When Chris Lanagan and his wife, Jen, entered the franchising fold over two decades ago, it was with a simple goal: to create a sustainable business capable of supporting the family that could stand the test of time.
Today, that vision encompasses a multi-brand ownership operation under the Authority Brands banner, with the Lanagans overseeing three The Cleaning Authority locations and one DoodyCalls franchise in Wisconsin.
Chris and Jen have worked to build their The Cleaning Authority locations for 23 years, adding a DoodyCalls franchise about four years ago. They’ve built their businesses while raising their children — each of whom maintain a small ownership stake, and eventually building toward more significant roles for each.
Just as the family works together each day to continually build a franchising legacy that can be passed on, so too do the two brands, with keeping the Lanagan family at the center of the operation.
While the Lanagans have thrived in franchising for nearly a quarter of a century, their two daughters have begun taking on increased leadership roles — a natural progression for two children raised in the family business, crucially learning every facet along the way.
Both kids were under the age of 5 when the Lanagans made their entry into ownership, scrubbing by about the age of 10 before cleaning homes in their teens.
For Chris, who came from a background in supply chain and inventory management as well as operations, working for men’s footwear manufacturer Allen Edmonds, the initial goal in pivoting to franchising was independent business ownership, gradually shifting to a greater focus on family involvement and legacy.
Today, oldest daughter Alyssa, 28, oversees a pair of The Cleaning Authority offices as area manager, and youngest daughter Mackenzie, 26, is a manager at DoodyCalls, maintaining the family’s hands-on approach to entrepreneurship.
“I had a good career but always wanted my own business. Jen worked in banking and was a stay-at-home mom for a period. But the biggest thing I learned was customer service. The owner of Allen Edmonds was a zealot about customer service. And that skill is huge in the service industry. I also gained people skills, acting as a liaison between manufacturing and sales, which often clash,” Chris said.
Initially establishing their business in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, gave the Lanagans the advantage of getting set up near their home, allowing them to offer services that would come to make a difference in a community where they were recognized.
Both The Cleaning Authority and DoodyCalls brands provide home services. The Cleaning Authority is a residential cleaning service in operation at more than 225 locations while DoodyCalls delivers pet waste removal services in a mobile setting, with both targeting residential and commercial properties (helping the family business maintain scalable franchising diversity).
Allowing for the alignment of both values and operations, the two businesses also provide unique cross-promotional opportunities.
“You're marketing, you're getting leads and you're converting those leads into customers. And then you're taking care of those customers. So, there are synergies,” Chris said. “For example, The Cleaning Authority collects pet information for DoodyCalls — cross-marketing. Even though one's cleaning and one's picking up pet waste, there are still a lot of similarities in what we're doing. So, we felt very comfortable. And we’ve gained customers both ways.”
Making a difference by providing home-based services within their own community and beyond, the entrepreneurial focus for the family has shifted. It’s one thing to create a successful business, but it’s another thing entirely to maintain that success. By fostering operational efficiency and cross-promotional efforts, the Lanagan family has built a multi-brand franchise which seems primed to stand the test of time.
“Initially, the goal was to become self-sufficient. Then, it became about providing for the family,” Chris said. “I never wanted that to get in the way of our personal relationship, so I try to take much more of a supportive big picture approach. Because there's nothing that we haven't encountered in 23 years.”
About The Cleaning Authority:
Founded in 1977, The Cleaning Authority franchise specializes in residential house cleaning services across the United States and Canada, with over 220 franchise locations. Committed to delivering exceptional quality and customer service, The Cleaning Authority follows a structured approach using the Detail-Clean Rotation System in conjunction with a Professional House Cleaning Checklist. This method divides the home into zones, ensuring a rotating deep-cleaning schedule so that every area receives thorough attention at the right frequency. All cleaning crews undergo professional training, and customer satisfaction is a top priority. To learn more about this franchise and becoming a franchise owner, visit thecleaningauthority.com.
About DoodyCalls:
DoodyCalls was founded in 2000 by Jacob and Susan D'Aniello in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. In 2004, the company began franchising its pet waste removal business nationwide and established corporate headquarters in Charlottesville, VA. DoodyCalls provides service to 26 states and the District of Columbia with dog waste pickup with consumer and industrial services. For more information about DoodyCalls, visit www.doodycalls.com.
