Finding Flexibility in a Queensland Cleaning Franchise: David’s Story

David Carreno’s story is one that shows hard work really can pay off. After he first arrived David took on a range of casual roles; including a cleaning job with an AMC franchise owner. His work was reliable and thorough, and when his employer left on a six-month holiday she asked David to take care of her cleaning business portfolio of five customers. On her return, she decided to sell and David arranged to buy her business from her. The cleaning business franchise flourished with his dedication, soon gaining the YOUi head office, Airbus and other large sites within its client base. By 2010 David’s partner, architect Angela, had made the move to work with David full-time as they managed cleaning for these sites. By investing time and funds into their commercial cleaning company, the family’s business has reached new levels as of 2021. David’s franchise now employs around 32 cleaners from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast; an impressive journey from that original commercial cleaning franchise for sale.

The Day-to-Day

David’s workdays are busy and involved. He now spends his time supervising rather than cleaning, staying up-to-date with his teams and supervisors via Whatsapp.

He says, “You have to use technology to stay ahead. With technology you can be there and not be there; it works beautifully.”

This doesn’t mean that David spends all his time at work – in fact, he proudly enjoys weekends off with Angela and their two children, as well as time on the golf course and playing soccer for a local club.

David remembers that in the business’s early days, he’d go for training in the evenings and then start work afterward and work until 2 or 3am.

These days are more relaxed, and mowing the lawn is one of his favourite ways to unwind (“It’s just the grass and me”).

Tips for Growth

One of David’s lessons for business growth is to have an open approach to new clients. “Whenever AMC ask me to take on work, I say yes. Many franchisees are choosy. I throw my hat in.” Another tip is that word-of-mouth can be a great way to find new cleaners; a lesson he learned after making some early mistakes in recruitment. David says that training new people is not hard when you find good people. And ultimately, he says, “I put my whole heart into my work to deliver as best as I can.”

Franchise Support

David says AMC has been great as he developed his business. “People at AMC are always available for you. When you send an email, you will get an answer. AMC also estimates correctly. This helps to pay the wages by the correct award; they make sure we make money.”

Next Steps

So where to next for David and his family? He says that a year ago he wanted to stop and consolidate his business. “Now, I want to start to grow the business once again.” He credits business rewards, for the freedom he has today, particularly the extra time he has, to spend with his children and family. As David puts so well, “If you grow your business, you can have people working for you”.

AMC Clean has clients requiring cleaning, surface disinfection and pre-emptive disinfection services throughout Queensland. We have a range of cleaning contracts ready to go right now, particularly in areas such as Noosa, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Cairns, Victoria Point and Burleigh Heads as well as Brisbane, Narangbah in North Brisbane and the Gold Coast. If you’re interested in running your own cleaning franchise with guaranteed income and a low entry-level investment, you can read more about the opportunities of a cleaning business for sale.