Restoration cleaning franchises specialize in major cleanup efforts, typically after events that affect the ability to inhabit a home or other type of property. These services can include: mold removal, as well as recovery from wind, water, fire and/or smoke damage. Making a residence or building inhabitable following prolonged neglect is also a function of franchises in this area too.
Part of the vast contract cleaning services industry in the United States, restoration cleaning is expected to continue to grow as changes in weather patterns have led to an increase in natural disasters such as stronger seasonal storms and wildfires. These events are in addition to the number of accidental household or commercial building floods and fires that occur each year.
Because of the growth, the restoration business as a whole is reaching a level of maturity in its lifecycle as new service providers enter the market chasing opportunity. The maturation of the industry means “restorers need to start thinking [more] about sales process and a sales pipeline” to combat the challenges that come from a maturing industry environment as stated in an edition of Cleaning & Restoration magazine – a publication from the Restoration Industry Association, the oldest and largest trade association representing the restoration and reconstruction industry in the world.
Fortunately for restoration cleaning franchisees, franchises by-and-large offer proprietary systems to streamline operations and aid in sales generation. As Idan Shipzear, co-founder of 911 Restoration, contends, a franchise’s “support in generating more business for our franchisees takes a lot of the risk factor off the table.”
And the theme of support continues with franchises in the field. For instance, Rainbow International Restoration franchisees are assisted by a “dedicated franchise consultant” in their first year and, beginning in the second year, they are assigned a regional service manager to advise them as needed. PuroClean offers initial field training that consists of “industry standard office set-up and outside sales calls.”
Prospective restoration cleaning franchisees should keep in mind franchising is a two-way street. While the franchises can provide the support franchisees need to flourish in a competitive space, it’s important for prospective franchisees to bring a customer service and community-oriented mindset to the table as they will often be dealing with people in distress.
“In our business, our job is to be ready and respond to emergency calls,” says Shipzear. “We never know what type of calls we will get. For example, we can get a call for a flooded business with 30 employees. Besides having to restore the property, we need to collaborate with the business owner to make sure that his business is running. On the other hand, we can get a call from a mom with three kids. Our first priority is to calm her down to make sure her kids get to school and give her the fresh start she deserves ASAP.”
As Rainbow International Restoration says succinctly, a restoration franchise “is more than a business; it is a way to help people recover from loss by restoring value, stability and peace of mind.”
Related Cleaning Franchise Segment: Light Environmental Services
While light environmental services franchises perform similar tasks to restoration franchises, it is important to indicate that they are two different areas.
Restoration franchises perform the more intensive restoration, remodeling or fire damage work, while franchises in this industry perform services such as mold removal, duct cleaning, and moderate water damage services.
“One of the biggest differences between us and your typical restoration company is that most of the competition is used to processing claims for insurance companies, not identifying issues created by non-covered building failures and catastrophes, and solving them accordingly,” according to Kevin Drudge, vice president of AdvantaClean. “The restoration competitors are really more like general contractors. We actually get work from the restoration companies who will sub-contract our franchisees to handle smaller jobs.”
The building boom is a major growth generator that has led to a number of buildings and properties now requiring maintenance for structural and health reasons. “Properties are one of the largest investments people make and they pay to protect those investments,” says Drudge. The push for greater energy efficiency is also a reason for segment growth.
Initial Investment and Opening Costs for Restoration Franchises
The amount necessary to open a franchise varies depending on the unique business system and execution requirements.
The exact opening costs for a given restoration franchise depends on many factors, including but not limited to: the franchise fee, training expenses (such as travel and living expenses, not the actual training courses), grand opening advertising and marketing costs, whether the franchise will need a dedicated office space, and more.
The franchise profiles on our website will present you with a basic range for the initial investment or minimum cash required to open a franchise. But when it comes to finding out the details of an initial investment, the franchise disclosure document is the best place to look. Franchisors offer itemized estimates in their FDD based upon their experience establishing, and in some cases operating, units.
Keep in mind these estimates are just that, though—an estimate. Prospective franchisees should review the figures presented with a business advisor, taking into consideration their unique circumstances, before making the decision to enter into a franchise agreement.
Keep in Mind the Special Regulations You May Be Subject To
Laws and regulations vary widely depending on where the individual franchisee will do business.
In addition to common business laws, sanitation laws and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) regulations are a couple of rules cleaning franchisees must make sure they abide by. A large component of these laws concern chemicals and waste disposal.
Franchisees are strongly recommended to consult a local advisor to determine all laws and regulations that are applicable to their situation. Your franchisor will also be a good resource to lean on as the company will be very familiar with what is necessary to complete its services.
You can also check out many more categories of home services franchises here on Franchise Direct, such as: