Ad Hanna spent most of his career managing the construction of ports, roads, military installations and other civil engineering projects for a Paris-based company and his work took him to Montreal, New York, Dubai and Tunisia, among other places. Along the way he decided to make a career change and a year ago, after an extensive search, he became the ?rst Canadian master franchise for Anago Cleaning Systems, a 25-year-old company based in Pompano Beach. Florida.
And today, he couldn’t be happier. “I knew I wanted to get into the Business of selling franchises, but didn’t know what product or service would be right for me.” says Hanna. “l spent over two years looking for a master franchise. When someone introduced me to Anago I immediately realized I wanted to work with them because of their dedication and honesty.”
Anago has 35 master franchises, including one in Santiago, Chile, and the masters have some 2,400 unit franchisees working under them. Hanna holds the master franchise for the Greater Vancouver Area, which includes the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, and he has sold six unit franchises since he began recruiting prospects in June 2013.
Anago focuses on a speci?c segment of the commercial cleaning market – namely mid-sized office facilities for – among others – insurance companies, banks, car dealerships, medical clinics, and private schools. “You never run out of businesses that need to be cleaned because every business needs to be cleaned by someone.” says Judy Walker, Anago’s Vice-President of Marketing. A lot of people think cleaning isn’t sexy and they discount it. We like to say it isn’t sexy, but you can take it all the way to the bank.”
Having acquired a foothold in the Canadian market, Anago is looking to grow on this side of the border and is actively searching for additional master franchises. Walker says the company is eager to begin developing Toronto. but adds: “Any other major metropolitan area with a population base of one million or more would be a target market for us.”
Anago develops a market by selling master franchises, ideally to individuals with sales and marketing backgrounds. “What’s great about purchasing a master franchise is that we provide an extensive training program.” Walker says. “Our staff from South Florida travel to the master territory and provide the training on site.”
The Anago approach also makes things easy tor unit franchisees especially when they are starting out. The master provides a complete orientation, or training, for new unit holders and the masters are responsible for setting appointments and preparing proposals for Anago’s cleaning services to small and midsized businesses in their territory.
They assign the contracts to the unit franchisees and handle scheduling as well as billing and collections. “All the unit holders have to do is go out and run their businesses.” says Walker. An Anago unit franchise is also Ideal for the individual who aspires to own a business, but may not be prepared – ?nancially or otherwise – to quit a job to pursue a dream. “The typical unit franchisee is someone who has a day job and is looking to make secondary income since most cleaning is done at night.” says Walker.
“It allows them to keep their day job, but work a few nights a week and to own a business.” she adds. “Many of them transition to the point where they leave their day job and lust run their Anago business full-time. They can also add new clients and grow their business themselves.” Unit franchisees also enjoy all the advantages that come with being associated with a company that has been in business for a quarter of a century. “Being a large company with international recognition gives us a lot of credibility.” says Walker. “We stay on the cutting edge and use the latest technology, such as green cleaning products and micro-?bers that smaller companies wouldn’t be able to offer.”
Anago’s entry to Canada has been smooth and seamless given the cultural similarities between Canada and the US and Walker expects that master franchisees here will experience the same success as American masters. Entrepreneur magazine rated Anago the tenth fastest-growing franchise system in the US in 2013 and that is a re?ection of the company’s approach and the market segment it serves. “Masters will never run out of franchises to sell.” Walker says.
Indeed, many masters have built thriving businesses and for a variety of reasons. “The key to the Anago program as a master is simple,” says Curt Albcrtson, who holds the master franchise for the Ohio cities of Cincinnati and Dayton. “Do what they tell you to do. Follow the system and you will succeed.”
For Mark Aduino of Metro Detroit, it was the training that most impressed him. “The training was excellent,” he says. “The parent company is based in Florida, but I felt like all of Florida moved into Metro Detroit lo help us get started. And the training never ends as the business evolves.”
Maria Contreras of Orlando says guidance and advice are always close at hand when she needs it. “Every time I call them they are there for me.” says Contreras. “l get a response fast. I have immediate access to the people I need.”
For his part, Vancouver’s Hanna says Anago has delivered for him and he is taking the same approach with his unit franchisees. “l tell prospective franchisees I will be working with them and for them.” he says. “I show them that they can realize their dream of owning their own business. We get the contracts. We help them every step of the way. You’re not just selling a franchise and disappearing. I always follow up to make sure that they’re happy with what they’re doing and that the client is happy.”
STATS
Franchise Fee:
Unit $4.6k – S32.3k USD
Master $95k – $150k USD
Startup Capital Required:
Unit $1k – $23.5k USD
Master $100k – $150k USD
Investment Required:
Unit $4.6k – $32.3k USD
Master $195k – $300k USD
Franchise Units:
Canada 1
USA 2431
International 7
Average Territory Size: 1-2 million population for each Anago Master Territory
Average Staff Required: 2-4 employees for each Anago Master Territory
In Business Since: 1989
Franchising Since: 1991
CFA Member Since: 2013