Franchise Costs & Investment Guide

What does a Time For You Franchise actually cost?

We’ve compiled an honest, comprehensive breakdown of all costs and expectations when you invest in a Time For You franchise.

A transparent look at your investment

  • Complete cost breakdown for start-up, first year and beyond.
  • Everything covered. No hidden fees. No surprises.
  • Make an informed decision about becoming a a franchisee.
Speaker in glasses and teal jacket presenting with a remote, text 'whole lot' visible behind him.

Understanding your investment

Watch in under 90 seconds
(1) Franchise Start-Up Investment

Your initial investment & getting started

What it takes to get started with your Time For You franchise.

Initial Investment Icon

Total initial investment

£19,750 +vat

(£23,700 INC VAT)

Start up investment includes:

  • Franchise fee & exclusive territory rights
  • Comprehensive 2-day training course
  • 'Success Track' business development program
  • Initial marketing materials & launch support
Deposit Icon

Step 1. Deposit

£1,675 +vat

(£2,010 inc VAT)

  • Select an available franchises area
  • Pay your deposit to secure your territory
  • You have a 3-month window to schedule and complete your training
Balance Icon

Step 2. Final Balance

£18,075 +vat

(£21,690 inc VAT)

  • Final balance due maximum of 4 weeks before kick-off training
(1) Franchise Start-Up Investment

Franchise pricing explained

What makes franchises more or less expensive—and why it matters

Presentation Icon
Factors that can increase franchise costs

Some franchises charge significantly more because they include:

  • Larger territory rights
    Exclusive access to bigger geographic areas with more potential clients
  • Physical assets required
    Branded vehicles, equipment, stock, or commercial premises
  • Extended training programs
    Weeks of intensive, specialised training vs. our focused 2-day course
  • Complex operational systems
    Multiple service lines, inventory management, or specialised certifications
Low Costs Icon
What keeps franchise costs down?

Time For You’s investment remains affordable because we focus on:

  • Management-only model
    No need to purchase vehicles, equipment, or cleaning supplies
  • Home-based operations
    No expensive commercial premises or retail space required
  • Streamlined training
    Efficient 2-day intensive course, then ongoing support as you grow
  • Fixed management fee
    No percentage-based royalties that increase as you earn more
Cost Icon
Why some cleaning franchise cost more

You may encounter cleaning franchises with initial investments ranging from £25,000 to £50,000+. These higher prices typically reflect different business models that include full operational franchises (where you perform the cleaning yourself with a team), branded vehicle fleets, commercial premises, extensive equipment packages, or national advertising fund contributions.

While these models work for some, they require significantly more capital and operational complexity.

Time For You's management-only model offers a lower barrier to entry while maintaining the same earning potential—you manage the business and client relationships while self-employed cleaners handle the actual cleaning work.

Warning Icon
Beware of ultra-low pricing

What to watch out for with "too good to be true" offers

Some franchises advertise initial fees as low as £2,500-£7,500. While tempting, these often come with significant trade-offs that can cost you more in the long run:

  • Minimal or no support
    You're essentially on your own after the initial setup, with limited access to help when challenges arise
  • Hidden ongoing fees
    High percentage-based royalties (15-20%) or mandatory marketing levies that erode your profits
  • Limited territory or exclusivity
    Smaller territories or no protection from other franchisees operating nearby
  • Unproven systems
    Newer franchises without a track record of success or established operational processes

Our advice:
Always calculate the total cost of ownership over 3-5 years, including all ongoing fees. A higher initial investment with lower ongoing costs and better support often delivers superior long-term value and peace of mind.

Stable Pricing Icon
Time For You stable pricing
  • Consistent value since 2004
    Time For You has maintained stable, fair pricing for over 20 years. While we've adjusted our franchise fee modestly with inflation, our core value proposition remains unchanged.
  • Enhanced value, competitive investment
    In 2004, our franchise fee was £14,950. Today, at £19,750, the investment remains competitively positioned compared to many franchise opportunities, while now including significantly enhanced support, systems, marketing, and infrastructure.
Financing Icon
Funding & Payment Options

We have a strong, established relationship with NatWest, who can offer funding for up to 50% of the initial investment for qualified candidates.

  • Bank Financing
    Spread the cost with NatWest funding (up to 50%)
  • Staged Payments
    Small deposit, then 3 months to arrange final payment
  • Personal Savings
    Pay upfront and own your business outright from day one

Want to talk to our friendly team?

