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Merry Maids

Residential cleaning

Background

Founded: 1979 Franchising since: 1980
Dallen W. Peterson founded Merry Maids in 1979 in Omaha, Nebraska. The public company cleans more than 300,000 homes, apartments and condominiums each month in North America. It has franchises in Denmark, Hong Kong, Japan and the United Kingdom. In 1988 Merry Maids joined the ServiceMaster Quality Service Network, which includes franchise companies AmeriSpec, Terminix and Furniture Medic. Merry Maids is based in Memphis, Tennessee.
3839 Forest Hill Irene Rd.
Memphis, Tennessee 38125
Phone:
(800)798-8000/ (901)597-8138


Franchisor is a publicly-held company with 60 employee(s); 25 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 727 71 610 212
2008 748 71 438 202
2007 747 71 430 202
2006 771 71 427 178
2005 776 70 432 156

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Worldwide

Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: Varies

Special Programs
The annual Dallen Peterson Awards program honors one franchisee for overall excellence. Other awards include PresidentÂ’s Achievement and Merit Achievement, which are rewarded with free trips to conferences in exotic locales.

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $25K-59.5K
Franchise fee: $21K-31K
Ongoing royalty fee: 5-7%
Term of agreement: 5 years, renewable


Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee Yes No
Startup Costs No No
Equipment Yes No
Inventory Yes No
Accounts Receivable No No
Payroll No No

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $60K-70K
Cash liquidity requirement: $60K-70K
Business Experience:
  • General business experience
  • Management experience

Operations
  • 60% of all franchisees own more than one unit
  • Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 12
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (98% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: 8 days
  • At franchisee's location: As needed
  • Additional training in Memphis, Tennessee and regional locations

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Internet
  • Security/safety procedures
  • Field operations/evaluations

Marketing Support
  • National media

Other marketing support
  • Yellow Pages ads and placement support; internet ad composition site

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#59 (2009); #65 (2008); #46 (2007); #56 (2006); #45 (2005);

Ranked #1 in category in:
2006; 2005;

Low-Cost Franchises:
#15 (2009); #15 (2008); #15 (2007); #15 (2006); #14 (2005);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#50 (2009); #53 (2008); #35 (2007); #45 (2006); #33 (2005);


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