Stratus franchise: how recommended is it?

Stratus is an American commercial cleaning services company with headquarters in California.

In this review we will delve into key details such as the initial investment, the process to become a franchisee, the benefits and challenges of this business, among other points.

In this way, you will be able to determine if the opportunity offered by Stratus It aligns with your entrepreneurial profile. Let's get started!

What is Stratus?

Stratus is a company specialized in cleaning services that is in the franchise market since 2006.

Currently, it has more than 3 thousand active franchises distributed in 70 cities in the United States, consolidating itself as one of the fastest-growing franchises in the country. All operate under service standards and protocols established by the brand. Among the services offered are:

•   Specialized carpet cleaning
•   Day porter services
•   Hard floor care and maintenance
•   Office cleaning services
•   Post-construction cleaning and debris collection
•   pressure washing
•   Specialized window cleaning
•   Cleaning and maintenance of green areas

How does Stratus franchise work?

The Stratus Franchise Model It is designed to provide all the key elements for the franchisee to operate their own commercial cleaning business. Here are some details of how it works:

Delimited territory

Stratus gives the franchisee a delimited geographical territory where he will be the only representative of the brand. This allows you to focus on your area without competing with other Stratus franchisees.

Initial support

The franchisee receives training and coaching at the regional office closest to your territory. Learn processes, cleaning techniques, and business management.

Equipment and supplies

Stratus Provides equipment and cleaning products to start operations. Stratus stands out at this point for the use of ecological and recyclable products, most of them manufactured by the same brand. The franchisee can request more inventory as required.

Guides and manuals

The franchisee receives detailed guides for operation, from customer service to cleaning processes. This ensures consistency. In addition, frequent audits are carried out to verify compliance with procedures.

Is Stratus Franchise a Scam?

Stratus was involved some time ago in some controversy and rumors that it could be a scam, mainly due to two factors that were highlighted in this 2012 case:

•  Unrealistic expectations: Some franchisees felt that the company promised unrealistic profit levels and did not provide enough support. This generated great discontent and loss of money for some franchisees.
•   Legal disputes: In 2012 she was accused of fraud in a civil lawsuit in Orange County. He also had class action lawsuits in Missouri and California for fraud, alleging that they offered accounts that did not provide the promised income.

Although the cases were closed with extrajudicial agreements, generated negative publicity that damaged the image of Stratus for some time.

Steps and requirements to open a Stratus franchise

Opening a Stratus brand franchise represents a significant investment, so the company has defined the following steps and critical requirements that every candidate must meet:

•   The first step is contact the company and express interest in investing in aExemption Stratus. This is done by filling out the application form on the brand's official website.
•   An executive from the nearest commercial office will contact you to clarify the details of the franchise, the business conditions, and the available territories and to make an appointment at their offices.
•   For the appointment at the commercial office, the formal application must be submitted along with a professional/labor summary and financial statements. Stratus seeks partners with investment capacity and preferably with business or sales experience.

Stratus offers three levels of investment for cleaning unit franchises: Individual, management and Executive. You must select the one that you consider ideal for your conditions. In addition, he has a type of business called “master franchise” in which you are in charge of opening a commercial office that manages the other franchisees in the territory.

Requirements

If the application is approved, the next step is to attend an induction day at the same commercial offices. All the details of the business model, the expectations and of course, the requirements to move forward are known there:

•   Have a minimum capital of 100 thousand dollars for the initial investment, if it is a master franchise. In the cases of cleaning units, the amounts are lower and depend on several factors.
•   Residing in the territory where the franchise will be opened. This is key. The company gives priority to you working in your own area of ​​residence, which will define your growth as a company.
•   Satisfactorily complete the training program.
•   Sign the franchise agreement with the corresponding terms and conditions.

By meeting these requirements, the franchisee can now proceed to legally establish their business and begin operations with the support of the brand.

Stratus Franchise Advantages and Disadvantages

Like any business opportunity, investing in aExemption Stratus It has positive aspects, but also some points that should be considered. Let's see in detail the main advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages

•   Access to a recognized brand with a track record.
•   Training and verified training.
•   Equipment and supplies provided by the brand.
•   Support during the first weeks.
•   Territorial exclusivity.

Disadvantages

•   Stratus price. High initial investment cost, approximately 100 thousand dollars for master franchises.
•   Monthly royalties must be paid to the franchise.
•   Previous business experience is required, especially for large franchises.
•   The assigned zone cannot be chosen.
•   Although the territory is assigned, the clients must be sought by the franchisee.
•   Limitations regarding external providers.
•   You do not have control over various management points of your business.
•   Competition in the commercial cleaning sector is increasing.
•   Profitability is subject to the efficiency of the franchisee. The franchisee is solely responsible for the success of the business.
•   The franchise agreement is long-term, generally 10 years.
•   Stratus imposes annual sales goals.
  

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