Frequently Asked Questions

MOLLY MAID has been a leader in the domestic cleaning industry for over 25 years. In addition to our successful franchise businesses in the UK, we enjoy similar success in Canada, the United States, Portugal and Japan. With over 450 franchises worldwide annually cleaning over 2 million homes worth a combined £150 million, MOLLY MAID is the franchise brand most often chosen to clean peoples' homes.

What type of franchise is MOLLY MAID?

We are  a management franchise opportunity where teams of staff do the cleaning, and in the larger franchises, supervisors play an important part in the operation of the cleaning business.

Is MOLLY MAID a member of a franchise association?

Yes, we are a full member of the British Franchise Association (BFA). This is the voluntary regulatory body for franchising in the UK and most of the big name franchisors belong to it. Pam Bader, our CEO, was the first woman to be elected Chairperson of the BFA in 1994 and in 2008 was voted onto the board of directors. Pam was re-elected in 2011 for a further 3 years.

How much does a MOLLY MAID cleaning franchise cost?

The initial investment for a new MOLLY MAID cleaning franchise with 12,000 target customer households is £16,975 (excluding VAT). This includes a franchise fee of £3,000 as well as provision for a marketing launch of £4,500 and an exclusive area fee of £6,000. There is also a working capital requirement of a minimum of £12,000.

What business experience do I need to become a MOLLY MAID franchise owner?

Our franchise owners come from all walks of life; some run their cleaning businesses unaided while others share the management role with husbands or wives. We've found that a sales background can be an advantage, but the strength of the  franchise brand avoids the need for hard sell. We believe that previous business experience is less important than a capacity for hard work, determination to succeed and following the cleaning business system.

What personal qualities are you looking for?

We have pinpointed the core personal qualities we seek in potential franchise owners as competence, common sense and the right attitude which we regard as: a positive approach to learning, applying and sticking to the  business system, along with a sensitive approach to management.  A particularly important attribute is the ability to relate well to both customers (predominantly in their homes) and cleaning staff since a franchise owner's standard of presentation and capacity to deliver a high quality cleaning service can make the difference between mediocre and outstanding business performance.

Do I have my own franchise area?

Yes, our franchise owners are granted a licence to operate the service within a protected franchise area, using a system that was established when the MOLLY MAID cleaning franchise opportunity  started in Canada in 1979, and which has been proven, enhanced and refined over the years. Before awarding a domestic cleaning franchise area, we use market research data to define a franchise area with the required  number of potential target customer households.

Do I have to follow a set business system?

Yes, you will have to follow a set business system as taking out a MOLLY MAID cleaning franchise will involve accepting a number of controls from the franchisor. The business system has been proven time and time again and you will therefore have to operate in a set way, offering a defined domestic cleaning service. This is not to say that your own personality cannot be imposed on the business and how you run it, but the basics are set in stone.

How much will I earn as a MOLLY MAID franchise owner?

The rewards for ambitious franchise owners can be high although from the outset we help you judge whether or not a our cleaning franchise is likely to meet your expectations. Depending on personal ambition, you can have 5 branded cars on the road operating in your protected franchise area within 12 to 18 months. With this number of MOLLY MAID cars your estimated sales revenues could be in excess of £100,000 and 15-20% of revenues could become net earnings.

Does MOLLY MAID charge any ongoing fees?

As is common place in the franchising industry, we charge a royalty fee based on your gross turnover less VAT. The franchise royalty fee starts at 8% and can reduce on progressively higher sales to a minimum of 5.5%. There is also a brand development fee of 2% of sales turnover for advertising, PR and national cross promotions which everyone in  the franchise network contributes to.

What level of support will I get?

You get a high level of support for the life of the franchise. This is designed to help franchise owners achieve business growth, exploit the full potential of their franchise area - and make good profits. It starts with the initial training and runs through support within the franchise in the early days, to the provision of business information, advice and guidance as required on a continuing basis. The support  embraces all aspects of our operating system and all other relevant business areas.

Our support service includes periodic visits by professional business advisors at our expense, telephone help lines, periodic reports on the progress of the business, and a range of incentives designed to encourage and facilitate the growth and development of individual franchises.

What training do I get?

First we advise you on all aspects of preparing your business, and then comes a week long comprehensive training course at support office in Maidenhead on the business system before starting your domestic cleaning business. This is followed up with our 'Right Start' marketing and staff recruitment programmes and additional on-site support the week your franchise business is launched.

Can I run my domestic cleaning business from home to start off with?

Yes, most franchise owners elect to work  from home until their businesses grow to the point where they need to delegate managerial tasks to a supervisor and the business model is sufficiently robust to carry the additional overhead.

How do I find out more about the franchise opportunity?

If you are interested in finding out more, the next step is to arrange an initial meeting at our support office in Maidenhead, Berkshire. While you're with us, we'll show you all aspects of starting and managing a MOLLY MAID cleaning franchise opportunity and answer all your questions. You'll also gain an insight into the all-important relationship that enables the franchisor and franchisee to work in harmony to build successful domestic cleaning businesses within a strong and supportive franchise network. To set up a meeting call Andrew Parsons on 0800 500 950 or email Andrew.parsons@mollymaid.co.uk