Choose to invest in home services franchise opportunities. You will be able to build a profitable business model that includes helping homeowners and families keep their properties clean, restored, healthy, repaired, maintained, and renovated. They can also transform homes into energy-saving and accessible properties for seniors and people with disabilities, along with the responsibility of leveraging and managing a new site for a well-known brand.
If you are interested in starting your own firm in the home services industry and embarking on a rewarding, exciting, and increasingly in-demand business venture, have a look at what the home services industry has to offer you and how good franchise systems can help sharpen your business acumen and transform you into a successful home services franchise owner in no time.
Read more about why investing in the home services industry might be the perfect franchise option for you. Don't hesitate to request more information about home services franchises you might be interested in.
What Is A Home Services Franchise?
A franchise is a business model that involves licensing a brand, trademark, and business system to an entrepreneur who wishes to open and operate their own business under the franchise's name. Franchises have a higher survival rate than regular start-ups because they use an already established and successful business model and simply apply it to a new location. Franchises require you to pay an initial franchise fee, have a certain amount of cash on hand, and pay monthly royalties as a first step in having the rights to their brand.
A home services franchise specifically offers services meant to help homes be cleaned, repaired, and kept in top shape for anyone living on the property. The home services industry is huge and keeps growing as more people use their homes for both living and work, along with an aging population that wants to age in place.
Home services franchises may take on many forms, from the traditional residential cleaning business to increasingly specialized services like concrete repair, window cleaning, landscaping, restoration, decoration, and roofing.
New franchise owners will typically receive training and support from the franchisor, as well as access to a proven business model, marketing materials, and ongoing support to ensure the success of their location.
Services And Products A Home Services Franchise Can Offer
The home services industry is a thriving sector that offers numerous opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to own a franchise. With the increasing trend of work-from-home and learn-from-home arrangements, people are spending more time in their houses than ever before. This has led to a rise in the demand for various home services like cleaning, junk removal, repairs, renovations, and home organization. As a franchise owner in this booming industry, you can cater to this growing need and provide essential services to homeowners.
Angi.com estimates that the total market for home services in North America saw growth of an additional $62 billion in 2022, growing to almost $660 billion. And while that was in large part a result of the post-pandemic recovery and work-from-home trend, the market for home services will continue to grow at larger rates than before.
Another significant factor contributing to the potential of owning a piece of the home services franchise industry is the aging population in the United States. Many seniors prefer to age in place rather than move to assisted living facilities. This demographic shift has created a high demand for services such as home healthcare, home modifications, and maintenance. By having a business in the home services sector, you can tap into this market and provide valuable support and assistance to seniors who wish to remain in their own homes.
Furthermore, the ongoing advancements in technology and the increasing popularity of smart home devices have also opened up new opportunities for franchise owners in the home services industry. With the integration of technology, homeowners are seeking innovative solutions to make their homes more efficient, secure, and convenient. This includes services like home automation, energy management, and smart security systems.
By staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements, a franchise owner can offer cutting-edge solutions to homeowners, thereby staying ahead of the competition and ensuring long-term success in the industry.
Here are just some of the types of franchises in the home services sector and the materials and services they can offer:
Maid and Home Cleaning
This category includes businesses that provide general cleaning services for individual homes and apartments. These services can include regular maintenance cleaning, deep cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning, or specialized tasks such as carpet cleaning, green cleaning, and exterior or window cleaning.
Many residential cleaning businesses now offer a newer business model, which includes biweekly, monthly, or custom cleaning services. This allows for more affordability and access to a wider range of customers. Cleaning services have the bonus of being able to also serve commercial properties, tapping not just into the residential market.
Lawn Care and Landscaping
Landscaping and lawn care franchises provide services such as lawn mowing, landscaping design and maintenance, and outdoor pest control.
Pest Control
A pest control business specializes in pest management and extermination services for homes, addressing issues like insects, rodents, and termites.
Carpet and Flooring Services
This category offers carpet cleaning, installation, and flooring maintenance services to homes, although many take advantage of commercial candidates as an added revenue stream.
Painting and Renovation
Painting and renovation businesses provide interior and exterior painting, remodeling, and renovation services for residential properties.
Home Inspection
This category offers property inspection services, helping potential buyers and sellers assess the condition of a home.
Roofing and Gutters
The professionals in this category focus on roofing repair and replacement, as well as gutter installation and maintenance.
Appliance Repair
This home services sector is making a comeback. They provide repair and maintenance services for household appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, and washing machines.
Garage Door Services
This category provides garage door installation, repair, and maintenance services.
Pressure Washing
Pressure washing franchises clean and restore outdoor surfaces, including driveways, decks, and siding.
