Well I thought I give you some ideas if you are looking to start an oven cleaning business.
1. Set Out A Plan: Work out why you want to start an oven cleaning business and then set a plan and a way to get there.
I started my business in 2004. I needed to make more money to add to the amount I was getting with my home cleaning business. I had been used to earning lots as a computer consultant and the home cleaning business though it was going well wasn't bringing me in enough income. Also people kept asking me about oven cleaning so I started to consider it. My cleaning business was difficult to run as I had to cope with ladies who were far from reliable. I had to deal with difficult and unhappy clients.
I had an AGA in my kitchen and I noticed an advert in AGA Living for an AGA Cleaning Service - I knew they were difficult to clean as they were switched on all of the time and so hot and difficult to clean. Around that time when my AGA was getting it's first service I asked the engineer about the company he worked for. At the time they had 15 vans and each were servicing 5 AGAs a day each. "Wow" I thought. "Theres a lot of AGAs out there and they all need cleaning!" I decided to add oven cleaning and AGA cleaning to my cleaning company. A business I could put the effort into and ensure my customers were kept happy.
My initial plan was to generate £240 a day in sales. if i was advising you today, I'd say aim for £360. Work out a plan on a spreadsheet to get there.
Work out what advertising you are going to do. When I started I didn't have much of a clue. I used the same process that I had learnt to be the best method for my home cleaning business - putting out leaflets. But it didn't work very well. But I bumped into someone at a business meeting who mentioned Google Ads. I had never heard of them. But a few weeks later I was the first oven cleaning company in the country to use them. They worked a storm. And I grew the business
2. Make It Simple: Set things up so they are simple.
I went around in circles quite a few times when I started, changing this and changing that. But in the end we have ended up with the simple things to get the results we are looking for. A simple system to clean ovens using just three products. A way to convert customers into clients and a way to take calls, give out quotes and book customers in and they pay us in advance.
3. Get the best equipment and safe equipment.
I spent nearly six months trying to work out the best way to set up an oven cleaning business. Everyone in the industry was very secretive. In the end I decided to get some training and asked the same company that had been advertising in the AGA Living Magazine. They taught me a very good and efficient process to clean ovens, range cookers and AGA cookers, hobs and extractors. They showed me how to take doors off and apart and what tools I needed. I struck lucky because the system they used was the safe method. Over the years I have improved upon it and it is now the safest oven cleaning system.
Unlike the buckets and gas fired systems used by most of our competitors. I still can't believe that people use that system to set up as a professional oven cleaning company. Especially as I know of at least 5 van explosions in oven cleaning vans using the gas system. (And update May 2022 - I have heard of further three oven cleaning van explosions in the last six months).
If you do consider to buy a gas fired dip tank system or a franchise that operates using one check to see if they complying with HSE (Health and Safety Executive) 2019 which was introduced after the oven cleaning van explosion in August 2018 that blew up whilst it was being driven - the oven cleaning operative survived.
Here is the link https://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/gas-fired-oven-cleaning-equipment.htm
As of yet- October 2022- I have not seen any oven cleaning franchise or independent oven cleaning company with a gas fired dip tank set up - complying with this regulation even though the HSE safety alert has been issued. So most oven cleaning operators are not operating in a safe way.
Quoting from HSE web site:
"Safety alerts are for major faults that would result in a serious or fatal injury and where immediate remedial action is required. Safety alerts are issued when there is a specific safety issue that without immediate action being taken could result in a serious or fatal injury".
My choice of tank if you were going to buy it yourself is the insulated electrically heated Plastic Workshop tank. We use an insulated dip tank and I have developed it over the years to be the best it can be. I worked out years ago that insulating my plastic dip tank improved the performance of the tank especially on cold days. The Plastic Workshop tank is a bigger tank that is very similar to the one we use. I have considered these tanks but I would have to change my current set up as the tank is a lot bigger on the outside - though has very similar dimensions on the inside to my tank - exactly same width and length. So I'd have to change the rear area partition, rinse system location.
So it would mean changing the way we get our vans fitted out and rinse arrangement in the rear area - why would I change a well oiled machine? There are metal electrically heated dip tank alternatives but they don't retain their heat so it means they need heating up at customers homes so giving you a potential trip hazard claim.
Choice of van. When I started I ordered the one in stock. I had it fitted out in a basic way that cost me a lot of money. But I had the dip tank and I was all set to go. With our franchise set up we fit out your van in a few days with all the best oven cleaning fit out on the market.
4. Set a targeted service and Get the delivery right.
You need to run a proper business. This means you are going to have to advertise for work, answer phone calls, book people in for the jobs, turn up on time, do a good job and then deal with any problems etc. You will need to look after your own accounts and have a proper record of everything you do.
We have our own specialist software which we use and it helps to maintain customer contact and means more repeat business, we take payment in advance for our franchisees and also make bookings directly into their daily schedule. We market extensively nationally especially on YouTube and Facebook.
Setting up a business can have its challenges. But after 16 years of growing our own business and a national network of franchisees we can offer the perfect way to set up and start a business that will give you a good living from either working part time (2 oven cleans a day or three days a week) or full time.
5 Get To Market Fast
Get to market fast. What I mean here is have everything set up as it should be at the beginning. Your delivery system, your van, your accounts management, your payment system, you customer service system and your marketing system. The best way to do this is to buy a franchise.
To get our information pack click on this button and you'll get our free guide and three introduction videos which you'll learn something from.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can you make money out of an oven cleaning business?
Setting up a business can have its challenges. But a proven way of professionally cleaning ovens from a franchise will assist you in starting and running the best oven cleaning business. Franchise models are designed to help the business owner to maximise their business to become the best it can be and one they can make a good living from.
Do professional oven cleaning companies cleans ovens in a different way?
Franchises will have a proven process of cleaning ovens that gives the best results for the franchise owner and customer. The best way to clean ovens is to strip the oven down and clean the whole oven removing every bit of grease and burnt on carbon using eco products that don't harm the user or oven. Safest Franchise systems have a van mounted electrically heated dip tank to dip in the dirtiest oven parts to get them clean.
How do I start an oven cleaning company?
1. Find someone to train you in a system of operating. Pick someone who has been around a while and are making money from their business, or can prove that people they have trained are making a profit. A Franchise has a proven system with proven results.
2. Get the correct equipment. A van and electrically heated van mounted insulated dip tank is the best way to do this.
3. Create your company, logo and web presence - Facebook business page, website, leaflets, business cards.
4. Start marketing your business. Test and measure which works best. Spend more money on the marketing that works and stop the marketing that doesn't.
5. Give quotes and book customers in for their appointment. Turn up on time and clean the oven.
6. Grow your customer base.
