How Do Cleaning Franchises Work?

If you’re considering starting a cleaning company, one of the most popular approaches is to purchase a cleaning franchise. Cleaning franchises are advantageous because they provide the purchaser with an opportunity to gain a footing in the marketplace. This means franchise owners won’t have to spend as much time advertising, and can instead use the reputation of an already-established cleaning company to gain the focus and attention of prospective clients.

However, there are many things to consider before purchasing a cleaning franchise. To help you to make an informed decision on whether a franchise is the right business model for you, we’re going to focus on how cleaning franchises operate and the benefits of buying into a long-established franchise.

Cleaning franchise fees explained

When signing a franchise agreement, franchisees are required to pay a fee to the parent company, or franchisor. This initial investment can vary depending on which cleaning franchise you choose, but it’s important to remember that all businesses require capital upfront, and with a franchise, there are several benefits. In addition to this, franchise fees are generally lower than the overheads required to start a cleaning business of your own from scratch.

Most franchisors will also require ongoing royalty fees. These fees are usually based on the sales you generate, and can also vary depending on the level of support you require from the franchisor. However, in the early days, this support can be invaluable and most cleaning franchise operators agree that the low ongoing costs are worth it.

First-class support

For your fee, you can expect to receive help and assistance with things like training, equipment inventory and even customer attraction/retention. The beauty of a cleaning franchise is that a tried-and-tested business model is already in place, and this model can be accessed from the first day of your operation as a franchisee.

If you need help with the administrative side of running a small business, you can also count on the franchisor to help you out. In some cases, your franchisor may even be able to supply you with support staff when you need them.

Marketing for success

As a cleaning franchise operator, you’ll also receive support with marketing and advertising. This is crucial for any new business to become profitable, as things like a website and a prominent social media presence will help attract daily leads.

Leveraging from the existing market recognition of an established brand is undoubtedly one of the major benefits of purchasing a cleaning franchise. A well-recognized name brings with it a degree of reliability and respectability, and when prospects see an established company name or logo, they’ll be more likely to place trust in your services. With a cleaning franchise, you’ll receive this brand prominence from day one, which means you’ll spend less time doing additional promotional work.

A welcoming community

When you buy a cleaning franchise, you aren’t simply setting up a business – you’re joining a community of like-minded, self-driven, successful entrepreneurs. As part of your franchise agreement, you’ll be able to network with other franchise owners throughout the country and learn from their practices while steering your own business towards success.

Save on essentials

One of the biggest regular costs in any cleaning franchise is the purchasing and maintenance of equipment and supplies. Because franchises are long-established, they have much greater purchasing power than smaller businesses. This means your franchise operator can bulk-buy cleaning supplies at a reduced rate and pass the savings onto you. The money you’ll save on equipment and supplies will allow you to enjoy greater returns – and you could even invest that money into further growing your franchise if you like.

Be your own boss

The best thing about owning your own business is that you can choose the hours you want to work, allowing you to dedicate time to other commitments as and when you need to. However, being an entrepreneur can often mean having to outsource if some of your skills are lacking (for example, on things like accounting).

With home-based franchise opportunities in the cleaning industry, you can simply focus on your strengths, and rely on your franchisor for support for other aspects of the business. If you’ve always liked the idea of being your own boss but felt like weaknesses in your administrative experience has held you back, a cleaning franchise might be the right choice for you.

The key to business success in the cleaning industry is to do plenty of research and find a business model that aligns with your goals and requirements. It’s also about recognizing potential opportunities. Buying a cleaning franchise is one of those opportunities which works well for lots of self-made entrepreneurs.