In 2002, new parents of twins, Clive and Clare Pearson made a decision that would change their lives forever.
After hearing about Ovenclean from a friend, they attended an open day. They soon realised that owning an Ovenclean franchise was the right way to balance the demands of having a young family whilst maintaining their high earnings. Clare could work from home, handling bookings and paperwork, whilst Clive would be out cleaning ovens and building the business.
Now, fifteen years on and with the twins in secondary school, the Pearson’s are still enjoying the flexibility that being self-employed offers.
“I have been able to be at home with the children during the day, fitting my work around being available for dentist appointments, school plays, assemblies and the school run.” Claire said. “We are often able to rearrange the diaries around the holidays so I can have a few days off with the children. This has meant that we’ve been able to see them grow up, in a way that would not have been possible if we had stayed in the corporate world.”
Over the years, the couple have grown their business substantially. With a database of several thousand customers, they currently operate three vehicles over adjacent territories and have taken on two employees to keep up with demand. Longer term plans for the couple include adding a fourth vehicle to their already thriving business, but for now the couple are just enjoying being able to concentrate on family life:
“Our personal happiness was at the top of the agenda when we made the decision to invest in the franchise, and it has delivered everything we’d hoped,” Clare concludes. “As a working family, being with Ovenclean has offered us maximum flexibility. We have built a successful, rewarding business with more security and much less stress than we would have done if we had remained employees in our respective sectors.“
When asked if Clare had any advice for anyone considering investing in an Ovenclean franchise, she replied: “Just do it! Having your own business offers you the flexibility to fit your career around your lifestyle. The key to success is being prepared to work hard at the beginning – building strong relationships with your customers, as it is their loyalty that will keep you going through the years. It’s hard work, but you definitely get back what you put in.”
