Owning a commercial cleaning business has a number of advantages. There is widespread, consistent demand for cleaning services and the investment costs are relatively affordable. However, as in any sector, starting a business requires a lot of hard work and there are risks to starting a business and building your brand. One way to take your career into your own hands whilst benefiting from the help of an established brand is to go down the franchise route. So, How do cleaning franchises work?
What is a cleaning franchise?
Starting your own business provides increased freedom, more flexibility for your lifestyle and the potential for financial and emotional fulfilment, but there are many risks involved in starting from scratch. A franchise business provides a turnkey business opportunity that includes everything you need to get started, the support of the franchisor, and an established, trusted brand.
As a franchisee you’ll operate under a recognised brand, building up the wider business in a certain territory, whilst enjoying complete responsibility of your business. You have the opportunity to build the business up as large as you wish within your area – your earnings potential is up to you.
Investing in a commercial cleaning franchise means that you will gain much more support than if you had decided to build your own business from the ground up. It benefits the franchisor for each franchise partner to be successful, so to help you get started, head office provides full training, a proven business plan to work from, and a wide range of support services that can include invoicing, wages, IT support and human resources support, along with sales and marketing help.
What do you need to start a cleaning franchise business?
As well as questioning “how do cleaning franchises work?”, you’ll no doubt also wonder what you need to get started.
Capital
To operate under a franchise banner, you must first buy into the cleaning franchise. You will be required to pay a lump sum upon signing the franchise agreement. In many cases, a commercial cleaning franchise will take an initial payment, and then ask for the remaining investment to be paid within a certain time, or once your business has reached a certain turnover.
Many commercial cleaning franchises can also offer in-house financing, allowing you to pay for the franchise in an agreed time.
Responsibilities
Franchisees are responsible for the day to day running of their business, including hiring and management of cleaning staff. Franchises may offer full and part time franchising opportunities, and some individuals may choose to operate part-time whilst they learn the ropes and slowly build the business before switching to full time.
In some cases, franchises may employ a manager to help them with the running of the commercial cleaning business, but they must be capable of helping the business grow.
Important franchisee attributes
As a franchisee is tasked with running their business as well as growing the franchise brand visibility and reputation, it is important that they are ambitious and hard working, flexible and friendly individuals. To be a successful commercial cleaning franchise business owner, a positive attitude and excellent communication skills are essential.
In addition to the right personality, franchises will also need some computer skills to help them along the way, and a full, clean driving licence is vital!
Contact a Commercial Cleaning Franchise
If you have further questions around how cleaning franchises work, or are interested in acquiring a commercial cleaning franchise in the UK, you can contact MCS.