Top reasons to start a cleaning franchise
If you like things spick and span and fancy starting your own business, a cleaning franchise might be the right option for you. Starting a cleaning franchise can come at a low cost, with great opportunities for success and growth. The cleaning sector is often overlooked when it comes to choosing a franchise business to invest in. Still, they can be some of the most suitable and lucrative businesses for many budding entrepreneurs.
In this article, we look at some of the key reasons you might want to consider starting your own cleaning franchises.
Demand is high
Possibly the main reason people choose to start cleaning businesses is the demand – business in this sector is booming! Almost all commercial properties across the UK require some form of janitorial or cleaning service. While some may employ people directly to take care of their needs, the majority will hire an external provider. This means plenty of franchise opportunities, no matter where you are based.
If you are looking to operate a van-based franchise, it can be easy to travel between business locations and you can extend your business area as far as you wish to travel. There are many mobile cleaning franchises you can choose from, allowing you to meet the needs of your customers wherever they are.
It is a stable sector
A cleaning business is often very stable – we always need to keep our homes and places of work clean and tidy. Cleaning is an essential service and as such is pretty much recession-proof.
While it does have other challenges, the market generally does not experience the same ups and downs like many other sectors. Homeowners may resort to cleaning their own properties in times of financial difficulty. However, in terms of commercial cleaning, it often doesn’t make economic sense for commercial property owners to hire in-house cleaning staff.
Low cost or affordable startup investment
Another reason many people choose to start a cleaning franchise is that the startup costs are very affordable. It usually is not necessary to pay a large sum upfront, and you may not need to take out a loan from the bank. Cleaning franchises are relatively low cost to run compared to many other franchise businesses too. Depending on the franchise you choose to invest in, you may be able to run the business from home, cutting down on your overheads. You will not need to rent business premises, pay utilities or pay for the upkeep or maintenance costs of a retail unit. Starting a cleaning franchise also means you may be able to access the franchise’s cleaning products at a reduced price, meaning franchising can be cheaper than going it alone.
Flexibility
When many people decide to start their own business, one of the biggest draws is flexibility. Starting a cleaning franchise allows you to set your working hours and create a schedule that works for you. You can ensure the hours you work fit your personal commitments such as childcare or family life. Regardless of whether you want to be hands-on (carrying out the cleaning work yourself), or manage a team of cleaning staff (also known as a Management Franchise), you get to decide when you work.
Repeat business
Lucky for cleaning business owners, repeat business is highly likely. As cleaning is not a one-time service, you can build up a base of regular customers, allowing you to grow and scale your business if you wish. Having regular customers can also relieve some of the marketing and financial pressure you experience when running a business. When you have regular and repeat customers, you don’t need to spend so much time finding new ones, and you have the comfort of a regular stream of income. Once you have established your network of customers, you can focus on providing an excellent service to ensure they keep coming back and recommending your company to their business partners, colleagues and friends. Your reputation is everything when you run a business, so it is important you don’t get comfortable and let standards slip.
Having a stable and regular income is exceptionally appealing to many franchise owners, but this depends on providing a consistent service at a high standard.
Easy to staff
Staffing a cleaning business can be much more straightforward than other industries. The best cleaning business employees are hard-working, dependable and take pride in their work. There is no need to get bogged down in qualifications and diplomas, but you must ensure that your staff will complete the job to a high standard. You will never struggle to find staff for a cleaning business as the entry-level is low, and your team members can be easily trained and coached to carry out their duties effectively.
Ready to start your cleaning franchise? Search for opportunities with Franchise UK today.