Guides

The Five Step Franchise Sales Process Infographic & Guide

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Starting a new business can be overwhelming, especially if you’re doing it by yourself. At Corvus, we’ve helped hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs start their own successful cleaning businesses through our office cleaning franchise program. To help you get a sense of what’s involved in becoming a Corvus Franchisee (or a franchise owner in general), we’ve put together this quick five step franchise sales process infographic and guide.

Franchise Sales Process Infographic from Corvus. Step 1. Inquire Step 2. Set a disclosure meeting Step 3. Attend disclosure meeting Step 4. 14 day waiting period Step 5. Purchase your franchise

Step 1: Inquire

The first step in the franchise sales process is also the easiest. Let the franchisor know that you are interested in becoming a franchisee! For Corvus, it is as simple as filling out our contact form with your name, phone number, email, and closest metro area. After we receive your info, we’ll give you a call to set up an initial discovery meeting at one of our regional offices.

Steps 2 & 3: Set Up and Attend a Disclosure Meeting

During your initial discovery meeting you’ll meet the regional team and start learning more about the business, including things like fees, schedules, and expectations. We’ll also be happy to answer any questions you have during this initial meeting. Don’t worry – you don’t need to bring anything with you (except for a pen and paper to take notes). During this meeting we’ll also ask you to fill out a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and background check form.

Step 4. 14 Day Waiting Period

After your first meeting, there will be a 14 day waiting period during which we will run your background check. This 14 day waiting period gives you the opportunity to review Corvus’ (the franchisor’s) FDD in detail. During this waiting period, if you have any questions or concerns, you’re free to reach out to your local Corvus team for more information.

Step 5: Franchise Sale

After you’ve passed your background check and the 14-day waiting period is over, we’ll have you come back into the regional office to complete your franchise sale paperwork and schedule your training session – which usually happens a week after signing.

Initial Offering Period

Now that you’re an official Corvus Franchisee, it’s our job to start getting you clients. Typically, you’ll start off with 1-2 cleans per week, as we try to prioritize new Franchisees whenever we sign a new service contract.

The Future is Yours

What comes next? That’s up to you! We’ll continue to support you with financing, technical support, and customer acquisitions, while you’ll support the Corvus brand by providing professional, best-in-class commercial cleaning services to our wonderful customers. Because together, we can Make Lives Better.

Ready to get started with your Corvus Franchise? Contact our franchise team to start today!

Small Business Owners: Tax Benefits to Consider

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Tax season is upon us, and even if we’ve been filing this time each year for over a decade (or several), most of us still get a bit anxious when the time comes. If you’re a new small business owner, you might be feeling particularly worried about the unique challenges that tax filing in a new category might bring. Feeling more prepared can help ease these worries.

All small business owners want to ensure that they’re filing their taxes the right way, and save as much money as they can in the process. Luckily, there are several small business tax deductions that help you make the most of the filing process and save where you can. As the tax deadline creeps up on us, now is the best time to start getting organized. But if that sounds daunting, don’t worry, we’ve done a lot of the research for you already:

Changes to Credits and Deductions for 2022 Taxes

Some tax credits and deductions that will expire or decrease in 2022 are:

-Section 179, which allows businesses to deduct 100% of qualified expenses for certain fixed assets purchased in 2022. This figure will decrease to 80% in 2023.

-The Expanded Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, which has decreased from an $8,000 maximum in 2021 to $2,100 in 2022. Income thresholds and percentage of child care expenses deductible have also decreased.

-Qualifying business meals, which were instituted during the pandemic to encourage support of restaurants and make it easier for employers to provide catered meals. This deduction may not be extended beyond the January 1, 2023 deadline.

-Mortgage insurance premiums will no longer be treated as deductible mortgage interest starting in 2023. This may affect businesses with property or brick-and-mortar locations.

