Scouting, Volume 71, Number 5, October 1983 Page: 7
82 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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when I planned to
retire before fifty
this is the business that made it possible
a true story by John B. Haikey
Starting with borrowed money Duraclean gave
me the opportunity for financial security...
In eight years I sold out at a profit and retired.
"Not until I was forty did I make up my
mind that I was going to retire before ten
years had passed. I knew I couldn't do it on
a salary, no matter how good. I knew I
couldn't do it working for others. It was
perfectly obvious to me that I had to start a
business of my own. But that posed a prob-
lem. What kind of business? Most of my
money was tied up. Temporarily I was
broke. But, when I found the business I
wanted I was able to start it for a small
amount of borrowed money.
"To pyramid this investment into re-
tirement in less than ten years seems like
magic, but in my opinion any man in good
health who has the same ambition and
drive that motivated me, could achieve
such a goal. Let me give you a little history.
"I finished high school at the age of 18
and got a job as a shipping clerk. My next
job was butchering at a plant that proces-
sed boneless beef. Couldn't see much future
there. Next, I got a job as a Greyhound Bus
Driver. The money was good. The work was
pleasant, but I couldn't see it as leading to
retirement. Finally I took the plunge and
went into business for myself.
"I managed to raise enough money with
my savings to invest in a combination
motel, restaurant, grocery, and service sta-
tion. It didn't take long to get my eyes
opened. In order to keep that business
going my wife and I worked from dawn to
dusk, 20 hours a day, seven days a week.
Putting in all those hours didn't match my
idea of independence and it gave me no
time for my favorite sport—golf! Finally we
both agreed that I should look for some-
thing else.
"I found it. Not right away. I investigated
a lot of businesses offered as franchises. I
felt that I wanted the guidance of an ex-
perienced company—wanted to have the
benefit of the plans that had brought suc-
cess to others, plus the benefit of running
my own business under an established
name that had national recognition.
"Most of the franchises offered were too
costly for me. Temporarily all my capital
was frozen in the motel. But I found that
the Duraclean franchise offered what I had
been looking for.
"Only $5,900 starts you in your own busi-
ness. And, if you qualify, Duraclean has
enough confidence in your success that
they will finance the balance. The total cash
investment is $14,800.
"I could work it as a one-man business to
start, and operate from my home. No office
or shop or other overhead, no salaries to
pay. Equipment would fit in my car trunk.
(I bought the truck later, out of profits.)
Best of all, there was no ceiling on my earn-
ings. I could build a business as big as my
ambition and energy dictated. I could put
on as many men as I needed to cover my
volume. And I could build little by little, or
as fast as I wished.
"So, I started. I took the wonderful train-
ing furnished by the company. When I was
ready I followed the simple plan outlined in
the training. During the first period I did
all the service work myself. By doing it
myself, I could make much more per hour
than I had ever made on a salary. Later, I
would hire men, train them, pay them well,
and still make an hourly profit on their
time that made my idea of retirement
possible — I had joined the country club and
now I could play golf whenever I wished.
"What is this wonderful busi-
ness? It's Duraclean. And, what
is Duraclean? It's an improved,
space-age process for cleaning
upholstered furniture, rugs and
tacked down carpets. It not only
cleans but enlivens and sparkles
up the colors. It does not wear
down the fiber or drive part of the dirt
into the base of the rug as machine scrub-
bing does. Instead it lifts out the dirt with
absorbent dry foam.
"Furniture dealers and department
stores refer their customers to the Dura-
clean Specialist. Insurance men say
Duraclean can save them money on fire
claims. Hotels, motels, specialty shops
and big stores make annual contracts for
keeping carpets and furniture clean.
"Well, that's the business I was able to
start with such a small investment. That's
the business I built up over a period of eight
years. And, that's the business I sold out at
a substantial profit before I was fifty."
Would you like to have the freedom and
independence enjoyed by Mr. Haikey? You
can. Let us send you the facts. Mail the
coupon, and you'll receive all the details,
absolutely-without obligation. No sales-
man will ever call on you. When you receive
our illustrated booklet, you'll learn how we
show you STEP BY STEP how to get cus-
tomers; and how to have your customers get
you more customers from their recommen-
dations.
This is an opportunity for a career you
will enjoy far more than a routine job. You
make many friends who appreciate your
quality services.
With no obligation, we'll mail you a 32-
page booklet explaining the business. Then
you, and you alone, in the privacy of your
home, can decide. Don't delay. Get the facts
before your location is taken by someone
else. Mail the coupon, now.
&B>. Duraclean
International
The first step—send
for FREE Booklet today!
Duraclean International
3-V90 Duraclean Bldg. Deerfield, IL 60015
WITHOUT OBLIGATION send free booklet thai tells how I can
have a Duraclean business. No salesman will call
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 71, Number 5, October 1983, periodical, October 1983; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353543/m1/7/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.