Since 1950, Betco has been an industry leader in supporting facilities maintenance professionals. Over the years, the company has introduced new product lines and pioneered the development of state-of-the-art cleaning equipment. Betco has also led the way in creating innovative programs and services that help maintenance professionals enhance productivity and performance effectiveness.
Betco manufactures more than 300 unique formulations for cleaning, disinfecting, floor care, skin care, industrial applications, and other assorted specialty cleaning and maintenance products. The company also offers a complete line of equipment for every cleaning task from special floor-scrubbing machines to pads.
Betco and Green Cleaning
Betco’s Green Earth® program consists of products, procedures and equipment designed to have a reduced health and environmental impact while maintaining superior performance. The Green Earth® maintenance chemicals consist of thirteen different maintenance products including cleaners, disinfectants, degreasers, floor finish, floor strippers and carpet cleaners.
Five Betco products carry the official GREEN SEAL CERTIFICATION: Green Earth® Floor Finish, Green Earth® Floor Stripper, Green Earth® Peroxide Cleaner, Green Earth® Daily Floor Cleaner and Green Earth® Glass Cleaner. Every product was benchmarked for performance against Betco’s conventional products to ensure acceptable performance levels. Every Green Earth® chemical meets the following criteria: No 2-butoxyethanol No alkaline builders Diluted concentrates have a pH less than or equal to 10 Ingredients are non-carcinogenic Less than 0.5% total phosphorous Non-combustible • No heavy metals • Recyclable packaging • Low skin, eye and respiratory irritation potential
Maid Brigade uses Betco’s Green Earth® cleaning solutions as part of its Green Clean Certified™ system, including the Betco Fastdraw dispensing system, which ensures accurate dilution of the cleaning chemicals.
Maid Brigade is a global residential cleaning service with more than 400 cleaning franchise locations operating in the United States, Canada and Ireland. Established in 1979, Maid Brigade has remained at the forefront of the residential cleaning industry, commanding a healthy and growing market share every year since its inception.
In 1985, Maid Brigade relocated its headquarters to Atlanta and began franchising its proven residential cleaning service model. Since then, millions of consumers have chosen Maid Brigade from the field of cleaning companies and have continued to depend on Maid Brigade to consistently exceed their expectations, providing a safe and thorough cleaning, along with superior customer service.
Maid Brigade's unique Customers for Life program aims to increase the life of a customer through superior, guaranteed service and ongoing communications designed to build value and customer loyalty. The demand for residential cleaning continues to rise and the potential customer base continues to expand. Maid Brigade’s current customer base includes dual income busy families, empty nester's, retirees and young professionals.
Industry Recognition
SUCCESS Magazine ranked Maid Brigade 13th for Franchisee Satisfaction among 200 top rated franchising opportunities in 2000. Entrepreneur has ranked Maid Brigade in their "Top 500" franchises each year for more than a decade. FranNet named Maid Brigade its Franchisor of the Year in 2003 and 2004.
The Decision to Go “Green”
Maid Brigade follows the philosophy that It’s About the Customer. Every Time. When research from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed that indoor environments were up to five times more polluted than the outdoor environment a few years ago, the company felt a huge responsibility to help improve the air quality in customers’ homes by changing its cleaning products and systems. Maid Brigade began researching the effectiveness of green cleaning solutions and evaluating whether to implement a green cleaning residential system.
Franchise owners, Matt Orem and Russ Biaggne, were the first to use green cleaning solutions for a commercial cleaning project. During this process they determined that unlike years prior, green cleaning solutions were just as effective as their non-green counterparts and were comparable in price. Orem and Biaggne approached Maid Brigade leadership with their findings. The company presented the option of offering residential “green” cleaning to their Franchisee Advisory Council who agreed with the idea. The Council formed a Research and Development Committee to test the green cleaning system, including solutions, microfiber cloths and pads.
After several rounds of testing and in-home trial, Maid Brigade found the green cleaning solutions, products and techniques were highly effective in cleaning and actually more efficient than the system the company was currently using. Maid Brigade employees that cleaned with the system praised it, customers provided positive feedback and Maid Brigade’s decision to go “green” system-wide came to fruition. Each franchisee must complete training and become certified before adopting the Green Clean Certified™ system. By the end of 2007, all Maid Brigade franchisees will use Maid Brigade’s proprietary green service in all their customers’ homes.