How Maid Right’s Franchisee of the Year Reached Nearly $1M in Revenue Despite the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on nearly every industry, but brands like Maid Right, the nation’s leading residential and commercial cleaning franchise with over 20 locations, prove some business models can thrive even in the midst of economic crisis and uncertainty. Just ask Barbara Reguero, a Maid Right franchisee in New Rochelle, New York who has continued to meet her business goals despite operating in one of the areas hit hardest by the pandemic. 

“I had previously been on Wall Street for 23 years, managing a global equity research company,” said Reguero. “After the economic crash of 2008, I was let go and temporarily went to work at several different banks and equity firms. Luckily, I had received a generous severance package, so I had the ability to take some time off and figure out what I really wanted to do next. After 30 years of commuting into Manhattan, I decided I wanted an opportunity that would allow me to work locally in the suburbs and be my own boss. I reached out to a few franchise brokers and began looking for the perfect concept.” 

When Reguero was introduced to Maid Right, she knew she had found the right fit. Maid Right franchisees enjoy a low cost of entry, scalable margins and a flexible and recurring business model that does not require a brick-and-mortar space.  

“I was originally attracted to Maid Right because of its recurring customer business model,” said Reguero. “I also liked that it offered a recession-proof service that couldn’t be replicated by e-commerce. I knew the demand for home services would always be there, and that is true for all the Premium Service Brands business models.” 

Reguero opened her Maid Right franchise in February of 2015. Last year, Barbara set a goal of bringing in one million dollars in revenue, which would have matched her earnings in 2019. Then, the pandemic hit in March, and she found herself in the epicenter of the chaos. 

“My daughter was a biology major and has always been interested in viruses,” said Reguero. “When the outbreak first happened in New York, she was sending our team information, best practices and resources to ensure we were safe. Before it was even a requirement to wear masks, we had all our teams wearing masks and gloves and practicing social distancing.” 

When it comes to the business, Reguero says she knew she had to act quickly, sending out a questionnaire that allowed clients to proactively tell her whether they wanted to suspend service or move forward with Maid Right. “There is a subtle difference between giving someone the option to stop service versus just hiding and waiting for it to blow over,” she said. “Having that conversation upfront early on was very important, and people respected us for taking charge.”

By the spring, Reguero says 40% to 50% of the customers that went on pause came back as they became acclimated to working from home. “With clients spending a lot of time in the home, they needed to know their space was safe,” she said. “By being flexible and helping clients in every way, they trusted us as a valuable resource during this time.” 

Now, Reguero notes that Maid Right’s differentiated disinfection services are more in demand than ever, especially since the brand's proprietary disinfectant spray, MR Shield, has been EPA-approved to kill the coronavirus. Plus, as opposed to the harsh chemicals often used by the competition, Maid Right stands out with the use of fully eco-friendly and biodegradable products, appealing to the growing demand for green and sustainable cleaning services. 

During the final six months of 2020, this in-demand service helped Reguero produce $516,000 in revenue. In addition, Reguero signed with a property management company that recently built a new building in the New Rochelle area and needed a post-construction clean. The opportunity to offer commercial services provided Reguero’s operation with another revenue stream at a crucial time. 

Today, Reguero says about 90% of customers have returned to regular service. Despite her business shrinking to 50% capacity during the heart of the pandemic, Reguero fell only $75,000 short of her 2020 goal. 

In addition to Maid Right’s well-positioned business model, Reguero’s strong determination, amazing customer service and thorough employee communication allowed her operation to not only survive 2020, but thrive. Reguero’s impressive success didn’t go unnoticed either — she was awarded Franchisee of the Year at Premium Service Brands’ 2020 convention.

“I was surprised by the award, but it was amazing to be recognized for our team’s hard work,” said Reguero. “In hindsight, we definitely had more exposure to the virus early in the year because it started here in New York, so we had to overcome some unique challenges. We really worked hard to find effective and novel ways to navigate those challenges, which is why it felt great to be named franchisee of the year and end this difficult year on a high note.”

The investment for a Maid Right franchise ranges from $99,375 to $141,500, with a franchise fee of $60,000. For more info, visit https://www.premiumservicebrands.com/maid-right/.