List of Small Business Tax Deductions to Consider

With the numerous changes to tax rules over the last few years, there are many other small business tax deductions that you might not yet be aware of. These include:

-Vehicle expenses

-Dedicated home office space

-Capital equipment depreciation

-Professional services

-Salaries and wages paid to full and part-time employees, as well as bonuses, meals, lodging, and certain employer-paid taxes

-Work Opportunity Tax Credit (if you hired any military veterans or other long-term unemployed workers before the first of this year)

-Business supplies and office expenses

-Meals and entertainment for clients and employees

-Labor for independent contractors or freelancers

-Equipment and furniture

-Employee benefits (health plans, life insurance, education reimbursement, pensions, etc.)

-Relevant business software (POS and other computer systems)

-Rent for your business’s physical space

-Start-up costs and expenses (hiring costs, legal entity fees, etc.)

-Utilities (electricity, phones, Wi-Fi, etc.)

-Certain taxes

-Commission payments

-Rental equipment or machinery

-The interest paid on business lines of credit

-Bad business debts

-Mortgage interest

-Bank charges

-Disaster and theft losses

-Small business tax deductions that carried over from previous years

-Business insurance

-Renovations and insurance-related strictly to your home office space

-Business tools

-Unfulfilled invoices

-Education

-Marketing and advertising costs

-Charitable deductions

-Cleaning, janitorial, and PPE expenses

-Licenses, trademarks, and other intellectual property

Small Business Tax Deductions Explained

Some of these tax deductions are straightforward, like vehicle expenses, including gas, maintenance, parking, and tolls for business-related travel. But others may be a bit more ambiguous if you’re not familiar with their definitions or limitations. So, let’s talk about the ones whose meanings aren’t immediately obvious. Home office deductions are an area that tends to cause some confusion. You can deduct a portion of your rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, and other costs for the square footage of your home that is used as an office.

But the thing to remember here is that it has to be a strict home office space. It can’t be a spare room that you occasionally escape to with your laptop if your loved ones or roommates are being noisy in other areas. Your home office can’t be dual purpose, it must strictly be a home office space. Your tax software or a tax professional can help you decide between calculating the costs to write off or taking the standard deduction based on square footage.

Speaking of consulting a tax professional, professional services like this one are another potential deduction. You can also deduct fees for accountants, attorneys, or business consultants. The same goes for freelancers or independent contractors that you bring in to help with marketing or extra help during busy months. Client and employee entertainment is a deduction that often gets missed. If you take a potential client out for lunch, you can typically deduct up to 50% of the cost, as long as at least one employee is there and it isn’t a particularly lavish experience. You can deduct snacks and meals that you provide in the office, too.

Deducting taxes can get a bit tricky because the deduction you qualify for depends on the tax type. For example, you may be able to deduct license taxes, taxes on real estate your business owns, sales taxes on purchases made for your business, or a portion of your payroll taxes. For this one, the deductions can vary depending on several different factors, including state and business type, so it may be best to talk to a professional here, too.

Similar to the last one, some of your insurance premiums may be tax-deductible. These are strictly business-based premiums for coverage in different areas, like property, liability, casualty, employee theft, and business-owned vehicles. Lastly, let’s talk about bad business debts. These include money advanced for goods or services that were never fulfilled. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to deduct the costs. One example of this might be advancing money to an employee or vendor and then having them disappear without fulfilling their end of the bargain.

The Wrap Up

There are many benefits to being a small business owner. But like all things worthwhile in life, there are times when it’ll require more effort than we’re used to. Filing our taxes this year is one of those times. If you feel confident handling your tax filing on your own this year, several reputable tax services, including H&R Block, offer specialized online filing services for the self-employed and small business owners.

Because they require more work, you should expect to pay more to file. But the number of deductions that they’ll help you sift through will make it worth the extra upfront cost. If you want to be extra thorough to ensure that every possible tax benefit is explored or you simply have a lot of questions you’d like answered, hiring a tax professional you can meet with in person may be the better way to go this time.

