The Right Outlook is Vital for Franchise Success

One of the most common misconceptions that both young adults and older individuals have is that the only way to make something of themselves is to dive right into entrepreneurship. The reason this misconception is so prevalent is because it's something that the media constantly reinforces with stories of outliers like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.

                                               

While it's truly incredible what people like that have been able to do, what those stories don't tell you is for every Gates, there are tens of thousands of people who have tried to do something completely new and failed miserably. So while there's nothing wrong with deciding to swing for the fences, it's important to understand that striking out is what's most likely to occur.

Putting Your Success in the Right Perspective

Because the thought of becoming the next Steve Jobs, Gates or Zuckerberg can be so enticing, many people end up making decisions like dropping out of college or quitting their job. Although it's true that college and most jobs are far from perfect, that doesn't mean suddenly giving up on them is the best option.

There are two reasons that type of hasty plan usually doesn't work out. The first is both college and professional jobs can provide a lot of valuable skills. Just because you're working for someone else doesn't mean you're failing to learn. On the contrary, work experience is arguably the best way to develop the skills needed to eventually find success on your own.

The other issue with this plan is that starting a successful business of any kind is much harder than people expect. Since failure is unfortunately a very likely outcome of starting something from scratch, hastily diving into this type of endeavor can quickly lead to disaster.

The Smart Way to Build a Successful Life

Although there are a lot of potential downsides that go along with striking out on your own, that doesn't mean the outlook for this type of path is all doom and gloom. The key to finding success is looking at all of your options before diving into something.

And since one of the goals of looking at all your options is to minimize risk, going the route of becoming a franchise owner can be ideal. With franchising, you're able to eliminate the uncertainties that go along with starting from scratch.

Instead of being forced to learn through trial and error, there's a much clearer path for you to follow. And because you won't have to worry about learning everything, you can focus your energy and skills on the areas where you can have the biggest impact.

If you like the idea of what franchising has to offer, be sure to read more about what makes a great handyman franchise owner. Or call us at 1-888-598-5297 if you have any further questions.

The Biggest Franchise Opportunities for 2015

Although January 1st is technically just another day, the start of a new year provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on the last 365 days, as well as think about what you want to accomplish during the next year and beyond. If you've already been thinking about this topic and have decided that you want to become a franchise owner, you've probably discovered that there's no shortage of franchise opportunities available.

However, you've probably also discovered that not all franchise opportunities are equal in terms of what they offer. Since becoming a franchisor can help a business grow, there are plenty of businesses that jump into this market without actually having the right opportunities and systems to offer to franchisees.

When it comes to choosing a franchise opportunity that's going to provide what you deserve for your investment, there are two factors that matter the most. The first factor is the franchise's market. A common issue is that businesses jump on a trend and then turn to franchising in order to cash out before the trend fizzles out. Since the goal of buying a franchise is to build a sustainable business, you want to ensure that the market demand is going to be just as strong (if not stronger) in five years than it is now.

The second factor is to choose a franchisor that has already proven that they know what it takes to succeed. Since the approach a franchisor takes to doing business will have a huge impact on whether or not their franchisees succeed, it's important to put a lot of thought into this decision.

What Franchise Opportunities Does the Home Repair & Improvement Market Offer?

Of all the markets for potential franchises, there are several key reasons that the home repair and improvement market is so appealing. The first is that 6 out of 10 homeowners have at least 7 projects on their home repair to-do list. The second is that multiple studies have found that the recent increase in the amount spent on remodeling is expected to continue trending upward. And because there are 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every single day, the demand for general home help and specialized services like aging in place upgrades is growing exponentially.

Work With A Team That Has a Proven Track Record of Success

If you want to work with a team that has already built successful businesses within the home repair and improvement market and is ready to bring on new business owners in different territories, House Doctors is the partner for you. To find out more about why we're a leader in this market and what we bring to the table for our franchisees, give us a call today at 1-888-598-5297 for all the details and information about this opportunity.

Learn How to Capitalize on Homeowners' Desire to Improve Their Home Before Selling

Whether they read it online or are told by a real estate agent, by the time most homeowners are ready to list their home, they realize that making some investments in repairs or even strategic upgrades can increase what their home ultimately sells for by as much as 15%.