Window Replacement
Window replacement and installation businesses specialize in replacing and upgrading windows for energy efficiency and aesthetics.
Plumbing
They provide residential plumbing services, including repairs, maintenance, and installation of plumbing fixtures.
Radon Mitigation
Radon mitigation businesses address indoor radon gas issues, providing testing and mitigation services to ensure safe indoor air quality.
Closet and Garage Organization
These home service businesses offer organization and storage solutions for closets, garages, and other areas of the home.
Home Security and Automation
This category provides security systems, surveillance, and home automation solutions in this increasingly "smart" age where everything is automated or controlled by voice commands.
Basement Waterproofing
Basement waterproofing refers to helping homeowners address water intrusion and moisture problems in basements.
Chimney Services
Chimney services offer —what else—chimney cleaning, inspection, and repair for fireplaces and wood-burning stoves.
Senior Home Care and Modifications
Senior home care focuses on providing in-home care services to elderly individuals who wish to remain in their homes but also offers modification services to better adjust their homes to the realities of aging at home.
Home Decor and Interior Design
You can provide interior design and home decor services, helping homeowners enhance their living spaces.
Home Improvement and Handyman Services
These businesses provide general maintenance and repair work. This may include tasks like fixing minor plumbing or electrical issues, painting, drywall repairs, and other handyman services.
Air Duct and HVAC Cleaning
These businesses offer services to clean and maintain heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for better indoor air quality.
Pool and Spa Maintenance
These businesses focus on pool and spa cleaning, maintenance, and repair.
Solar Panel Installation and Cleaning
With the increasing demand and use of renewable energies in homes and businesses, installing, cleaning, and maintaining solar panels to ensure optimal energy efficiency has become a lucrative business in many regions.
Restoration and Disaster Cleanup
These specialize in cleaning and restoring properties after natural disasters such as floods, fires, or mold infestations. Services may include water damage restoration and extraction, fire damage cleanup, junk removal, mold remediation, and odor removal.
Biohazard Cleanup and Restoration
These businesses specialize in cleaning and restoring residential or commercial properties affected by biohazards, including crime and trauma scenes and hazardous materials incidents.
When considering a home services franchise, it's important to research the specific niche, evaluate the market demand in your area, and assess the franchise's reputation and support. Each category may have its own unique requirements and considerations, so it's crucial to choose one that aligns with your interests and goals.
How To Start A Home Services Franchise Business
You'll need money and time to start and set up a franchise. The benefit of a home services franchise ownership over starting your own business from scratch is that you will obtain assistance and will not have to deal with the everyday problems that start-up business owners face, such as designing a business model, processes, and branding from the ground up. It helps prospective franchisees to have some industry experience, but you only need a basic understanding thanks to a franchise's extensive, comprehensive training. If you're just getting started and want the complete business setup, franchising can provide you with a viable solution to that goal.
Next is a list of things to consider before starting your own home services franchise:
Choose the services you'll offer
Before starting, you'll need to determine which services make the most sense for your company. Once you have determined that there is a demand for your business, you need to choose a franchise to invest in. Research different franchise business opportunities and home service brands, and compare the costs, support, and reputation of each one. A franchise consultant can put you in contact with successful franchisees who have a proven track record of success within the brand and can share their experiences of starting and dealing with the franchise owner.
Licensing, Registration, and Certification
Once you have chosen a brand, you will need to attend training to learn about the franchise model, operations, and marketing strategies they offer. You may also need to obtain certain licenses and certifications depending on the type of home services business you are starting. Some waste disposal services require several local and state licenses to operate, for example. HVAC, solar panel installations, pool maintenance, and other similar services all require certifications for operating in almost every state and for securing the trust of any customer. For sterilization and disinfection services, you would likely require certifications to prove to candidates your qualifications. If you venture into senior home care services, you might need several other licenses to operate nursing services.
Getting insurance to protect your business (and yourself)
Depending on the nature of your business, you may need to obtain liability insurance, workers' compensation insurance, or other types of insurance. The cost will depend on the type of coverage you need.
Select the Appropriate Equipment
You may need to purchase equipment and supplies such as pickup trucks, equipment for workers, driver certifications, cleaning supplies, uniforms, tools, parts suppliers, etc. The cost of these items will depend on the type and quality of the products you choose and whether to lease or buy. Deciding to partner with a franchise minimizes the work you have to do in locating suppliers and distributors for all of these needs, and the franchise network and parent company will have a list of equipment suppliers ready.
How Much Does It Cost To Start A Home Services Business?
You'll need money and time to pay, start, and run a home services business. While starting a business is an exciting operation, it is also costly. It’s critical to be reasonable when estimating start-up costs for a company. Expenses such as retail space, legal fees, payroll, company credit cards, marketing, training, payroll costs, and other administrative expenses can add up quickly.
