- 23 June, 2006 -

Making the decision to start a new business was easy for Mel and Brenda Burkey of Maid Brigade of Manchester in Ellington, Connecticut. Mel was a butcher by trade and Brenda an accountant. Mel found that in his present job, he was missing out on quality personal time and wanted to make a change. They thought it over, knew it was a good time to make a move financially, and made the decision to give it a try. "We wanted to find a business that required nominal nights as well as weekends off," Mel explained. "And we wanted something with repeat business. We also knew we didn't want to go out and reinvent the wheel. We wanted to go the established route where someone would teach us how to do it. Because of that, we knew franchising was for us." After some Internet research, talking to business owners and help from a franchise consultant, the Burkeys realized that the maid business was for them. "We considered a number of different opportunities from carpet sales to house painting and even healthcare and computer repair. But, none of those had everything we were looking for. Then we looked at the maid business and saw it had everything we were looking for repeat business and no nights or weekends," Mel continued. "In the maid business, you get the repeat sale because if you do a nice job one week, the customer is going to invite you back in two weeks to do it again." The Burkeys looked at Maid Brigade and another maid service franchise, but found that the other was just too expensive. They especially liked the way Maid Brigade had territories available via zip code. Mel explained, "If you find you are doing a lot of business in one area, you can buy that zip code and add it to you existing territory. And Maid Brigade had lots of nice people to work with." After completing a mentor visit in Miami and then training in Atlanta at Maid Brigade's corporate headquarters, the Burkeys went back to Connecticut and found office space, got the computers set-up, purchased supplies and worked with a Maid Brigade trainer who assisted them with hiring and training teams as well as understanding the system. It was helpful receiving the advice of a trainer who was also an experienced franchisee. Within four months of buying into the franchise and completing training, Maid Brigade of Manchester had its first customer, who Mel is proud to say is still with them years later. The plan was that Mel would start the business and Brenda would eventually join him. That happened much faster than they anticipated. Brenda left her accounting job and joined Mel full-time, and they couldn't be more delighted. "Mel and I share the responsibilities," Brenda added. "In the beginning, since I was still working full-time, I was only able to handle the financial aspect and some paperwork. Now, I'm responsible for all of that as well as the operations side of things. Mel, on the other hand, enjoys sales and customer service, so that's what he concentrates on." What Mel is good at, Brenda isn't and vice-versa. She continued, "We are good partners and rely and depend on each other." So what's a typical day like for Maid Brigade of Manchester? Mel and Brenda arrive at the office and immediately retrieve messages. Shortly after that, the teams start to arrive. They then make sure the teams have all the supplies they will need for the day, review field sheets to confirm customer needs, and the teams head out. Once the teams are on their way, Mel returns phone calls, talks to customers and processes requests for service. He might then need to do some supply shopping online at Maid Brigade's website or visit a potential new customer to discuss their individual needs. Brenda focuses on keeping the financial and advertising plans in order. Mel is known throughout the Maid Brigade system for his outstanding customer service. Mel's enthusiasm for his clients is clear, "That customer connection is what we are all about. When you call Maid Brigade of Manchester you will more than likely get a live person. If not, someone will be calling you back within a couple of minutes." If they could do it all over again, would they? "You bet," says Mel. They see themselves retiring in this business. "We got into this business, not to replace my income, but to exceed it and we are well on our way," Mel emphasized. "It's our business," he continued. "Franchising gives you certain rules and procedures to follow, but ultimately it's our business. The harder we work, the more money we make. And, Maid Brigade couldn't be any better to work with. From the initial meeting to ongoing support, someone from the company is always available. We truly are one big family." What advice do they have? "Run the business, but don't let the business run you," Mel added. "And don't be afraid to ask for the help that's available." "We committed our hearts and souls into this business to make it work. The more you put in, the more you will get out and our hard work is paying off. We are reaping the benefits," Brenda concluded. View Company Website: http://www.maidbrigade.com

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