SBS Franchise

Contributed by Afshin Cangarlu, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions

When facility executives search for a commercial cleaning company, they are bombarded with options. One of the best ways for building service contractors to stand out is to demonstrate professionalism every step of the way. This begins with the person who answers the phone and continues through the entire cleaning process.

Focus On First Impression 

Author: Jim Samson

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see you sitting on the beach sipping a margarita as your autopilot business shovels mounds of cash into your bank account.

Not a beachy person? Fine, then I can see you cruising down the highway in your brand-new Ferrari while everybody you pass fills with envy and jealousy.

It’s a reality that you could make yours once you know about these 4 wealth-streams that are hidden in plain sight. You’ll be on the fast-track to wealth in no time…

INDIANAPOLIS (PRWEB) November 01, 2021 - Stratus Building Solutions is experiencing a growth thanks to the success at all levels of the system - including talent brought in from a variety of career experiences.

Local Businesses Owners, Thomas Henning and Ralph Sizemore, are Combining Forces to Bring the Nation’s Leading Green Commercial Cleaning and Janitorial Franchise to the Columbia, SC Region

COLUMBIA, S.C. (PRWEB) SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

Stratus Building Solutions is thrilled to announce its top ten ranking in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Part-Time Franchises list.

Name: Joshua Lay

Brand: Stratus Building Solutions

Territories: 2 master franchises

Years in franchising: Since 2018

Why did you choose to franchise with a service brand?

The model is sustainable. It does require a lot of hard work, but you can be successful if you take it one step at a time.

New Master Franchisee Robert McKeowne Set to Lead Palm Beach Area

Stratus Building Solutions Master Franchisee, Luis Alvarez, speaks with the Latino Franchising Symposium about championing diversity in franchising.

Stratus Building Solutions, the nation's leading green commercial cleaning and janitorial services franchise, continues adding to its list of franchising honors. The latest spotlight comes from Entrepreneur magazine, which awarded Stratus Building Solutions with a Top 5 and a Top 10 placement on its two 2021 Fastest-Growing Franchises lists.

Ranking Solidifies Stratus’ Reputation as an Affordable and Noteworthy Business Venture

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) April 10, 2020 -- Stratus Building Solutions was recently ranked as the fourth highest-ranked franchise that can be purchased for less than $50,000 in Entrepreneur magazine’s “Top 100 Franchises for Less Than $50,000 in 2020.”

CEO Afshin Cangarlu meets with NBC 4 LA to discuss the potential impact California Assembly Bill 5 has on franchise owners in California.

For almost a hundred years, the franchise model has worked exceedingly well. A business owner perfects a system of delivering products or services and it’s so popular with the public that others want to capitalize on that success. The business owner, knowing he or she can’t expand the brand without help, then franchises their way of doing business to partner with other ambitious entrepreneurs.

But a new law in California is threatening to disrupt the extremely successful business model: Assembly Bill 5, which goes into effect on January 1, 2020.

AB5 was created to force certain new “gig economy” companies to reclassify contract workers as employees. Dozens of industries successfully convinced the bill’s author to exempt their workforce, including realtors, travel agents and architects. However, franchises were swept into the new law, and now it’s time to fix that oversight.

To be clear, the law’s goal is admirable. People who are treated as employees should be classified as such. But the problems AB5 were designed to solve simply don’t apply to franchise owners and their employees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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That’s because franchise ownership offers the best of both worlds — the opportunity to capitalize on the name recognition of a tested brand with the freedoms, flexibility and benefits that come with being your own boss, including setting your own hours, dictating how many customers you serve, and building real assets and wealth instead of simply earning hourly wages.

As CEO of Stratus Building Solutions, a Los Angeles-based international green commercial cleaning franchise, my company has created business ownership opportunities for more than 300 Californians, with locations all across our state. That kind of local ownership is the core of franchising and helps both entrepreneurs and their employees grow and prosper in their careers.

That’s true for employees of franchise locations, too. Franchises are often an incubator for part-time or full-time workers with larger ambitions. People rise up the ranks and become assistant managers, managers, and sometimes even buy out the franchise owner. Working at a franchise isn’t always a lifelong career, but it isn’t just a gig job either, where you’re using your own car or renting out your own home, for example.

And franchising has been successful because it helps aspiring business owners reduce risk when opening their first, or next, business because they are investing in a proven model. If you own a franchise, you are an independent business owner who has invested the startup capital to get your business started and you are involved in all activities tied to the day-to-day operation of the business.

