Merry Maids may be an international corporation, but its franchise owners, like Brad Smith, bring a local touch to its services.

Smith, an Atlanta native, retired from law enforcement after nearly 30 years. Before retiring, he worked overseas in Bosnia as a commander in the International Police Task Force. What was supposed to be a year overseas eventually turned into five years.
"When I returned from Bosnia, I was set on retiring early and I did," said Smith. "I decided to look into Merry Maids, a company I knew a lot about ... I went to their corporate headquarters and from there, we opened up the store from scratch ... This franchise had not existed in this location before."
Smith's franchise serves Newton, Rockdale, Walton, Henry and parts of DeKalb counties.
His franchise, which was initially located on Ga. Highway 138, became one of the company's most viable franchises within seven years. In 2005, the store was named Rookie of the Year by the international corporation, for its exceptional performance in growth and profitability.
Merry Maids has since moved to its current location on Old Covington Road, due to its considerable growth. With an average of 15 employees, Smith expects to hire more employees to help with the franchise's growing capacity.
"We've had continuous growth since we began," said Smith. "Even with the economy, when companies are laying people off, we're hiring."
The business provides a cleaning service that's convenient for the individual, whether it's a daily, weekly, or monthly cleaning routine. The local office personalizes the cleaning services, depending on the size of the home and the frequency of the home. They also factor in your living conditions, like the number of pets you may own.
"The professional standards we provide are the same ones Merry Maids are known for," said Smith. "It's like getting the same cheeseburger from a restaurant you love anywhere you go."
Cleaning services include dusting and cleaning bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. They also go the extra mile to eliminate the ever-laborious spring cleanings. Additionally, Merry Maids offer special services, including oven and refrigerator cleaning, window washing, furniture treatment and packing/unpacking.
"One of the reasons we attribute to our success is that we're a part of the community," said Smith. "This may be a large company, but I am local, this is my franchise and we take care of our customers."