Make a clean cash break

Make a clean cash break  

By: Linda Whitney

YOU can clean up in cleaning business, a franchise can you get Domestic cleaning estimated to be £ 2.86 billion business, at 10 per cent a year.

Most cleaning franchises do require a background in the Rather than skills with a franchisors look for management marketing skills, because typically run teams of cleaners market their services locally.

Customers look for a name know, so when choosing a franchise, ask what marketing the franchisor provides.

' We have a national marketing that includes cross- promotion with brands such as Procter & Gamble Tesco,' says Andrew Parsons of domestic cleaning franchise Molly Maid.

You are expected to do local marketing yourself for most cleaning franchises, so ask what help is provided. Molly Maid, for instance, provides templates or flyers to be distributed door-to-door.

'The liveried vans, which our cleaning teams drive, also bring in many inquiries,' says Mr Parsons, who is looking for more franchisees with £16,975 to invest. The growth in domestic cleaning is bringing in new franchise opportunities.

Sandra Venables set up the Well Polished cleaning franchise last year.

Franchisees introduced customers to vetted, insured cleaners and provide holiday and sickness cover when cleaners are away.

You need good communication skills and, ideally, management or sales experience.

Investment is £12,000. A franchise with a difference can distinguish your business from the competition.

The Living Clean franchise, for instance, uses only eco-friendly cleaning products such as traditional vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, or its own range of environmentally friendly products.

Investment is from £20,560. Commercial cleaning is also growing fast into a £3 billiona-year market.

Carol Stewart-Gill of Commercial Cleaning franchise

Dublcheck is looking for more people with £8,750 to invest to run teams of commercial cleaners.

VIP Bin Cleaning franchisees provide a wheelie bin cleaning service using a mobile unit that automatically cleans and deodorises.

MOLLY Maid 0800 500 950; Well Polished 0151 6506924; Living Clean 01603 219966; Dublcheck 0800 317236; VIP Bin Cleaning 01953 857830..
 

IS WORKING FROM HOME FOR YOU?

WORKING from home could solve your work-life balance problem — and a franchise could help.

But there is more to it than just choosing where to put your desk. Do you have the discipline? 'Running a business from home gives you flexibility to work around family needs, but you must be disciplined,' says Carol Abram (pictured).

Carol, 48, runs a Flowers Forever franchise, preserving floral arrangements such as wedding bouquets and funeral flowers, from her home in Poultonle-Fylde, Lancashire.

'You must make it clear to the family when you are at work. Having a dedicated workspace makes things easier,' says Carol, who has a home office and reception room where she meets clients and displays her work, and a separate workspace in a spare bedroom where she processes the flowers.

One of the main problems faced by home workers is loneliness, so check whether the franchise offers any opportunity to meet other people, even if only by phone or online.

'Flowers Forever franchisees market their service to florists, direct to customers, and at wedding fairs, which means I do notbecome too isolated,' says Carol.

Flowers Forever franchisor Hilary Jones, who is looking for more franchisees, says: ' We expect franchisees to give at least 20 hours a week to the business.' You will need £15,000 to invest and a dedicated warm and dry room, such as a garage or shed.

FLOWERS Forever: 0800 2985880..