If you haven’t been already, keeping detailed records of your expenses and other information related to your taxes and tax benefits can help you feel better prepared next time. Keep receipts, write down business-related items, training, or travel expenses, and store it all somewhere safe. If you haven’t already, investing in some small business software like QuickBooks’ accounting, bill-pay, record keeping, and payroll software might help you get more organized. And depending on the software and what you’re using it for, you might be able to deduct that cost, too.

Improve Your Cleaning Process with a ProTeam Backpack Vacuum

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Everyone is familiar with standard upright vacuums. They can be clunky and hard to maneuver around a normal living room. Now, imagine using one of these in a large commercial space with lots of offices, furniture, and staircases. When you buy a vacuum, you want it to be the best vacuum for your cleaning needs – you need a backpack vacuum.

The creation of the ProTeam Backpack Vacuum in 1987 has drastically changed the function and performance of the vacuum machine. Popular opinion maintains that if you are working as a professional cleaner, a backpack vacuum is the ONLY way to go. The benefits of using a backpack vacuum are numerous and include a low cost of ownership and maintenance, an efficient and ergonomic design, and the health benefits provided by an advanced HEPA filtration system.

ProTeam Backpack Vacuum Benefits

Although most people learn to vacuum using a front to back motion, the Proteam Backpack Vacuum allows for a side to side motion while working. This may seem like a small thing, but using this method increases efficiency. According to a study done at Battelle Memorial Institute, using this movement cuts the time required to clean a room by 50%. This helps save time and money. Imagine reducing your work time at each location by half; this is a game changer when it comes to productivity and cost savings!

The average cost of a ProTeam Backpack Vacuum is $600, with a range of prices that vary based on the kit and accessories available to purchase with the machine itself. Customizations include telescoping wands for warehouses featuring high windows and fans or multi-surface attachments for different floor types throughout a large commercial space.

Different models of the machines offer tank capacity from six to ten quarts, and for those working in populated or day time environments, there is the QuietPro unit which offers a two-speed power and decibel control switch which lowers sound levels from 60 decibels to 51 decibels. This helps you or your employees be less intrusive to clients when cleaning during business hours. Having access to many different accessories and attachments, whether they’re bought in a package or individually, provides an advantage to anyone looking to buy a ProTeam Backpack Vacuum. When you buy the machine from a company like Corvus Janitorial to support your Franchise, there are often special discounts and offers available.

Maintaining Your ProTeam Backpack Vacuum

Regular maintenance of a ProTeam Backpack Vacuum is super easy and is one of the best ways to care for this expensive, but essential, piece of equipment. While the BackPack Vacuum is less expensive to maintain than an upright model, it is still necessary to follow all maintenance procedures and schedules. Using the calendar app on your phone is a great way to schedule reminders to yourself of important maintenance dates.

There are several things to monitor when it comes to using and maintaining your ProTeam Backpack Vacuum. The filtration system is vital to the performance of the vacuum, so checking the filters before and after every use is recommended. After two hours of consecutive use, the filters should be looked over. The dome filter should be removed and rinsed weekly and the HEPA filters should be checked every two weeks or so. The HEPA filters will need to be replaced occasionally, either after six months of use, or as soon as they become discolored. Wash the Micro Cloth filter once a month, but never put it in the dryer. Following this routine will help extend the life and performance of your backpack vacuum. As an added bonus, ProTeam offers a three year warranty on motor, labor and parts with a limited lifetime warranty on molded body parts.

HEPA Filters Improve Air Quality

The HEPA filtration system utilized in many of the ProTeam vacuums is another selling point for this system. ProTeam is a health partner of the American Lung Association, helping spread awareness of the importance of indoor air quality. HEPA filtration systems typically filter out microscopic particles, which is important for the improvement of indoor air quality and the people working in those environments. Poor indoor air is a contributing factor to suffering for those with asthma and allergies. While normal vacuums just stir up this mess, HEPA filters remove particles like smoke, pollen, dust and dander. This can improve conditions caused by indoor allergens like coughing, sneezing and even headaches. When you are using a ProTeam backpack vacuum, your clients will be able to not only see the difference, they will be able to feel and smell the improvement in air quality.

