Q&A: Does Merry Maids Franchise in the UK?

Alice Tuffery, writer

Published at 29/11/2017, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min

Q&A: Does Merry Maids Franchise in the UK? — Photo © merry-maids-franchise-logo.jpg

Running your own business offering domestic cleaning services can be a great way to earn a stable income and take control of your work-life balance. Investment opportunities in this sector are popular here at Point Franchise, and today we’re asking: Does Merry Maids franchise?

Merry Maids is a US-based brand delivering home cleaning services across the globe. As more and more people are money-rich but time-poor, businesses in the personal services sector are able to capitalise on rising demand. But are there any Merry Maids franchise opportunities for savvy investors?

Does Merry Maids franchise?

Yes! Merry Maids is one of our fantastic cleaning franchise opportunities, and it’s looking for new investors to set up branches of the business in their local territories. Keep reading to find out more.

History of Merry Maids

Merry Maids was founded in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1979, and became part of the ServiceMaster family of brands nine years later in 1988. The franchise parent company also manages TruGreen, Furniture Medic and Rosemary Bookkeeping, which are all advertised here at Point Franchise.

ServiceMaster has been managing franchises since being established in Chicago in 1929, and it expanded into the UK in 1959. With its help, Merry Maids was able to break into the UK market in 1990.

Now, Merry Maids is the biggest home cleaning franchise on the planet, with a network of over 8,000 employees and 300,000 clients. There are 50 franchise locations here in the UK, and 600 across the US and Canada. Plus, there are even more Merry Maids branches in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Merry Maids takes pride in its team of insured, professional cleaners. Every employee wears the recognisable uniform and carries out jobs to the highest possible standard. Today, the franchise benefits from its 30 years of experience in the UK cleaning market, as well as Service Master’s 60 years of franchising expertise.

My business has continued to grow year on year; the ability to make key business decisions and drive the business forward is far more satisfying than working in a salaried position and there is the additional benefit of flexibility to meet the demands of family life. I would certainly recommend this business for the right individuals. —Kevin Shutler, Merry Maids North Wiltshire franchisee

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Starting a Merry Maids franchise unit

As a Merry Maids franchisee, you’ll work Monday to Friday, with the occasional evening or Saturday trip to provide an in-home client quote. Your typical day will be varied, so you’ll need several different skills to succeed.

As well as making sure the day-to-day running of your unit is managed effectively, you will be responsible for meeting prospective customers and speaking to existing clients every day. You’ll also lead your team of cleaning professionals and deal with the administrative side of the business. Plus, you’ll spend time making sure the little tasks are done, from making sure your employees have the right house keys, to ordering new stock.

Becoming a Merry Maids franchisee:

You don’t need to have business ownership experience to run your own Merry Maids franchise unit. Instead, the business looks for people with management and people skills. Franchisees must be able to treat employees with respect, serve customers graciously and stay committed to the business model.

To start the process of launching a Merry Maids franchise unit, you can get in touch with the brand and ask any initial questions on your mind. You could also attend one of its Discovery Days, which give prospective investors the chance to meet the business’s support team and gain valuable insight into the franchising system. On the day, you will also be able to meet with existing franchisees in the network, to find out what it’s really like to run a Merry Maids franchise business.

How much you need to invest:

Merry Maids investors spend a total of £19,995 + VAT while launching their cleaning business. If you decide to invest, the franchisor will be happy to approach banks and lenders on your behalf to help you access funding of up to 70 percent of the investment cost.

In terms of ongoing fees, the franchise asks investors to contribute a monthly royalty payment of seven percent of gross sales to support growth across the wider business network. And franchisees also pay a flat monthly marketing fee of £40 +VAT to fund PR, online and offline advertising and exhibitions.

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What you get for your investment:

Merry Maids has developed an extensive franchise support package, which every franchisee can use to set up their business unit. It includes two weeks of initial training at the brand’s franchise centre in Leicester, as well as the use of start-up equipment for four teams.

Plus, Merry Maids provides exclusive computer software, operations and marketing manuals and enough cleaning products to last the first year of business.

The franchise is also on-hand to help investors with business and marketing planning, and provide publicity support for the launch day. It can offer a three-month online advertising campaign and 10,000 personalised leaflets. Franchisees even benefit from bespoke business stationery and branded uniforms.

Start a domestic cleaning franchise business today

The franchise industry has a large share of cleaning businesses providing a stable income, rewarding jobs and a good work-life balance for its investors. This sector is home to a diverse selection of brands, from oven, window and drain cleaning businesses to chimney sweeping companies.

The good news? Cleaning franchise investment packages are often fairly affordable, as you don’t need to set up a commercial premises and pay all the fees associated with property ownership. Get started today by browsing the franchises currently looking for new investors in this sector.

And why not brush up on your franchising knowledge by reading some of our business guides? We can help you find the right opportunity for your budget, background and ambitions to take control of your career.