Gareth Killian
Left a corporate career for a better lifestyle
- Walked away from biopharma. Hasn't looked back
- Structure without the 9-to-5 grind
- Building a real asset while being present for family
For sale: Established Cleaning Doctor franchise in South Devon
South Devon
An established cleaning business ready to step into.
After years of building a respected local business, Martin & Tricia Bailey are putting their Cleaning Doctor South Devon franchise up for sale: branded van, professional equipment, customer base, training and a recognised name across the region.
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Branded Renault Master van Plus a full set of professional cleaning equipment
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Active customer base Across Torbay, Teignbridge & the South Hams
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Full handover & training With Martin, Tricia and Cleaning Doctor head office
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Recognised local presence Website page, Facebook & Instagram all transfer
New to Cleaning Doctor?
90 seconds on what you're actually buying into.
Before you go any further, here's Barry from Cleaning Doctor head office explaining the brand, the model and why an established territory like South Devon doesn't come up often.
- Who Cleaning Doctor are and how the network operates
- The kind of person the model works for, and who it doesn't
- What head office actually does for franchisees day-to-day
What you're buying
A working business, not a cold start.
Everything you need to be on the road the week the handover completes. No equipment lists to chase, no logo to design, no waiting twelve months for the phone to ring.
Branded Renault Master van
Sign-written in full Cleaning Doctor livery. A recognised vehicle locals already know on the road.
Full professional equipment set
Dry Fusion carpet system, upholstery tools, stain-removal kit and consumables, ready for day-one jobs.
Established customer base
Repeat domestic customers, holiday-let clients and local trade contacts built up over years of trading.
Local trading presence
The southdevon.cleaningdoctor.net page, active Facebook & Instagram pages, and an online review history.
Hands-on training & handover
Personal handover with Martin & Tricia, plus the Cleaning Doctor head-office induction and onboarding.
Backing of a national brand
Cleaning Doctor is the UK & Ireland's largest interior & exterior cleaning network, with 25+ years behind it.
Why this territory
South Devon is a recurring-demand patch.
Carpet, upholstery, rug, leather, mattress and curtain cleaning are need-it-again services. South Devon's mix of family homes, retirees, second-homes and a year-round holiday-let economy keeps the phone ringing through every season.
~365k
People across Torbay, Teignbridge & South Hams (ONS)
~140k
In Torbay alone: Torquay, Paignton & Brixham
25+ yrs
Of the Cleaning Doctor brand operating in the UK & Ireland
6 core
Services: carpets, upholstery, rugs, leather, mattresses, curtains
Tourism kicker: South Devon's holiday-let economy creates steady demand for fast turnaround carpet, upholstery & mattress cleans between bookings. Work most domestic-only cleaners can't service.
Towns & villages already covered
The existing territory has active customers and brand recognition across:
- Torquay
- Paignton
- Brixham
- Newton Abbot
- Teignmouth
- Dawlish
- Kingsteignton
- Chudleigh
- Bovey Tracey
- Buckfastleigh
- Totnes
- South Brent
- Dartmouth
- Kingsbridge
- Salcombe
- Chillington
- & surrounding areas
From the owners
Why we're selling
"We've spent years building this business across South Devon. The brand is known, the customers are loyal, and the work is here. We're now ready to step back, and we want to hand it to someone who'll look after it the same way we have."
Martin & Tricia are offering a full personal handover: introducing you to regular customers, walking you through the equipment, the day-to-day routes and how to run the territory the way it's been run. You'll also get the formal Cleaning Doctor head-office onboarding alongside.
From the owner of Cleaning Doctor
"If you're considering this, here's what I want you to know."
John O'Connor, owner of Cleaning Doctor, speaks directly to anyone thinking about taking on a territory. The honest truth about who this works for, what head office will back you with, and what's expected from you in return.
- What head office actually do every month, in your area
- The kind of operator who thrives in the model
- Why he's still personally involved with every new franchisee
Real franchisees · real stories
Hear from people already running a Cleaning Doctor business.
No actors. No stock footage. Phone-recorded clips from active franchisees across the network.
Is this you?
Honest answer: who this business suits.
This is a hands-on, owner-operated service business. It rewards the right kind of person and frustrates the wrong one. Here's the truth on both sides.
This is for you if…
- You want to run your own local business with a recognised brand behind you
- You're happy doing the work yourself, at least to start with
- You're comfortable talking to customers and turning quotes into repeat work
- You live in or are willing to relocate to the South Devon area
- You'd rather buy a working business than start from scratch
Probably not for you if…
- You want a fully passive, hands-off investment
- You don't want to drive a van or be on-site with customers
- You're hoping to ignore the Cleaning Doctor brand standards
- You're not prepared to do a proper handover period
Frequently asked
The questions buyers ask first.
What is the asking price?
The asking price is shared on enquiry, alongside the full sale information pack. We'd rather discuss it directly with serious enquirers than post a headline number on a public page.
Once you've completed the qualification questions and signed a short NDA, you'll receive the asking price, what's included, and a high-level overview of the territory's performance.
Do I need cleaning experience?
No. Cleaning Doctor's head-office onboarding will train you on the equipment and the cleaning methods. Martin & Tricia will then run a personal handover, walking you through their customer base, routes and day-to-day operation.
Most successful franchisees in the network came from completely unrelated backgrounds.
What does the handover look like?
A structured personal handover with Martin & Tricia, agreed when contracts are exchanged. You'll be introduced to regular customers, shown the equipment and routes, and supported as you take on the first weeks of trading.
You'll also complete the Cleaning Doctor head-office induction in parallel.
Is the customer base really included?
Yes. The active customer database, repeat-client list, supplier contacts, online review history and existing local trading presence (Facebook, Instagram and the southdevon.cleaningdoctor.net page) all transfer with the business.
Do I need to live in South Devon?
Realistically, yes. This is a local, hands-on service business. You'll be running quotes, jobs and follow-ups across the territory, so you'll need to be based in the area, or willing to relocate.
How quickly could I take it over?
That depends on the buyer's situation, finance and the formal Cleaning Doctor approval process. As a guide, motivated buyers typically move from first enquiry to active trading within 8–12 weeks.
How do I make an enquiry?
Easiest is the Check if I qualify page, which takes a couple of minutes. You can also call Martin on 07808 272 302, WhatsApp the same number, call the landline on 01803 362 372, or email martin.bailey@cleaningdoctor.co.uk.
Next step
See if South Devon is right for you.
Answer a few short questions on our onboarding page. If it looks like a fit, Martin will be in touch personally with the sale information, an NDA and answers to your first questions. No automated funnels, no third-party broker.
- What's included & the asking price
- Overview of the territory & customer base
- The handover plan & head-office onboarding
- Honest answers to anything else you want to know
Takes a couple of minutes. Asking price & full financials shared under NDA.
Cleaning Doctor South Devon · Carpet & Upholstery Services · Operated by Martin & Tricia Bailey · Part of the Cleaning Doctor UK & Ireland network.
Population figures sourced from the ONS (Office for National Statistics). Asking price & financial detail shared under NDA on enquiry.
Population figures sourced from the ONS (Office for National Statistics). Asking price & financial detail shared under NDA on enquiry.