Backpack Vacuums Improve Efficiency and Safety

ProTeam BackPack Vacuums are highly efficient, allowing you to clean two-and-a-half times more floor space than a standard vacuum. The ergonomic design of these vacuums makes cleaning so much quicker and easier on the body. These backpacks are lightweight, weighing in between 8 and 13 pounds. When they are adjusted correctly, the bulk is evenly distributed, making it feel much lighter. Carrying this piece of equipment is much easier than lugging around a traditional upright model. Having the machine on your back leads to a more comfortable work day, resulting in less time spent bent over with the possibility of a strained back or tired arms. Walking through doors and down hallways is a breeze.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), slips, trips and falls account for 25% of injury claims each year, and also make up 17% of disabling occupational injuries. This leads not only to lost productivity and recovery time, but can result in expensive doctor or hospital visits and rehab as well as increased insurance costs. No one has the time or the money to be out of work due to an injury – not you nor your employees. Offering high-quality equipment like a ProTeam Backpack Vacuum can provide stability and safety to you and your staff.

Using a cordless backpack vacuum helps to avoid tripping hazards and lost work days or possible workman’s compensation claims. Having a clear and safe work space is important to keeping those injuries and near misses at bay. For those working in multi-level properties, going up and down stairs is easier and safer than when using a canister or typical upright unit. There is less chance of tripping over the cord, and a cordless unit makes things much faster when moving from room to room.

Get Your ProTeam Backpack Vacuum from Corvus

There are so many advantages that come with owning a ProTeam Backpack vacuum, not only for janitorial crews but for their clients as well. If you are interested in purchasing a Proteam BackPack Vacuum contact your local Corvus office for pricing details and learn why this product is a good investment for your business!

Four Reasons It’s Important to Keep Your Data Center Spotless

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Modern businesses rely on seamless computer performance to operate. Most servers are used 24/7, which means any downtime will negatively impact a company’s bottom line almost immediately. Dirt is a computer’s enemy, so preventing dirt from accumulating in your data center or server room is crucial. There are several reasons it pays to keep your data center or server room clean, but here are four everyone should consider.

1. Regular Cleaning Reduces Downtime

Downtime is always costly, but the actual costs depend on a variety of factors. The size of a business, the number of employees idled by the downtime, and the type of business factor into the equation. For example, an insurance company will experience different losses than a large online retailer. In any case, the losses add up quickly and can create negative effects on a company’s bottom line. According to Gartner, the average cost of server downtime is $5,600 per minute. Most companies cannot afford those kinds of losses.

Since one major factor related to data center and server downtime is dirt, computer industry experts recommend routine cleaning to ensure a server isn’t adversely affected by a dirty environment. One solution is to contract professional data center cleaning services such as those offered by Corvus Janitorial Systems to ensure the servers that power businesses are always spotless.

2. Routine Cleaning Extends the Life of Equipment

Since servers run constantly, data centers and in-house server rooms must keep the temperature constant. If temperatures rise, equipment overheats quickly. Once that happens, the life of the equipment involved is impacted, as electronic equipment cannot tolerate high heat for extended periods.

The dust and other debris in the air will plug filters, which reduces the flow of cooled air in server environments. While cleaning or replacing filters helps, those filters will clog again if the environment is not kept clean. Routine data center or in-house server room cleaning reduces the need for filter maintenance, cutting overhead expenses and increasing the expected lifespan of equipment.

One final impact of contaminants in the air is corrosion. Electronic components and wiring are subject to corrosion, so mitigating the root causes of corrosion is a crucial concern for servers’ owners.

3. Clean Data Centers Aren’t Welcoming to Rodents 

Rodents love a warm, cozy environment, and they see those characteristics in server rooms. Since rodents can cause significant damage to computer components and pose health hazards to employees, the prevention of infestations is critical.

