“Everything has been excellent. I had never run my own business before so the support I received has really helped me be as successful as I have over the last 10 years.”
Kevin Shutler, franchise owner, Merry Maids
Former Regional Manager for Homebase, Kevin Shutler, was tired of the corporate lifestyle that his job required and decided it was time for a change. He knew he wanted to be more in control of his career, and his life, and began his search for the perfect opportunity. “I had no set criteria for what I was looking for. I knew I wanted to set up my own business but when I saw the Merry Maid’s business model and the support they offered their franchise owners I was sold straight away,” Kevin says.
With nealry 100 franchises in the UK alone, Merry Maids provides franchise owners with a well-polished opportunity in the domestic cleaning market, as Kevin explains: “Everything has been excellent. I had never run my own business before so the support I received has really helped me be as successful as I have over the last 10 years.”
Kevin went on to tell us about his initial training that he received: “I was in training for two weeks at head office and the support that Merry Maids offer has never let me down.”
Kevin was eager to tell us about the most enjoyable part of being a franchise owner for Merry Maids: “My lifestyle is amazing now; the benefits of being your own boss are immeasurable. I can choose when and how I work, and the more you do the more you will get out of it. I just wish I had done this 10 years before I did.”
So good was Kevin’s business, and lifestyle, it wasn’t long before his wife Penny made the decision to leave her role as Head of Client services at a London based financial institute and join Kevin in the business: “Penny has been part of the business for about two years now and although it took some getting used to we both work very well together. I love working with her.”
Kevin has clearly found what he is looking for, not only in terms of return of investment but as a career that has given him exactly what he wanted. He concluded with some advice to anyone looking at becoming a franchise owner: “You’ve got to be a people person to be in this business. Customers and staff are the most important part of our business, but just do it. Be aware that there are rocky days and it is hard work but if you have the support of a partner and a franchisor behind you, it’s a very rewarding career.”