2022 is tagged to be a promising year. As with saying goodbye to the previous year and welcoming a new one, many people re-evaluate their lives – personally and professionally – to see where they can make changes to ensure a better year than the one before.
For many, coming out of the pandemic after experiencing financial hardships associated with COVID-19 is leading this reevaluation. New jobs, new opportunities are always associated with Father Time’s changing of the guard and many are looking into franchising and micro-franchising opportunities. These opportunities are especially relevant in commercial cleaning and janitorial franchising.
To understand what the future holds, a quick review of the past two years is warranted. The beginning of the pandemic was particularly unnerving; the uncertainty surrounding the virus and its spread forced many people to reevaluate their financial stability and security. The time spent inside under stay-at-home orders and social distancing encouraged people to look for different ways to secure their current financial position—and to strengthen that position for the future. For many, the idea of franchising made its way around the kitchen table and became a way to achieve financial security. COVID-19 taught us that most industries are vulnerable in one way or another.
Commercial cleaning businesses have been, and continue to be, vital in the fight against COVID-19. Hospitals, restaurants, banks, and other businesses quickly focused on the merits of professional cleaning services to mitigate the risk of the virus. With these cleaning services, businesses have been able to present safe, clean environments for their employees and customers. Commercial cleaning is considered an essential service, and owners of commercial cleaning businesses—many of whom are small business owners—suddenly found themselves on the front line, keeping their communities clean, disinfected, and as safe as possible. The pandemic, though horrible, gave many a new definition of work/life balance that is jeopardized by returning to the way corporate jobs used to operate. The other factor at play is the continuing rise of the “gig-economy” that surged during the pandemic. Working from home or on-demand, many people were able to seek side-gig work they found more interesting, more satisfying, and/or eliminated the traditional feel of corporate life. This also gave more power to the individual to carve out their own definition of work/life balance. In many cases, this translated to people seeking more freedom in their career path and micro-franchising opportunities became an attractive offer.
There are many different micro-franchise concepts available, and several franchise brands have done most of the upfront work for you. They have a franchise development structure in place that is based on years of research and experience to help entrepreneurs leap into small business ownership. Consider franchises that offer immediate or relevant necessities and services to help safeguard your client base. For example, the food and beverage franchise industry are highly competitive because people need to eat to survive. On the other hand, if you create a product that is not necessary to everyday life, doesn’t solve an existing problem, or isn’t attractive or entertaining, it will likely fail. You must think like a consumer. Imagine who your clients will be and why they will benefit from your product or service when thinking about your business.
Micro-franchising can be just as successful of a venture as traditional franchising, and in some cases better. As with any business, believing in yourself and your product or service will make all the difference. Be bold and stay the course. If choosing to invest in an established franchise, be prepared, conduct due diligence, and research and make sure you fully understand the brand’s franchise programs. Whatever you decide, have fun, and let your entrepreneurial spirit fly.
