Meet Out Franchisees: Bill and Michelle Feder

Bill spent the majority of his career as an IT Executive for Fiserv in Milwaukee, relocating with the company to Cumming, GA in 2008. Michelle taught preschool in Wisconsin and decided to stay at home to raise her three children – Jake, Kayleigh & Gabrielle – after the move. Jake recently got married and resides near Lansing, MI. Kayleigh recently graduated from Georgia College and State University and Gabrielle is now attending Columbus State University in Columbus, GA.

With the children transitioning to “independence,” Bill and Michelle looked at business opportunities that would ease the transition into retirement. Bill had a yearning to own his own business, but he didn’t want the threat involved with creating a business from scratch.

“We felt like it was the right time to take a small risk because our family responsibilities have lessened. We wanted an opportunity for us to truly make a difference in our community, but still allow for time with our family and friends. With our strict list of qualifications, The Cleaning Authority checked off all the boxes.”

Bill subscribed to a website called BizQuest which provided weekly updates with opportunities that fit his search criteria. When The Cleaning Authority was presented as an option, he knew it would be the perfect fit.

“The brand is highly respected – with quality service and environmentally friendly initiatives at its core. It also afforded the opportunity for a better work-life balance, allowing us to spend more time with our kids,” said Feder. “We knew that if we served our customers well, it would offer a steady revenue stream. Additionally, the entry-level investment was modest and the service would have broad appeal in our community.”

The Feders purchased the franchise through a loan, and also worked through the mechanics of securing SBA financing.

“Learning all the intricacies of getting started has been challenging and fun,” said Feder. “There have been a lot of puzzles to solve, but The Cleaning Authority has provided tremendous support – from training to a mentoring program. The network of franchise owners has also been very helpful.”

As they begin the process of starting a business, the Feders are focused on quality of service in order to create loyal customers.

“Toward that end, our initial focus is with enabling our staff,” said Feder. “Comprehensive training and the best tools will go a long way in providing great results. Our objective is to be the best residential cleaning service in the area. We think that if we focus on quality, growth will be a natural outcome.”