Appropriate cleaning practices reduce the potential for rodent infestations. Industry experts recommend paying close attention to the underfloor plenum, as that area provides an ideal runway for rodents. Once rodents enter that area, they quickly contaminate the entire space. Cleaning experts always monitor data centers or in-house server rooms for any signs of rodents and act quickly to resolve issues related to their presence.

Remember that rodents love to chew on wires, and that damage will cripple a server. Again, downtime is the enemy here, so taking appropriate steps to eliminate the threat of rodent damage will always be necessary.

4. A Clean Data Center Enhances Workplace Safety

Dusty environments pose significant fire threats. Fires damage or destroy equipment, lead to extensive downtime, and lead to data loss. Of course, there is also a threat to the physical well-being of employees in and around a data center or in-house server room. A clean server environment eliminates those threats.

While the odds of data center or server fires are not high, any cause of downtime must be considered. Remember that even static electricity within the data center can lead to a dust-fueled fire, so cleaning is essential to reduce any potential risk.

Staying On Top of Data Center Safety Issues

Maintaining a regular cleaning schedule is arguably the most important aspect of maintaining a clean and safe data center, but there are other ways to protect a data center and employees. Here are some strategies to consider that work with cleanliness to prevent a disaster.

  • Track any Temperature Variations. The temperatures in a data center must be carefully controlled to keep the equipment safe and reduce the odds of a system failure. Most experts recommend maintaining data center or server room temperatures around 65 degrees, with a maximum of roughly 80 degrees. When temperatures rise above that threshold, the equipment is in danger. One major cause of overheating is, as noted earlier, clogged filters. Keeping the room clean at all times reduces the odds of overheating. In addition, monitoring those temperatures will also allow workers to spot developing issues.

  • Keep All Equipment Clean. Regular cleaning by professionals is crucial, but workers are also encouraged to wipe down equipment between cleanings. That cleaning helps to reduce the amount of dust that can accumulate inside equipment where it’s difficult to remove.

  • Organize All Cords. Disorganized cords pose a safety threat to workers, but loose and disorganized cords also make cleaning the space more difficult. The best course of action is to keep cords as short as possible and organize them so they are out of the way.

  • Always Use the Right Equipment. Choosing the right equipment reduces threats to workers and equipment. At the same time, installing proper racks, cooling devices, power distribution equipment, and monitoring devices will always be crucial for maintaining a safe environment that’s easy to maintain. Proper aisle containment is also crucial for safety and temperature control.

Since every data center or in-house server room is somewhat different, their maintenance needs will vary to some degree. However, the basics of design, safety, and cleanliness will always apply.

Develop an Appropriate Cleaning Strategy Now

While keeping data center cleaning duties in-house may be tempting, contracting a professional cleaning service like Corvus Janitorial Systems to handle those chores generally proves more efficient. Start by contacting a provider to evaluate the current cleaning practices and determine where improvements can reduce the odds of system issues developing due to a contaminated environment.

Once that evaluation is complete, the next step is determining how and when to implement changes that will result in a cleaner, safer data center. Your data center investment is protected when the space is kept clean and free of health hazards. To get started, contact a professional cleaning service like Corvus Janitorial Systems today via our online form or call today.

How Often Should You Clean Your Office’s Carpets?

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Immediately upon entering a business, a customer forms an opinion of the company and its offerings. To present the right image, the interior must be orderly. Many people overlook the carpet when considering the cleanliness of the interior but doing so is a mistake.

Every business should have its carpet cleaned regularly. Not only will this help to attract customers, but it will also keep the employees healthy. How often should a business owner clean their office carpets?

The Benefits of Professional Carpet Cleaning

Professional office carpet cleaning, performed by a professional cleaning company like Corvus Janitorial Systems, ensures the business presents the right image to visitors and increases the likelihood of them becoming paying customers. They see the clean carpets as a sign the business pays attention to details and takes pride in what it does.

Dirty carpets negatively affect indoor air quality. They harbor dust, dirt, germs, allergens, and more, which can lead to sick employees. Finally, dirty carpets allow for more noise in the office.