(1) Franchise Start-Up Investment

What you need
to get started

We outline the working capital and equipment
requirements to start a Time For You franchise.

Working Capital Icon

Working Capital

£2000 - £5000

  • Recommended reserve to cover initial marketing efforts and personal expenses until your business generates steady income.
Home Based Working Icon

Home-based office

£0

  • Run your franchise from home, eliminating high costs of rent and utilities.
  • No commercial premises needed.
No Equipment Icon

No Equipment Needed

£0

  • This is a management only franchise.
  • No investment needed for vans, uniforms, or cleaning equipment and supplies.
Insurance Icon

Specialist Insurance Policies

£100 - £150/year

  • We work with approved insurance brokers who understand the Time For You business model, giving franchisees access to specialist policies designed specifically for domestic cleaning businesses.
Phone & Office Supplies Icon

Phone & office supplies

Your choice

  • You can use your existing phone or get a separate number to keep work and home life separate.
  • Some people work from their existing home office setup, others upgrade their settings so they feel inspired to grow their business.
Additional Costs Icon

Additional costs

Your Choice

  • While the core investment covers X, Y, Z, you should also budget for initial marketing campaigns, cleaner recruitment advertising, and general business expenses during your first few months of growth. See ongoing costs
(1) Franchise Start-Up Investment

Franchise ongoing costs:
a simple & transparent breakdown

No percentage-based royalties. Just a fixed, predictable monthly fee.

No Royalty Fees - Ever!

0% Always

Our key difference:

  • We do not charge a percentage of your turnover. Ever.
  • What you earn, you keep.
  • This is a major advantage that can save you tens of thousands of pounds 
over the franchise term compared to competitors who charge 7-13% royalties.
Competitor comparison
Molly Maid
8% royalty
Merry Maids
7% royalty
Jan-Pro
13% royalty
Fixed Fee Icon

Fixed Management Fee

£350 +vat Per Month

  • First 3 months free from start of agreement
  • Ongoing head office support
  • Access to bespoke iPad app & CRM
  • Vibrant franchisee support network

Management fee annual increase
After your first year, the management fee increases once a year, every January (it was 3.74% in Jan 2025). Tied to Retail Price Index (RPI) As published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), ensuring it is fair and predictable.

Other Business Costs

Marketing
Local advertising, leaflets, digital ads. Your marketing budget will grow as your business and revenue grow.

£200 - £1000/mth

Cleaner recruitment - advertising and vetting costs

£20 - 50 /cleaner

(2) Cleaning Franchises Compared

How we compare:
side-by-side analysis

Time For You sits in the mid-range for initial investment but offer the best long-term value through our fixed monthly fee with no percentage-based royalties.

Diamond Home Support logo with a house and helping hands graphic

Initial Investment

£4,995 +vat

  • Estimated total start-up cost of £9,000, including marketing and contingency
  • Very low-cost entry point

Royalty/Service Fees

0% Royalty

  • First 2 months free
  • Fixed monthly fee from third month

Marketing Fees

0% Levy

  • Includes 6 months of Google Ads and 15,000 flyers at launch
  • Keep 100% of revenue

Diamond Home Support
Additional Notes

  • No other regular fees
  • 5-year term with simple renewal
  • Three-in-one service model
Maid 2 Clean brand logo with stars above the letter i.

Initial Investment

£9,999 +vat

  • Total start-up cost around £15k, including operations and working capital
  • Covers training, territory, insurance, and launch marketing

Royalty/Service Fees

7.5% monthly revenue

  • Minimum monthly fee of £175 in year 1, rising to £225 by year 3
  • No separate monthly charges

Marketing Fees

1.5% Turnover

  • National marketing levy supports brand advertising
  • Two-month campaign included

Maid2Clean

Additional Notes

  • No renewal fee
  • Home-based model with no equipment required
  • QFA member, supporting ethical franchising
"TIME FOR YOU" logo with the words "DOMESTIC CLEANING" beneath it.

Initial Investment

£19,750 +vat

  • One-time franchise fee
  • Includes training and starter marketing materials

Royalty/Service Fees

350 +vat/mnth

  • Fixed monthly franchise fee
  • 0% royalty on turnover

Marketing Fees

0% Levy

  • Optional local marketing approx. £200 per month

Time For You
Additional Notes

  • No renewal fee
  • “Zero Risk” guarantee: £30k profit guarantee within 18 months or refund
  • Low overhead at around £100 per month
Poppies Cleaning Service logo with red poppy flowers and bold red text.

Initial Investment

£18,999 +vat

  • Includes training
  • £6k initial marketing investment
  • £4k - £5k working capital
  • Total start-up cost around £23k

Royalty/Service Fees

7.5% Turnover

  • Drops to 6% once monthly revenue reaches £40k
  • No additional management fee

Marketing Fees

2% Turnover

  • National marketing levy supports campaigns and PPC
  • Initial campaign included

Poppies
Additional Notes

  • No other regular fees
  • “Zero Risk” guarantee: buyback if revenue stays below £100k within 18 months
Molly Maid company logo with decorative house and roof design above text.

Initial Investment

£21,975 +vat

  • £9,975 franchise fee
  • £12k initial marketing investment
  • £7k+ working capital required

Royalty/Service Fees

8% Gross Sales

  • Drops to 6% as revenue grows
  • No fixed monthly fee

Marketing Fees

2% Gross Sales

  • For national advertising fund
  • Initial £12k marketing investment included

Molly Maid Additional Notes

  • Term of 5+ years
  • Royalty includes ongoing support
  • Vehicle and staffing costs typically apply
Information shown is based on publicly available franchise information and is intended as a general comparison guide only.
(3) Future & Long-Term Financials

3-Year total investment breakdown

We’ve broken down your costs to demonstrate lifetime cost vs. initial investment so you can get a realistic understanding the total cost of ownership over time.

Year 1 Costs

Initial Franchise Investment (inc VAT)

£23,700

Management fee (9 months @ £420/month inc VAT)

£3,780

Marketing budget (avg £500/month × 12)

£6,000

Insurance & office costs

£500

Year 1 Total Costs

£30,380

Year 2 Costs

Management fee (12 months @ £420/month inc VAT)

£5,040

Marketing budget (avg £700/month × 12)

£8,400

Insurance & office costs

£500

Year 2 Total Costs

£13,940

Typical Year 2 Profit
Based on 100 clients @ £115/month average

£30,000+

Year 3 Costs

Management fee (12 months @ £420/month inc VAT)

£5,040

Marketing budget (avg £700/month × 12)

£8,400

Insurance & office costs

£500

Year 3 Total Costs

£13,940

Typical Year 3 Profit
Based on continued growth and client retention

£50,000+

Total Investment Over 3 Years

> £58,260

This represents your complete investment over three years, including all franchise fees, support, marketing, and operational costs.

Savings compared to percentage-based royalties from other franchise models:
If you generate £100,000 turnover in Year 2 and £150,000 in Year 3, an 8% royalty would cost you £8,000 + £12,000 = £20,000 vs. our fixed fee of £10,080.

  • That's a saving of nearly £10,000 in just two years.
(3) Future & Long-Term Financials

Investment and growth levels

Our model is built for growth. Over the past 5 years, established franchisees have generated turnovers ranging from £75,000 to £350,000

Starter Icon

Starter Franchisee

Part-time, building gradually

Total year 1 investment

£25,000

  • Franchise fee: £19,750 + vat
  • Lower marketing budget
  • 40-60 clients by year end
Year 2 turnover range
£50-75k
Growth Icon

Growth Franchisee

Full-time, aggresive growth

Total year 1 investment

£35,000

  • Franchise fee: £19,750 + vat
  • Higher marketing investment
  • 100+ clients by year end
Year 2 turnover range
£100-150k
High Growth Icon

High-Growth Franchisee

Multi-year, scaling operations

Total year 1 investment

£45,000

  • Franchise fee: £19,750 + vat
  • Premium marketing campaigns
  • 150+ clients by year end
Year 2 turnover range
£250-350k
Smiling man with glasses and short dark hair against a plain gray background.
Note from Sam Our Ceo

These are illustrative examples based on real franchisee experiences. Your actual investment and results will depend on your territory, effort, market conditions, and business management. All franchisees receive the same training, support, and tools—your success is driven by how you apply them.

(3) Future & Long-Term Financials

Is this opportunity right for yoU?

We believe a Time For You franchise offers exceptional value — but we also know it's not for everyone. Here's our honest take on who benefits most and what you're really getting for your investment.

