I took the plunge to ChemDry

[GNU]

Well I did the paperwork and ready to get started. I applied for a franchise and waiting for confirmation. I should be in service mid februrary if I get eveything lined up with the territory I bid for.
I am sad to say, I love owning but if I cant make the money because Im local. Then a national backing will do the job.
Its going to be in Northern cali. less than 60 miles from home. 

• 

[Mike M]

Is this a different area than you service now?

Chemdry does have marketing, materials and name recognition.

Hope it all works out for you. Keep us posted on your progress.

Franchisees are also welcome to post here. 

[ChemBright]

Yeah, good luck to you. What are the franchise fees these days with CD? The name will help you quite a bit. Your aware that you have to purchase so much chemical a year regardless if you use it or not right? What all equipment comes with buying a franchise now days?

[scott rogers]

Im sure they gave you contact info from several "happy, successful" franchisers. But have you contacted any X-franchisers to see what their experiences were and why they left Chem-Dry? Also what issues arose when they decided enough was enough?

If you need contact info on a few x-chem dry owners let me know I will track down their contact info for you.

[ChemBright]

I know a couple exfranchise owners as well. I also know one who is a good friend of mine who has had his CD franchise for 30 years that has went from 3-4 trucks down to 1-2 and has started his own cleaning busniness in another state.

Just make sure this is what you really want to get into. It isn't cheap. Have you considered starting your own back up in California? Yes, the advertising is great with CD but the overhead may be a shocker to you. CD hasn't done so well since Home Depot bought them in 2005. I think they are owned by some other company now??

[c spot stop]

You were a CD guy for a while right Jon?

I was curious how you would reply.

Nutech: what is it you find attractive about the franchise?

[jeffvanburen]

You gotta do what works for you, hope it gives you much success, keep us posted.

[ChemBright]

Yes, I was a CD guy for 12 years. Their products are great but new franchise owners are getting beat up with all the costs associated with owning one. Nutech, also keep in mind that all equipment you have through them will ALWAYS be CD's. If you go belly up, it all goes back to them. Portys, TM unit etc, etc. You pay for them and the up keep but they are not technically yours.

But, Like Jeff said. Do what YOU need to do and be glad there are people here to give you some food for though. 

[Infamousdave]

NuTech, I have no experience with any type of franchise so therefore I have no opinion on this matter but I am just curious why you chose Chem-Dry? I assume you researched other franchises so what is it about Chem-Dry that got you to pull the trigger?

[micky navarro]

i wish you the very best in yer venture and i hope ya'll made a very informed decision, and you've spoken with someone who is well versed with franchise by-laws!

i dont know about the rest of the country, but here in jersey, the chemdry franchises are "stacked"    and they appear to work against and compete with eachother.
the other franchise systems work the complete opposite, as is my experience with all of them!!!

name recognition is something i totally agree with so with that thought in mind, again, i wish you the absolute best   

[CACBServices]

It would be great to get a franchisee perspective/input on this board. I have only three stories about franchises. My brother was looking at starting a mobile pet grooming business. Company seemed to provide great materials and support, and references. All checked out well. Then I suggested he Google some of the franchises independent of their referrals. He did, and he started making random calls to interview current franchise owners. These were not people that had gone under. They still had a business presence. However, the picture of potential success changed dramatically. Some barely holding on after three years. The other experience I had was when I bought my business. Had to do with the ceiling cleaning end of things and Ceiling Pro International. The guy I bought it from hadn't bought chemicals in two years. He was $1,600 behind in minimum annual purchases. Then there was a $700.00 administrative fee for transfer of franchise agreement to me that he wasn't aware of. Now, honestly, I know and trust this guy. This stuff was buried in the detail and promises. So, I couldn't buy buy product or get support. Neither he nor I was willing to cough up the $2,300 to move forward with the company. Third one involves the Culvers franchise here in Woodruff. Started and ran for 8 to 10 years by one family. They had to sign a 1.2 million dollar note. They sold it last year and made out quite nicely. The new owners; one, the junior owner in the new partnership, worked for the original owner and the other has owned Culvers franchises (3) for years. They are doing VERY well. Leading store in the nation in many categories. In other words, this franchise story is a good one with a so-far happy ending.

Hope this helps.

[kingjoelking]

Is it true that you HAVE to do the Home Depot jobs and that the Home Depot store that sells the job takes 40%?

[ChemBright]

Is it true that you HAVE to do the Home Depot jobs and that the Home Depot store that sells the job takes 40%?

Yes, they take 40% but you dont HAVE to do them. Thing is.....if you dont you wont be on the "favor" list with CD.

[ChemBright]

Is it true that you HAVE to do the Home Depot jobs and that the Home Depot store that sells the job takes 40%?

Yes, they take 40% but you dont HAVE to do them. Thing is.....if you dont you wont be on the "favor" list with CD.

[c spot stop]

Is it true that you HAVE to do the Home Depot jobs and that the Home Depot store that sells the job takes 40%?

Yes, they take 40% but you dont HAVE to do them. Thing is.....if you dont you wont be on the "favor" list with CD.

so no Christmas cards?

I must not be on that list either then. Bummer.

[ChemBright]

My buddy in Vegas is on their Christmas list. He is in the middle of a lawsuit that they brought upon him because of his name "ChemClean".

[c spot stop]

You want me to make you some new shirts.

[ChemBright]

Nope! 
I am safe. They can kiss by ****. The have a product called "ChemClean" that is used mainly back east to help remove deicing stuff that gets into carpets. They copy righted the name (or started the process) in 2003 and it wasn't finalized until 2006. My friend started his business in 2004. He is safe and could fight with them and win but it would cost him 20K to do so. he is just going to change his name and be done with it. And here is a guy who gave up 20 years of his life working for CD.
My name should be ok. They havn't hasseled me. If they do, I will let them spend all thier money and time in court fighting about it. i wont drop a dime on them.

