Safe as houses
August 1st 2006

Carpet and upholstery cleaning in the domestic market is booming, according to 100 strong member franchise, Safeclean. Tried, tested and relatively low cost, the organisation has room for ambitious franchisees who want to take over half of their turnover as profit

Until recently only the relatively rich could afford the luxury of having domestic chores such as cleaning and gardening done for them. Today, with more couples going out to work to support their busy lifestyles and leisure time, paying someone else to do the chores has become the norm. As a result, business for franchises in the domestic services sector has been booming.

Furniture and upholstery cleaning franchise Safeclean, a full member of the British Franchise Association (BFA), believes that the change in attitudes to domestic help and general growth of the industry has been driven by growing affluence across the country, creating more of a 'classless society', together with the increasing pressure on people's spare time caused by long working hours.

Safeclean's Franchise Director Paul Roberts explains: "Employing help to assist with domestic cleaning and general household chores is no longer the preserve of traditionally middle-class areas.

"At the same time, people are working longer hours, meaning they have less time to deal with the household chores when they get home. As far as domestic responsibilities are concerned, it's often easier to call for outside help."

Safeclean has a network of almost 100 franchisees, carrying out quality carpet and upholstery cleaning across the UK in an industry worth an estimated 550million per year.

The company was originally founded in 1970 by Oxfordshire entrepreneur Desmond Cook who ran the business from his own garage with a natural sea sponge and buckets of foam.

In the 1990s Safeclean went from private ownership to become part of the 2.25bn turnover American-based Valspar Corporation (Valspar also own furniture restoration franchise FurniturePro and well-known furniture care brand Guardsman which is used by over 6.5million UK customers).

Every Safeclean franchisee has their own territory with at least 80,000 households within that area. A new franchisee requires only 19,945 to start up their Safeclean franchise which is over 10k less than the average cost of starting a franchise, according to the BFA.

Safeclean franchisees also take over 50 per cent of their turnover as net profit. Safeclean says this makes it one of the most accessible and cost-effective franchises available to the young entrepreneur.

Martin Davenport, who recently started-up Safeclean in Wakefield, is a prime example of the new breed of young and dynamic Safeclean franchisees who are taking the business forward in the domestic marketplace.

Explains Davenport: "I'd been working in I.T. for a number of years and had become increasingly frustrated with the long hours, repetitive daily routine and associated pressures. I felt a change of direction and a fresh challenge would benefit me, particularly if I could control my own destiny by becoming self-employed. Like most people at that age I had a family and a mortgage to pay so I needed the potential to generate a substantial income as well as job satisfaction.

"I decided that franchising would offer me the safest route to owning my own business, it limits the risks involved in forming your own start-up, so I did my research and made several enquires. When I spoke to the team at Safeclean something inside me just felt right.

"They were the only company that felt like a value-for-money investment as they provided all the training, sales support and equipment that you need to get your business off the ground.

"The company offers a proven business model and a brand name which I'm now proud to be associated with. It is a very organised operation and I always had every confidence it would help me to succeed."

Today, after following Safeclean's tried and tested business formula, Davenport's business is going from strength-to-strength.

"Most of my work is generated through word-of-mouth,"he continues. "However Safeclean definitely played a significant role in helping me through the difficult early stages of business ownership because its extensive customer base helps you to create future work for yourself.

"And, thanks to our association with the popular Guardsman brand, many leading furniture retailers send work our way which helps contribute to the significant profits that you can make as a franchisee.

Concludes Davenport: "Safeclean represents a profitable and successful business model and it's worth taking the time to find out more. I wouldn't recommend a cleaning franchise to anyone who didn't have the drive to be successful on their own. But, to anyone with the determination and ambition to succeed, I'd wholeheartedly recommend Safeclean."

Safeclean currently has a range of opportunities available in Kings Lynn, Bristol, Wales, Scotland, Yorkshire and the North West. If you think you have what it takes to succeed as a Safeclean franchisee or you would like more information about the business please call the number below or visit www.safeclean.co.uk.