Target Icon

You're a good fit if

  • You want a proven business model with 20+ years of success
  • You're willing to put in consistent effort to build client relationships
  • You value predictable costs over percentage-based fees
  • You want flexibility to work from home without heavy equipment costs
Direction Icon

This might not be for you if

  • You're looking for a completely passive income opportunity
  • You need immediate income and can't invest 12-18 months to profitability
  • You prefer doing the work yourself rather than managing others
  • You're not comfortable with client-facing relationship building
Man with glasses and short hair smiling with mouth open against light gray background.
Note from Sam Our Ceo

If you're willing to follow our proven system, invest in marketing, and build strong client relationships, a Time For You franchise can deliver £30,000-£65,000+ in annual profit within 2-3 years.  That's a strong ROI on a £20,000 initial investment. But if you just need basic features or want to test the waters, there may be simpler, lower-cost paths to explore first—and we respect that honesty builds trust.

(4) FAQ’s

Your pricing & investment
questions answered

Clear answers to the questions we hear most often about costs and value

What happens if I want to sell my franchise later?
Plus

Your franchise is a saleable asset. Valuations depend on turnover and profitability, with recent sales ranging from £75,000 to £350,000. When you sell, there's a £500 vetting fee for the new buyer, a training fee of 60% of the then-current franchise fee, and a 10% sales commission (all ex VAT). We help facilitate the sale process and ensure a smooth transition.

How long does it take to earn my investment back?
Plus

ROI timing depends on your effort and implementation of our proven model. Typically, franchisees reach profitability within 12-18 months and fully recover their initial investment by year 2-3. However, we're so confident in our system that we offer a guarantee: if you don't earn £30,000 in profit within 18 months and have followed the model, we will refund your investment.

What if support is included in the fee?
Plus

Yes, comprehensive support is included in your management fee. You'll have access to ongoing operational guidance, marketing support, technical assistance with our software systems, and a dedicated support manager. You're also part of a vibrant franchisee network where you can share experiences and best practices. Unlike some low-cost franchises that leave you on your own, we're committed to your success throughout your franchise journey.

Can I start small and grow, or do I need to invest everything upfront?
Plus

Absolutely. Our model is designed for scalable growth. The initial franchise fee is fixed, but you can start with a modest marketing budget and increase it as you gain clients and revenue. Our 'Success Track' program aims to help you acquire 100 clients in your first year, but you can pace your growth based on your comfort level and available capital. Many franchisees start part-time and transition to full-time as their business grows.

Do I need to buy equipment or vehicles?
Plus

No. Time For You is a management franchise, which means you don't perform the cleaning yourself. You don't need to invest in branded vehicles, cleaning equipment, or supplies. You can run the business from home with just a computer, phone, and printer. This dramatically reduces your startup costs and ongoing overheads.

How does Time For You compare to other cleaning franchises?
Plus

Our fixed management fee model is a significant differentiator. While competitors like Molly Maid (8%), Merry Maids (7%), and Jan-Pro (13%) charge percentage-based royalties that increase as you earn more, our £350 + VAT monthly fee stays the same. This can save you tens of thousands of pounds over the franchise term.

Additionally, our management-only model means no expensive vehicles, equipment, or commercial premises—keeping your initial investment and ongoing overheads significantly lower than operational franchises.

If I add more clients later, how does that change my costs?
Plus

Your management fee stays fixed at £350 + VAT per month regardless of how many clients you have. This is a huge advantage over percentage-based royalty models. As you grow, your only increasing costs are variable expenses like marketing (which you control) and cleaner recruitment. The more clients you add, the more profit you keep.

Are there any hidden costs or ongoing fees?
Plus

No hidden costs. We charge a simple, fixed monthly management fee of £350 + VAT (with the first 3 months free). Unlike competitors, we do not charge percentage-based royalties or marketing levies. You'll also have variable costs for local marketing (£200-1,000/month depending on growth stage) and cleaner recruitment (£20-50 per cleaner sourced).

What's included in the investment?
Plus

Your investment includes everything you need to launch and grow your franchise:

  • Exclusive territory rights with protected geographic area
  • Comprehensive 2-day training covering all aspects of the business
  • 'Success Track' business development program (goal: 100 clients in Year 1)
  • Access to bespoke iPad app and CRM system
  • Initial marketing materials and launch support
  • Ongoing head office support and franchisee network access
  • First 3 months of management fees waived
How much does it cost to start a Time For You cleaning franchise?
Plus

The total initial investment is £16,750 + VAT (£20,100 inc. VAT). This includes your franchise fee, comprehensive training, business development support, and initial marketing materials. You'll also need £2,000-£5,000 in working capital to cover marketing and personal expenses during your first few months.

Time For You

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Let's talk about money
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Variance in franchise pricing
What building a TFY franchise costs
What can you afford Vs what you want to build

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Questions? Call us on 01604 347 747 or email hello@uk.timeforyou.cleaning

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