Are Cleaning Franchises Dirty Business?
Running a cleaning franchise is dirty business... right? This is not necessarily true if you have the funds to buy the franchise and hire employees to do all the dirty work.
If you are thinking about starting a business and hate the idea of being stuck in retail premises, do not like being tied to your computer and dislike the idea of running an internet business, why not have a look at a cleaning franchise?
With adequate funds, you can setup the business and get others to do the dirty work whilst you focus on getting new clients and servicing existing ones.
Not all cleaning franchises are the same. Find one that will offer you adequate training and then support you throughout your business life with them. Ensure that their marketing material is well branded and includes all the types of leaflets and brochures you will need to market your services.
Speak to other franchisees and if at all possible, meet one or two nearby and grill them about the pros and cons of running a cleaning business.
Make sure you get an exclusive territory that is large enough for you to grow into. In this current recessionary climate you can negotiate hard on price and when there is no more room left to budge on the initial fee then negotiate hard on getting a larger territory included within the price already agreed.
Your initial franchise fee will vary greatly. Some cleaning franchises charge a huge sum to begin whilst others offer their business model for a much more affordable sum. Do your research on the internet and investigate thoroughly at least 3 before settling on one.
You will be able to work from home but you will need a large locked room like a double garage or big shed to store all your cleaning materials and machinery. You will need one small van to start off with to transport your equipment to and from clients' premises.
Your core clients could include industrial premises and family homes although you might decide to focus only on businesses or alternatively private dwellings. The advantages of cleaning industrial units and retail premises are that you get a lot of repeat business. If you decide to clean houses, you will need a larger client bank to make the same amount of money as your take per client will be lower although your margins might be higher!
Your working hours can be very flexible if you have the right staff in place. You can choose when you will go out and market your services. You can target business almost around the clock. You can visit retail premises and industrial units during normal hours. If you choose to work out with these times, you can target pubs, clubs and restaurants that are open much later and also at the weekends.
The potential is huge but so is the effort required to launch the business. If you are not scared of hard work and do not like the idea of traditional business, then a cleaning franchise might just be the way you clean up and make serious dirty money!
Nazir Daud - UK Home Business
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