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GigWatch · What this is
Mobile carpet and upholstery cleaning for homes, offices, and property managers - a service business where the equipment jump can outrun repeat demand.
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Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

Real service business if repeat accounts beat equipment debt

Owner take-home
$45K-$90K solo
repeat accounts and equipment choices decide the band
Start cost
Rent a machine or a used portable
a used portable extractor runs ~$500-$2K; a truckmount + van ($35K+) is the scale-up
Time to first dollar
4-6 weeks
formation, insurance, equipment, and first bookings
To begin
Business + wastewater rules
IICRC can matter for commercial trust

Carpet cleaning can become a real service business, but the equipment ladder is the trap to watch. Portable work lets you test demand; a truckmount, van, and first tech raise capacity and overhead at the same time. Repeat residential, commercial, or property-manager accounts should come before the big upgrade.

Before you lean on it

Do not let equipment create the story. Prove repeat accounts, handle wastewater and damage documentation cleanly, then decide whether IICRC, a van, or a truckmount is worth it.

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