The problem with AB5 is the lack of clarity in the language. The wording of the bill allows for a broad interpretation, and many people worry that local franchise employees and franchise owners will be considered employees by not just the local franchise owner but also by the franchisor, meaning the national corporate brand. They could be rolled into the same company, ultimately robbing the local franchise business owner of the entrepreneurial freedoms that make franchising attractive and rewarding in the first place.

Because AB5 could potentially combine the franchisee and franchisor into a single entity, it threatens the very nature of the business model. For franchisees, it puts their equity and hard work at risk. For franchisors, it adds new employees and legal complications for which they cannot plan and do not want. For both parties, it opens them up to a flood of new lawsuits, compliance costs, and uncertainty.

In California, more than 75,000 businesses are franchises, so their 730,000 employees and billions of dollars of economic output are at risk because of AB5. It’s imperative that the California Legislature address this issue in their next session. California’s economic success depends on it.

March 21, 2019 // Franchising.com // MAYNARD, Mass. - Stratus Building Solutions, the nation’s leading green commercial cleaning and janitorial services franchise, was recently ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s Fastest-Growing Franchises list. This highly-competitive list recognizes the 150 companies with the greatest franchise unit growth in North America, based on data submitted for Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® ranking. Thanks to its exceptional service, strong brand awareness and notable growth, Stratus Building Solutions was ranked #7.

“We are thrilled to be named as one of the fastest-growing franchises,” says Afshin Cangarlu, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions. “We have an incredible network of franchisees who work hard to grow the Stratus brand. I am proud of the work we have done so far, and I am looking forward to building on this momentum moving forward.”

“Franchising trends are always changing, and our ranking of the fastest-growing franchises offers crisp insight into what’s hot right now,” says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur's editor in chief. “And through this list, we’re also able to see the strategies that help newer brands ramp up quickly and that enable older ones to maintain their momentum."

Entrepreneur’s 2019 Fastest-Growing Franchises ranking is based on each company’s net franchise-unit growth in the U.S. and Canada from July 31, 2017 to July 31, 2018, with ties broken based on percentage growth. Stratus Building Solutions’ position on the ranking demonstrates the brand’s rising popularity with both franchisees and customers.

To view Stratus Building Solutions in the full ranking, visit entrepreneur.com/franchises/fastestgrowing. Results can also be seen in the March issue of Entrepreneur, available now on newsstands.

About Stratus Building Solutions

Stratus Building Solutions is an international franchise company in the commercial cleaning industry, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Stratus was developed to provide environmentally friendly commercial cleaning services driven by dedicated, entrepreneurial, small-business owners and regional support offices. Stratus has over 1,500 unit franchisees in 46 major cities across the United States and Canada. Stratus is setting new standards in the building services and maintenance franchise industry by being the first to offer green janitorial with their proprietary, Green Seal Certified line of cleaning chemicals.

Nation’s Leading Green Commercial Cleaning and Janitorial Services Franchise Ranked #42 in Entrepreneur’s Annual Franchise 500 List

North Hollywood, CA (January 15, 2019) – Stratus Building Solutions, the nation’s leading green commercial cleaning and janitorial services franchise, was recently ranked #42 in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking.   This represents a massive improvement over Stratus’ already excellent ranking from 2018 – moving up 61 spots from 103 to 42.

“We are thrilled to be featured as one of the top 50 franchise brands in the country,” said Afshin Cangarlu, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions.   “Entrepreneur is one of the world’s most well-respected and well-read business publications, so earning such a high ranking in the annual Franchise 500® is a major accomplishment for our franchise family.   I applaud everyone in the Stratus family, including our Master Franchisees, Unit Franchisees, and all corporate employees, for their role in earning this industry leading ranking!”

Placement in the Franchise 500® is a highly sought-after honor in the franchise space, as evidenced by the fact that Entrepreneur received more than 1,000 applications this year, making it one of the company’s most competitive rankings ever.  Recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees, the Franchise 500® ranks Stratus Building Solutions 42nd for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.  

“As we celebrate 40 years of producing the Franchise 500, it’s a good opportunity to step back and look at how much has changed since that first ranking in 1980,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur. “While the franchise business model has changed little, the strongest franchise brands are constantly evolving and innovating to keep up with changing trends and technology.”

