Tomas Perez and his wife, Carolina Navia, own two locations of the Two Maids franchise in New Jersey. Their first location opened in Westfield in 2024, with their second in Essex County in 2025. They have twelve employees.
Tomas is originally from Colombia and has called New Jersey home for the last five years. Before becoming a franchise owner, he spent more than 18 years working in corporate sales and procurement. Today, he lives in New Jersey with his wife, Carolina, their two sons, and their lovely German Shepherd dog called Arya.
Outside of work, Tomas enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, cooking, and staying active. Family is a big part of what motivates him, and becoming a business owner has allowed him to build something that will have a lasting impact on their family and community.
We got to talk to Tomas about what it’s like owning his Two Maids franchises.
What made you decide to look into purchasing a franchise?
After spending more than 18 years in corporate roles focused on sales and procurement, I reached a point where I wanted to build something of my own. I was looking for an opportunity that would allow me to use the business skills I had developed throughout my career while also giving me greater control over my time and my future.
Franchising immediately stood out to me because it offered the best of both worlds: the opportunity to own and grow my own business, while having the support, systems, and proven model of an established brand behind me. As a husband and father, I also wanted to build something that could provide long-term flexibility and create an opportunity for my family to grow with the business.
I wasn’t necessarily looking for a specific industry at first. I was looking for the right business model, the right people, and an opportunity where I could make a meaningful impact. That search eventually led me to Two Maids.
When researching franchises, what criteria mattered to you most? How did your franchise meet that criteria?
The most important things for me were having a proven business model, strong franchisor support, and an opportunity where I could use my experience to make a real difference.
Two Maids checked all those boxes. I liked that it was a service business that genuinely helps families by giving them back something they don’t have enough of—time. I also saw an opportunity to bring my corporate experience in sales, operations, and financial management to a local business and grow it with my own personal touch.
Financing can be an obstacle and/or intimidating factor for aspiring entrepreneurs. How did you find financing options to purchase your franchise?
We used an SBA loan to finance the purchase. The process was straightforward once we had a solid business plan and understood the financials. The support from the Two Maids team also gave us confidence in moving forward with the investment.
Which of your prior skills and experiences do you use in operating your business today?
My 18+ years of experience in sales and procurement roles and working with teams have been extremely valuable. I use those skills every day—whether I’m managing the numbers, developing our team, building customer relationships, or looking for ways to grow the business.
At the same time, owning Two Maids has taught me that running a small business is much more hands-on. You have to be involved, listen to your customers and your team, and be willing to adapt every day.
During your research, did you use FBR’s website to compare franchise opportunities? What other resources did you use?
Yes. FBR was an invaluable resource throughout the process of researching and evaluating franchise opportunities. It gave me a place to learn about different concepts, compare opportunities, and better understand the franchise industry.
I also used franchise disclosure documents, spoke with franchisors and existing franchise owners, and did a lot of my own research on the financials and business models. Having multiple sources of information was important to me before making such a significant investment.
When doing your research, which questions did you ask the franchisees?
I wanted to hear the real story from franchisees, so I asked questions about what it was really like to operate the business day to day. I asked about their relationship with the franchisor, the level of support they received, their biggest challenges, and whether the financial expectations matched reality.
Most importantly, I wanted to know if they would make the same decision again. Hearing directly from franchisees gave me a much better understanding of what I was getting into.
Which questions did you ask the franchisor?
I focused on questions about the business model, the support they provide, and what it would take to be successful. I also asked about the financial expectations, growth opportunities, training, marketing, and what they expected from me as a franchise owner.
I wanted to understand not only what Two Maids could provide, but also what they expected from me to make the business successful.
What were your first 90 days like as a franchisee?
The first 90 days were intense but exciting. I was learning the business, getting to know our customers and team, and understanding every part of the operation. At the same time, I was looking for opportunities to improve the business and bring more structure and consistency to the operation.
I could see the potential almost immediately. There was a lot to learn, but also a great foundation to build on. I was excited to take what I had learned throughout my career and use it to create a stronger operation and a better experience for our customers and our team.
At what point did you feel like you “got the hang of it” and settled in as a business owner?
I think it started to click after the first 2 to 4 months. By then, I understood the operation, knew our customers and team much better, and had a clearer vision for where I wanted to take the business.
That’s when I really started to feel less like a new franchise owner and more like a business owner. I was able to make decisions with confidence and focus more on growing the business and building a strong team.
How does the franchisor support and encourage your success?
Two Maids provides support in many different ways, from training and coaching to marketing, technology, and ongoing operational guidance. But what I value most is the franchisee network. Having other owners who are willing to share their experiences, ideas, and lessons learned is invaluable.
I also appreciate that the franchisor is invested in our success while giving us the flexibility to run our local business and make it our own. That combination of support and independence has been very important to me.
What are you most proud of and why?
I’m most proud of the team and culture we’ve built since taking over Two Maids. We’ve made some big changes to improve the business, and it hasn’t always been easy. What makes me especially proud is the resilience our entire team has shown throughout that process.
We’ve worked hard to create an operation that puts our customers and our people first, while continuing to grow and improve. Seeing the team embrace the changes, take ownership, and grow together is what makes me proudest as a business owner.
What advice would you give to potential franchise owners?
Do your homework and talk to as many franchisees as possible. Understand the numbers, the business model, and what will be expected of you as an owner.
But once you make the decision, commit to it. Be willing to learn, get involved, make changes when necessary, and trust the process. A franchise gives you a proven system, but ultimately, what you put into the business and how you lead your team will make a big difference.
More About the Two Maids Franchise Model and Opportunity
Two Maids is a cleaning franchise that offers a great work/life balance and requires no industry experience. Because they survey with us here at FBR and score high in Franchisee Satisfaction, they appear on a few of our lists, like our Top 200 Franchises of 2026.
They also share their entire Franchisee Satisfaction Report on our site; check it out.
Highlights include:
- 88% of franchisees agree that their fellow franchisees are supportive of the brand.
- 85% of franchisees agree that they enjoy operating their business.
- 85% of franchisees agree that their fellow franchisees are supportive of each other.
Each franchise office is independently owned and operated. These testimonials represent that person’s experience and the opinions of a specific franchise owner. Individual results and experiences will vary. This is not a guarantee, promise, or prediction of future performance or outcomes. For a comprehensive understanding of the costs, risks, and performance data associated with this franchise opportunity, please refer to Two Maids’ Franchise Disclosure Document.