Having the carpets cleaned removes these concerns. Many business owners attempt to clean the carpets on their own but don’t remove all contaminants. Professional carpet cleaners like Corvus bring the tools needed to clean the carpets thoroughly and provide these benefits.

How Often are Professional Carpet Cleanings Needed?

Business owners wish to know how often they should have their carpets professionally cleaned. The answers vary based on many factors. 

Consider the carpet type when determining how often they need cleaning. High-pile carpets and dense carpets need more frequent cleanings because they collect dirt and debris easily.

Small carpets require fewer cleanings. Take this into account when setting up a schedule for professional cleanings. Large carpets trap more contaminants, so they need cleaning multiple times a year. However, small carpets placed in the center of a room need daily cleanings because of the amount of traffic they receive.

Carpets that receive significant amounts of traffic need to be cleaned more often. As employees and visitors move around the office, debris from their shoes makes its way into the carpets. The cleanings remove this debris.

Business owners find they may choose from several carpet cleaning options. The type selected plays a role in how often the carpets need cleaning. A thorough cleaning comes with a higher price tag but won’t need repeating as often as a light cleaning.

Color plays a role in how often carpets need to be cleaned. Lighter-colored carpets show dirt easily, and any dirt present on the carpets can leave visitors with the wrong impression of the business. Consider having these carpets cleaned multiple times each year.

Dark-colored carpets hide dirt and stains better. However, this doesn’t mean a business owner should put off regular carpet cleanings. The fibers may hold odors and give visitors a negative opinion of the business.

People also need to factor in seasonal changes when determining how often to clean their carpets. Rain, snow, and mud all make their way into carpets during rainy or snowy seasons. In addition, the winter months come with salt and sand treatments, and these materials may make their way into carpets where they can do damage.

Dry seasons, in contrast, often come accompanied by dirt and dust. This dust and dirt make their way into carpets, as well. Consider having the carpets cleaned regularly, so these pollutants don’t harm the fibers and appearance of the carpets.

Additional Steps Needed to Keep Carpets Clean

Business owners need to vacuum their carpets weekly to remove any dirt and debris that has become trapped in the fibers. In addition, they need to vacuum the carpets correctly. Many people don’t realize there is a right and wrong way to do so.

Vacuum with the carpet’s grain to avoid premature wear and damage. Begin in the farthest corner of the room and work backward. This ensures no spots are missed, and the vacuum collects all dirt and debris from the fibers. After each cleaning, empty the vacuum canister or check the bag to see if the vacuum needs a new one. 

However, heavily trafficked areas need to be vacuumed more often. In fact, vacuum daily in those areas that receive constant use. This helps to prevent dirt and debris from making their way into the carpet fibers.

Furthermore, spot clean any stains immediately. Don’t allow the stain to sit on the carpet. Doing so makes it harder to remove the spot when a full cleaning is done. However, never assume spot cleaning is enough to keep carpets looking their best. Full carpet cleanings remain essential to keep floors looking their best.

Invest in mats at entryways. The mats reduce the number of pollutants that reach the carpets. This helps to keep the carpets clean while extending their lifespan.

Preventative cleanings are wise. A business owner should never wait until the carpet is filthy before having it cleaned. Consider having heavily trafficked areas cleaned monthly. For areas that receive moderate traffic, quarterly cleanings usually suffice. Areas that receive little traffic only need to be cleaned twice a year.

Why Use a Professional?

Professional carpet cleaners like Corvus bring tools and equipment to each job that the average person doesn’t have access to. For example, they bring commercial stain removers to address set-in stains.

The professional cleaner may use the hot-water extraction method to clean the carpets. Doing so helps to remove the set-in stains. The cleaner injects hot water and detergent into the carpets. They then use a special device to remove the dirt and extract the water.

Dry cleaning serves as another option to clean carpets. The cleaner applies a dry-cleaning agent to the carpets. They follow up by using a tool, such as a brush, to loosen any dirt in the carpet fibers. They then vacuum the loosened dirt up. 

