Franchisee Satisfaction Report

Company
Year Founded: 1978
Franchising Since: 1998
Total Franchisees: 200
Total Locations: 240

S. Michael Merrick had lost his job as a bank manager when the window washer for the branch said he was interested in selling his business. Merrick looked at the company’s books and was impressed with what he saw--low overhead and virtually no inventory. In 1978 Merrick and his wife, Linda, purchased the company, renamed it, and Fish Window Cleaning was born.

After 20 years of cleaning windows, screens, gutters, skylights and chandeliers in the St. Louis, Missouri, area, the Merricks began franchising.

Why Fish Window Cleaning?

         ? In Business Since 1978
         ? High Frequency Repeat Business
         ? Plan-able Growth
         ? Low Start-up Cost
         ? High Profit Margin
         ? Growing Demand in the Residential & Commercial needs
         ? Partnerships with Maid Services, Janitorial Companies, and Contractors & Builders
         ? No High Rise!
         ? Monday - Friday, daytime hours
         ? Proprietary Software - Profitable Routing & Scheduling
         ? Unparalleled Franchise Support
         ? We teach you to develop a growing business.

Our Guarantee
We want to give a "jumpstart" to your new business! Following your training, the Fish Window Cleaning staff will arrive in your city to assist you with securing commercial accounts. We actually go out and sell commercial accounts with you! Fish Window Cleaning helps put business on your books right away. We do not charge an additional fee or higher royalty rate for this.Here are five good reasons why we do it:
        ? Train you to acquire customers in your market, not just in our classroom.
        ? We get to know your market. We can provide very strong and valuable support with our firsthand knowledge of your territory.
        ? Give you confidence in our abilities, our systems, our methods, and in us as your business partner.
        ? Confirm that it works in your backyard, too... Not just in St. Louis!
        ? Make sure you have the confidence in yourself to build your business.

Financial Requirements
Startup Investment: $70,000 - $130,000
Cash Requirement: $75,000
Net Worth Requirement: $50,000

Commonly asked questions and answers about this franchise opportunity.

Answered by President of Fish Window Cleaning, Mike Merrick-

What are the advantages of owning a Fish franchise, compared to some other franchise?
Many service businesses, including cleaning businesses can be very good. In our specific business, the amount of money a worker can gross per hour and consequently net per hour is much higher than in most cleaning businesses or other janitorial businesses, etc. I am confident that this is true in any market.

Another huge advantage is that our work is Monday through Friday, daytime work. This is very unusual for this industry. In twenty years, I could count on my fingers the number of times I've had to work on Saturday. I don't work on Sunday. If my guys ever do, it's strictly their option.

You are carrying a minimum inventory and not one that results in loss. In some respects, the business always remains a shoe string operation. You don't need thousands of dollars of depreciating or obsolete equipment. In fact, with good care, equipment nearly lasts forever. In comparison to most other businesses, the start-up, equipment, and inventory costs are very low.

We have a proven system. Every area of the business can be duplicated by the franchisee. The bugs have been worked out through the years. If you follow the system, you'll do well.

What are frequent misunderstandings folks have about this business?
One misconception is that everyone immediately thinks that we do high-rise businesses downtown. Wrong!

Secondly, the misconception is that because the business is easy to get into, it must be easy to make money. Having a business and running and growing an effective business can be very, very different. The easy part is cleaning the glass. But there is so much more.

Another is, "I can run this from home." Not if you're serious about growing your business. you need an office to recruit, retain, and interface with your employees. They're the people who really make your money for you. Let them know it's a real business by making it a real business.

The one other big misconception is how the business grows at start-up. I've had people say, "I'll start as a one-man-show and hire my first employee later." Again, not if you're serious about growth. We show the franchise owner how to grow so fast that they need their first window cleaning employee from day one!

What are you looking for in a franchisee?
Goal oriented person. Practically, we want to find franchisees who have a higher comfort level. Someone who easily reaches their comfort level will grow the business until they've got a decent income - it's not hard - and then they'll level off. We want to find franchisees willing to take the business to the next level. The opportunity is waiting.

Truly service centered. This has been a part of my philosophy from the beginning. It is not lip service to me. It is based in my values from the start of the day to the end. I insist the customer is king. If a customer isn't pleased, we ask "what will it take to make you happy?"

Sales drive. Once the goal is set and the commitment to service is there, this is a business driven by a determination to hit the street and sell. If you do, you will shine big. The work is there. The money is there. If you don't regularly sell, you will flop. There is no substitute.

The ability to manage employees. If you can't handle employees, you shouldn't do this business.

Personality. The customer buys your personality while paying for your service. The clean windows consistently come second to the window cleaner. If you aren't seen as a likeable person, this opportunity may not be for you.

Organized. Our system teaches every aspect of doing this business well. It just needs to be followed. This business can be a disaster to the person lacking organization, intent on doing their own thing.

I can probably boil it down to two words: Attitude and Aptitude. You need the right attitude, every single day. It's the "I will succeed" attitude that drives every successful business owner of every business - not just the window cleaning business. By "aptitude" I mean you need to have some inherent skills or the ability to learn them.

One other thing. When someone buys a Fish Window Cleaning franchise, one of the most valuable tools they get is over 20 years of my mistakes. If you're buying our experience, make sure you use it.