Having your own commercial cleaning franchise may seem like a very promising idea, but it involves careful and strategic planning and decision-making in order to maximize your business’ growth potential.

And the first key decision you have to make is choosing the right commercial cleaning franchise.

Some franchises promise high return on investment, while others promise full advertising support. While these factors are definitely very important they are not so powerful in isolation. You have to look for a franchise that offers you ‘the full package’ before you can make your decision.

Here are the key success factors you need to pay attention to that will help you make a success of any commercial cleaning franchise.

1. The Overall Reputation of the Cleaning Business.

This makes a lot of common sense. If the franchise has a good reputation with its existing customers, you will have a much easier time getting clients of your own in your area.

You can use client testimonials and referrals to help you get started, then form your own loyal client base to keep bringing in new clients.

2. Business Development Support.

It’s important that the franchise owner gives you 100% support to ensure that your business will have long-term success. Business development support includes: training and seminars, giving advice on which locations are best for you to set up your business in, and comprehensive market research statistics.

3. Marketing Support – Expertise and Materials.

Successful franchise owners provide adequate advertising support to franchisees. You should look to be getting pre-defined marketing materials for all necessary mediums – online and offline. These marketing materials should have been tried and tested ready for you to just customise and use straight away.

This minimizes your risk of spending a lot of money on working out what marketing works in your area and what doesn’t.

4. Detailed and Tested Business Processes.

This is critical! If you are looking to buy a commercial cleanining franchise, you must make sure you are getting good usable processes with the business package. These are the things that will enable you to “hit the ground running”.

Processes create a fail-safe environment, and allow you to get on with the more important things in your new business – like getting clients – as opposed to having to worry about teaching your employees the correct way to clean a kitchen…

5. Business Goals Alignment.

You and the franchise owner should work towards achieving a common business goal. Remember, it’s ultimately a joint venture – both of you have high stakes on it.

Look for a franchise owner who immediately conveys his long-term plans with you. This means that the franchise owner is not looking for a ‘quick buck’, but is rather confident about the long-term success of the business.

6. Customer Support.

Although customer support is often overlooked, it is one of the critical elements in choosing the best commercial cleaning franchise.

Does the customer support immediately respond to your queries? Does the customer support attend to your needs? Since customer support is essential to this type of business, the franchiser should set an example.

Having your own commercial cleaning franchise requires hard work, motivation and determination. In return though, you’ll get financial freedom and the opportunity to create your own future, as opposed to working for someone and relying on their ‘good grace’.

If you spend good time preparing and researching the different aspects of owning a business, you should increase your chances of success.