“Supporting franchisees is an ingrained part of our culture”

Aaron Watson, director of business development at Molly Maid, explains why the 35-year company and its franchisees are seeing such a surge in their business and why they see this increasing even further in the next few years

The home cleaning industry is booming because of a combination of Brexit and COVID-19, and industry-leading brand and franchisor Molly Maid is showing record growth in its business. Aaron Watson, director of business development, explains why the 35-year company and its franchisees are seeing such a surge in their business and why they see this increasing even further in the next few years.

Why is the cleaning industry booming?

Well, it is no surprise in a global health pandemic, cleaning has become even more important to so many households in the UK and as a result of a combination of external factors, there are fewer people operating in this market, both of which means customer demand is booming. For most individuals I speak to, looking to start their own business, their first question relates to customer demand and whether it is sufficient to quickly generate strong sales. As the leading brand in the industry, it has always been possible for us to demonstrate high customer demand, but over the last 10 months, that job has become even easier, with enquiries for our service increasing by over 300 per cent compared to the beginning of the year.

Why is your brand so well-known?

Our longevity is a major factor in how well known the Molly Maid brand is, having operated in the UK for over 35 years. Our system of employed maids is something quite bespoke compared to many of our competitors, and today this is even more important to customers who value a consistent and reliable service, provided by a team of trained and well-compensated maids. Our HomeSafe trademark and safe working processes have provided an added level of reassurance with customers and this has meant a world of difference throughout the pandemic because customers have continued to trust us in their home even under all of the restrictions.

Why do people choose to start a business with Molly Maid?

Beyond our care for franchisees, the number one reason people tell me they chose Molly Maid is that we are the most recognised brand in the industry and people buy from brands they trust. This is independently supported by YouGov research that confirms Molly Maid is three times more recognised than our nearest competitor.

All franchisors offer support, how is Molly Maid different?

Supporting franchisees is an ingrained part of our culture and this is probably why they have scored us so highly in the independent WorkBuzz Franchisee Satisfaction survey. The proof as they say is in the pudding. Support for us is more than just always being available to help, it’s about all of the investments we’ve made in our business systems and advertising rebates to help franchisees build their business. This year alone franchisees have been able to get a refund of 20 per cent of their advertising expenditures and we’ve recently invested in leading CRM software to help convert more customers. It’s the whole package of what we do that I think makes our support systems the best in our industry.

At a glance

Established:

1984

Number of franchised outlets:

69

Location of units:

across the UK, from Scotland to the south coast

Investment range:

£18,975 (plus VAT) and £7,000 working capital (£10,000 of the £18,975 is allocated to marketing for the first 12-18 months)

Minimum required capital:

at least 30 per cent of the total investment (£7,975). The remainder can be funded through a business loan

Contact:

Aaron Watson, director of business development. 01628 583765. awatson@mollymaid.co.uk