Janitorial business seeks national expansion

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Jan 21, 2005 by Tampone, Kevin

DEWITT - Custodial Maintenance, a 25-year-old, DeWitt-based janitorial-services company has its sights set on expanding across the country.

Patrick Gogliardo, general manager and co-founder of Custodial Maintenance, says the company will begin selling franchises in the business in the next year. Custodial Maintenance provides janitorial services to about 65 clients across Central New York, and employs 37 people.

Gogliardo says he should be ready to start franchise operations in New York State in about 12 months. And within 18 months, he hopes to begin franchises in other states.

The immediate goals for New York are to start 12 franchises with 20 to 25 employees each. The ultimate goal is 200 franchises nationwide, each with annual revenues of $1.5 million to $2 million. Gogliardo declined to comment on the company's current annual revenues.

The prospects for future franchising are good because of the current uncertainty in the job market, Gogliardo says.

"There's no job security anywhere now," he says. "People are going to have to start looking for new ways to make a living."

On a personal level, Gogliardo says he's pursuing franchising because he's looking for a new challenge.

"I felt that I needed a new project," he says. "I have a very comfortable life right now. I don't have to do this. But I want other people to have the lifestyle I have and the freedoms I have.

It's the American dream to own your own business."

Gogliardo hasn't set a price tag for the franchises yet, but the goal is to keep them affordable, as the potential market for buyers could include everyone from laid-off factory workers to managers forced into early retirement.

Even though Custodial Maintenance is in the midst of securing all the proper licenses to start selling franchises, it has already received interest from potential franchisees, including several people in the Hudson Valley, company officials say.