A Challenger Brand isn’t an underdog. It’s a disruptor. It’s a company that looks at the bloated, complacent “way things have always been done” and says, “We can do this better.”
That is exactly why Anago Cleaning Systems has been recognized as a Best Challenger Brand in Inc. Magazine’s 2025 Best in Business list.
We’re doing away with the inefficiencies of an outdated industry. This recognition is validation that our model (combining world-class technology with a unique, three-tier franchise structure) is not only working but is actively reshaping the landscape of commercial cleaning.
Here’s why Anago is the Challenger Brand the industry didn’t see coming, but now can’t ignore.
The commercial cleaning industry has long been plagued by a reputation for mediocrity: missed appointments, lack of communication, and faceless corporations that treat clients like line items on a spreadsheet. The “old guard” relies on inertia. They assume you’ll keep paying them because switching is a hassle.
We challenge that assumption every single day.
Being a Challenger Brand means refusing to accept the industry standard as the standard. While others are content with the bare minimum, Anago leverages the Master Franchise model. This structure is our greatest weapon against complacency. It allows our franchisees to operate with the power and resources of an international brand while delivering the white-glove, accountable service of a local business owner.
When you hire Anago, you aren’t hiring a generic employee clocking hours. You’re hiring a Unit franchisee – a business owner whose livelihood depends on your satisfaction. That shift in ownership mentality is how we challenge the status quo.
Let’s be honest: Commercial cleaning is not typically associated with Silicon Valley-level innovation. Most competitors are still operating on clipboards, sticky notes, and phone tag.
Anago challenges this by integrating advanced technology directly into operations. We don’t just manage your facility’s cleaning; we collect data, optimize routes, and streamline communication.
Take our CleanCom® platform. In an industry notorious for poor communication, we built a proprietary app that connects clients directly to their cleaners in real-time. No middleman, no waiting on hold, no “lost in translation.” You snap a photo of an issue, send it, and it gets resolved.
By modernizing a traditionally low-tech service, we force the rest of the industry to play catch-up. We don’t compete on price. We compete on intelligence.
To be a Challenger, you must thrive in climates where legacy brands falter. The last few years have been a business test. We saw a global shift in how the world views cleanliness. It went from an aesthetic preference to a health and safety necessity.
While others scrambled to figure out what “disinfection” meant, Anago was already there. We launched our Protection+ Disinfection® program, utilizing electrostatic technology and EPA-approved chemicals to provide hospital-grade safety to regular businesses.
We didn’t wait for the market to tell us what to do. We anticipated the need and filled the gap. That agility is the hallmark of a Challenger.
Perhaps the most disruptive thing we do is democratize entrepreneurship. The traditional path to wealth ownership is blocked by high barriers to entry – massive capital requirements, complex logistics, and lack of support.
Anago challenges this by offering a low-barrier-to-entry model that works. We provide the mentorship, the clients, and the back-end support (billing, collections, marketing), allowing our Unit franchisees to focus solely on service delivery.
We’re not building a cleaning brand; we’re building an army of entrepreneurs. We’re proving that you don’t need millions of dollars to own a piece of the American Dream – you just need the right system.
Being named a 2025 Best Challenger Brand by Inc. is an honor, but we aren’t resting on it. The thing about Challengers is that we’re never satisfied. The moment we stop pushing is the moment we become part of the status quo we fought to defeat.
We’ll continue to refine our systems. We’ll continue to adopt the latest cleaning technologies. And we’ll continue to empower small business owners across the globe.
To the “old guard” of the cleaning industry: We’re just getting started.
If you’re tired of the status quo and ready to partner with a company that values innovation, accountability, and results, it’s time to talk to Anago.
Whether you’re looking for top-tier commercial cleaning services, exploring a Unit franchise opportunity, or building your own empire with a Master Franchise, join the brand that’s rewriting the rules.
More about the Best in Business list here.
By Darlene Bernd, Content Marketing Manager