Countless businesses invest in carpets today, thanks to their elegance and aesthetic appeal. In addition, with flooring materials, carpeting is one of the easiest to install. With proper care, carpets will last for years to come.

Regular cleanings serve as one way to care for carpets, so schedule an appointment today with Corvus Janitorial Systems for a professional carpet cleaning. Doing so provides the above mentioned benefits and more for your office.

Women and Franchising: How a Janitorial Franchise Could Be Your Ticket to Independence

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Before the pandemic, the number of female business owners was growing at an unprecedented rate, with a 45% increase from 2007 to 2016 compared to a 9% increase among all businesses. That’s an impressive five times the national average, although it’s worth noting that as of 2022, only 31% of small businesses and franchises are owned and run by women.

The coronavirus pandemic undeniably created some setbacks for women in the business world. Women were statistically more likely to have been furloughed or had to change careers as a result of the pandemic’s economic fallout, and at that time, around a quarter of all women were considering downshifting their careers. Thankfully, though, life has begun to return to normal, and women are returning to the workforce in droves. 

The problem is that despite the ongoing shift in many industries towards female workforces, women still don’t have an equal chance when it comes to corporate leadership. The glass ceiling is still firmly in place in most companies, and the gender pay gap persists across all management levels.

If you’re sick of working long hours for less pay with fewer opportunities for advancement, you’ve come to the right place. Owning a janitorial services franchise, such as a Corvus Janitorial Systems franchise, offers a way out for women who are tired of dealing constantly with corporate America’s ongoing gender inequality problem. You can find out how below.

The Future of Franchising Is Female

Let’s start at the beginning. A franchise is a type of business license. It grants you, the franchisee, access to another business, the franchisor’s knowledge, processes, and trademarks so that you can provide services or sell products under a known and trusted business name. To acquire a franchise, all you need to do is pay for licensing and give the franchisor an initial start-up fee. 

According to the International Franchise Association, women owned just 8.5% of all franchises in 1995. Now, that number has grown to 31%, and there is no indication that it will plateau. There are currently more women looking for information about how to purchase a franchise than men, especially among the younger generations.

Why Women Make Fantastic Franchise Owners

Have you ever stopped to think about the amount of unpaid labor you provide in the home? From cooking and cleaning to childcare, the chances are good that it’s a lot. On average, women spend almost four and a half hours on unpaid labor, which is more than many people spend each week at part-time jobs.

There are few bright sides to the extremity of the gender gap in unpaid caregiving and home maintenance, especially if you’re still working a full-time, 9-5 job for 17% less pay than your male counterparts. Thankfully, though, women tend to be more adaptable than men and better at both multi-tasking and quick thinking. After all, you have to be able to handle everything on the average American woman’s plate. 

In many families, women keep their homes organized. They keep track of all kinds of details, from grocery lists to home finances and personal schedules, and communicate all of that information effectively to the entire family so that everyone is on the same page. If there’s one thing all of these varied skills have in common, it’s that they are fantastic qualities in a business owner.

These observations may sound anecdotal, but they’re backed up by research. In 2012, researchers evaluated 7,200 surveys tracing the judgment of different leaders’ peers, bosses, and reports. Participants rated leaders’ overall effectiveness and strength over 16 competencies. Women were rated higher in 12 of those 16 core business competencies, including in traits that have historically been considered male strengths, such as taking initiative and pushing to get results.

The Unique Benefits of the Franchise Business Model

If you finished reading through those last few paragraphs and feel empowered, that’s good. You should. Now, it’s time to talk about why you should take all the skills you’ve developed both at home and in the corporate world and put them to a different kind of use. It’s time to discuss the unique benefits of the franchise business model for modern women.

Create Your Own Opportunities

When women start working at corporate offices, they’re almost always told that there will be plenty of opportunities for advancement. While that may be true for lower- to middle-management positions, CEOs and other higher-ups are still overwhelmingly male, and women are rarely offered the level of mentorship and help with advancement extended to their male colleagues.

