It seems that DIY is a national obsession. And with TV shows like Love It or List It, Trading Spaces, Fixer Upper, and Home Town, there’s no shortage of hunger for professional tips and trade secrets.
So, for those who desire a more beautiful home, DIY is an excellent approach for the hobbyist.
That said, not everyone is great with a hammer and saw. Whether someone is considering upgrading their home to maximize resale potential or improve their surroundings, sometimes it's better to call in the experts. And this is where home improvement franchises provide such a valuable service.
If you're an avid DIYer and would love to turn your obsession into a career, consider hooking up with one of Franchise Direct's excellent home improvement franchises. If helping people achieve their dream home is your passion, you could do worse than taking on the existing reputation of a home improvement franchise rather than going it alone.
But home improvement franchises don’t just supply workpeople. Depending on the home improvement franchise you choose, you could:
- Supply DIY materials
- Offer re-design services
- Specialize in kitchens and bathroom supplies
- Provide and/or install smart home tech
Home remodeling internet searches have doubled over the past two years, demonstrating the hunger for home improvement. Be the friendly face at the end of the phone and help people transform their tired homes into peaceful havens they'll love.
Franchising
Most people consider franchising the best way to go into business for yourself. This is because you inherit many benefits from your parent company, including a ready-built reputation for excellent customer relations and customer service.
When you go into business without the support of an established partner, it can be challenging to get things off the ground. The initial challenge is just letting potential customers know who you are and what you do. Of course, all businesses have advertising costs, but a franchise has already established its branding, so your future customers already know about your services.
When you invest in a home improvement franchise, you inherit the instantly recognizable branding, which provides immediate curb appeal for your new business. You also have an established supply chain and a raft of tried-and-tested services that already resonate with your customer base.
Alongside the branding and established reputation, your parent company usually provides a range of excellent training opportunities to ensure that it can maintain its reputation as an expert in the field. As well as training, some parent companies offer a range of HR support roles, helping you build your business in line with financial-, employment- and business regulations - the stuff that usually keeps business owners awake at night!
Having access to an existing supply chain gives you greater control over your profit margins - for a small business, you'll have enormous business buying power.
Franchise Direct offers an excellent choice of superb home improvement franchises that provide:
- A reputation built on excellent customer service
- Access to an established supply chain
- Ongoing training and business support
- HR support
Facts About Home Improvement Franchises
Google searches for home improvement services have doubled since 2020, with people seeking out ways of solving their home improvement headaches.
Since 2020, searches for the following home improvement services have doubled:
- Kitchen remodeling
- Home remodeling (from 39% in March 2020 to 93% in March 2021)
- General contractors
The search term "average cost to remodel kitchen" increased by over 20% from 2020 to 2021.
So, the desire to complete minor home projects is distinctly rising. The home improvement sector has been projected to grow by more than 5% in 2022.
Kitchens remain the most renovated room in the house. Over half of North America’s housing stock was built before 1980, so modernizing kitchens has become a big priority for people with outdated appliances and decor in the heart of the home.
And don't forget that a great kitchen sells properties. According to a recent survey by Porch.com, a newly renovated kitchen was the second-highest priority for home seekers, according to a recent study by Porch.com.
Smart home tech is becoming an absolute priority for millennial homeowners, with demand for smart home technology increasing by 20% every year (since 2016!).
The most in-demand home tech is:
- Temperature-control systems
- Lighting fixtures
- Entertainment add-ons
- Home security devices
Franchising Vs. Independent
Franchising is a more foolproof way to get started in business, but all franchise opportunities require an initial investment, ranging from around $50,000 upward to hundreds of thousands of USD.
Of course, most of us don't have that type of collateral, so we need to apply for funding from a bank or moneylender. And this is where franchising really does come into its own because most moneylenders favor the franchise model.
This is because home improvement franchises have a ready-built customer base and an operating model that has already proved profitable, sustainable, and capable of growth.
In comparison, independent companies often struggle to achieve their funding objectives. This is because the business they're proposing has no history of market penetration. Regardless of the individual's experience, an independent company that runs without an experienced partner's support will always represent a higher risk on a return to the lender's investment.
Unfortunately, almost half of all independent companies go bankrupt before they recoup their initial investment, with an average lifespan of just five years. Failure tends to occur when the indie struggles to penetrate the saturated marketplace - they struggle to gain traction in their early years and are forever on catch-up until they finally go bust.
Franchises, on the other hand, offer a more certain starting position for franchisees. Relying on the parent company's reputation, home improvement franchises tend to hit the ground running with a faster return on their initial investment because customers already recognize and trust the brand.
So, if you're considering starting up in the home improvement sector, think about becoming your own boss, with all the benefits of a franchise to help you on a more certain path to success.
Home Improvement Franchises
Check out Franchise Direct's excellent choice of established home improvement franchises.
You can also check out many more categories of home services franchises here on Franchise Direct, such as: