Foam and fortune - cleaning Franchises

The cleaning sector boasts and variety of franchise opportunities operating within a robust industry

 From commercial cleaning to domestic renovation, there are many different types of franchises in the cleaning sector to consider. The role of the franchisee within these businesses can also vary greatly, from managing a large team of staff to one man in a van, so whether you want to spend your time on sums or suds, there’s bound to be a business out there that’s right for you.

If you do choose to invest in a hands-on business, comprehensive training in the service will be provided by the franchisor, meaning that these opportunities are not limited to those with specific previous experience or any particular skill set.

Market research carried out by Key Note estimated the annual UK contract cleaning market at £6.42billion in 2010 and predicts that it will reach £7.13billion by 2015, so clearly this is a reliable industry not dependent on the vagaries of the economy.

A continued growth in the demand for residential cleaning during the tough economic times of the past few years could be down to the demands of a busy, modern lifestyle, as many people juggle full-time careers with domestic responsibilities.

Commercial cleaning is also a huge market and one that is hardly affected by wider economic conditions, being an essential service to virtually every office in the UK.

Here, three franchisees explain why the cleaning sector was the obvious choice for their business investment. 

Minster

Ex-Marks & Spencer finance manager, David Charlton, joined Minster Cleaning Services as their Liverpool and Wirral franchisee in 1999. He has previously been named Minster’s Franchisee of the Year and has built up a £1.4million-plus turnover business with a range of loyal clients.

What attracted you to franchising? And why Minster?

I bought the franchise in 1999 when I found myself facing redundancy and it has certainly turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I always liked the idea of starting my own business via a franchise and redundancy gave me the push that I needed. Minster gave me the opportunity to use my management skills to build a substantial business with recurring contracts.

What training and support have you received from the franchisor?

One of Minster’s great strengths is the support that they give to franchisees covering all of the main day-to-day business activities including IT, accounts, marketing and training, as well as providing professional advice on employment law, health and safety and environmental legislation. We have also benefi tted from Minster’s expertise in providing cleaning services to the healthcare sector. This has helped us attract a substantial number of NHS practices in our area, which are using our services to ensure they fully comply with Care Quality Commission cleanliness requirements.

What are the advantages and challenges of working in the cleaning services sector?

The cleaning services sector remains ‘lowtech’ and is very much a people-business. Minster franchisees can easily employ upwards of 200 people so franchisees must have good people-management and organisational skills. The market for offi ce cleaning is enormous and there is a huge disparity in the standards of cleaning services being offered – Minster’s is a trusted, high-quality, professional service for which there is a big demand across all business sectors. I estimate that we have less than two per cent of the market in the Merseyside area and yet our annual turnover is well over £1million, so the potential is massive. Client retention is one of the biggest challenges. We make sure our clients have no reason to change. Well-trained, motivated staff, high standards, fl exibility and the ability to provide a range of cleaning services from one reliable and trusted source have helped us to build a great many long-term client relationships.

What are your plans for the future?

There is a fair degree of optimism in Merseyside and we are seeing growth in various sectors, particularly those that were hardest hit at the beginning of the recession such as commercial printing and manufacturing. February sales were the highest ever at the branch and were 10 per cent ahead of February 2013 sales. There are several major projects in the pipeline that will have a positive impact on the region’s economic prospects. We have a very strong management team and are focussing on the new business opportunities that this will create.

Describe a typical day.

There is no typical day in this business, which is one of its great attractions. On any one day I could be dealing with transport, annual reviews for customers, new quotations for prospective clients or clients wanting extra cleaning services, marketing, payroll, accounts or staff reviews.

What advice would you give to anyone considering a cleaning franchise?
If you are resilient and ambitious and have the skills to manage a large workforce, a management franchise such as Minster Cleaning Services gives you a real opportunity to create a substantial, valuable business in a sector that will never be too greatly affected by prevailing economic conditions.

OvenKing 

Gary Knight, OvenKing’s newest franchisee in Southampton, joined OvenKing at the start of this year, after working in the telecoms industry installing mobile phone masts.

What attracted you to franchising? And why OvenKing?

When I was looking into becoming selfemployed, I was overwhelmed by the amount of work I would have to do to set up and market a new business. Franchising seemed to be the best way I could hit the ground running. I looked at a few different types of franchises, but OvenKing let me come down and visit head offi ce, meet with their staff and go out with one of their cleaners for the morning to get a taste of what I would be doing in the job on a day-to-day basis. I like the brand, the whole franchise package plus the fact that they can take my bookings at head offi ce so I don’t get interrupted all day.

What training and support have you received from the franchisor?

The training lasted five days and was great. On the first day I was shown around the equipment in the classroom at OvenKing head office. Over the next three days, I was working with Duane Hills [OvenKing Dorset franchisee] out and about in people’s homes. Duane let me work at my own pace and got me to do more and more each day until I was completing the entire oven clean myself with just his supervision. On the final day, I was again in the classroom where I was given advice on marketing and recordkeeping for my business. I was then shown around my van, which had been sign-written and had my oven-cleaning tank installed. I was awarded a certifi cate of completion for the training and given my operator’s manual. Since my training, OvenKing have continued to provide support and have answered the phone whenever I have had a query, whether technical or businessrelated. They have checked up on me several times to make sure everything is going well.

What are the advantages and challenges of working in the cleaning services sector?

Cleaning ovens is very hard work and occasionally a very old or damaged oven can be diffi cult to restore to a high standard, so I try to manage customer expectations. The majority of ovens, however, look as clean as the day the customer bought them, which is a great feeling, especially when the customer is so happy with the result too.

What are your plans for the future?

It is early days yet but when I am fully booked and cannot complete any more work each week I will employ a second oven cleaner and put another OvenKing van on the road.

Describe a typical day.

I know in advance from OvenKing head office where my jobs are as they take my bookings for me and email or text me all the details. From then I prepare the van and cleaning tank, ensuring the water is clean and I have added the right mixture of chemicals. After carrying out my oven cleans, if I finish early I check in with the guys at OvenKing to see if there are any new jobs and, if not, I drop some leafl ets through the doors in the area I am working.

What advice would you give to anyone considering a cleaning franchise?

Becoming a franchisee doesn’t mean the work isn’t difficult – you will only ever be rewarded for the effort and hours you put in, so you must be self-motivated. I now have all the benefits of being self-employed but I am not on my own; I have somewhere to turn if I have questions regarding any aspect of my business.

Dublcheck

Dublcheck, founded by Carol Stewart-Gill provide commercial cleaning services. Dublcheck franchisee Darren Lloyd covers the North Wales/ North West area and had a varied career, working as an electrician and an engineer before getting a job in sales.

What made you investigate the possibilities of franchising?

I wanted to run my own business, and usually to go from employment to being your own boss means to go from salary to no income, but franchising was a way to get the best of both worlds and I was able to build a decent income fairly quickly.

Why did you decide on investing in a Dublcheck franchise?

I did a lot of research and liked the fact that the brand was well established. Before joining, I had several meetings with the team at head offi ce so I could see whether I would be able to work with them.

What training and support have you received from the franchisor?

Dublcheck have been absolutely superb, I can’t fault them. When things are going well they are there to support you, but if you do have a problem or concern there will always be someone on the end of the phone at head office or you can go to see them. Franchisees start out with a comprehensive week of training, involving classes in employment law and setting up the business, a practical cleaning course, through to the management side of the business, covering subjects like finance and promotion.

What are the advantages and challenges of working in the cleaning services sector?

The advantage of working in this industry is that we are not providing a luxury service, it’s a necessity. Even during a recession, businesses need their premises cleaned, so it’s quite a resilient sector. Having said that, the recession wasn’t easy, as there are independent cleaners offering competitive rates. It’s about building up a loyal customer base, though; assuring customers that we are a reliable company with the right insurance and practices in place. You also have to give consumers value for money!

What are your plans for the future?

I’m looking to grow the business over the next 12 months. There is the possibility of expanding my business in the future but I want to make use of the maximum potential of my existing areas first.

Describe a typical day.

I have chosen to run my business with a mixture of management and hands-on. The business is flexible enough that I can adapt it to fit around my lifestyle.

What advice would you give to anyone considering a cleaning franchise?

Make sure you do your research into both the brand and the sector and speak to existing franchisees so you get a clear idea of the road ahead.

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