Jeanne, Kate & Mark Oster
Kate Oster cleaned houses for extra money when she was in high school and continued to do so through college. Even when she graduated from the College of St. Benedict and took a full-time social work job, she kept cleaning part-time. As demand grew, her sister Jeanne started cleaning with Kate in addition to her full-time job as a brand assistant at JC Penney.
Once they realized that they could make a living doing this full-time, they quit their jobs and took the plunge into full-time self employment.
For seven years they enjoyed earning a nice living working for themselves. Then early last year, their cousin, Ed McMenomy suggested that they consider a business model that would provide systems and support to allow even more growth for the future. (That's Ed on the left in the photo.)
They got their brother, Mark, involved and by March 2006, were headed to Omaha to meet the fine folks at The Maids Home Services. By June 2006, they opened the doors of The Maids and now serve Rosemount, Lakeville, Farmington, Burnsville, Prior Lake and Apple Valley.
They now hire teams of workers to do the cleaning. Kate and Jeanne focus primarily on quality control, the daily operations and communication with clients and employees. Mark handles the finances, insurance and works with his sisters to set and meet goals.
A year into it, they are right on track as to where they thought they’d be. They see even more growth in the future. They are pleased with the support, systems, marketing tools and advice they receive from their franchisor and fellow franchisees.
Kate and Jeanne acknowledge that as The Maids franchisees, the business gives them a more solid future than they would have accomplished on their own. They are building recurring revenue that doesn’t rely on them cleaning and they are building equity in a business that they can eventually step away from or sell.
If you live in the south metro and are looking for a healthy, thorough housecleaning service, give them a call at 651-322-2217. You’ll be happy you did!
Once they realized that they could make a living doing this full-time, they quit their jobs and took the plunge into full-time self employment.
For seven years they enjoyed earning a nice living working for themselves. Then early last year, their cousin, Ed McMenomy suggested that they consider a business model that would provide systems and support to allow even more growth for the future. (That's Ed on the left in the photo.)
They got their brother, Mark, involved and by March 2006, were headed to Omaha to meet the fine folks at The Maids Home Services. By June 2006, they opened the doors of The Maids and now serve Rosemount, Lakeville, Farmington, Burnsville, Prior Lake and Apple Valley.
They now hire teams of workers to do the cleaning. Kate and Jeanne focus primarily on quality control, the daily operations and communication with clients and employees. Mark handles the finances, insurance and works with his sisters to set and meet goals.
A year into it, they are right on track as to where they thought they’d be. They see even more growth in the future. They are pleased with the support, systems, marketing tools and advice they receive from their franchisor and fellow franchisees.
Kate and Jeanne acknowledge that as The Maids franchisees, the business gives them a more solid future than they would have accomplished on their own. They are building recurring revenue that doesn’t rely on them cleaning and they are building equity in a business that they can eventually step away from or sell.
If you live in the south metro and are looking for a healthy, thorough housecleaning service, give them a call at 651-322-2217. You’ll be happy you did!
posted by Carolyn Herfurth, The Entrepreneur's Source at Monday, August 13, 2007