As a result of these and other factors, men outnumber women at the CEO level by around 17:1. While it’s perfectly understandable to be upset about these statistics and laudable to put in the work to change them, it’s also undeniable that women with an entrepreneurial spirit will have a better chance of success creating their own opportunities by opening franchises.

Greater Freedom and Flexibility

Office jobs don’t tend to offer much flexibility. Even companies that have made the switch to offering remote work to some of their employees some of the time still place exacting demands on workers and expect them to build their lives around their jobs. This applies to men as well as women, but because women take on the bulk of unpaid household labor, they suffer more as a result.

Purchasing a franchise offers women an opportunity to take control of their careers and levels of work-life balance. Instead of building their lives around their jobs, franchise owners build their businesses around their lives. This level of flexibility will allow you to prioritize not just family but also yourself. In a world where women are taught from childhood to prioritize the needs of others, that change can be incredibly empowering.

Fewer Financial Barriers to Entry

Men aren’t just paid better, on average, than their female counterparts in the corporate world. They’re also 20% more likely to be able to secure small business loans as entrepreneurs. This statistic might help to explain why male entrepreneurs continue to make twice as much money, on average, as their female counterparts.

Thankfully, franchises offer a lower barrier to entry. Most have either in-house financing options or established relationships with outside financial institutions that can be leveraged by potential franchisees to fund their ventures. Corvus Janitorial Systems, in particular, strives to provide strong financial support and guidance throughout the franchise purchase and onboarding process. This creates new opportunities for women who are unable to secure traditional small business loans.

Help Other Women Succeed

Finally, owning a franchise offers an opportunity to help other women succeed in the business world. It’s not just that as the owner of the franchise location, you’ll have the ultimate say over who gets hired and will be able to ensure gender parity in the hiring process. Once you’ve gotten on your feet, it will also offer an opportunity to act as a mentor and serve as a positive role model for girls and younger women. At Corvus, we make the hiring and vetting process easy and straightforward for our franchise owners and will provide strong support along the way. 

It can be incredibly frustrating to continue working towards a gender-equal economy only to find additional barriers every step of the way, and some women leaving the business world feel like they’re giving up the fight. In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Women who choose to redefine their roles in what is still a male-dominated business world and step into positions of leadership are doing their part to create a more inclusive society.

Why the Janitorial Industry?

Hopefully, by now, you’re suitably excited about the possibility of franchise ownership. The question remains, though, of why the janitorial industry offers such a great opportunity for gaining true independence. There are a few answers to that question, so each new franchisee will have a different set of reasons for starting a local janitorial business, such as a Corvus Janitorial franchise. Some of the most common include:

Meeting the Needs of the Market

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the market for all sorts of cleaning services has exploded, and that includes commercial cleaning. There are plenty of residential cleaning services out there, but few janitorial businesses that can meet the increased needs of local schools, hospitals, gyms, offices, and other large or specialized spaces. At Corvus Janitorial Systems, we have the infrastructure and support in place to provide cleaning services to all industries.

Easy Transition From Residential Cleaning

While the janitorial industry has historically been male-dominated, the majority of residential cleaning businesses are run by women. Making the transition over to owning a janitorial franchise will be much easier than learning the ins and outs of an entirely new and unrelated industry. Corvus is there with our franchise owners every step of the way to guide them on building a successful janitorial franchise business.

Support From Established Franchisors

While it’s true that women-owned businesses, in general, and franchises, in particular, are becoming more common every day, not every industry is keeping up with the changing times. In the janitorial industry, female entrepreneurs can find the support and acceptance they need from Corvus Janitorial. In fact, business owner guidance and mentorship is a core tenant of the Corvus franchise program and one reason our franchisees have enjoyed strong success and opportunities.

Contact Corvus Janitorial Systems

If you’re a female entrepreneur ready to embrace everything that janitorial franchises have to offer, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can fill out our quick and easy contact form online, or call us today, to schedule a meeting with a Corvus representative who can tell you everything you need to know about starting a woman-owned janitorial business with the help of the established Corvus Janitorial Systems brand.