Entries by Emma Nicholson

Redundancy = Opportunity!

We have recently worked with the Chantry Group on a redundancy feature. Steve Morris, Merry Maids Brand Leader tells us how his career in the forces, then systems, got him in to operating a Merry Maids business and then on to leading the franchise network. You can watch the video as featured by the Chantry […]

Research before starting your business

There are so many things to consider before starting a business. But first, you need to research a few different things to ensure that this is the right choice for you and it has an opportunity to succeed. Lifestyle  This is a big one. Most franchise agreements are for a duration of 5 years. This […]

Recipe for Success

Joining a franchise with Merry Maids will give you the brand, tools and support to build a great business, but to have the total recipe for success you will need ambition, drive and passion. Brand We’ve built the brand up over 40 years in the UK, with strong ties to professionalism, honesty and integrity, customers […]

A sector that’s here to stay

There will always be a need for home cleaning.  This has been highlighted especially over the last 12 months due to the pandemic. Keeping a clean, healthy and hygienic home has always been important, but when the pandemic hit early in 2020, cleaning products were snatched from the shelves as if people didn’t have them […]

Spring in to Business

Spring cleaning season is now upon us and whilst ‘cleaning’ is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, it’s a good opportunity to delve deeper in to starting a cleaning business.  As cleaning has become a hot topic over the last 12 months due to the pandemic, and once again as we enter in to Spring, […]

E-commerce grew by 46% in 2020

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) E-commerce in 2020 grew by 46% whilst GDP declined by 1%.  Businesses who were already online, or who were able to get online, faired better during the Coronavirus pandemic. Fortunately for our Merry Maids business owners, our E-commerce platform was already live and meant that we had […]

Local support for your new business

If you’re considering starting your own business, but have concerns around the wider support available outside of the franchise, this blog is for you. Your local government can provide specialist help in many areas of business including finance, growth, recruitment, technology, tax and more. By the government supporting you in your new venture with funding, […]

Age is nothing but a number

According to the last undertaken British Franchise Association survey in 2018, almost 20% of franchise units are owned by individuals under the age of 30. This statistic goes to show that that age doesn’t stop entrepreneurs from achieving their dreams. This can be put down to more individuals looking to business ownership rather than employment […]

Timescales to buy

Buying a franchise isn’t like buying a loaf of bread. It’s not just a decision for there and then, it is one for not only now, but also the future. It will therefore be no surprise to you that we have had business owners join our franchise in a timescale as short as one month […]

2021 – What does it mean for Merry Maids?

If you are thinking about joining our brand this year, but have concerns over the current situation and the effect that it may have, this blog is for you. In 2020, the Merry Maids franchise became stronger as it adapted to the ‘new normal’ and as such, pushed the business model to new heights. All businesses […]

Merry Maids – 2020 in review

Back in 2019 when we were evaluating our brand and making decisions for 2020, we could never have predicted what was in store for our franchise in 2020. That said, our brand has developed, our franchise owners have built resilient businesses that have stood the difficult trading conditions that the pandemic has brought upon the […]

An all-year-round opportunity

There are many great business opportunities out there and it’s important to consider whether you wish to operate to capacity all year round, or in seasons. Seasonal work is great for those who undertake more than one venture or prefer a little time off to regenerate. However, all year round is great for those who […]

The Importance of a CRM System

The importance of a Customer Relationship Management System (CRM) Whether you store customer data on a spreadsheet or via business cards, both are disorganised and likely a breach in GDPR. If you are looking to get in to business, it’s a good idea to have thought about how you intend to store customer data to […]

Ranked in Elite Top 75 Franchises in the UK

The Elite Franchise Top 100 Franchises is all about celebrating successes in British franchising by ranking applicants from 1 to 100.  Despite the difficult trading conditions in the past year, we are proud to announce that the Merry Maids brand has ranked within the TOP 75 franchises in a solid position of #61 – two places higher […]

Prospect Franchisee Certificate

As proud members of the British Franchise Association, we are pleased to share their Prospect Franchise Certificate, a free course designed to help you to feel fully prepared ahead of embarking on your new journey. The British Franchise Association (bfa) is the source of impartial information on all things franchising. It’s the self-regulatory body for […]

Support when times are tough

Businesses have experienced two national lockdowns, local lockdowns and tier restrictions but fortunately for the businesses that are part of our franchise network, they have received support throughout. Support is one of the main reasons cited by business owners as to why they chose to join our franchise. It’s not just received from our team […]

Why having a brand is important

Having a brand is extremely important if you want to differentiate yourself from others, ensure consistency and build recognition. A brand isn’t just a logo, it’s the whole business image and everything that it stands for. The idea of a brand is for it to become desirable, that individuals want to be a part of […]

The importance of a great website

According to a source* 88% of consumers search for products and services online before looking via other avenues. As such, a website ensures that you don’t miss out on this captive audience. The basics Websites do not need to be state of the art to serve a purpose. They need to include information about the […]

What to expect in your franchisor interview

It’s a common misconception that buying a franchise is like buying a car. That providing you have the money and a driver’s licence, it’s yours. That is simply not the case with a franchise because it’s a commitment, typically over a minimum of five years to operate the business within the tramlines of the franchise […]

Are you facing redundancy?

Was your role one of the 695,000 that was made redundant post Covid-19? According to a piece written by the Guardian, redundancies rise at the fastest rate since 2009. This has meant that almost a half of those on furlough will not be returning to their previous job. Receiving notice of redundancy can be a […]