HIGH-LEVEL INVESTING
MINSTER CLEANING SERVICES
Why did you choose to go into franchising, and why with Minster? Because of franchising’s lower rates of business failures and the benefits of being able to follow an established business model. I chose Minster Cleaning Services because it is a long-established and well-respected brand with a proven track record for success. I also thought that the management experience that I gained with Lloyds would be a great asset for running a busy management franchise.
How has business been so far? I bought the branch as a resale so I had cashflow, customers and staff from day one. Since then, the office cleaning franchise has won many new contracts as well as adding extra business from existing clients and turnover over the last 12 months has increased by 21 per cent and nearly 60 per cent overall. By concentrating on the M5 corridor south of Bristol, we have been successful in gaining customers from the South Somerset region. Much of the new business is from larger contracts with higher average values and an account manager with multi-site experience has been recruited to capitalise on this success and add experience to the management team. Growth has been predominantly in manufacturing and the service sector but also Minster’s expertise in healthcare has helped expand this important area.
How did you secure funding in order to purchase the resale? Although I explored alternative ways to finance an established franchise business I was fortunate to have the funds available to pay for the purchase and legal fees, in addition to financing future cashflow.
What training and support have you received?
As well as benefitting from a highly effective marketing strategy, Minster’s support covers a wide range of areas including IT, accounting and operations, as well as complex areas like health and safety and employment law – this leaves
Following a career in international and UK finance with Lloyds Banking Group, Damon Brown took over as franchisee for the established Bristol branch of Minster Cleaning Services in January 2016.
franchisees free to concentrate on looking after customers and providing a first-class service. The franchisee network is also very helpful – there is always someone to speak to – and no matter what situation arises, one of the other franchisees can offer useful advice. I have the best of both worlds: I run my own business and yet I am not entirely on my own.
How hands-on are you in the day-to-day operations? Minster Cleaning Services is a management franchise and is more complex than a single-operator franchise. I am not hands-on in terms of delivering the actual office cleaning but I oversee all areas of the business including finance, operational management, administration, IT and sales and marketing.
Describe a typical day… One of the great things about Minster is that no two days are the same! One day I may be out visiting clients, the next I could be involved in internal meetings, training new staff or planning the work. The advantage of purchasing an established business is having great colleagues to support the day- to-day delivery of the service proposition, while allowing me to focus on developing the business.
How has franchising changed your life? It has allowed me to fulfil a dream of owning my own business with the advantage of expert help and guidance from Minster head office as well as through the network of fellow franchisees.
Any highlights?
When a customer communicates their satisfaction with our service.
Have you encountered any challenges? The main problems come from employing such a large number of people. On a daily basis, we are dealing with organising cover for sickness and holidays and, as the Bristol economy is in such good shape, recruiting the right calibre of personnel can prove to be time consuming.
What are your plans for the future? I’m aiming to follow in the footsteps of another ex-banker, Kevin Lawley, who has more than trebled turnover at his Norfolk and Suffolk branch since taking over in 2011. I have an excellent team here and the branch runs very smoothly but there is plenty of scope for further growth. Office cleaning is an essential commercial service which appeals to a broad client base and Bristol is thriving and continues to attract investment.
July/August 2018 |
BusinessFranchise.com | 37
RESALE CASE
STUDY
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