and a van or a truck. You can purchase a used, heavy duty, carpet cleaning equipment mounted on a truck or a van, all equipped from a person who is leaving the business. Alternatively, if you do not have the start-up capital, you can rent these weekly, monthly or even daily, hence giving this business a try. Once you show profit and start liking this business, you can invest in the equipment yourself. If you wish to purchase the equipment, the start-up cost would be perhaps as high as $40,000 (including a used van)[1].

License/Legal Requirements: No special license is required other than the business license that your local jurisdiction might require. You could get a stain removal or restoration certification through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration.

Insurance and bonding is essential in this business, especially if you wish to get commercial clients such as apartment buildings or offices.

Education: No special education is necessary other than some good people skills and professional demeanor.

Details: There are two basic types of truck mount carpet cleaning machines; one is a slide-in unit and the other is a van-driven. The slide-in truck mount can be moved from one vehicle to another and runs on its own engine-but it takes up more space. The van-mounted truck mount is one unit and runs off the engine of the van. The van-mounted truck mount takes up less space but is more expensive than a slide-in truck mount carpet cleaner.
Before you decide buy a truck mount carpet cleaner, you’ll need to:

1. Compare the new and used truck mount carpet cleaning machines[2];
2. Determine if you want van-mounted or slide-in carpet cleaning machines;
3. Make sure all used carpet cleaning equipment is included when buying used equipment from a private party;
4. See if financing or leasing is available on the truck mount carpet cleaners for sale.

You should look into the Steambrite financing programs. Get an online quote for leased equipment.

It is well advised to pay cash when you buy a truck mounted carpet cleaner, if it is possible. If you have money in hand, the price can always be haggled over. Do not pay in actual cash dollars, however. Pay for the truck mount with a cashier’s check or bank draft so you have a record of payment. Further, consider leasing the carpet cleaning equipment from a reputable leasing company. The advantage of leased equipment is that it is maintained more frequently and on a regular basis.

Marketing: Tell everybody about your new business. Offer specials to new clients and anyone who makes referral to you. Have a side and back banner on your truck or van with your business name, telephone number and web-page.

Makes and models of truck mounted heavy duty carpet cleaning equipment:

HydraMaster BobCat 3.0. BobCat 3.5. Aquacat 3.5. Profire 3.7. Profire 4.2. Spitfire 3.2. Spitfire 4.0. Boxxer 318. Boxxer 421. Boxxer 427. Maxx 450. Maxx 450D. Maxx 470. CDS 4.2. CDS 4.4. CDS 4.6. CDS 4.7. CDS 4.8. Crossfire 3.7. Crossfire 4.2. Crossfire 4.4. Hydracat. Titan.

Prochem Bruin 1. Bruin 2. Cub. Cub XL. Bear. Bear Cat. Blazer. Blazer XL. Trail Blazer. Legend. Legend SE. Legend XL. Performer. Performer 405. Performer 805. Peak. Apex. Everest. Hydraulic direct drive. PTO.

Powerclean Liquafire 445 with 22 hp Kawasaki. Liberty XT. Victory 45 and 47 with Kawasaki 27 hp. Victory 45 and 47 with Kohler 31 hp. Freedom XT. Genesis 56 and 59 with 52 hp Ford. Genesis 56 and 59 with 49 hp Nissan. Genesis 59 with Hyundai 68 hp. Genesis 59 diesel with 52 hp Isuzu. Genesis DXT. Genesis 59 ZXT.

Steamway Powermatic Legacy 1100. Powermatic Legacy 1150. Powermatic Legacy 2100. Powermatic Legacy 4100. Powermatic Legacy 4200. Mastermatic 4000. Mastermatic 4200. Equinox 7200. Omega. SUX Lt. TURBOMATIC. Supercube 33, 36, 45. 9100lx. SHX 5600.

White-Magic Commander. Commander HO. Triton GS. Triton LS. Triton DS. Rebel.
World of Clean Cleanmax 1836. Cleanmax FX1836. Cleanmax 2545. Cleanmax FX2545. Cleanmax 3047. Cleanmax FX3047.

Cross American Second Generation Super Charged Recoil 3 XPS System. Kwik Steam and Next Generation Power Booster. Second Generation Super Charged Scorpion 3 XPS System.

[2] http://www.hydramaster.com/inside/articles/article3.asp