Oven Rescue lets me fit my work around life!

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m 42 and live in Swansea with my family. I’ve been with Oven Rescue for just over 6 months now, after having my own business for 10 years beforehand.

What made you choose Oven Rescue? 

I’d explored franchising before and even spoke to a similar business, but it wasn’t for me at that time, and I decided to keep focusing on my own business. But after Covid, my business took a bit of a hit, and I started looking into franchising again.

I found Oven Rescue and spoke to Mike to find out a bit more about it, and thought it sounded like a great opportunity. To be honest, he is the main reason I went with Oven Rescue over someone else; Mike’s passion really came through with his dedication to the business, and it just felt more personal.

Did you know anything about oven cleaning?

Absolutely not – I’d never even cleaned my oven at home before, but I did two weeks’ training which gave me the confidence to head out on my own. Needless to say, I’m the chief oven cleaner in my house, now!

I also undertook additional training to gain qualifications in repairs. This means that I can also repair a whole host of different ovens, fixing lots of issues and getting them back to full working order.

How did your training go?

The first week of training was spent with another franchisee, while the second week was with Mike. Throughout those two weeks, I got to see the processes for different ovens and what products to use for elements. It was really beneficial to spend time with two different people to see how they worked.

What’s the ongoing support like?

To be honest, I haven’t had to contact Mike as much as I thought I would, but when I have needed him – mainly just to sense check something – he’s always been at the other end of the phone. Even though you’re technically working for yourself, you do have the support of the franchise, and Mike, to fall back on.

What’s Mike like to deal with?

He’s great – like I said, he’s always there to help you if you need to run anything by him, and he’s been really supportive of the further qualifications I’ve done to give me that competitive edge.

What’s a typical day?

It depends if I do the morning school run, but if I do, I tend to get to my first job at about 9 am and schedule in a couple of hours for each job. This means I tend to do 3-4 cleans a day, depending on the oven size, before heading home to prepare for the next day and filling out my diary with enquiries.

It’s definitely gotten easier to work this way, as I now have repeat work, which means I can plan my days better so I’m not heading from one side of the city to another.

What’s oven cleaning like? 

It’s never something I saw myself doing, but it is genuinely something that I really enjoy. I don’t really see dirty ovens anymore, I just focus on what it will look like when I’m done. It’s also really satisfying to see people’s faces when they realise how good it looks.

How does Oven Rescue work for you financially?

You get out what you put in, so if you’re prepared to work hard then you can make really good money. I’ve managed to build up my area pretty well over the last 6 months using social media which has enabled me to get word of mouth recommendations, so I’m definitely reaping the rewards. I also did some additional qualifications which means I can fix ovens, too, which gives me a bit of a competitive edge, so that’s also really helped me to build up my customer base and earn more money.

What’s in store for the future?

I’m really enjoying work, so I plan on continuing to build up my customer base and pay off my mortgage. Then I’ll take it from there – maybe look to semi-retire early.

Are there any downsides to franchising with Oven Rescue?

No – not for me, but I did a lot of research before committing so I knew the opportunity was there and hit the ground running. I also think that having run my own business for a decade stood me in really good stead.

How strongly would you recommend an Oven Rescue franchise?

Really strongly. It fits around my life, meaning I can take the kids to school and be flexible when I need to be, but I am also in charge of my own work, so I can do as much or as little as I like, safe in the knowledge that someone is there should I need anything.

What are your top tips for anyone thinking about an Oven Rescue franchise?

Make sure you do your research before committing. Think about the market size, industry and of course, the franchise itself. I knew I’d be able to get plenty of work in the area, not only from traditional residences but also from HMOs, due to there being a university in the city. This means summer can be quite busy for me, whereas other areas may find summer is quieter. Likewise, everyone has an oven, so I knew demand would be there. However, my top tip is to research the franchise. Although you do work for yourself, you are part of a bigger business, so making sure you get everything you need from them is crucial.

What’s the first step for anyone thinking about an Oven Rescue franchise?

Just reach out to Mike. he’s more than happy to give you all the information you need to make an informed decision.