Special Feature – Cleaning Franchises – Issue 3#3

This article appeared in Issue 3#3 (March/April 2009) of Business Franchise Australia & New Zealand

CLEAN UP WITH ONE OF THESE FRANCHISES!

A cleaning franchise can make an ideal first-time business opportunity.

Among the most affordable both in terms of upfront and ongoing running costs, a cleaning franchise is typically either a mobile franchise and/or managed from home.  Franchisees therefore save on the costs of commercial rentals and the stress of dealing with landlords.  Largely choosing their own working hours, franchisees also enjoy a good work/life balance that offers freedom and flexibility.

A wide variety of sub-sectors are available within the cleaning umbrella, which include residential home cleaning, and commercial cleaning such as medical centres, shopping centres, office buildings and building sites.  Cleaning franchises can also be more specialised, concentrating on carpets, upholstery, blinds and other household items; and even motor vehicles and animals.

Affordable Maids has been operating successfully for over 10 years.  The business model earns franchisees great income potential without having to touch a bucket or mop.  By having a team of Maids who do the cleaning work, franchisees receive a payment for every service those Maids perform. 

For a minimum territory of 150,000 residents the franchise fee is around $32,250. Royalty is nil for the first six months, $40 per week for the second six months and $80 per week thereafter. There are no marketing or other fees.  Seeking motivated, enthusiastic individuals with a passion for success, franchisees should be intelligent, outgoing and happy, and to commit 10 hours per week to growing their business. ‘Work smart’ does not entail working long hours. 

Boring Chores is a domestic and commercial cleaning franchise that also offers specialist cleaning and property maintenance services.  Their cleaning services include homes, commercial offices, restaurants, rentals, common areas and final builder cleans.  All current franchise opportunities are located in Brisbane.

Chem-Dry prides itself on deep cleaning carpets and upholstery without leaving them soaking wet for hours.  With 200 franchisees throughout Australia, each are provided with the necessary equipment, solutions and supplies for carpet cleaning.  Franchises are available from $9,900 + GST.

Franchisees can expand into drapery, leather and vinyl cleaning, water damage and even carpet repairs.  Start-up costs are low, with a flat monthly royalty fee, and franchisees come from diverse backgrounds.  Established in Australia in 1986, Chem-Dry boasts being the largest carpet cleaning franchise in the world, with a network of 4,000 franchisees.

CleanTastic is a commercial and office cleaning franchise, allowing franchises to use its cleaning business system, name, marketing systems, support and technical expertise.  Franchisees also receive comprehensive training, equipment, uniform, business cards, manuals and an existing client base.

Established in 1996, CleanTastic has grown to over 300 franchisees in four countries.  Subject to the terms of the franchise agreement, a written guarantee is offered to franchisees to receive a set income for a set period.  The award winning system still has master franchises and whole country opportunities available.

The Duster Dollies, a booking agency for domestic cleaning, was started on the Northern Beaches of Sydney in 1993.  Since 2002 it has become a franchised organisation with agencies in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. A database of phone numbers of people looking to have their homes cleaned has helped start new agencies in other States.

The Agency is more administrative and organisational, as sub-contractors do the cleaning and pay an agency fee for each hour of work they do per week. All cleaning jobs are quoted and all cleaners are trained.  The Duster Dollies Cleaning Agency is a Monday to Friday business that can be run from home and suits either a couple or a single operator.

ecowash mobile was founded in Australia in 2004 and has quickly become the world’s number one mobile waterless car washing franchise.  In 2008, ecowash won numerous awards including third place in BRW’s Fast Franchises Top 100, FCA Franchise Export of the Year, four Australian Business Awards, Smart Company/NAB Top Franchise Award, and NRA’s Best Services Retailer.

With over 100 mobile units in Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the USA, a master franchise agreement has been secured for New Zealand.  Franchisees are set up in a turnkey business and fully trained in all aspects. A complete start-up packaging includes a fully prepared vehicle, complete product range, all equipment and marketing material.

Electrodry has 100 franchises around Australia, servicing over 100,000 clients every year.  Mobile units visit homes and provide carpet dry cleaning, upholstery and leather cleaning, healthy mattress solutions, tile and grout cleaning, and 24-hour emergency serviced.

Prospective franchisees enjoy exclusive territories and are part of a committed team that strives to provide the best possible service.  At different times there are different franchises available around Australia either for purchase from the Electrodry head office or direct from an existing franchisee.

Houseproud Cleaning offers weekly, fortnightly and once-off cleaning services for homes, offices and carpets in the Sydney metro area. The majority of the current 35 franchise owners operate their businesses Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, as customers usually want their homes cleaned whilst they are at work.  Three levels of franchises are on offer, starting from $19,900+GST.

Franchise owners are their own boss and decide the number of hours they want to work, to achieve the right balance between work and family.  Franchisees are paid for every job on time, every time, because customers pay at the time of service, thus alleviating tedious paperwork and long invoice payment periods.  Houseproud are keen to secure master franchisees in QLD and VIC, and there is still plenty of growth in NSW.

Housework Heroes is a national company that was established in Perth in 2001.  Customers telephone a central booking office and these are passed on to the franchisee in that area. This provides a steady supply of business and franchisees can choose the level of work they wish to accept, and enjoy a balanced lifestyle.

The Housework Heroes Franchise package includes comprehensive training in all areas of running your own business, a complete equipment package, a range of marketing materials, stationery including business cards, receipt/invoice books etc and Housework Heroes Franchise Owners Manuals.  

Jani-King is commercial cleaning company, represented in 18 countries around the world, with Australia/New Zealand being the largest region outside the USA.  Training is provided and each Regional Office is responsible for producing monthly client invoices, managing debtors and preparing monthly reports for each franchisee.  

Today, Jani-King has more than 11,000 franchise owners and 60,000 clients around the world cleaning shopping centres, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, retail outlets and office buildings.  Franchises are currently available in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart, Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington.

Jim’s Cleaning offers both domestic and commercial cleaning, with six specialist cleaning divisions:  From windows to blinds, from cars to kitchens, from carpets to driveways, from factory floors to office floors – Jim’s Cleaning does it all. 

The national award winning company provides its franchisees with full training including business training; group buying savings on insurance, equipment and chemicals; and a wide range of customers.  Jim’s Cleaning Group franchisees choose their own hours and territories, making it especially ideal for working couples.

Mr WOW Cleaning Service has grown a solid reputation throughout the Ipswich (QLD) area and beyond, since its establishment in 1984.  Offering a wide range of cleaning services inside and outside the home, including steam cleaning, Mr WOW customers prefer to call just one service provider.  As the preferred professional cleaners for real estate principals and property managers in the area, Mr WOW is also recommended to tenants, investors and property owners.  

Key personnel have had hands-on training and experience in the home services industry, therefore being able to provide franchisees with backup and support and regular meetings, informative newsletters and memos, extensive advertising and client liaison.  Mr Wow uses a 1300 number that automatically connect clients to the franchisee in their area.

Oven Clean prides itself on being the market leader in domestic oven cleaning.  Operators also clean cooktops, rangehoods, microwaves and BBQs, using only non-caustic and odour free cleaning products.  Since its creation in 1992, Ovenclean has grown to over 235 outlets operating throughout the UK, Australia, Southern Ireland and Spain.

Franchisees have access to an exclusive territory, large enough to expand, given the option of either a single person operation or a multi-van managed franchise.  Regional franchise opportunities also exist.  Two weeks training includes specialised cleaning procedures, customer retention system, advertising, marketing, database training and accounts.

Oven Fairy was established in Australia in 2006 and offers a cleaning service for ovens, including oven racks, trays, side rails, cavity and door.  Oven light replacement is also offered, and cleaning services extend to stove tops, microwaves, rangehoods and BBQ grills.

Quotes and bookings are made by Head Office, and all Oven Fairy products are non-toxic, non-caustic, bio-degradable and fume free.   Currently searching for hard working entrepreneurs who want to take control of their careers, Oven Fairy is keen to expand its network through franchising.  Full training is provided.

