Special Feature
configurations, experienced the different ways to approach a clean depending on the state it was in, the make and model of oven, where it was situated in the home etc. The biggest lesson was that there was much, much more involved in the process of cleaning an oven than one would ever imagine! Ongoing support was, and is, received
from Ovenclean head office on request – the team are truly knowledgeable and extremely helpful; they are only ever a phone call away.
Ovenclean
Steven and Estelle Sykes launched their Ovenclean franchise in June in 2015 in the Barnsley area. Both Steven and Estelle held great jobs and were successful in their careers, but they wanted a better work-life balance – something they could achieve through owning an Ovenclean franchise.
Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose this industry and franchise? The key reason for choosing a franchise was that of risk limitation. Ovenclean offered a proven business model, a way of operating that showed evidence of a successful track record. We were looking for an opportunity to use our expertise; we wanted to see if we could grow a business. From a practical standpoint, we wanted a regular income but without the
“It’s one of the most rewarding and satisfying things we have ever done”
Steven Sykes
constrictions, demands and stresses of corporate life. We met with several oven-cleaning franchise operations and also another owner of an Ovenclean business, and after lots of reflection, debating and further research, we decided Ovenclean was the company of choice – they felt right for us.
Has becoming a franchisee changed your life? If so, how? The main difference owning a franchise has given us is the ability to control our own destiny – truly control it. If we want to be busy we can be, if we want to take a couple of days off, we can. If we want to take the business in a certain direction we are incredibly swift, we don’t need to take the idea through a huge chain of command, we simply discuss, agree and then… we do it! That alone is incredibly empowering and is one thing that makes becoming a franchisee most certainly worthwhile.
What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing? The initial formal support consisted of two weeks’ intensive on-the-job training supervised by the franchise owner. In that two weeks, Steven learned how to clean ovens, saw the vast array of different door
What is a typical day for you as a franchisee? We usually start our first job at 9.15am and are finished for 4.30pm; we work strictly Monday to Friday. Weekends are sacrosanct; although we answer booking calls and emails on Saturday and Sunday, we are resolute about limiting the physical cleans to weekdays only! We decided from day one that we wanted a better quality of life, a true work-life balance, and so setting firm direction on our working hours was key to us achieving this objective.
What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise? Enter it with your eyes wide open knowing that you will get out of the business what you put in. If you follow the proven model that is laid out by Ovenclean, you will succeed. It’s that simple. It’s not an easy option, but it’s one of the most rewarding and satisfying things we have ever done. The business is there and the opportunity is waiting, but only if you are prepared to be dedicated and work hard.
What are your plans for the future? Our ambition is to be able to fill several diaries with cleans. We would recruit others to work with us, they would do the day-to- day work and we would take a step back from the more physical element of the job.
Would you do it again? In a heartbeat!
Commercial cleaning lowdown
52 |
BusinessFranchise.com | May 2018
• Contract cleaning covers all forms of commercial work: office interiors; transportation; food and hospitality premises; windows and facades; highways and land; plus carpets and upholstery. Hospitals, schools, workplaces and public transport all need to be continuously cleaned.
• Clean buildings, and workplaces, are healthy ones – not only does the cleaning industry benefit from NHS and local authority contracts but it also contributes to the wellbeing of office employees and upkeep of their environment.
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