[Indopen]

I've just decided to buy an industrial cleaning franchise, though I have to admit that I'm going into this with an equal mix of excitement and trepidation. Are there any books or journals that can be recommended to help me up the learning curve. I feel like there must be some seminal text that has become the 'bible' of running a successful franchise business.

[Indizine]

Two important things to ensure (from our experience of hearing from others hindsight) is to do extensive due dilligence on the franchise itself, and to ensure you are going into this like any new business start up, as opposed to seeing it as a replacement for a job or believing that it will be any easier to start and grow this business than it would a non-frnachise start up.

Having these 2 things sorted beforehand will reduce the learning curve somewhat, from what I can gather!

[PremierPDS]

Take a look at this forum and ask their advice www.cleanitup.co.uk

[Indopen]

You are so right! I've been thinking about this for quite some time and had several possible business ideas to follow-up. I'm confident that I've chosen the right direction and spent many months finding out about the companies offering franchises in this area, before coming to this decision. Yet, I've never run a business and am keen to know where I might best find sources of expertise and support. I would like to read up as much as possible before finally taking the plunge.

[PremierPDS]

They're a good bunch over there but read over the old posts in the commercial cleaning section before posting- they hate repetitive questions lol. I've done designs for a lot of their forum members, in fact I'm doing another one for one of them right now.

[Indopen]

I'm new to this forum. Have I put my question about key texts, books and journals in the right place (I went for this one because it's specifically franchising which is what I want to focus on), or should I move it to a more general area? I'm really keen to step up my learning. Many thanks for the direction.

[Lime One]

Has lots of information on there and some low cost books. Before you start to buy the books look on the web for the horror stories, those can be as instructive as any book. Most seem to be jumping in without doing extensive homework on the prospects of the business opportunity and also the actual business offering the franchise.

[saracen]

Indopen.

Have you considered starting your own business in the cleaning sector rather than the franchise route ?

Briefly - Approx 15 yrs ago i started a cleaning business, i only done so to prove to a mate i could run a business. I chose cleaning biz as it was a low cost start up. I had zero experience but learnt rapidly We won contracts for new build cleans plus shop and office contracts, car valeting, carpet cleaning etc.....

We wrote to companies then followed up with a phone call, arranged a meeting and sold ourselves to them. Give yourself an attractive image / brand etc... A well livered clean vehicle has amazing selling power. Likewise a nice website with all your fundamentals.

Companies will speak to you whether your an individual business of part of a franchise. If individual your not tied in to their contracts nor giving away a % of your hard earned money.


I run a very successful business in the food sector, my business is a franchise. i could have went alone but i took the franchise route as the company im with is very good and rapidly growing and i got in at the beginning. Plus i get buying power id never get going solo.


However, if your happy to go down the franchise route, i hope it works out for you, but think about going it alone in the sector you've chosen, it may be a better option in the long run.


Best wishes.

Keith.