Im thinking of starting a residential/commercial cleaning service. Should I go independent or franchise?

Question

Im thinking of opening a residental/commercial cleaning service because of my experience with local cleaning services in my area (they all seem to lack the personal touch and always seem to be in more of a hurry than getting the job done right). There are NO major franshises in my area. Should I go independent or buy into a franchise?

Answer 1

I wouldn't go with a franchise. Before you open your doors for business you've already got THEIR reputation. Good or bad. And you'll have to do things their way whether you like it or not. If you go independent you'll have a better clientele because it'll build on word of mouth which is the best advertising you can get. And seeing that you are concerned about the job getting done properly and with the personal touch, it won't be long before your business is booming!

I clean houses for a living. I have worked for a few cleaning companies. (I know what you mean about not doing a good job and lacking the personal touch) When I started cleaning on my own, I put up little "free ads" in the grocery stores. I will toot my own horn and say that I do a great job. And my clients agree. They tell their friends, coworkers, family and neighbors all the time. I get referrals constantly. It didn't take me long to get this point.

A little tip for you....
People want someone they can trust in their homes, and to do a good job. They also prefer that the same person or people clean their home. Keep your prices competitive!

Answer 2

There are certain benefits to both of them so you would be the one that would need to decide that. In the independent mode, you would be the boss and responsible for all paperwork, hiring, firing, what days you want to work as well as what hours, etc. With a franchise you go by their rules and do things their way and you have very little freedom to do your own thing but you have the assurance that they have done it and been very successful at what they do and you will have the national name behind you where with the independent you have just your reputation to stand behind. Like standing behind a semi compared to a tricycle. If you have a good reputation and have the capitol to do it on your own, that may be a better way as you will go by your rules rather than the company rules with the franchise. With what you have said, that seems the better route to go. One other really bad thing about franchises is they cost a lot to get into. Independent is much less costly to start up but you also do not have the national advertising and support of the franchise either. If you want to give good service over what the franchise would tell you you had to do, independent would be the way to go. More risk but more satisfaction too as when it grows and propers, you know it was YOU that was behind it, not some franchise operation. Good luck whichever you choose.

Answer 3

Entrepreneurial Skilled and have basic business know how(skills) then I would suggest that you try on your own first. Get some business cards made and start doing a little asking around networking with business you already deal with on a day to day bases already professional and personal; ask questions like how is cleaning service?, if you could change anything with current service what would it be?, when do you accept your annual bids?, would consider looking at competitive bid with my business?
Get a business plan together based on the information you gathered. Make sure you start out with insurance, bonded and equipment basic don’t go over hills in debit keep, over head low for the first year.
Your right on track about not very many have “the personal touch” play on that. If you have to pay for a name or business plan of someone else’s then you’ll be overly worried about the bottom-line too. Do it your way!

Answer 4

I would try independent first to be sure you really want to do it before investing in a franchise.