The key factors that go into the evaluation include costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order. Over its 40 years in existence, the Franchise 500® has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Stratus Building Solution’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.  

To view Stratus Building Solutions in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2019 issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands January 15th.  

Stratus Building Solutions Regional Master Franchise Owner Michael J. Seiler was presented IFA's Annual Franchisee of the Year Award in Washington, DC this month.

New Orleans, LA (PRWEB) September 27, 2017

Stratus Building Solutions Regional Master Franchise of New Orleans owner Michael J. Seiler was honored Tuesday, September 12th by the International Franchise Association and the Stratus Building Solutions Corporate Team with its annual Franchisee of the Year Award. Seiler was recognized during the IFA’s Franchise Action Network Annual Meeting for his first year as a Stratus Master Franchise in the New Orleans Metropolitan.

“IFA is proud to recognize Michael with the Franchisee of the Year award,” said IFA President & CEO, Robert Cresanti, CFE. “The franchising community is a critical component of the U.S. economy in large part due to the dedication of exemplary individuals like Michael who have helped grow the industry and continue to give back to their communities.”

Celebrating his office’s year anniversary in October, Seiler is on pace for a record breaking first year; alongside his drive, passion and loyalty to the Stratus system and the steadfast belief to help Stratus franchise owners in the New Orleans market, Seiler’s personal attention to customer service has been attributed to his outstanding success and recognition for the award.

“We were honored to present this year’s Franchisee of the Year award to Michael Seiler. In less than one-year Seiler and his team have demonstrated that through hard work, dedication, support to his Franchisees and outstanding customer service he is able to exceed all expectations,” states Afshin Cangarlu, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions Corporate, “His commitment to drive value and benefits to his customers will enable Stratus of New Orleans to successfully grow year after year.”

“The New Orleans team all have the same vision of helping our franchise owners better their families’ lives by building successful small businesses. I am proud to bring it back to New Orleans and present it to the team because it's through their commitment and collective efforts we are being recognized,” said Seiler after receiving the award in DC on Tuesday.

Stratus Building Solutions of New Orleans regional master franchise office currently provides support to 19 janitorial service franchisees who provide services to nearly 60 customers across the New Orleans metro. Stratus stands out as a commercial cleaning service provider as the only franchise to offer Green Cleaning services with proprietary, Green Seal Certified line of cleaning chemicals.

About Stratus Building Solutions

Stratus Building Solutions is an international franchise company in the commercial cleaning industry, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. Stratus was developed to provide environmentally friendly commercial cleaning services driven by dedicated, entrepreneurial, small business owners and regional support offices. Stratus has over 1,400 unit franchisees in 31 major cities across the United States. Stratus is setting new standards in the building services and maintenance franchise industry by being the first to offer green janitorial with their proprietary, Green Seal Certified line of cleaning chemicals.

Canadian expansion exemplifies potential for the franchise brand which has experienced a renaissance under the new corporate ownership.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 28, 2016

Nationwide franchising company Stratus Building Solutions, ranked seventh Fastest Growing Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine for 2016 announced its official expansion into the Canadian market this month. This announcement came at the Stratus Master Franchise Annual National Meeting held last week in Las Vegas, Nevada by the company’s executives, Afshin Cangarlu, CEO, Channen Smith, COO ,Foad Rekabi, CTO and their new Canadian affiliate, Stuart Erskine of Declare Brands Inc. The announcement comes at a time of great resurgence in the franchising market for the brand.

In February 2015, Stratus Building Solutions, USA was acquired by a partnership formed by three current Stratus Master Franchisees and they have continued to invest to establish the company’s notoriety as a heavyweight in the commercial cleaning and janitorial franchise industry. The International introduction of Stratus with the Canadian joint venture is a key stepping stone in advancing this goal.

“Over the past year we have met and even exceeded all of the goals we set last year at our company’s Annual National Meeting in Los Angeles. The announcement of the Canadian expansion exemplifies our commitment and momentum to build a robust future for the company,” states Cangarlu, “We are fortunate to have such capable and experienced partner joining the Stratus team.”

Stuart Erskine of Declare Brands Inc. and now of Stratus Building Solutions, Canada was an obvious partner in the expansion. As Founder and President of Declare Brands Inc., a franchising conglomerate of Magnetsigns, EmbroidMe and Billboard Connection, Erskine is experienced with the transition and development of franchising companies across international boundaries, especially into Canada. Additionally, Erskine is familiar with the advantages of the master franchise and area developer model having himself been originally a Master Franchisee prior to purchasing the corporate headquarters in 2001; a story reflective of the partnership at Stratus Building Solutions, USA.

