After years leading a 250-strong warehouse team and running his own grocery store, David Roberts wanted more control, a better balance and a business he could build on his own terms. He found it with My Property Pros in South Swindon in 2020, and now serves around 100 customers a week.
From warehouse management to a business of his own
After years leading a 250-strong warehouse team – and a stint running his own grocery store – David Roberts knew something wasn’t quite clicking. The hours were long, the stress was high, and the spark just wasn’t there. He wanted more control, a better balance and a business he could build on his own terms. In 2020, he found exactly that with My Property Pros (MPP).
David has since built a thriving local business with a loyal customer base and strong word-of-mouth reputation. He now serves around 100 customers each week – a figure that continues to rise. From soft washing and gutter clearing to roof cleans, David is now known as the go-to exterior cleaning expert in his area.
“If there’s anything that keeps me feeling motivated and rewarded, it’s being busy! My years of working in high-pressured management roles more than proves that. But, while I’m relieved to have put those years behind me, I really missed having a network of peers – people I could lean on and learn from. That’s what led me to franchising. I looked at a few options, even investment options like coffee carts, but what stood out about MPP was how quickly you could get going. The support was solid and the results were instant,”
David Roberts
A launch during lockdown
Launching in South Swindon during the chaos of a national lockdown could have been a gamble. But with MPP’s proven blueprint and hands-on support, David hit the ground running. Armed with a clear plan and support from Head Office, he was able to tap into proven marketing strategies from day one.
“The team share stats on what’s working well in other areas, which was really useful when I was just starting out. It gave me confidence that I wasn’t guessing – I could follow a roadmap that had already delivered results for other franchisees. The hard work paid off and word-of-mouth soon followed.
Recently, I’ve been securing more commercial contracts and bigger jobs. Being a one-stop shop makes it much easier for customers to see our full range of skills.
The opportunity to earn has really grown, especially with roof cleaning, where I can make up to £1,250 a day,”
David Roberts
A one-stop shop on wheels
MPP franchisees operate from fully equipped, eye-catching vans – the ultimate advert on wheels! A range of complementary, in-demand services ensures strong year-round sales and plenty of opportunities to cross-sell to existing customers – from roof and render cleaning to gutter clearing and maintenance, jet washing and window cleaning. Thanks to state-of-the-art technology, almost all cleaning is completed with both feet firmly on the ground! As for your dreams… the sky’s the limit!
“My work-life balance is miles better now than when I was employed or running my old business. I’ve got the freedom to plan my own schedule and take an afternoon – or even a day – off when I need to. My wife has a really demanding job, so I can take on the childcare role when needed, and I still have time to enjoy my own hobbies like motorsport and karting. That kind of flexibility is priceless,”
David Roberts
Giving back locally
David’s commitment to his local community goes beyond customer service. As a small gesture of goodwill, he regularly cleans road name signs in the area for free while out on his rounds. It’s a simple act, but one that doesn’t go unnoticed – helping to keep the neighbourhood looking its best and building strong relationships with residents along the way.
Growing the team
To keep things running smoothly behind the scenes, David has support from based at the MPP head office – who handles admin and customer enquiries for eight hours a week. With demand continuing to grow, David currently spends most of his time out on the road – but that’s set to change. He plans to bring on an additional team member by the end of summer, with a view to adding another van and shifting into more of a management role as the business expands.
“Roof cleaning is quickly becoming one of the most in-demand services I offer. The interest from customers has really taken off – so much so that I’m planning to take someone on to help keep up with workload. I can see it becoming a core part of the business over the next six months, alongside jet washing and soft washing. These are higher-value jobs and, with more people looking for reliable, professional help, it’s a great opportunity to grow,”
David Roberts
Advice to a prospective franchisee
If you’re weighing up whether franchising is right for you, David’s got a few words of wisdom from someone who’s been there and done it.
“My advice is to really learn the trade and work as efficiently as possible. The sooner you build a strong foundation, the quicker you can bring others on board to share the workload. That opens up exciting opportunities to grow your business and fully enjoy the success you’ve worked to achieve.”
David Roberts
About My Property Pros
Founded in 1996, My Property Pros is the UK’s first and only national exterior property cleaning franchise. Having identified and leveraged a gap in the market close to three decades ago, the brand is now firmly established as a highly profitable, award-winning, multi-van franchise opportunity. Franchisees benefit from cutting-edge technology, proprietary software systems and a team that’s absolutely dedicated to their success.
Individual results vary. The figures and quotations in this case study relate to David Roberts’ own experience. The £1,250 figure refers to potential earnings from a single roof-cleaning job, not a typical daily or ongoing income. No level of turnover or profit is guaranteed.
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