Meet Ricel Mae Guinto and KP Patel, MOLLY MAID franchisees in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Ricel Mae Guinto and KP Patel knew they wanted to own and manage a business—they spoke about it every night while working at the liquor shop in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Although franchising wasn’t an avenue they’d specifically set their sights on, when a MOLLY MAID franchise in the area went up for sale, they saw the opportunity they’d been waiting for.
Around February of 2023, Ricel and KP reached out to the unit’s previous owner as well as Fiona Styant, CFE, the vice president of development at MOLLY MAID. As they looked further into the opportunity, they found that the industry was manageable for them to break into, the MOLLY MAID system came with brand recognition, and the low start-up costs would help them get going without breaking the bank.
As the month of May began, so did Ricel and KP’s careers as franchise owners. Unfortunately, the previous owner had moved, which uniquely impacted the turnover process, training, and staff retention. The first year was a challenge, Ricel and KP share. Their days were spent cleaning homes, learning the software system, handling client relations, training team members, and even washing the rags at night. “KP and I were working almost 12 hours every day,” says Ricel. “But every day we accomplished one thing, solved one problem, and our days got better and better.”
All the hard work and learning led them to find their rhythm in the daily operations of the business, both individually and as a team. “We now have a system,” they explain. “KP is our muscle guy and works mostly outside with the teams, doing quality checks, and Ricel [handles] the client connection, administrative work, payroll, and books.”
Although Ricel and KP took ownership in 2023, MOLLY MAID has operated in Yellowknife for over a decade now, and the duo believes that their presence in the area is strong.
“We are a small town of 20,000 people and it is one of the coldest cities in Canada,” they add. When they first started, they didn’t have a car, and once they got one they had to trade it in for an SUV that could better handle the harsh winters. Now, they have four decaled cars for their four strong teams.
“Problems are still inevitable, but we always look on the bright side and always find solutions,” Ricel and KP say.
They also have the ongoing support of their franchisor: “We owe part of our success to the wonderful people in the corporate office. We have a family away from home whom we can ask for help whenever needed.” This help includes insights on staying visible in the market, advertising support, feedback on handling new situations, and a team to lean on when they need it.
“The lessons brought by our daily experiences (highs and lows), bring [out] the best version of ourselves, and those versions becomes the role models and the leaders to our growing [MOLLY MAID] family and to our own families, too.”
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