Ovenu is a professional domestic oven cleaning and detailing service, using only biodegradable, non-caustic, odour-free products. Established in 1994 in the United Kingdom, there are now 100+ franchises.  This simple, straightforward business is easy to run and requires no previous experience.

Now offering generous territories across Australia in prime locations, Ovenu’s franchise fee is a low $35,000+GST.  The franchisor supplies franchisees with full training, including back-up and support, proven operational, administrative and marketing methods and procedures. 

Perfectly Maid is a family company that has been cleaning residential and commercial sites for over 30 years and has expanded through franchising since 2006.  Apart from regular cleaning services, one-off jobs are also available.  Franchises receive two weeks of full training plus ongoing support 24/7.

Currently looking for enthusiastic, customer focused, dedicated and reliable individuals, Perfectly Maid franchises are available all over Melbourne and the Western, Southern and Eastern suburbs of Adelaide.  Virtually anyone now has the opportunity to own their own business with amazing pricing and inclusions.

redclean presents the unique proposal of a choice of three different cleaning franchises:  residential; commercial and construction.  With 17 years of experience, reclean offers business-minded people the chance to earn instant financial returns in this fast-growing franchise industry.

Domestic franchisees can build a business in Australia’s burgeoning home cleaning market, while commercial franchisees can invest in a model where lucrative cleaning contracts that have been negotiated by the redclean network, offering instant financial returns.  Interested individuals should possess the right attitude and character to work within a franchise system and learn new skills.

SelectCleaning is part of an Australasian franchising group with over 1,000 franchisees and 15 years experience in assisting new owners into their own businesses.  Training covers provision of cleaning services and all the normal areas of running a business, with great importance on building profitable relationships with customers.  The franchise is designed to allow new business owners to concentrate on providing excellent service to customers while Select focuses on getting those customers.

Ideally suited to husband and wife teams who wish to work Monday to Friday and be paid daily, franchises are available from $13,000.  All franchises include the SelectDouble BusinessGuarantee, which gives new owners the security of a guaranteed number of customers.  Royalties are capped thus encouraging franchisees to build bigger businesses at no further cost.

United Home Services is a successful home services business offering franchises to people who are seeking a job change.  Listed as a top franchise in BRW’s Fast Franchise edition for the sixth year running, United has announced a new management team for 2009.  United offers an alternative career option where individuals can own their own stress-free business and work their own hours.

From its 1995 beginnings, United Home Services is now offering home and office cleaning, carpet cleaning, ironing and gardening in VIC, NSW and QLD.  Regional franchisors and ongoing support for all franchisees is vital to the continuing growth of this business.  A Work Availability Guarantee ensures security and peace of mind.

VIP Home Services provide home, commercial, window and carpet cleaning, as well as lawn and garden, handyman and property maintenance services.  Every VIP service is provided and managed by the person who owns the franchise.  Franchisees enjoy the autonomy and flexibility of being their own boss while embarking into small business ownership, using a proven and successful business formula that has more than 1,000 franchises across Australia and New Zealand.

Even with the current economic climate, the demand for the quality, personal services that VIP franchisees provide is exceeded by the supply of franchisees, particularly in the home cleaning division.  Selected franchisees receive an income guarantee of up to $78,000 per year.  

Your Home Services is a home maintenance franchise including several divisions:  domestic cleaning, mobile car cleaning, lawn and garden care, mobile pet grooming, handyman and property maintenance, and test and tag.  Providing a complete turn key business for all its members, Your Home offers marketing, equipment, training and support across all divisions.

Commencing operation on the NSW Central Coast with a single lawn mowing service, Your Home is now expanding its franchisee base and its ability to service clients from Queensland to Victoria, with plans to include other States and New Zealand.  Regional, State and Master Franchisee opportunities are also available.  Franchisees benefit from large territories, on-the-job training, and backup support for holidays and unexpected work absences.