Put Away the Cape: What it Really Means to be a Hero in Your Restoration Business

Exploring the opportunity within franchises.

For those of us in the disaster restoration business, we have the privilege to do something that makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

When things are at their absolute worst, and people are dealing with the aftermath of a disaster (whether it’s caused by Mother Nature or human nature), we’re there, helping others get their lives and businesses back to normal.

But it’s not easy.

For starters, as the owner of a restoration business you wear many hats. You’re responsible for the day-to-day logistical operations of running a business. Keeping the business financially sound. Hiring and managing employees. Marketing your services. Growing sales. And the list goes on and on.

Competition is fiercer than ever.

These days, everybody seems to be getting into the restoration game: contractors, plumbers, carpet cleaners, you name it. The likelihood is that you’re coming up against a never-ending stream of local independent restoration businesses, as well as larger and better-resourced franchises. Standing out from the crowd can be challenging, much less making enough noise to get noticed.

Referral sources are in high demand.

Today in disaster restoration, it’s more important than ever to have a good relationship with a range of insurance carriers, insurance agents, property managers, plumbers, and vendor programs. Getting on a list, much less staying there, is more demanding than ever. However, this is an area where being a part of a strong franchise can be to your benefit, as the franchisor may participate in preferred programs with insurance carriers.

The rules of the game keep changing.

Innovative technology and improvements are forcing change in the way you go to market. Staying up with or ahead of these changes is a challenge, while new software and equipment require ongoing investments that can stifle growth.

Thankfully, you don’t have to go it alone.

This is why franchises were created. Franchising your disaster restoration business is about much more than the logo on your truck. It’s about realizing the benefits of scale so that you can be in business for yourself, without having to do it by yourself.

As the Chief Development Officer for one of the largest franchise brands in the category, I get it. You’ve spent your entire career building a company that has a brand of its own, and you’ve spent so much blood, sweat and tears trying to establish that name. It's hard to paint over the name on the side of that truck. But if you ask me, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, and it would be a shame not to at least consider it.

You remember all of those hats? The first thing a franchise does is take a few of them off your head. The primary job of a franchisor is to provide its franchisees with support in some of the most crucial areas of the business.

Chances are, they’re also some of your least favorite:

Marketing? An established brand name creates instant awareness for your business, and professionally designed marketing materials are provided for your use. You can also tap into expertise in the digital space, from analytics, to email campaigns, and effective social media.
Sales may get a boost from national accounts. In the case of ServiceMaster Restore®, our franchisees are supported by a dedicated call center and benefit from cross-sell opportunities between our brands.
Financial advice is frequently provided in the form of business plans and evaluations.

Franchises also bring “buying power” into play, often negotiating significant discounts for their franchisees. The ServiceMaster Company, for example, manages one of the largest fleets in America, and as a result we’re able to offer our franchisees discounts on vehicles, equipment, even fuel. Through our direct lending partnership with the ServiceMaster Acceptance Corporation (SMAC) we can help you finance the purchase of a franchise and an addition to your fleet, making this time-sensitive decision in weeks instead of months.

We’re also proud to offer expert training for both owners and employees. Our Director of Training, Peter Duncanson, is the Chairman and President of the IICRC, and helped write the very guidelines that govern our industry. ServiceMaster is also one of the only places a technician can get the critical hands-on experience offered by our model flood house.

Most importantly, you’ll never be alone again. Our franchisees are part of a family, working together to help serve the communities in which we live. You can tap into the experience of lessons learned by others who are on the same journey. And that culture of support never stops.

Ask yourself: what does your business look like 10 years from now? Then ask yourself how you plan to get there alone.

The franchise sales information in this communication does not constitute an offer to sell a franchise. The offer of a franchise can only be made through the delivery of a Franchise Disclosure Document. NY NOTE: This advertisement is not an offering. An offering can only be made by a prospectus filed first with the Department of Law of the State of New York. Such filing does not constitute approval by the Department of Law. ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services L.P. Minnesota File No. F7462. ServiceMaster Residential/Commercial Services L.P., 860 Ridge Lake Blvd., C2-7000, Memphis, TN 38120

Financing is available through ServiceMaster Acceptance Company, a subsidiary of The ServiceMaster Co. L.L.C., to credit qualified individuals.

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Mike Pearce is the Chief Development Officer at ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc., where he handles franchise development and strategy for ServiceMaster's five franchise brands. Mike has enjoyed a long career in franchising. Most recently, he held the position of Vice President of Franchise Development for J.D. Byrider, where he led and managed their franchise development department. Before his tenure at J.D. Byrider, Mike held Director and VP-level positions at many companies in the food industry including: Back Yard Burgers, Inc., Huddle House Restaurants, Domino’s Pizza and Sagittarius Brands (Captain D’s Seafood and Del Taco).