DoodyCalls
SPONSORED
Chris and Jen Lanagan are building a multi-brand franchise legacy, growing The Cleaning Authority and DoodyCalls franchises while passing leadership to daughters Alyssa and Mackenzie.
When Chris Lanagan and his wife, Jen, entered the franchising fold over two decades ago, it was with a simple goal: to create a sustainable business capable of supporting the family that could stand the test of time.
Today, that vision encompasses a multi-brand ownership operation under the Authority Brands banner, with the Lanagans overseeing three The Cleaning Authority locations and one DoodyCalls franchise in Wisconsin.
Chris and Jen have worked to build their The Cleaning Authority locations for 23 years, adding a DoodyCalls franchise about four years ago. They’ve built their businesses while raising their children — each of whom maintain a small ownership stake, and eventually building toward more significant roles for each.
Just as the family works together each day to continually build a franchising legacy that can be passed on, so too do the two brands, with keeping the Lanagan family at the center of the operation.
While the Lanagans have thrived in franchising for nearly a quarter of a century, their two daughters have begun taking on increased leadership roles — a natural progression for two children raised in the family business, crucially learning every facet along the way.
Both kids were under the age of 5 when the Lanagans made their entry into ownership, scrubbing by about the age of 10 before cleaning homes in their teens.
For Chris, who came from a background in supply chain and inventory management as well as operations, working for men’s footwear manufacturer Allen Edmonds, the initial goal in pivoting to franchising was independent business ownership, gradually shifting to a greater focus on family involvement and legacy.
Today, oldest daughter Alyssa, 28, oversees a pair of The Cleaning Authority offices as area manager, and youngest daughter Mackenzie, 26, is a manager at DoodyCalls, maintaining the family’s hands-on approach to entrepreneurship.
“I had a good career but always wanted my own business. Jen worked in banking and was a stay-at-home mom for a period. But the biggest thing I learned was customer service. The owner of Allen Edmonds was a zealot about customer service. And that skill is huge in the service industry. I also gained people skills, acting as a liaison between manufacturing and sales, which often clash,” Chris said.
Initially establishing their business in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, gave the Lanagans the advantage of getting set up near their home, allowing them to offer services that would come to make a difference in a community where they were recognized.
Both The Cleaning Authority and DoodyCalls brands provide home services. The Cleaning Authority is a residential cleaning service in operation at more than 225 locations while DoodyCalls delivers pet waste removal services in a mobile setting, with both targeting residential and commercial properties (helping the family business maintain scalable franchising diversity).
Allowing for the alignment of both values and operations, the two businesses also provide unique cross-promotional opportunities.
“You're marketing, you're getting leads and you're converting those leads into customers. And then you're taking care of those customers. So, there are synergies,” Chris said. “For example, The Cleaning Authority collects pet information for DoodyCalls — cross-marketing. Even though one's cleaning and one's picking up pet waste, there are still a lot of similarities in what we're doing. So, we felt very comfortable. And we’ve gained customers both ways.”
Making a difference by providing home-based services within their own community and beyond, the entrepreneurial focus for the family has shifted. It’s one thing to create a successful business, but it’s another thing entirely to maintain that success. By fostering operational efficiency and cross-promotional efforts, the Lanagan family has built a multi-brand franchise which seems primed to stand the test of time.
“Initially, the goal was to become self-sufficient. Then, it became about providing for the family,” Chris said. “I never wanted that to get in the way of our personal relationship, so I try to take much more of a supportive big picture approach. Because there's nothing that we haven't encountered in 23 years.”
About The Cleaning Authority:
Founded in 1977, The Cleaning Authority franchise specializes in residential house cleaning services across the United States and Canada, with over 220 franchise locations. Committed to delivering exceptional quality and customer service, The Cleaning Authority follows a structured approach using the Detail-Clean Rotation System in conjunction with a Professional House Cleaning Checklist. This method divides the home into zones, ensuring a rotating deep-cleaning schedule so that every area receives thorough attention at the right frequency. All cleaning crews undergo professional training, and customer satisfaction is a top priority. To learn more about this franchise and becoming a franchise owner, visit thecleaningauthority.com.
About DoodyCalls:
DoodyCalls was founded in 2000 by Jacob and Susan D'Aniello in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. In 2004, the company began franchising its pet waste removal business nationwide and established corporate headquarters in Charlottesville, VA. DoodyCalls provides service to 26 states and the District of Columbia with dog waste pickup with consumer and industrial services. For more information about DoodyCalls, visit www.doodycalls.com.
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