MaidPro - Franchise Q & A

How was your franchise/opportunity originally conceived and started? 

During a meeting with franchisees of another home cleaning brand, I came to realize many of our systems were similar or superior to theirs.  Since we had a great brand, marketing, software and training systems, it was a no-brainer to start franchising ourselves.

What was your original vision for your company? How has that changed over time?  

The original vision was simply to provide a great cleaning service to our customers.  That vision has since grown to turn MaidPro into a company with a world-class culture, customer service, and a place where people can grow as professionals/entrepreneurs while enjoying a community of genuine relationships.  And of course, we always continue to deliver the best home cleaning money can buy. 

What do you believe is the single most important factor when choosing a franchise?  

I do not believe there is one single factor that is the most important when choosing a franchise. I believe it differs from person to person.

Why should someone choose your franchise over other similar franchises?  

At a distance, we might look similar to other franchisors in our industry.  But if you look closely, you’ll see that our culture and community are truly something special.  Our home office staff and franchisee community are 100% committed to helping one another.  Beyond that, we are passionate about technology and marketing. Our software allows our franchisees to operate more efficiently and our marketing/brand attracts customers at an extremely high rate. In addition, we have industry experts on staff for supplies, training and, everything in between.

What makes your industry attractive?  

The home cleaning industry is very attractive to entrepreneurs for many different reasons.  A few of those include recurring revenue, low startup costs, high potential income, no nights or weekends, no inventory, no receivable, and payment at the time of service.

What types of qualities do you look for in potential franchisees?  

We look for people that are genuinely kind, good customer service, great common sense, and are passionate about helping others.

What do your franchise fees and royalties cover?  

The franchise fee covers the initial training and an excusive, protected territory.  The royalties cover software and other technological developments, marketing initiatives (including website and online content development), coaching, training systems, conventions, and more.

How do territories work for your franchisees?  

We offer exclusive, protected territories that are segmented by zip code.  The zip codes that the franchisees own are where they are allowed to market the MaidPro brand.

Why has your franchise model been successful?  

Home cleaning is a great industry and we’ve been able to build successful business systems that allow our franchisees to easily service their customers.  We’ve also been able to build an amazing network of franchisees that help us improve each day.

Where do you see your franchise in 5 years and 10 years? 

I believe we will have 500 locations as well as a number of other home service brands.

What is your favorite advice for new franchisees to help them succeed?  

To read my Welcome Letter that I give each and every franchisee after they join MaidPro.  You’ll have to join to see it.

What would you tell potential franchisees that may be nervous about the financial burdens of starting a franchise? 

It is OK to be nervous.  Starting a business can be expensive and you should do everything in your power to make sure you understand your numbers and are comfortable with the investment you’ll be making.

Can you explain your financial assistance?  

We can offer a loan for part of the startup costs.  We also help franchisees receive loans and convert their 401k into cash which they can then use for their business.

On average, how long does it take to start a new franchise from the franchisees point of view? 

The average MaidPro franchisee opens their door 90 days after signing their franchise agreement.  Some can open in as quick as 60 days and others may take 120 or more days to open.

What was your background and experience before founding this franchise? 

I had previously run our original MaidPro location for 6 years before we went into franchising.  I also helped run a software company in the service space which helped me understand how the power of technology could transform our industry.

Do you have any franchisee testimonials or success stories that you would like to share?

"I just took a 7-week road trip. How many businesses do you know that the owner can take off for 7 weeks and the business still grows?" Jesse has amazing drive and ambition. While still in college, he started on the road to business ownership, partnering with friends to open a food service franchise. Yet, the location troubles and high cost made him rethink the industry, and he went out on his own to find a business that was right for him. After visiting the Boston headquarters and meeting the team, he knew the right choice was MaidPro. While his friends labored with the long hours and through nights and weekends, Jesse has been able to grow and run a successful business while still having time for himself and what he likes to do. For Jesse, this means travel. A lot of travel. Using MaidPro's amazing technology services he can check in from anywhere, whether skiing in Colorado or surfing in California. – Jesse Zook

"The people at MaidPro headquarters have the utmost integrity and we genuinely feel like they have our back and we are part of the family." Mark and Mandy’s situation was very unique. Immigrating from England, they admittedly had little knowledge about the area where they started their franchise, having only visited on vacations. Also, they opened their doors pretty much the day the economy started its terrible downturn in 2008. But despite the obstacles, the couple persevered and, with advice and assistance from MaidPro, now have twenty-five employees and great success in their business. They love the MaidPro team with their “utmost integrity” and the feeling that they “are a part of the family.” Now, they don’t ever have to miss their children’s games or events; they’ve been able to return to England many times—along with other great trips, and feel they’re “living the dream.” – Mark and Amanda Sewell

"I was starting a family when I joined MaidPro, so a flexible daily schedule was very important to me." With a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Industrial Engineering, Lily spent years working in the corporate world. When she was ready to start a family, her one-hundred mile commute to the corporate office was a bit too much. She wanted something that would work with her new family—flexible daily schedule and no nights or weekends. When a friend joked about starting a business, her interest was piqued and she began doing research online. Lily found MaidPro. After she talked to other franchisees and visited the team at the Boston headquarters, she was sold. At first, she wasn’t sure she could run her own business, but now she has a thriving company with ninety employees and two offices. Lily has also found owning a MaidPro franchise has helped her grow in all parts of her life, recognizing her strengths and learning how her skills best fit running her business. She now has another child, has started a few hobbies with her extra time and loves sharing what she’s learned with her team. – Lily Carson

"They offered me a support system, state-of-art technology, great scalability, and everything to operate a business at my fingertips." Shawn had been in the commercial cleaning industry during the 2008 economic downturn and was looking for ways to increase his cash flow. Being in a similar industry, he saw the upswing in home cleaning and knew it was the right time to strike. Based on the positive feedback he received from other owners, he toured the Boston headquarters and really connected with the MaidPro team. He felt the company was forward thinking and out-of-the-box, a perfect match for him. Right away, he wanted to be a part of the culture. He loves MaidPro’s marketing—calling it second to none. And the support system helped him not only run his business but better balance life and work. – Shawn Crenshaw