As you dig into the idea of self-employment, perhaps for the first time, I hope you are including the franchise route with a diligent franchise search. I want to thank you, commend you and offer any help or advice I can. I mean this sincerely and absolutely free of obligation. I offer my phone number of 800-452-8326 Ext. 2.
We have helped many people launch themselves into self-employment. I've been working with self-employed entrepreneurs for over 25 years. Add me to your list of friends as you work through the stressful process of career searching. You'll find a breath of fresh air from STOP, compared to some of the franchises you've spoken with... "I guarantee it."
STOP Restoration ("STOP") is a full-service restoration franchise in the property restoration industry with a full menu of services that includes water damage, fire/smoke cleaning, bio-hazard, trauma scene, full reconstruction and other indoor air related services.
We'll share this industry honestly; the good, the bad and the other stuff. You'll be sadly disappointed if you are looking for a high-pressure franchise sales person to contact you. You may not have considered this industry before. You may not have even known that restoration of houses after insurance-covered losses was an industry at all. That's OK. We have franchisees just like you in STOP right now.
Many of our franchisees have no prior "hands-on" experience running a business nor fixing houses. The simple answer is: You can't make a good living with only your two hands (unless you're a rock star guitarist or French chef)... you're going to have to hire employees ultimately. So let's look at this industry from an investor's point of view and from an entrepreneur's point of view first.
While seeking self-employment, we encourage you to take a look at the management and entrepreneurial profile of every business you consider. Is the business retail? Is it wholesale? Is it Business to Business ("B to B")? Does it require expensive, high visibility, premium real estate? These are the questions that should be high on your self-employment search checklist.
In a nutshell, the restoration industry is a combination of B to B marketing with the benefit of retail-priced services. Equally alluring to entrepreneurs is the targetable market and allocated money for the services the restoration industry provides. The lion's share of restoration jobs comes from the people in the path of an insurance claim. Agents often get the first phone call from an insured who has suffered a loss. Adjusters that are assigned to process these claims have incredible influence in who the home or business owner selects to do the work. Making sense yet?
Add to the fun that insurance company checks always clear the bank. And we can find these professionals, which means the market for much of your marketing efforts is targetable. You know where to find insurance agents, property managers, real estate agents, etc. STOP will actually direct you to 20-30 viable referral sources and give you very specific training on how to push their buttons and to deliver what they need.
Of course, your digital presence will be worthy of some effort. Preferred vendor lists are also a target. STOP brings you some "headstarts" on this front as well.
STOP might be called a "boutique" franchise. I'm not really sure exactly what the word "boutique" means, but I think it means smaller in quantity, but higher in quality. To STOP, it means a culture of teamwork.
Our level of commitment to our franchisees is unmatched. One of the first things we will tell you at Initial Training is that "our biggest and best franchisees call us the most." We want to serve you.
Our program is centered around our signature business planning process. We use goals to create focus and a sense of urgency- and to help you see priorities more clearly, to use our time-saving and preventive management systems. Every industry-specific talent required of you in restoration management is woven into our training and support.
We hope your search for self-employment includes a franchise search. Maybe we will meet and have a great future building your company in the restoration industry as a STOP franchisee.
