When Karen Fox was searching for a franchise to take on in the UK, Minster Cleaning stood out.
Back in 2022 Karen and her husband Paul were relocating from South Africa as the world continued to grapple with the Covid pandemic. At an uncertain time they wanted a stable business with strong revenues and growth potential, ideally close to a beach, which is why the Devon and Cornwall franchise was so appealing.
“We chatted to the Managing Director, Mike Parker, who was totally transparent about the company and clearly wanted partners who were serious about building on the success of the franchise,” says Karen.
Having run their own businesses previously, Karen and Paul both wanted the freedom to manage the franchise independently. Again, Minster Cleaning fits the bill. “Minster Cleaning provides the perfect combination of amazing ongoing support whilst giving us the flexibility to put our own stamp on how we develop the business. Their integrity and the training they offer means that there is nothing to fear”.
Equally importantly, Minster Cleaning’s comprehensive marketing, IT and accounting support lets them focus on delivering an unrivalled service to customers. “The experts at the Network Support Centre handle all the headaches that can tie a business owner in knots,” Karen says.
One aspect of working with Minster Cleaning that has been particularly positive is the network of female support Karen has developed, from staff at the Network Support Centre to other female franchisees. “There are a lot of strong female role models at Minster Cleaning, inspiring women who have given me fantastic encouragement. They are always willing to chat things through on the phone, and it’s great catching up with them at National Conferences throughout the year”.
The large and exclusive territories that Minster Cleaning provides means there’s no competition between franchisees. It’s also why they’re such reliable businesses and have the growth potential that Karen and Paul are aiming to continue to unlock now they are established in the UK.
“In two years, we have increased our revenue by approximately 60%. Looking ahead, my aim is to make our Minster Cleaning franchise the ‘go-to’ cleaning company in Devon and Cornwall.”
To achieve this Karen focuses on making sure the operational side of the business runs smoothly. Day to day that includes ensuring cleaning teams are on site on time, arranging absence cover, managing training and responding to clients. Her aim is to “support our cleaners effectively so that our service is consistently the best around”.
Karen is part of a tight knit three-women office team, whose support enables her to target such ambitious goals while also enjoying a positive work-life balance. “We have a really supportive team in the office and a great working dynamic. Living close to the beach and spending time there knowing that the team are managing the office gives us that all-important lifestyle balance.”
The Devon and Cornwall franchise has certainly gone from strength to strength since Karen took the reins. Does she have any regrets? “We live in a beautiful place, but I’d like to have brought the South African sunshine with me!”