[GNU]

  I may ramble on here but forgive me. The hacks that boosted in this region has competely ruined the image of the owner operator. The bait and switch scams. The horrid jobs they do and the crapola they got nanny camed doing. Jerking off to teen britches. stealing undies. trying on the wifes clothing, you name it. I heard stories locally about it.  Not to mention the scabs like buyer beware sites that make public fear out of getting an oil change to dog tatter removal services to carpet cleaning. Anything to earn a buck. LOL

I chose chemdry because I started out with chemdry I personally got the highest satisfaction rating in the state. They paid me back in the day a full expense trip to Hawaii. I was also the highest rated Foreman in the west coast  I was going to buy the two franchises I managed both for 100K I kick myself in the **** for not buying them. I did have chemdry come out and they said Back them when I had 4 vans. That I had an Imputant confliction of interest for ChemDry. It was back before the crash So I said EFFYOO!!

And quite frankly I am sick of hopeing the phone rings. I went out today for instance doing the knock and talk. Trying to pony up commercial work. I passed out 300 cards and 200 brochures. And not one of the potential clients even remotely seemed interested. Or I got the famous line. "I already have a guy" Meanwhile the stench was emitted from their carpets. Stanley Stinker..

I have nearly depleteled my entire savings keeping the doors open. I sold almost all of my surplus equipment through the years.
My company image protrays it being a franchise in appearance, uniform.
My natural process is incredibly awesome. and the clean smell is flipping amazing. It cant be beat IMHO.
Right before the market crashed I had sold three of my own franchises  I had never been so proud. 1, 2 van setup in Portland 1 in Salem and 1 in North Bend.  Well needless to say I was smart and had a clause That I buy the house, they operate out of. the home they chose "within means", I used the house as a collateral interest. They put the down on it equal to $100K in lieu of franchise startup fees. They Buy the remainder of the house with franchise fees. They had nothing to loose Needless to say. Then everything went from bad to worse. I sold the houses except the one in Portland, I surrendered it to the bank before it defaulted.   Then I sold My cousin the North Bend franchise and set him up in a small 2 bedroom. Then he does this drunk driving bit with his unit. Tbones a mom driving her kids from a school play. kills the mom and two of the kids. One survives unscaved Thank God! So I gave the dad a completely refurbed house. The cousin went to prison not good enough in my mind. Death penalty sounds great to me. 

Then I finally get in touch with Ms. Sanders with Chemdry and she basically tells me. all Of oregon except siletz and oakland Oregon are available. Were talking Out in the bushes. And California wanted a booty load of taxes before I can open up. then some permit for each area or something vague.

So I am screwed.    I am running out of options, capitol, and cash. I need to drum up more business. Im at the point I cant budget for more printed materials other than Business cards I have 1000's of those things lol.

OKAY!! sorry to dump on you guys. Im at a loss. and chemdry wont permit another franchise in my area. 4 so far in an area over 300K unofficially. 160K officailly. maybe they need to add up the 180K building permits. in three years.

[Mike M]

I understand your frustration. Its a long slow process to build a business in the best of times. These are not the best of times so it will take even longer. Pretty sure most of us have gone through some of what you're experiencing right now?

It can be especially difficult during the slow times of the year like now. Northern climates are slow during winter. About the only thing you can do is supplement with other services or income.

Franchises do offer name recognition and give you a jump start. Are there any others that might work for you?

[ChemBright]

I still do not think the franchise is the way to go right now. The economy sucks and the startup in getting a CD going sounds like it would kill you. I know it would me. My old CD boss in Vegas is almost going under and he has a 30 year clientel. He is very wise with money and runs his business better than anyone I have ever met. So, just another word of caution if a franchise lands in your lap.

What about a total revamp of your business? Something that sets you aprat from the rest. Sounds like you are already doing that but is there a way to push it, promote how different you are from all the rest? People are still going to need carpets cleaned in Oregon.

[GNU]

Thanks Mike and CB. I am not willing to try another franchise. Stanley steemer has a horrid rep around here. Often called stanley stinker. there are local franchises available with SS, SM, Sears, Coit. The reason is because they are near folding up. Sears did fold, coit is very obscure no ads no nothing. I have seen the 1978 van around here and there. LOL.
Im at the point were I am doing better than most is residential. But I need to generate more income. Im getting behind in eveything. I get busy enough to get caught up, then maybe buy some equipment from closed up CC businesses. Then its months with hit and miss income. Im getting behind with IRS and State taxes. And child support on three lil ones I havent seen since last May, The ex is untouchable in this state. she does what she wants and gets away with it. only in Oregon 

 I am going to post a new thread. I think a franchise might be more BS than whats its worth.

[Mike M]

I think that's why most here are/were independents?

The franchises have good marketing but the whole thing comes at a cost. Lots of up front money too.

[kingjoelking]

In my humble opinion what makes it worse is that in most franchise situations you are not only paying them on every job you do but dont you usually start up with a loan payment to them also? So in all reality you are paying quite a bit more then whatever percentage it is that they are taking. And if I understand those loans also they dont come with a great interest rate.
Have you......

Joined the Chamber of Commerce?
Joined a networking group?
Gone door to door offering Building managers free demo's?
Looked up the local free business links websites and listed your business?
Listed your Business on BING, Google Places, Yahoo live?
Networked with realtors?
Looked up government contracts and made bids?

Just some of my ideas.

[davendana]

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