A single mum from Biggleswade is celebrating her new business venture after launching a cleaning business with a difference – she doesn’t do any cleaning!
Amie-Jo Buckland has taken on a franchise with the national cleaning specialist Time For You Cleaning, covering the local area. However, as Amie-Jo explains, it is not a traditional cleaning business, she is more of a “cleaning matchmaker”.
‘It is funny when I told my friends about my new business because up until now I had actually been working as a cleaner and then as an office manager for another franchise within the network and as time went on I was learning the ropes under their guidance. As I did so, I realised that I could make a real go of this too if I found the right opportunity.’
That opportunity duly arrived when the franchise became available in the local area and Amie-Jo went to meet the owners with what was effectively a head-start on a lot of new franchisees.
Amie-Jo explains;
‘I’d actually had the ideal apprenticeship with Chris and Jenny Thompson who have a series of franchises around the region and had been so helpful. They were really encouraging me to go for it because I had done the job at every level bar being my own boss.
‘I had been a self-employed cleaner for a few years, I had then worked with Chris and Jenny on the staffing and logistics side of the business and office management in terms of managing cleaners’ schedules, client communication, recruitment and also the marketing side of things. The next step of course would be the big one and I am so proud I made it!’
Amie-Jo’s experience, ambition and thorough understanding of the business model impressed the Time For You team who have over 150 franchises across the UK.
Managing director Sam Stawarz, who is the second generation of the family to run the firm, comments;
‘We have a huge variety of people applying to join us, from seasoned entrepreneurs seeking investment opportunities and a scalable business model to absolute beginners in business who are looking for the support that a high quality franchise model can provide.
‘In Amie-Jo we had the ideal candidate as she had already been a big part in running three very successful franchises with Chris and Jenny and crucially, she knew what it takes to be a cleaner within the franchise, as she had been a self employed cleaner as well. After meeting her and learning more about one another we were delighted to be able to offer her the Biggleswade franchise where we are asure she will be a huge success.’
It may only be early days for Amie-Jo after completing her training but she has already hit the ground running, with 40 clients already signed up and ambitious to get to 100 by Christmas.
‘That’s my aim, 100. It sounds huge but I know it can be done because I’ve seen it done with my own eyes. There are lots of people who need help with cleaning and crave the reliability that a business like mine can offer and there are lots of cleaners and potential cleaners out there looking for extra income or self-employed work.
‘I’m here to be the match-maker, ensuring we have plenty of cleaners, plenty of clients and plenty of clean homes in Biggleswade. In the meantime, I can balance my work and life perfectly as I can run this business from home. I can be with the kids and even bring them to the office, as it is often the spare room, the kitchen table or even a local cafe – no more “mum guilt” for me!’