Techclean: What's Involved in Starting a Franchise?

While the vast majority of “standard” cleaning businesses offer pretty straightforward commercial cleaning services, there’s one franchise that stands out for its specialist expertise. Techclean is a professional IT equipment cleaner. Dealing with technology that requires delicate care and maintenance is challenging, but this franchise is more than up to the job. Here, we take a look at what's involved in starting a Techclean franchise unit.

The cleaning industry

The cleaning industry is often thought of as a “recession proof” industry. While this isn’t strictly correct, it is true that the sector suffers less than others during periods of economic instability. This is mostly because consumers and businesses still require essential cleaning services, even when budgets are tight.

In 2016, the cleaning industry as a whole was estimated to have contributed a remarkable £24 billion to the UK economy and to have employed more than 700,000 workers. This has coincided with a 6.4% increase in wages throughout the sector and an increase in the number of small business offering cleaning services.

It is worth noting that the vast majority of the cleaning sector is composed of residential and commercial cleaners that don’t specialise in IT technologies. This means that there’s plenty of demand for businesses that can offer such a service.

A brief history of Techclean

Established in 1983, Techclean has accumulated more than 25 years of industry and expertise to become the UK’s leading IT equipment cleaning business. Though it began life as a relatively small organisation, Techclean has grown into a double-digit franchise network that caters to companies up and down the country.

Acquired by the Bardon Group in 2016, the franchise was reorganised, and existing management structures were streamlined and improved, ensuring that Techclean was up to date with the latest developments in the industry. This has involved it becoming a Living Wage employer and developing the infrastructure required to support eight regional branches.

Techclean services

Techclean specialises in the cleaning of IT equipment and technologies in the business environment. While many companies can provide standard commercial cleaning services to small and medium-sized enterprises, few have the necessary expertise to handle complex and expensive equipment. This has ensured that there's a significant gap in the market for any cleaning company that can keep this equipment clean and tidy.

More often than not, it's possible to extend the lifespan of office equipment through careful care, maintenance, and thorough cleaning. For this reason, Techclean’s services are often in high demand. The service they provide can save businesses a considerable amount of money and maximise the ROI they receive from various pieces of technology. The company also offers advanced services that encompass data and server rooms. This is a highly specialised service, and few organisations in the country could perform the work to the standard set by Techclean.

What’s a typical daily routine for a franchisee?

One of the biggest attractions of becoming a franchisee is the varied schedule you can expect to keep. Unlike other cleaning franchises, the work you’ll be expected to perform differs on a day-to-day basis, ensuring you stay on your toes and that you’re always challenging yourself.

However, some things will regularly feature in your day-to-day routine. For instance, franchisees will often be responsible for carrying out site surveys and will have to meet with potential clients to provide quotes. A portion of the day is also typically designated for sales calls and marketing work, and you’re likely to spend a substantial amount of time performing the cleaning work, too. As with most franchises, you’ll be responsible for both carrying out some of the work and managing the business. Consequently, you’ll need to be able to balance your workload and ensure you’re capable of doing both.

What level of investment is required to become a franchisee?

To become a franchisee, you’ll need to make an initial investment of £7,500. However, the total investment required in the period before your franchise turning a profit is likely to be closer to £20,000. This includes a franchise fee of £9,000 +VAT. The business estimates that franchises could generate revenue of £50,000 after two years of operations. This suggests that franchisees could have a highly profitable business on their hands if they’re able to meet the franchisor’s targets.

What do franchisees receive in return for your investment?

In return for your investment, you’ll receive the rights to the Techclean name and the use of its trademarks. All franchisees enrol on a comprehensive training programme that covers the basics of running the franchise, as well as necessary management, financial, and marketing techniques. Coupled with the business setup process, this can take as little and four weeks, ensuring you’re ready to go as quickly as possible.

The franchisor will also provide you with essential supplies, cleaning materials, marketing materials, and digital software that facilitate the management of finances, contacts, and appointments. They’ll also help you set up your website and will provide you with a detailed marketing timetable for the launch of the business. Finally, Techclean has worked hard to develop a sophisticated and responsive support network that ensures franchisees receive all the help and guidance you need to succeed.

What kind of franchisee is Techclean looking for?

Techclean is looking for individuals who can balance the ability to self-manage with the ability to follow the business' operations manuals to the letter. Franchisees will also need to be driven and determined and have a burning desire to succeed. No previous experience of managing a business is required; as the franchisor will provide all the training you need to prepare for the role. However, it is necessary to have developed excellent communication skills and to be able to work within a larger team. Finally, Techclean is particularly interested in individuals who demonstrate great ambition and may look to move beyond single-unit ownership.