Dublcheck offers great returns in a recession-resilient market

TFM: When and why did you decide to franchise the business?

CS-G: Dublcheck franchised its commercial cleaning business in 1993, seeing it as a great way to grow and maintain the high standards that it had become known for.

TFM:Why do you think this franchise opportunity offers to owners that some of your rivals perhaps don’t?

CS-G: Dublcheck provides guaranteed turnover, growth options, ongoing support with payroll services and invoicing customers for their franchise owners.

TFM:What are your territories, and how many franchise owners do you currently have?

CS-G: We are a UK-wide business with over 120 franchise owners.

TFM:What do Dublcheck franchise owners receive in return for their investment?

CS-G: Turnover, support, growth, mentor, payroll facility, dedicated sales team, on-going training modules.

TFM: What training do they receive initially and what support do you offer on an ongoing basis?

CS-G: Dublcheck franchise owners attend a one-week residential training course at our head office, where all aspects of the business are covered. Dublcheck provides invoicing and payroll services, together with a 24-hour health and safety and employment law service to assist our franchise owners.

TFM: Please briefly describe a typical day as a Dublcheck franchise owner.

CS-G: As a management franchise owner, a typical day would be spent monitoring staff and building good relationships with customers.

TFM: How important is a reputable and recognised brand name in this line of work?

CS-G: This is extremely important; our branding has been established for 22 years now and lots of people comment on it positively.

TFM: What do you think is the most satisfying part of owning this business?

CS-G: The quality life / balance time that is achievable and offering fair and rewarding employment for staff

TFM: Is it an easily scalable and growable business?

CS-G: Yes, most definitely. You can be as small or as large as you like there is no upper limit

TFM: Do you see domestic cleaning as a growing market, and if so, for what reasons? Or alternatively, is it more of a resilient/stable market that will always be necessary and profitable, whatever the economic situation?

CS-G: We see commercial cleaning as a growing market and a recession-resilient one: testimony to the growth we had in the last 22 years.

TFM: Would it be right to say that this is a seasonal franchise? Is there work all year round?

CS-G: It is not seasonal, as we deliver monthly contracts to our franchise owners so they know exactly what they are going to earn each month.

TFM:What are your plans to develop the franchise opportunity for the rest of 2015?

CS-G: We have developed a fantastic franchise network over the last 22 years and they keep growing, with added free sales training course available to enable the growth.

TFM: What sort of person do you look for as a franchise owner?

CS-G: What we look for in our franchise owners is good interpersonal and organisational skills.