The cleaning business is cleaning up, so to speak. The janitorial industry, here in the U.S., is a $90 billion industry based on findings from IBISWorld . Especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, commercial cleaning has experienced a significant increase in demand. Businesses with public buildings and facilities understand the necessity of clean and sanitized spaces.
If you’re interested in starting a business, rather than starting from scratch, consider the advantages of a janitorial business franchise.
The Cost of Cleaning Up
At ServiceMaster Clean, for example, one of the benefits of partnering with our brand is you know your financial commitment from the start. There are no hidden fees or surprises from unexpected costs that pop up, like you might experience starting a business from scratch.
With ServiceMaster Clean, there’s no need to be concerned about expenses like equipment, licensing, insurance, registration, and supplies, because we make those line items clear to you upfront. Our franchise experts are dedicated to your success and will guide you through our process .
The cost of your janitorial franchise opportunity with ServiceMaster Clean includes:
- Franchise Fee: $32,500
- Equipment Credit (1 year): $20,000
- Working Capital: $30,000
You’ll need $50,000 in liquid capital and a minimum net worth of $100,000 to get started. We make your costs transparent because we want you to be equipped to handle the expenses of your business.
Five Tips to Think About Before You Invest
The strength of the brand you partner with is just one important component. Here are five tips to consider when choosing the right janitorial franchise opportunity:
- Affordability: Look at the franchise fees and ongoing expenses, like the ones we provided above. Evaluate the franchise fees and any ongoing royalties and advertising fees. Make sure you understand the financial obligations of franchising and determine the affordability for you. These fees are not negotiable. Compare these expenses to the costs of starting a business from scratch. You’ll probably see that franchising is a more appealing model because you’re aware of your finances from the start.
- Support and training: Look into the support and training the franchisor provides. Determine if it’s comprehensive and beneficial for your business growth. Many franchisors offer comprehensive marketing support to franchisees, and some even have their own Business Development Consultant’s. These BDC’s coach the franchisee and support them along the way. Ask existing franchisees about their experiences with the training and support they received. Remember, at ServiceMaster Clean, we not only prepare you as a business owner, but we train you in the latest cleaning methods to best serve your clients.
- Reputation of the franchisor: Research the reputation of the franchise brand in the market. Look for information about the franchisor's financial stability, litigation history, and online reviews to understand the franchisor's credibility. Brand recognition is important because it provides you with a strong customer base right from the start.
- Market demand: Analyze the market demand for commercial cleaning services in the area you plan to operate in. Evaluate the competition and determine whether there is a demand for the services that the franchise offers. You can always look at key industry related websites like IBISWorld to gauge the industry outlook. Below are a few questions to consider when looking over market demand.
- What is the future industry outlook of this market?
- How can I capitalize on current market trends?
- What does the industry competition look like in my market?
- Legal considerations: Review the franchise agreement and any other legal documents to ensure that you understand the terms and conditions of ownership. Seek advice from a franchise lawyer to avoid any potential legal issues. This legal advice is especially important when reading over a franchisors FDD. FDD’s are provided to prospective franchisees to give them a comprehensive overview of the brand in question. Such items are covered as the franchisors past financial performance, capital requirements to open a location and many other brand related items that are key for ownership.
Strength of ServiceMaster Clean
Buying a commercial cleaning franchise can be a good investment, but it's important to conduct thorough research and due diligence before making a decision. Speak with existing franchisees to gain an understanding of their experiences and to help you evaluate whether the franchise is a good fit for you.
Ultimately, the success of your business depends on the work you put in, but it’s important to invest in not only an industry seeing growth but a franchise as well. With ServiceMaster Clean, partnering with us is a solid janitorial franchise opportunity. We have been leaders in the commercial cleaning industry for more than 65 years, earning a trusted reputation among our customers and standing out among competitors like the Jani-King franchise. For nearly seven decades in business, we’ve provided essential residential and commercial services to over 75,000 homes and businesses with our innovative and proprietary cleaning supplies and systems.
If you’d like to benefit from the advantages of partnering with ServiceMaster Clean, we’ve got more information to share. To get started, fill out our form and a franchise representative will be in touch.