If you’re new to franchising, you’re probably looking for one that’s relatively easy to start while providing a high-demand service. You should consider a cleaning service franchise. According to the market research firm IBISWorld, the U.S. residential franchise cleaning market has grown 2.7% in the past five years and is now worth $1.2 billion. With all the opportunity in this industry, there are dozens of different maid franchises. On the surface, they’re very similar, so you’ll need to research to determine which one is best for you. Here’s what to look for when comparing.
How Much Will It Cost You?
While maid franchises have low startup costs compared with other types of franchises, the amount will vary between companies. The initial investment required for a Two Maids franchise ranges from $83,140 – $123,890. You’ll need a minimum net worth of $200,000 and liquid assets of $51,140. We also offer in-house financing of $32,000 to qualified applicants. Be sure to check the Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) of all the companies you’re considering. These documents spell out the exact costs of buying a franchise, and what you get for your money.
How Large of a Territory Will You Get?
Almost all franchises promise their owners an exclusive territory to operate in. Before investing, you need to determine exactly how big that territory will be, because the larger the territory, the bigger your pool of potential customers. Some maid service franchises have territories as small as 24,000 homes. The average Two Maids territory is comprised of 168,000 households.
What Training and Support Do They Offer?
While all maid franchises perform similar services, they each have their own way of doing business. When you become a franchisee, the company gives you their propriety plan to follow to set up and run your business. They also provide training so you can learn their methods and provide support for you as you build your business. However, the level of training and support provided varies between franchises. You need to find one with a level you’re comfortable with. Two Maids requires all new franchisees undergo 10 days of training, a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job experience. For the first year you’re in business, we’ll have a special team in place to support you. And our field service representatives visit our franchises multiple times a year to assist with all aspects of running your business.
How Involved Do You Want to Be?
There are several different franchise business models. Most franchisees are owner/operators — very hands-on and involved in the day-to-day operations. But, for investors who aren’t ready to commit 100% of their time to this new venture, there are semi-absentee franchises. Under this model, the owner works part-time and has a management team in place to take care of the business in their absence. The third franchise model allows for absentee ownership, where the franchisee buys the business solely as an investment and leaves the operation completely in someone else’s hands. While some maid service franchises allow for absentee ownership, some don’t. If you aren’t planning to be a hands-on owner, you need to make sure you invest with a franchise that supports that model.
What Do Other Franchisees Say About the Company?
To really find out what it’s like to own a franchise, you need to talk to some of the company’s other franchisees. A lot of unhappy franchisees is a huge red flag. Also find out if the company is growing its franchise system. If the number of new franchisees is down from year to year, that could indicate a problem.
How Does the Company Stand Out?
You want to choose a franchise with a well-known name. However, that will only narrow the list so far. You need to find something else that makes them stand out from the competition. Two Maids is known for its pay for performance model. Our customers rank each job we perform and then we pay the employees who cleaned the house based on the ranking they are given. It’s a way to ensure that our employees do the best job possible and that our customers are always satisfied. It’s something unique to our model that other maid service franchises don’t offer.
Find Out More About Two Maids
If you think buying a franchise is a better alternative than starting a home cleaning business on your own, contact Two Maids today. One of our franchise advisors will be in touch to answer your questions.