Molly Maid Franchise Review and Business Opportunity

July 12, 2010 - PRLog -- Molly Maid got its start in Canada in 1979 when the company was founded by David McKinnon.  He almost immediately began franchising the operation and then brought the Molly Maid opportunity to the United States in 1984.  They currently have over 400 US based franchise units and another 250+ internationally.  Molly Maid offers services ranging from carpets and baseboards to kitchens and bathrooms.  Franchisees specialize in residential cleaning and they are all owner operated locally.  Their corporate headquarters is based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Currently, the Molly Maid franchise is seeking expansion worldwide, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America.  They offer exclusive territories to each franchisee based on the number of households in the area.

The franchise fee for a Molly Maid franchise is $14,900 and there is an ongoing royalty of 6.5%.  Estimated startup fees range from $67,825 to $113,100 depending on location.  The parent company does not provide financing of these fees although they do allow for third party financing.  Each new franchisee is required to have a minimum net worth of $250,000 and meet a minimum liquidity requirement of $30,000.  New owners must also have a history of business experience and proven marketing experience.  Absentee ownership is not allowed and it is estimated that a minimum of 14 employees are necessary to run each franchise unit.  Many owners have more than one location.

The company starts each new owner off with a one week training session at their headquarters in Michigan.  They also provide regional and local support with their regional service managers.  Each franchisee receives training manuals, audio and video tapes, and access to webinars, newsletters, and intranet communications designed to help develop the proper skills.  They work with each location to develop a marketing plan.  However, every Molly Maid franchise owner needs to realize that they will be responsible for procuring new accounts and business.  This is why prior marketing experience is mandatory.  Although name/brand recognition will benefit the Molly Maid owner, ultimate success will be determined by the efficiency and effectiveness of each location's marketing efforts.  Learning key marketing strategies is a necessary step in the progression of building a profitable business.

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