“The sheer size and diversity of the commercial cleaning industry and the great model that Stratus offers is very exciting. It’s really nice to be the only company that has as many Master Franchise opportunities available nationwide, at this time” states Erskine.

“Stuart’s experience in Canada as a franchisor, and his similar background to our own created a synergetic partnership we believe to be essential to help bring the Stratus brand to a new level,” states Smith, COO.

With an aggressive five year strategy to bring on 18 regional master franchises in Canada, Erskine is targeting Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario markets to open during the first year.

On the one-year anniversary of the new company ownership, which consists of three Stratus Master Franchisees who acquired the headquarters last February– Stratus Building Solutions ranks number seven of the Fastest Growing Franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine for 2016. This ranking announcement comes one month after the inclusion of Stratus in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500.

Stratus Building Solutions shares the top ten Fastest Growing Franchise slots with giants such as Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, Jimmy John’s, Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.; and is one of only two business services franchises of the top ranking group.

“It is great to see our company growing at such high rate and to be ranked amongst some of the largest and oldest franchise companies. It is also assuring to see our industry showing strong signs of growth as a whole to further validate the continuous strength of the commercial cleaning and janitorial services industry,” states Afshin Cangarlu, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions. Cangarlu and partner Foad Rekabi originally purchased a Stratus Regional Master Franchise in the Los Angeles area in 2008, joined forces with Denver Master Franchise owner, Channen Smith to purchase the corporate office in February 2015.

“I have always believed in the Stratus system, it has given my family and our franchisees financial independence; and is why I continue to invest in improving the brand and am excited that we are getting the recognition our franchisees deserve,” says Smith, COO.

Currently, 26 regional Master Franchisees operate across the country supporting an additional 1,400 Unit Franchisees in the two tiered system, Stratus has set its sights on expansion to an additional 42 major US metropolitans by 2016.

The partners, backed by an experienced team and unparalleled knowledge of success with the Stratus Franchise model, have already established a number of changes which have resulted in near-instantaneous gain as represented by the #7 Fastest Growing Franchise Ranking by Entrepreneur Magazine this month. They remain optimistic for an even stronger 2016 with the addition of a number of regional franchises across the country, and an opportunity to gain the #1 ranked slots once again.

Stratus Building Solutions, a nationwide franchise company in the Commercial Cleaning Services industry, previously based in St. Louis, MO, has changed ownership. The acquisition of Stratus Building Solutions was completed the beginning of February 2015. Three business partners Afshin Cangarlu, CEO, Foad Rekabi, CTO and Channen Smith, COO purchased the company and relocated the headquarters to Los Angeles, California. The three investors are current owners of numerous, successful Stratus Master Franchises across the country since 2008.

The new corporate ownership is determined to reestablish Stratus to its former glory. Stratus gained top recognition in the franchising industry from Entrepreneur Magazine in 2010 & 2011 for #1 Fastest Growing Franchise, three Top Ten Spots in the Franchise 500, and ranking in the Franchise Times Fast 55 amongst others.

With direct experience in management of their own successful franchises, the new ownership has a definitive, effective plan to put Stratus Building Solutions back on track and revive its fervor for growth. With introduction of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software to help the master franchises manage their entire businesses from sales to operations, this new software application is already active in seven master regional offices and to be installed in the remaining offices through the summer. In addition, the new Stratus corporate office has plans for marketing and re-branding the company, and demonstrated dedication to provide the best support possible to its master offices.

For the past nine years, Stratus Building Solutions has developed into a household name in the janitorial service franchise industry. Offering professional training programs, multi-level business support, state-of-the-art cleaning equipment, Green Seal Certified, biodegradable, non-toxic “Stratus Green Clean” chemicals, 24-Hour emergency services, Stratus Building Solutions is at the forefront of cleaning for health. With customizable cleaning options, Stratus Building Solutions provides services to a large range of clients, from schools, medical offices, shopping centers, warehouses, dealerships, religious centers, professional offices, daycares, retail stores, gyms and more.

Currently, Stratus has over 2,500 Unit Franchisees spread throughout the United States in over 25 major cities. The company is looking both for Master Franchises to cover specific available territories, such as in Atlanta, Miami and Seattle, as well as Unit Franchisees in all active territories.