Since homeowners are definitely willing to spend money in order to make more from their sale, this provides a really appealing opportunity for House Doctors franchise owners. Because homeowners are actively seeking help with these types of tasks, it really is an ideal opportunity to start what can easily lead to an ongoing relationship.

To understand exactly what home sellers are interested in, let's take a look at the most common pre-sale repair requests we receive:

Front and/or Garage Door Damage

Everyone knows that when it comes to selling a home, first impressions are very important. That's why no seller wants potential buyers to start their tour of a home by walking through a damaged garage or front door. Depending on the extent of the damage, a homeowner's exact needs can range from a fresh coat of paint to needing a brand new door installed.

Minor Roof Repairs

While plenty of homeowners are fine with a few missing shingles or minor gutter damage, when the time comes for them to sell, these are issues they want to fix. In addition to repairs, a homeowner may be interested in a thorough exterior cleaning so that their home looks great whenever someone passes by.

Deep Interior Cleaning

This is especially relevant for a seller who previously smoked in their home. In order to keep non-smoking potential buyers from losing interest as soon as they walk inside the home, sellers in this category are going to want their carpets deep cleaned and their walls washed.

Because homeowners are going to turn to your professional team for guidance, a potential upsell is recommending that once the walls are clean and dry, an undercoat of Kilz primer, followed by a fresh coat of paint be applied. This will help seal in the remaining smell of smoke and eliminate any discoloration issues.

Replacing Bathroom Flooring

Bathroom flooring that's in bad shape is a big turnoff to buyers. That's why many sellers are willing to invest in having their vinyl flooring replaced. When this job is quoted, be sure to factor in the cost of pulling out the toilet, replacing it, and then resealing.

Dealing with Drips

Whether it's a faucet or the pipe under the bathroom sink, getting ready for a sale is often when many homeowners finally decide to take care of a drip, as well as any mold that may have resulted from previous neglect.

Thanks to the fact that House Doctors provides so much branding and marketing support to our franchise owners, we ensure that when a soon-to-be seller realizes they need repairs done, House Doctors is the first company that comes to mind! Learn more about starting one of our franchises by clicking this button:

The Demand for Green Living is a Major Opportunity for Home Improvement Franchises

Research conducted by the NHBA found that not only did the green home building market increase from 2% to 17% between 2005 and 2011, but that figure is expected to increase all the way to 30% by 2016. Because so many new homes are being built with green features, it shouldn't come as a surprise that more homeowners than ever are interested in having these features added to their existing home. As a future House Doctors franchise owner, this presents a very exciting opportunity for your business.

What Green Improvements Do Homeowners Want?

When it comes to living a green lifestyle, homeowners want to be energy, earth, health and water smart. That means they need professionals who can make those types of changes to their home at an appealing price point. A common example of what a homeowner may be interested in is a programmable thermostat. By utilizing this device, they'll be able to reduce their energy usage without compromising the comfort of their home.

Another example is sealing someone's home and/or upgrading their insulation. Both of these options will significantly reduce the amount of energy that goes to waste. Other options that have ongoing demand from homeowners include solar water heaters, tankless water heaters, and energy efficient windows and doors.

Keep in mind that not every homeowner who's interested in green living knows exactly what they want. Instead, they're just as interested in getting advice from a source they can trust. Because the House Doctors brand is in that exact position, it provides the opportunity for your business to capitalize on fulfilling the role of being a consultant. That role will provide even more leverage throughout the sales process.

Energy efficient lighting is the perfect example of what can come from that kind of role. Making this transition may be as simple as swapping out existing bulbs for compact fluorescent lights. But since that's not something every homeowner knows about, they need professional guidance, as well as any additional recommendations.

What About Remodels?

In addition to adding a few features throughout a home, there are plenty of homeowners who are interested in taking things a step further by doing a complete remodel on one or more areas of their home. The best way to appeal to this type of homeowner is to provide a comprehensive solution for what they want. For example, you can communicate that not only will you put thought into what materials are used for the project, but also that any materials that get removed will be handled in an environmentally responsible manner.

Speaking of materials, some of the specific topics you can address are that linoleum is a greener choice than vinyl, paint should be low or no-VOC, and reclaimed wood, cork or bamboo are excellent choices for flooring materials. And when it comes to choosing new appliances or similar additions, options like Energy Star appliances and low-flow toilets are very green.

Interested in learning more about starting a House Doctors franchise? Click the button below: