What is the Truth About Buying a Carpet Cleaning Franchise?

There is no doubt that number of carpet cleaning franchise businesses grows each year. It seems no matter where you live in the country, you'll find the same well-known carpet cleaning business names in the local yellow pages and newspaper ads. Why are they so popular?

First, we should explain that a franchise operation is very beneficial to the riginating company. It is a simple method with which one company distributes its products and services through third party operators. The local operator must perform services using the marketing methods, trademarks provided by the company. In return for using the business name, the operator of the franchise must pay an initial fee and royalties to the owner of the franchise business.

The original company that provides the independent operator the right to distribute its trademarks, products, or cleaning techniques is known as the franchiser. The third party business person distributing the franchiser's products or services through retail or service outlets is called the franchisee.

The franchisee benefits in many ways by purchasing a carpet cleaning franchise.  The immediate benefit is the new business operator instantly gains name recognition in his area of operation.  In many cases, the franchisee will have the benefit of national advertising, a complete business plan, access to company tools, training and supplies as well as proprietary products for resale.  In most cases, except in the case of the business plan, most of these items come at a cost above the initial cost of the franchise and royalty plan.

Most carpet cleaning franchise operations also require the franchisee to promote its specific type of cleaning and cleaning products.  Most franchisers generally supply specific equipment which is key to their specific cleaning process.  In this writer's opinion, this leads us into the negative area of purchasing a carpet cleaning franchise.

From personal experience, I can say that there have been tremendous improvements in carpet cleaning techniques, equipment and chemicals in the past few years.  Those of us in the business realize that no "one" cleaning technique or product works in 100% of cleaning situations.  I've known several so-called independent operators of various franchise businesses that felt trapped into certain cleaning plans that were no longer the most effective in the market place.  For example, what good is advertising a specific cleaning method that employs outdated equipment when you know very well that you have to use a different product or machine than the company endorses to complete the job?

Of course no franchiser reaches into the home owner's living room to see what exactly the cleaner is doing, but the result is that the franchisee finds himself with a room full of products and equipment he no longer needs or wants.  It is interesting that all franchise businesses will refer to the franchisee as an independent operator.  After knowing many who have initially gone into business using a carpet cleaning franchise, that is a questionable term to use.

Most carpet cleaning business owners started their own operations because they wanted to be independent, make their own business decisions, set their own service standards and wanted to earn what they felt their efforts were worth in the market place.  After they purchase a carpet cleaning franchise, they find they traded their former employer for the franchiser.  They know they have to generate a certain level of monthly business just to afford the royalty requirement.  The pressure increases with certain operations which require monthly costs connected with national advertising budgets and high costs of proprietary cleaning products.

I always suggest following a carpet cleaning business plan and become a truly independent small business owner.  With a proper business plan, the new business operator can save thousands of dollars in startup costs and be free of any future royalty fees.