The Winning Franchisee | A Central African Immigrant Achieves American Dream by Opening First Maid Right Franchise Location in Maryland

Spring is all about new beginnings, and Central African immigrant Vivan Ziwe is starting anew. Born in Cameroon, Africa, Ziwe knew the only way he could be successful in his home country was to have connections in government and society. Now, as the owner of his very own American Maid Right franchise (the brand’s first franchise in Maryland), Ziwe is beaming with pride and excitement to begin his journey in American business.

1851: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

VIVIAN ZIWE: I was born in Douala, Cameroon, and studied Physics and computer science prior to immigrating to the U.S. My degree is from the Université de Douala. I came to the U.S. in October of 2006 in search of the “American dream”, which meant continuing my education at the University of the District of Columbia and studying nursing. It may seem odd to go from Physics or Computers to healthcare, but I continued on that path, studying electrical engineering. I’ve never stopped wanting to learn and enrolled in the University of Maryland; I still plan to take classes and finish up there. Prior to Maid Right, I worked in project management as a Scrum Master contractor for ISA soft Contracting at Liberty Mutual Insurance.

When you’re not a resident in America, you fiercely want to pursue the “American Dream”. Business owners back home in Cameroon don’t see the success Americans do — not everyone succeeds. It’s all about who you know there — not how hard you work. Everyone has their own version of success. My dream was to become an entrepreneur, and that’s why franchising made sense to me. I knew I’d be working more hours, but I wanted something with my name on it. 

What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee; and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

ZIWE: I knew little about franchising prior to this opportunity with Maid Right, but the chances for success in franchising are higher than the chances of success when going into business on your own. The corporation is investing in my business by lending me their teamwork, and in turn, I can make them a profit. As a first-time business owner, I needed someone to lead me and show me how to do it. I didn’t know where to begin because opening a business as a first-time business owner is scary and risky.

Had I not gone into business using the franchise model, I would have been none the wiser. There is so much I learned from Premium Service Brands and Maid Right. I would say to someone looking at going into business for themselves to go with the franchise; you learn so much doing it this way. 

What makes you stand out as a unique business owner in the local community?

ZIWE: I believe our gift to our customers is the gift of time. You get back your free time when we clean — you get back time to use to relax or be with your family. This is the gift of relaxation. I’ll always put myself in the customer's shoes because I’ve been a customer, so I know what kind of service others are getting and what they ultimately would like to receive. I’ve identified what was missing from the service I received, and I add more to that. These are services the competition doesn’t offer — like building a relationship with my customers. 

What made you pick this brand? In other words, what excites you most about this company?

ZIWE: I wasn’t looking for a cleaning franchise. Instead, I was looking at a home-healthcare franchise. Having been a nurse before, I was trying to open something where my wife, a nurse practitioner, and I could be in business together. Right now home cleaning services are needed because families are busier than they have ever been. 

What do you hope to achieve with your business? Plans for growth? 

ZIWE: We are the first Maid Right in Maryland! My plan is to have a successful business and to grow my business to a very large scale. I plan to purchase additional territories. I dream of covering the entire state. 

What is the one thing about your story that you want us to know?

ZIWE: I care very much about people. Having been a nurse, I think, “once a nurse, always a nurse.” Whenever I go into people’s homes as a business owner, even to just do an estimate, I still have all that care in my heart. When I talk with them before or after a job, I show I care and am always looking at things from the client’s perspective.

What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

ZIWE: I would say go for it; it’s never too late, or too early, to be a franchise business owner. Being an entrepreneur is not easy — you have to be ready for it. There will be difficult times, especially in the beginning, but still, go for it! It can be very challenging but super rewarding. Anyone and everyone can do this.