Owner Operators

For you owner operators what do you use as a back-up?

For example do you run a van and have a porty as backup?

Do you have a second van?

Or maybe you just make sure to take care of your equipment and don't have a back up?

I also considered scoping out the best rental portys and just knowing where I can get my hands on one if I need to.

Just curious. I'm looking at scaling down my operation and considering different ways to go.

I have a network of trusted cleaners that I call when I need the backup. We often throw each other referrals and will sub for each other as well.

The other part is taking extra care of the equipment. I go through a pre-flight checklist before every usage and normally spend the end of the week doing pm's. Of course, things still fail on occassion.

I do feel that everyone really should have a second machine ready if you are going to be successful. It doesn't have to be anything special, just something in an old van or trailer that you can use as needed for a couple of days.

Yes, I forgot about the trailer idea.

That's sounds pretty good. Registration would be cheaper and no insurance (I think?).

And it would be easier to store than a second van.

I have no "network" like you. That sounds kind of foreign to me, to be honest. I'm not against the idea but I just don't know other carpet cleaners.

I wonder how many other guys have a network like that.

spare van and truck mount just waiting

trailer is a good way to go. no actual mileage, hardly anything for insurance... if you have a really big job you can roll with both and a helper or 2.

l have a portable in the garage.
l have a couple of local cleaners l can throw work to if needed.

Did have a breakdown about a month ago. First job cold water inlet solenoid failed. Took about 3 hours to drive from on side of the city to the other and back then fit the solenoid. Handed a small job off to another carpet cleaner and changed another job to the next day.

ej54 wrote:l have a portable in the garage.
l have a couple of local cleaners l can throw work to if needed.

Did have a breakdown about a month ago. First job cold water inlet solenoid failed. Took about 3 hours to drive from on side of the city to the other and back then fit the solenoid. Handed a small job off to another carpet cleaner and changed another job to the next day.

Have you ever had to use that portable instead of a TM. If yes, how did the customer react?

ODIN wrote:spare van and truck mount just waiting

I saw your rig in the video you posted.

Nice.

I always said that if I went back to being owner operator I'd get a box truck.

Are you happy with that?

ACpower1 wrote:trailer is a good way to go.     no actual mileage,   hardly anything for insurance...   if you have a really big job you can roll with both and a helper or 2.      

I ran it that way for about a year, but chose a trailer that was too large. I might go back to that way again only smaller.

Vehicles that sit tend to develop maint. issues, so having your backup in a trailer makes good sense and being able to bring it to a large job behind your primary is a big plus.

Just be smart about it and keep the trailer set-up small. You don't need to stuff an Everest in a 12x8 trailer if you want a backup. Keep it simple and maybe go with a 5x8 trailer.

I'm all about the network of friendly and trusted cleaners. It's a good way to make long term relationships and have backups for when things go south. Send out a referral or two and make a friend for life. I have had two guys that I used to send some work too refer their entire client list to me when they retired.

Also having a very simple machine, like a Judson or tcs will almost entirely remove machine down time. Having an extra unit sitting around rotting is not worth the few days of work you might lose doing a major repair or replacement. Just keep your machine simple, have extra parts on hand, and plan on something breaking eventually and you might have to refer out a few jobs that can't be moved.

SixShooter wrote:

Have you ever had to use that portable instead of a TM. If yes, how did the customer react?

Yes l have used it but very rarely. Usually if the truckmount goes down (not often) l will go buy the part and fix straight away. It is nearly always HP hose that splits and needs replacing.

If it is a regular customer l will tell them my truckmount has broken down and give them the choice of rescheduling or using the porty. If it is a new customer l would just turn up unless they had specifically mentioned they wanted a truckmount.

Never had a problem so far.