What Types of Cleaning Franchises Are Available in the UK?

If you’re wondering whether to start a cleaning franchise in the UK right now, the answer is yes. This in-demand industry is thriving, with customers more aware of the importance of a clean and hygienic home than ever. Plus, franchising will allow you to start running your own business at a much lower level of risk than going it alone. Read on, and discover the many sub-categories and specialisms of the cleaning sector.

Cleaning companies contribute over £55 billion to the UK economy each year [British Cleaning Council] and, as this figure demonstrates, there’s a huge amount of demand for cleaning services among British customers. From domestic cleaners all the way to chimney sweeps, there’s plenty of room to choose the cleaning business that’s right for you, pursue your professional passions and become a franchisee in this industry.

What do I need to know about running a cleaning franchise?

When you’re looking into making a career change with a cleaning franchise and searching for the right investment fit, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options available to you. There are options in different areas of specialism, at different price points, etc. Thankfully, it all becomes a little less confusing when you realise that, broadly speaking, all cleaning franchises fall into one of the following three categories:

• Domestic cleaning franchises - As a franchisee with a domestic cleaning franchise, you’ll be cleaning houses, homes and domestic spaces, usually on a regular basis. You’ll either work alone or hire a team of cleaners, allowing you to take on a more managerial role. Low cost investment options are more likely to be available in this category than either of the following.
• Commercial cleaning franchises - As a franchisee with a commercial cleaning franchise, you’ll be cleaning business premises like offices and shops (usually out-of-hours, when these locations are closed to the public). As the scale of cleaning services required ramps up for commercial properties, you’ll be more likely to be managing a team of trusted staff if you’re working in this area.
• Specialist cleaning franchises - As a franchisee with a specialist cleaning franchise, you’ll focus on a niche type of cleaning like, for example, oven cleaning or window cleaning. Again, depending on the type of investment you choose to make, you’ll either work alone or hire a team of cleaners to manage.

Domestic cleaning franchise opportunities to consider

Some of the top cleaning businesses in the UK thrive in the domestic cleaning sub-sector, but that isn’t to say there won’t be competition in this area, which contains many different cleaning companies and services. If you’re driven, hard-working and feel you’d suit this kind of investment, here are a couple of strong options to consider...

1. Bright & Beautiful

Bright & Beautiful was formed in 2009 and the network has doubled in size between now and 2016. The domestic cleaning franchise is proud to provide experienced, dedicated cleaning services to its UK customers.

• Becoming a Bright & Beautiful franchisee: You won’t need previous experience, but you will need to be dedicated, hard-working and ambitious.
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £9,995, with a total investment cost of £19,995.
• What you get for your investment: You’ll receive dedicated franchise support pre and post launch, and you’ll never be alone in the field.

2. Nationwide Cleaners

Nationwide Cleaners was founded in 2008 by Peter Munro, and the franchise now offers quality and affordable domestic cleaning services to thousands of households across Great Britain.

• Becoming a Nationwide Cleaners franchisee: You don’t need industry experience. All you need is the passion and drive necessary to run a successful business.
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £4,000, with a total investment cost of £7,999.
• What you get for your investment: You’ll receive a full programme of initial training covering every aspect of the business, followed by continuous franchisor support.

Commercial cleaning franchise opportunities to consider

If you’re interested in building a franchise business with plenty of potential for future growth and expansion, a commercial cleaning franchise that puts you in a managerial role from the word “GO” might be a good option. Here are some commercial cleaning franchise investment options to look into...

1. Green Machine

Green Machine is an environmentally friendly commercial cleaning franchise started back in 2012. Since this date, the Green Machine network has grown substantially, providing a quality and fully green experience to many different commercial customers.

• Becoming a Green Machine franchisee: You don’t need previous experience, but you will need vision and plenty of determination to succeed.
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £21,000.
• What you get for your investment: You’ll be fully trained and supported, and even provided with a Bespoke Business Development Plan uniquely tailored to you.

2. Dublcheck

Dublcheck, founded in 1993, is one of the UK’s largest commercial cleaning franchise networks, inclusive of over 100 franchisees. The company caters for all kinds of commercial clients, with employees cleaning everything from offices to health facilities.

• Becoming a Dublcheck franchisee: You won’t need prior experience to thrive. You’ll just need strong interpersonal skills and the ambition and passion to see it through.
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £9,950.
• What you get for your investment: You’ll be fully immersed in the business model during initial training, and will then have access to further support as needed. 

Specialist cleaning franchise opportunities to consider

Specialist cleaning franchise investment options come in all different shapes and sizes, and the best way to demonstrate the true scope of variety available to you is by simply sharing some examples. Here are two thriving specialist cleaning franchises operating in the UK right now...

1. HOODZ

HOODZ is a specialist company that provides commercial clients with kitchen exhaust system cleaning services. Founded in the USA, HOODZ is now expanding into the UK and making a name for its world-class services across the pond.

• Becoming a HOODZ franchisee: You don’t need industry experience, but you do need communication skills, sales skills, confidence and passion for the work.
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £40,000, with franchise fees of £25,000 and a total investment cost of £57,736.
• What you get for your investment: You’ll receive two days of BESA training, eight days in the classroom, four days on the job and as much ongoing training and support as you need.

2. Zero Dry Time

Zero Dry Time is a floor and carpet cleaning franchise founded in 2006 by David Muirhead. The business has grown a huge amount since this time, and now has over 60 franchisees on the road in the UK, supporting customer needs across the domestic and commercial sectors.

• Becoming a Zero Dry Time franchisee: You won’t need industry experience, but you will need ambition, drive and the desire to develop your franchise over time.
• How much you need to invest: You’ll need to make a minimum initial investment of £24,950.
• What you get for your investment: You’ll be fully supported and trained, inclusive of back office assistance, marketing guidance and set-up help.

Start a cleaning franchise today and enjoy a polished professional future

If you’re more determined than ever to start your own cleaning franchise after discovering what’s available to invest in, keep pursuing that dream. Stay on Point Franchise and discover a day in the life for a franchisee running a cleaning franchise, or the top 10 cleaning franchises in the UK.