HEALTH AND HYGIENE

CLEAN SWEEP

With the global pandemic reinforcing the importance of keeping homes, offi ces, and surroundings safe and clean, the hygiene industry is certainly enjoying a boom. By CARYN GOOTKIN

Cleaning businesses have grown steadily in popularity with many people now outsourcing this vital function. “Cleaning services and occupational health and safety franchises are experiencing high growth due to the pandemic,” says independent franchise consultant Anita du Toit. “Service-based franchises offering essential services tend to weather economic storms better than most sectors as they are considered necessary rather than nice-to-haves. However, extreme lockdown conditions and protocols required for COVID-19 compliance have given this category a massive boost.”

In many ways, cleaning businesses make perfect franchises because they: • are affordable with low barriers to entry • have low overheads • provide repeat business • have strong branding and marketing material • offer comprehensive training • offer an opportunity to work from home • operate during family-friendly offi ce hours. “In addition, cleaning and occupational health and safety are categories with defi ned standards in place, especially for health and safety in the workplace,” says du Toit. “These businesses usually have specifi c standards of operation to ensure that they deliver consistently and that services are standardised. They also often have well-developed branding and proven business systems, which are crucial for franchised businesses. Any potential franchisee should verify that these requirements are met before signing up with such a franchise. Franchise buyers must also insist on receiving a copy of the disclosure document of the franchise to consider together with the franchise agreement before committing to any type of franchise.”

FEW REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

Businesses offering COVID-19 cleaning services do not currently have to conform to any uniform standards in terms of what should be treated, when, how and with what products. It is only fumigation services that must be approved by both the local authority and Department of Health.

“Service-based franchises offering essential services tend to weather economic storms better than most sectors.” –Anita du Toit, franchise consultant

“There are no specifi c regulations on cleaning in general or sanitisation specifi cally for COVID-19 in South Africa,” says registered occupational hygienist and vice president of the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Harold Gaze. “The only authorised accreditation body is the South African National Accreditation System, which has not yet accredited any organisation in the cleaning and hygiene industry. To obtain a form of recognition, some cleaning companies have been certifi ed under ISO 14000 or ISO 9000, but neither offers certifi cates specifi c to cleaning. Although not required by law, some cleaning companies opt for an Approved Inspection Authority to certify that the premises are fi t for reoccupation.”

JOB CREATION

The hygiene and cleaning industry is perfectly positioned to employ unskilled labour as it needs teams of cleaners. Cleaning franchises provide their franchisees with comprehensive training so it easy for someone with no previous experience to learn all the necessary skills quickly.

HOW LONG DOES SARS-COV-2 LINGER ON SURFACES?

“Information regarding the viability of SARS-CoV-2 on various surfaces continues to evolve,” says general practitioner Dr Orit Laskov. “It seems to behave like most other coronaviruses in that it prefers hard, smooth and nonporous surfaces, for example, a kitchen counter rather than a carpet or a doorknob rather than paper. The virus has been shown to last anywhere from an hour to several days on surfaces, but experts are still debating exactly how long it remains virulent or highly infectious.”

Mopping up the market

KLEENBIN

When Kleenbin entered the market in 1997, it was the fi rst service in South Africa to design its own mobile, trailer-based bin-cleaning facility. “The business model is based on two simple premises: garbage bins are breeding grounds for bacteria and foul smells; and every area has a municipal waste collection day on which occupants must put their black bins outside their property,” says Matthew Munro, marketing manager for Kleenbin. “Nobody enjoys cleaning their refuse bins, so a service that offers a hygienic, complete sanitisation service without requiring the client to do anything – as their bins are out in the street on bin day anyway – is attractive to most property occupants.”

With its simple premise and easily replicated formula, Kleenbin franchisees can easily set up their own business in a new area. “Franchisees pay R253 000 upfront, which buys them guidelines and marketing collateral, computer hardware and software, and a Kleenbin trailer, cleaning materials and consumables,” says Munro. “We currently have more than 60 franchisees in South Africa and have just opened our fi rst international franchise in Texas. We are looking for new franchisees, especially as our client base expanded by more than 10 per cent in the period May to August this year. We feel extremely blessed that we were able to keep going and grow through these diffi cult times.”

The Specialists

Founded in 1978 and franchised in 1984, The Specialists is a cleaning, hygiene and pest-control company with 70 franchisees in

South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and eSwatini. “We are always on the lookout for successful entrepreneurs with a passion for servicing customers and growing our customer base,” says managing director, Veran Kathan. “We are expanding our footprint in Africa, with specific opportunities available in Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia and Kenya. There are also franchises for sale in South Africa, costing between R1-million and R3-million, plus a joining fee of R150 000.”

Lockdown has brought The Specialists many new customers. “Our biggest growth has been in the corporate, SME and government segments,” says Kathan. “In response to the pandemic, we have also expanded our range of services to include disinfection, deep cleaning and sanitisation.”

Service Master

Service Master entered the pest-control industry in Durban in 1964 and franchised its business in 1985. “We are thrilled that so many of our original franchisees are still going strong today,” says Susan Steyn, national development manager, Service Master SA. “Each of our 11 franchises – with three more opening soon – has a large territory to service to enable them to operate a viable and successful business with room for growth.”

Service Master is currently expanding with a special discounted offer for new franchisees. “We are waiving our usual once-off branch purchase/buy-in cost, so a starter pack costs just R46 000 including VAT,” says Steyn. “This low initial outlay covers all the equipment, chemicals, marketing materials, software and training needed to start operating, making a franchise affordable for entrepreneurs looking to join. We work hard to ensure new franchisees succeed, supported by a network of other Service Master franchise holders and a franchisor with extensive hands-on experience. Our low monthly franchise fees, which only start from month six, mean that franchisees can quickly see a return on their investment.”

Monthly service contracts are the bread and butter of the business and offer the highest profit margins. “Pest control services are a need, not a want,” says Steyn, “and are often required in municipal bylaws as an essential service. Once contracted, it’s easier to add services like window cleaning and microbial fogging.”

THE AIR THAT I BREATHE

The World Health Organization advises opening windows whenever it is possible so that fresh, clean air can replace stale air. “The novel coronavirus can remain viable in droplets in stagnant air,” says Dr Orit Laskov. “This means that ventilation can reduce the spread of the virus by improving indoor airflow. If the space you want to ventilate doesn’t allow for enough natural airflow, mechanical methods, like air conditioning, should be introduced, preferably without recirculating the air.”

GOING GREEN

Consumers are pushing for eco-friendly cleaning materials and methods in their homes and offices. Global GreenTag is one recognised certification standard that reassures customers that products have been made in the most planet-friendly way possible. Cleaning businesses are going to have to take this trend seriously to maintain market share.