Today, many people are opting to start their own cleaning business instead of working the more traditional 9 to 5 job. One option in running your own company is to open a franchised cleaning business.
In many ways, this can provide you with the best of both worlds, as you essentially have your own business, yet you are still provided with the support and training of a large and stable company.
How to Buy A Cleaning Franchise
Not every entrepreneur has the patience and know-how of starting a business from scratch. It’s a known fact that establishing a successful business takes time and a lot of effort.
Of course, challenges are also part of the process. So, for entrepreneurs seeking a simpler way to start a business, buying a franchise will be a great idea.
Here, our main focus is on a cleaning franchise. Almost every type of business can be franchised. To be a franchisee or partner with a successful cleaning franchise, you’ll need to have the know-how.
This article is for persons seeking to buy a franchise but having limited knowledge on how to proceed.
How Cleaning Franchises Are Structured
To be able to make real progress in your pursuit of franchise ownership, you’ll need to know how a cleaning franchise is structured.
First, there’s the commercial cleaning franchise owned by a parent company.
In most cases, going through the history of such a business will reveal its humble beginnings as a small cleaning business. With growth comes expansion.
Franchising is one-way commercial cleaning businesses expand their operations.
When a commercial cleaning business establishes a franchising arm, it simply offers up part-ownership to investors. There are ownership term limits set after which the franchisor decides whether to renew or not.
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The Master Franchise Owner
The master franchise owner simply refers to an investor that has purchased the license or rights to a particular territory. Territories are mostly drawn and sold based on population or businesses.
In terms of the investment amount, this is quite significant.
If you wish to become a master franchise owner, the cost of purchasing such a license or rights will range from $100,000 to $500,000. The cost incurred is based on several factors. With such cleaning account secured, the master franchisee then sells these accounts to smaller franchisees or investors.
These smaller account owners or franchisees will be the service providers. However, this isn’t always the case for every cleaning franchise. Some cleaning franchises may not allow reselling of their franchise.
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Choosing the Path of Least Resistance
Choosing the path of least resistance simply refers to becoming a unit owner of a cleaning franchise.
In other words, smaller investors can become franchisees of a cleaning business by purchasing the rights from a master franchisee.
As a unit owner or franchisee, you get to pay the master franchisee a certain percentage of your earnings. However, when dealing directly with the franchise owners, there are ongoing remittances to be made.
How Much Does A Cleaning Franchise Make?
If you love to start a cleaning business but are overwhelmed by the many details, it may be time to consider buying a franchise. There are many success stories when it comes to cleaning franchises.
These established businesses offer people the opportunity to become partners.
While work conditions and job satisfaction are priorities, profit potential stands at the very peak of considerations.
So, how much do cleaning franchise owners make? The earning potential is quite impressive. As a cleaning franchise owner, you are likely to earn between $50,000 to $150,000 a year.
Potential earnings will also depend on the franchise you choose.
There are lots of top-rated cleaning franchises you can partner with. Some of these include Vanguard Cleaning Systems, ServiceMaster, Jani-Pro, Chem-Dry Carpet Drapery & Upholstery Cleaning, and Merry Maids, among others.
What To Know Before Buying A Cleaning Franchise
Having determined a cleaning franchise to be exactly what you want (in terms of profitability and ease of doing business), the next step is to consider involves purchasing the rights. However, this isn’t automatic as the franchisor will need to determine if you’re the right fit for the opportunity or not.
Part of the processes for purchase includes establishing contact with the franchisor. You’ll need to visit the website of your preferred franchisor to find out key details about its operations.
When convinced that such an opportunity is suitable for your needs, you’ll need to establish contact.
Every cleaning franchisor will readily supply its contact information on their website.
This is mostly in the form of a telephone number or email. Also, most cleaning franchise owners will supply a short form that interested prospective franchisees are expected to fill.
Having filled and submitted your form, a franchise representative contacts you through the details supplied.
Discussions are held about the franchise opportunity. Such discussions include answering any questions you have and making inquiries about your financial status among others.
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Full Disclosure
Before a cleaning franchise is sold, there needs to be a series of meetings and discussions.
These may be physical or via phone or email. The process leads to the issuance of a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) to the prospective franchisee.
The FDD contains all the terms and conditions governing the ownership of the franchise. A prospective franchisee is expected to go through all its contents to fully understand them before proceeding.
The FDD is a legal document and shouldn’t be rushed.
It’s best to seek the help of a legal expert to fully interpret the document. When you’re convinced that this cleaning franchise is for you, you’ll be required to sign the document. This is followed by paying the investment sum and every other financial requirement.
With payment completed, what follows is a training process. As its new member, the franchisor puts you through a training program to fully equip you successfully manage your cleaning franchise.
This is followed by ongoing support in a lot of operational areas.
Strategic Tips For Cleaning Franchise Purchase
Purchasing a cleaning franchise shouldn’t be done blindly.
Certain conditions have to be met before making any commitments. A key question needs to be asked and answers found; can you achieve your financial goals? How’s available support like?
Other considerations to make include finding out the uniqueness of the opportunity. The roles of the franchisee should be fully understood. Profitability is also a major consideration.
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Can You Achieve Your Financial Goals?
Every business should have financial goals. However, such financial goals should be realistic. You’ll need to conduct a detailed research about such.
Key factors include the unique selling point, training, profit, and cost of wages.
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Available Support
A lot of support is needed for a new business to succeed.
As a prospective franchisee, you’ll need to find out how much support is available or offered by the franchisor. Support covers marketing and training among others.
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The Uniqueness of the Franchise Opportunity
What makes the cleaning franchise unique?
Consider going for opportunities that align with your interest. In doing so, you might only be interested in buying franchise opportunities in niche-based cleaning services.
Basically, you need to find out what makes the cleaning franchise stand out.
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Roles of Franchisee
A cleaning franchise will have set roles for its franchisees. You should find out what these roles are. If they are acceptable, you can proceed with the application process.
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How Profitable is it?
Profitability matters a lot when buying a cleaning franchise.
Every franchisee will want to earn a decent profit. As such, part of your investigations should focus on the profit potential of the opportunity.
Top Cleaning Business Franchises to Consider
Although there are many different cleaning franchises in the marketplace today, there are a few companies that should be considered ahead of the others.
These companies include:
Coverall Cleaning Concepts
– Coverall has a network of over 9,000 franchise owners. With this many happy franchisees, they must be doing something right. The company has a mission to be recognized as the world’s leading brand in the commercial cleaning niche, primarily via its high-quality and innovative solutions.
The firm provides in-depth training to its franchisees so that each one understands the quality that goes into their services.
ABM Janitorial Services
– ABM Janitorial Services has been in the business of facility solutions for more than 100 years, giving this company a very strong and solid background.
It has locations in the United States, as well as in more than 20 different international locations.
The company is well known for its building maintenance, as well as its cost-efficiency. ABM provides services on a local, regional, and national basis.
Jani King Cleaning
– Jani King Cleaning is yet another one of the large and well-known names in the commercial cleaning businesses.
The company provides its services to a very diversified mix of clients, including general office buildings, manufacturing companies, retail locations, resorts, hotels, banks, healthcare facilities, event locations, stadiums, educational venues, government offices, and restaurants.
Therefore, anyone who is interested in opening a Jani King franchise will be able to pick and choose from a wide variety of venues to target.
While many people may think that owning a franchise takes a great deal of capital, the truth is that you don’t need to have a lot of money upfront to get started.
Oftentimes, these franchise companies will work with a potential franchisee in terms of working out financing and other details so that they can get their businesses up and running as quickly and easily as possible.
Conclusion
Buying a cleaning franchise follows the above procedures outlined. In the course of our discussion, we’ve seen that not all cleaning franchise opportunities are suitable for everyone.
You’ll need to find out what your needs are before committing.