By franchising with a home services franchise business, you can lower some of these initial and ongoing costs and only have to invest in an initial franchise fee, ongoing royalties, and extra investment for supplies and equipment.
A franchise consultant can help you determine the real initial and additional cost of any home services franchise opportunity.
How To Grow A Home Services Franchise Business
Growing a home services franchise business can be a challenging but rewarding process. Here are some tips to help you expand your cleaning franchise business:
- Focus on Quality
- Establish Strong Relationships With Customers
- Have a Strong Work Ethic
- Monitor and Analyze Performance
- Explore New Products and Services as a Growth Strategy
A home services franchise business requires trust and patience with sanitation and regulatory officials and property owners, strategy, effort, customer satisfaction, and persistence.
Home Services Franchise Experience Requirements
Home services franchise candidates must be high-energy, goal-oriented, and capable of being proactive in searching for new ways to develop the franchise model. They need to be serious about home cleaning, repair, energy, maintenance, and everything that is required to keep homes and families healthy and thriving while being serious about protocols and certifications.
The franchisor will teach you everything there is to know about the appropriate services and products after signing the franchise agreement. What they teach during training includes marketing assistance, materials, and sales. They only need candidates and aspiring franchise owners with a go-getter attitude and a positive mindset.
Special Requirements For A Home Services Business
A home services business is a very rewarding endeavor and represents not only an exciting business ownership opportunity but also the opportunity to make a difference, as you're helping people keep their spaces healthy, clean, new, and free of hazards, along with creating local jobs and even saving the environment if you have an eco-friendly home services business. If you decide to also make your business a franchise business, you can penetrate the market without worrying about branding, marketing, suppliers, and other aspects independent business owners deal with.
Certifications And Licenses In Some States For Home Services Franchises
Some types of home services franchises that offer cleaning, sterilization, waste removal, and disinfection services will require regulatory certifications from local and state governments. Furthermore, if the franchise offers specialized services such as carpet cleaning or pest control, they might need specific certifications from industry-specific organizations or regulatory bodies. For instance, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) provides certifications for carpet cleaning and water damage restoration. Similarly, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) grants certifications for pest control services.
If the business involves plumbing or electrical work, the technicians may need to acquire appropriate trade-specific licenses to ensure their competence and adherence to safety standards. Moreover, businesses operating in the home improvement industry may need to obtain additional certifications, such as lead-safe certifications or mold remediation licenses to address specific environmental concerns.
In addition to licenses and certifications related to the services provided, the franchise business may also need to obtain permits for certain activities. For example, home renovation projects may require building permits to ensure compliance with construction codes and regulations. It is crucial for home services franchise businesses to thoroughly research the legal requirements and regulations applicable to their specific industry and location to ensure compliance and avoid potential penalties or legal issues.
Any potential home services franchisee must consider this when deciding on what industry area to focus on. Nonetheless, they are not as challenging to comply with compared to a medical or even a construction business, and a franchise consultant can help you determine if your choice of home services franchise business will need any certifications and licenses.
But that’s also the benefit of franchising, as the franchisor already deals with this and will help prepare potential franchisees and their employees for every regulatory hurdle, including ongoing training programs and established operating procedures.
Home Services Franchise Cost
The cost of a home services franchise can vary greatly depending on various factors, such as the type of franchise, the size of the business, the real estate or office space needed, the equipment (pickup trucks, fuel costs), the territory for the franchise location, and the franchise company's fees and requirements.
Financing
Franchises for the home services sector often demand an investment of $30,000 to $150,000 or more. Fortunately, because the franchise business model has been demonstrated to be effective, profitable, and sustainable, banks and moneylenders prefer it.
Without the assistance and backing of an established partner, an independent business can struggle to secure the favorable credit terms that franchisees typically enjoy. The fundamental reason for this is that independent businesses lack proof of their business model's viability, unlike franchisees, who can rely on a tested business plan.
Profit
Because you’re working with an established and proven business, buying into a home services franchise can increase your opportunity for revenue and profits. Home services franchises also offer lower startup costs and overhead costs compared to other industries.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that 1 in 5 businesses in the U.S. will fail in their first year of operation, but the survival rate is better for franchises. According to a FranNet Survey, the success rate for franchises is almost 92% after two years.
Conclusion: Why A Home Services Franchise Is A Good Investment
As you can see, franchising and purchasing reputable home services franchise opportunities has lots of advantages. The most important one is that a tested system and franchise partners will support you and provide you with resources. As a result, your firm will experience less danger and greater security, allowing you to concentrate on what really matters—growing your business and satisfying your candidates as well as yourself!
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