Nathan Willard, president of Hoodz International in Ann Arbor, admits providing commercial cleaning services to restaurants is a hidden market — but that might just be exactly why it’s proven to be a profitable one.
Kitchen grease in restaurants travels into the hood above the stove, goes through the vent hood filters and into ductwork, and finally moves to the exhaust fan on the roof. These ventilation systems need to be cleaned on a regular basis for health and fire safety reasons. The busier the restaurant, the more often the ventilation system has to be cleaned.
“We actually did very well during COVID-19,” Willard says of Hoodz, a franchisor that’s part of Belfor Franchise Group in Birmingham. “We saw double-digit growth. Pizza and takeout restaurants saw a lot more business, as people ordered a lot more food to be delivered to their homes. We sell a service. Our primary function is to make sure the grease is treated and pressure-washed.”
The franchisees across the United States, Canada, and Europe receive training in Ann Arbor to make sure the work meets the specifications of the National Fire Protection Association or local fire codes.
“This is good for us because it creates a steady revenue stream,” Willard says. “We’ve been franchising for 18 years. This is a golden opportunity for people looking to buy a franchise, because the service (we provide) gives them the opportunity to have repeat business. Our business has remained strong post-COVID-19. We always say if you treat your customers right, you’ll have a customer for life.”
The company has 135 territories in the United States as well as operations in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, and Willard says there’s still room for franchisees to expand their reach. In New York state alone, the company is looking to tap markets in cities like Buffalo and Syracuse. In Michigan, franchise opportunities are available in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.
“We’re also looking to expand the services we offer,” Willard says. “Many restaurants are experiencing labor shortages. It’s becoming easier for them to outsource the cleaning and replacing of grease filters. Some of our franchises will replace old filters, clean them, and reuse them once they’re cleaned. That’s a great potential growth area for all our
franchisees for repeat business.”
