Myrtle Beach

I know that winter is still a few months away, but I am already looking ahead for it......and don't like what I see. I've been considering a move for the last couple of years and I think I am very close to doing it this year.

My box truck build will never be any use for the kind of winters we get around here and business really slows to a trickle for about 5 months starting in early November. I guess I am just getting tired of dealing with the battle against freezing temps and a quiet phone.

I am more familiar with the SE part of the US and have been thinking about some of the regions that I visited over the years for candidates and I think the winner is Myrtle Beach, SC.

The weather is good, beaches good, housing is affordable, and the tourist trade should provide for a fair amount of commercial work. The average age group of 37 sounds about right to me, but the incomes are a little low to support a lot of carpet cleaning on the residential side.

Still, it is worth the trip in Aug. to check out the numbers in person. Maybe sell everything off and drive the box truck down with zero debts and about 85k in cash to keep things together long enough to get established.

Anyone have any history in that area....any insider information would be helpful.

Hey milspec6, I live in Calabash NC, only 15 min from Myrtle beach SC. Just moved here last year from Long Island NY. Love it so far, If you wanna come down here let me know, would love to meet you and help out anyway I can. send me a PM if ya want i'll give ya my Cell number.

That's awesome Kevin, thanks...I will be in touch.

I used to perform a few nights per week down there and if it is as laid back as I remember it, I think it will be just what I am looking for.

I thought you're talking about myrtle beach, CA

Milspec....sounds like a good deal. You will bestarting over though...Im in that mode now and its odd having been so established and now looking for work...it will come together but takes awhile.

milspec6 wrote:That's awesome Kevin, thanks...I will be in touch.

I used to perform a few nights per week down there and if it is as laid back as I remember it, I think it will be just what I am looking for.

I'm in the starting over mode now as you will be if you make the move, I had to get creative and improvise while in rebuilding mode, still gotta pay bills. so by day i'm the mild mannered carpet cleaner and by night i'm the friendly neighborhood pizza delivery guy. Which works out great cause my days are free to devote to my carpet cleaning business and do jobs while at night,currently 6 nights a week I work at a local pizza resturaunt for steady income to help out and pay all my bills. I have my van lettered up with my carpet cleaning company name, phone and website, i use my van in the pizza delivery job and always park so the people i deliver pizza to can see my van, many ask "oh you do carpet cleaning" and ask for a card, which i always have with me and gladly give them one. I have gotten many carpet cleaning jobs this way so they pizza delivery thing turned out to be a good thing to help my business grow.

That's a brilliant idea Kevin ! The only bad thing is your van will have a lot of miles but you pay minimum advertising.

That is a great idea Kevin. Not only are you getting business exposure on your boss's dime, but you get to know the neighborhoods really well.

I have spent many days delivering pizza to make ends meet and it always made me an expert on the local area. That would pay off down the road.

Starting over is daunting, but it also gives one the chance to correct their mistakes on the second time around. Knowing what tools and chems you actually "need" alone would save you tons on a company re-boot.

Well I gotta say I do know my way around pretty darn good, but yeah the only down side is yes, i am putting a lot of miles on my van

Too bad you can't find yourself a small car and place your business name on the side with a magnetic sign. It would save you that wear and tear on the van while still getting exposure.

What is your competition like in that area? I see there are several companies with long histories in your area....even Coit is running around dominating the commercial scene.

Yeah there's always going to be competition, I pay it no mind and just do my thing. Theres enough to go around. There are a few here with long histories but i've never seen a coit truck yet. I see a few others here and there sometimes but what are ya going to do right.

I love your mindset, I try not to bother worrying about competition either. It is like running a marathon, no need to worry about where you finish, there is always someone slower.

"no need to worry about where you finish, there is always someone slower."

So true

Coit and SS are great referral sources for your biz.

I can just see it now Rob cleaning high rise beach condos with his portable

Mo wrote:Coit and SS are great referral sources for your biz.

I can just see it now Rob cleaning high rise beach condos with his portable

Gosh no!! I would rather pull the fire alarm and combine the cleaning with flood damage....faster that way.

milspec6 wrote:

Mo wrote:Coit and SS are great referral sources for your biz.

I can just see it now Rob cleaning high rise beach condos with his portable

Gosh no!!  I would rather pull the fire alarm and combine the cleaning with flood damage....faster that way.

 You're