WOMEN IN FRANCHISING Team work!
When Karen Fox looked for a franchise to take on in the UK, Minster Cleaning stood out
I
n 2022, Karen and her husband Paul relocated from South Africa as the world continued to grapple with the Covid pandemic. At
an uncertain time they wanted a stable business with strong revenues and growth potential, ideally close to a beach, which is why the Devon and Cornwall franchise was so appealing. “We chatted to Managing
Director, Mike Parker, who was totally transparent about the company and clearly wanted partners who were serious about building on the success of the franchise,” says Karen.
“Minster Cleaning has strong and inspiring female role models”
Having run their own businesses
previously, Karen and Paul wanted the freedom to manage the franchise independently. Minster Cleaning fit the bill. “Minster Cleaning provides the perfect combination of amazing ongoing support whilst giving us the flexibility to put our own stamp on how we develop the business. Their integrity and the training they offer means there’s nothing to fear.” Minster Cleaning’s
comprehensive marketing, IT and accounting support also lets them focus on delivering an unrivalled service. “The
experts at the Network Support Centre handle all the headaches that can tie a business owner in knots,” confirms Karen. One aspect of working with
Minster Cleaning that has been particularly positive is the network of female support Karen has developed, from staff at the Network Support Centre to other female franchisees. “There are a lot of strong female role models at Minster Cleaning, inspiring women who have given me fantastic encouragement. Always willing to chat things through, it’s great catching up with them at National Conferences throughout the year.” Minster Cleaning’s large
and exclusive territories mean there’s no competition between franchisees. It’s also why they’re such reliable businesses and have the growth potential that Karen and Paul aim to unlock.
“In two years, we have increased
our revenue by approximately 60%. We want to make our Minster Cleaning franchise the ‘go-to’ cleaning company in Devon and Cornwall.” To achieve this Karen focuses on making sure the operational side of the business runs smoothly, ensuring cleaning teams are on time, arranging cover, managing training and responding to customers. Her aim is to “support cleaners effectively so that our service is consistently the best around”. Karen is part of a tight-knit
three-women office team, whose support enables her to target such ambitious goals while also enjoying a work-life balance. “We have a really supportive team and a great working dynamic. Living close to the beach and spending time there knowing that the team are managing the office gives us that all-important lifestyle balance.” The Devon and Cornwall
franchise has gone from strength to strength since Karen took the reins. Does she have any regrets? “We live in a beautiful place, but I’d like to have brought the South African sunshine with me!” If you’d like to follow in Karen’s
footsteps, the initial start-up cost of a new Minster Cleaning franchise is £20,000 + VAT, £5,000 of which is allocated to a marketing launch package using a highly effective strategy that’s constantly refined. It also covers licence fee, territory, comprehensive training on all areas of the business, computer hardware and stationery.
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