Custom software integrated with QuickBooks
helps janitorial franchise become a market leader
Entrepreneur Magazine
Top 10 Franchise Business for 2011
Franchise business
Janitorial services for corporate clients
Challenge
Provide cost-effective business process automation software for franchisees
Solution
Develop companion add-on to QuickBooks to handle unique business needs
Since entering the franchise business in 2003, Vanguard Cleaning Systems has grown to over 60 master franchises across the US and Canada, providing quality janitorial services to corporate clients through a network of thousands of work teams, or unit franchises.
Software a key success factor
A critical component of the company’s franchise package is business automation software optimized for their master franchises; quick to set up, complete in meeting start-up and operational needs, and easy to learn and use. "We provide all the software they need to participate in our system - standard small business applications for every aspect of their operation from sales to financial statements and cash management," says Jim Foley, VP of Master Franchise Operations.
QuickBooks an ideal accounting and billing package, except for...
QuickBooks was an obvious choice for small business accounting software, but didn't easily handle some complexities of Vanguard’s business model. The company developed a small add-on for data entry and billing, integrated with QuickBooks, which not only provided the missing features, but became and remains a highly visible part of the company’s franchise package - the Vanguard Financial Solution (VFS).
Vanguard's rapid growth led to performance issues with VFS - especially during month-end billing cycles - and users needed technical support. Business success drove Vanguard to seek a strategic solution for software development and support.
Choosing the right IT partner
Realizing how critical VFS was to their continued success, Vanguard chose Dynamic Ventures to address their software development and support needs. "We wanted to work with an experienced team, both for enhancing the software and to handle 2nd-level technical support," Foley says.
"Working with Dynamic Ventures has been smooth sailing. They offer a team of experts - not just one developer - and have provided responsive service that is world-class."
Jim Foley
Vice President, Master Franchise Operations
Dynamic Ventures is proud of being named Vanguard's 2010 National Service Vendor of the Year