Merry Maids owners Bob and Melina Cunningham announced today that they acquired the Merry Maids franchise in Gilroy, Ca. Combined with their Beaufort and Mountain View, Ca., offices, they now manage a staff of more than 50 people  serving more than 800 homes in their three locations.
Cunningham started his first Merry Maids franchise 27 years ago in Mountain View, Ca. In 2007, he and his wife moved to Beaufort, where he purchased his second franchise license. Cunningham added that he first came across the opportunity while paging through a Nation’s Business Magazine back in 1983 during the initial technology boom in Silicon Valley.
“It was an exciting time back then, and a friend and I were looking for the right business opportunity to invest in,” said Cunningham. “As computer manufacturers and software developers kept husbands and wives busy at work day and night, we asked the obvious question, ‘who’s cleaning their homes?’”
The Cunningham’s have been interested in the Gilroy franchise for the last 4 years.  Their business partners in California, Mike and Jane Santos live in Morgan Hill, Ca., which is part of the Gilroy market. “Jane has been managing the Mountain View office since 2002 so it was a good business move for us to be able to acquire a Merry Maids office in her back yard,” said Cunningham.
“Merry Maids offers the best of both worlds — local presence with a national backing,” added Cunningham. With more than 30 years in business, the Merry Maids brand has some to signify excellence in housecleaning, and we definitely aim to raise the bar in Gilroy.”
This latest news comes as no surprise to fellow franchisees, as Cunningham was honored just two years ago with the Dallen Peterson Founder’s Award at the company’s international conference in St. Louis. This award is the highest distinction a Merry Maids franchisee can earn. It recognizes the franchise owner who proves to best exemplify the highest quality in business operations, including customer and employee satisfaction.