As someone that owns multiple properties, launching a cleaning franchise might seem like it was a no-brainer for Jason O’Connor, but joining JDI Cleaning Services was not part of his original plan, he says.
In his mid-20s, he discovered a passion for investing and saw firsthand the power of leverage, teamwork, and understanding risk. Yet, it was not real estate that ultimately captured his imagination—he was drawn to the JDI franchise’s potential for growth and the chance to build and grow a business.
“When I was told about JDI,” says O’Connor, “I was sold on the idea of pairing my love for investing with my desire to sell and operate in a highly scalable enterprise.”
With a passion for building, he found fulfilment in the challenge of growing it through creativity, strategic planning, and hands-on effort.
Embracing a new industry
Although he had no previous experience in commercial cleaning, he felt confident that his skills in sales and operations would translate well and now describes the firm’s current trajectory as a “growth rocket ship”.
“Everything I know now about the commercial cleaning industry was taught in the early days by our National Support Centre and my fellow regional franchisees. Much of the business was learned through doing—trials and tribulations.”
JDI’s regional franchise model provided him with extensive support, helping him navigate the new territory and make rapid progress.
The transition into the business was smooth, thanks in large part to the assistance of experienced mentors. “I looked at many businesses before a friend and mentor of mine, Adam Jezewski, told me about JDI Cleaning Services,” O’Connor recalls.
“Adam introduced me to Anita Elliott, our current President, and she became a direct mentor for me during my onboarding process.”
He credits the JDI executive team for creating an environment that promotes growth, not only for the franchise as a whole but for each individual regional franchisee.
Scaling and building a team
In less than two years, the business has seen impressive growth under his leadership.
“When I first purchased the business, my goal was to build a relationship with the franchise base,” he explains. By focusing on building rapport with local franchisees, he was able to foster a collaborative atmosphere conducive to rapid expansion.
“Since I purchased the business, we’ve added six new local franchisees, and we hope to hit 30 by the end of the year,” he says.
With hundreds of facilities being serviced monthly, he has expanded his team, bringing on a full-time administrator and a sales and operations manager. The team, he says, has played a critical role in the continued growth of the business.
Long-term growth
Understanding the importance of the “long game” has been one of O’Connor’s biggest challenges. “The timeline for growing a business often needs to be longer than anticipated,” he says. Now, at 29, he has developed a more mature outlook on business growth, embracing the gradual pace required to build something sustainable.
Scaling a business isn’t just about adding new clients; it’s also about keeping the ones you have and customer retention has been a significant focus this year. By implementing new systems and processes, his team has become more proactive, allowing them to handle various business facets more efficiently.
“Since our team’s expansion, we’ve significantly exceeded our goals for customer loyalty,” he says, noting that the quality and speed of response are crucial in the cleaning industry.
“Customers want two things from us—a clean office and attentive service. We prioritize both at scale.”
Future goals and advice
Looking ahead, he has ambitious plans for his regions, aiming for continuous upward growth over the next five years. He’s aligned his goals with JDI’s national strategy, which focuses on expanding both the franchise base and the franchisee count to solidify its footprint in the industry.
Reflecting on his journey, he’s enthusiastic about sharing his experience with others that are considering joining the JDI franchise.
“JDI has a proven system that continues to help aspiring business owners build the lives they want,” he says. With four revenue streams and the ability to scale rapidly due to recurring revenue, he says JDI offers an excellent opportunity for those interested in franchising.
The collaborative atmosphere within the JDI franchise system has been one of the biggest upsides for him. “I have many friends who have founded companies that had to face adversities on their own he says. By contrast, JDI offers a community of franchisees who can draw on each other’s strengths.
“There’s huge upside to joining a franchise that is going through a growth phase,” he says, concluding that his decision to become a JDI franchisee in 2022 was “one of the best business decisions I’ve made.”
It may not have been part of any masterplan, but through JDI O’Connor has not only expanded his professional portfolio but also found a platform that supports his passion for building and growing businesses.
And the best part is that anyone can copy his success.
