What You Need to Do Before Becoming a Franchisee

If you've been looking at different options for becoming a small business owner, you may have decided that a franchise seems like the right opportunity for you. One of the key traits that sets a franchise apart from other business opportunities is you're not starting with a completely blank page. Instead, many of the important details are already filled in for you.

Since a significant percentage of small businesses fail within just a few years, starting with a clear plan and strategy is a major advantage. While that's exactly what you can get from investing in a franchise, it's important to understand that not all franchises present the same opportunity.

Understanding the Nature of Franchising

Not only does the concept of franchising present an attractive opportunity for motivated individuals who want to run a business, but this model can work very well for businesses that have proven a concept works. Regardless of the industry, people are always looking for the recipe to success. When a business has already demonstrated success, being able to invest in it provides a very appealing opportunity.

While a quality franchise can help the people who become owners accomplish all of their goals, not every franchise brings the same level of quality to the table. On the contrary, there are plenty of franchises that are more interested in grabbing as much money as possible from their owners. Since these operations may be running on shaky models, the advantages that a franchise is supposed to provide to owners may not actually be there.

The Importance of Digging Deep

Because the franchising industry is so large, it's important to do a lot of research before making any major decision. Although a franchise may have lots of slick marketing materials that make it seem like the perfect opportunity, digging below the surface can reveal a different truth.

The first thing you want to look for in a franchise is a track record of success. If a franchise can't show you successful owners, there's no reason to continue thinking about this opportunity. Another trait to look for is that the franchise has an established brand. You also want to dig into the type of actual support that a franchising operation provides to all of its individual owners.

How can you find all of this information? The best way to get the answers you need to make an informed decision is to go to different sources. Not only do you want to speak directly to the franchisor and research a lot online, but it's also worth speaking with individual owners. By going through this comprehensive process, you can be confident that you're choosing the right franchise for your specific goals.

Interested in a House Doctors franchise? Click the button below to contact us or call 1-888-598-5297.

How to Start a Handyman Service

If you've been looking into different business opportunities, starting a handyman service may be one of the opportunities that you're currently exploring. Because the demand across the United States for skilled handymen is greater than ever, the outlook for this type of service is very good. While a handyman service can be a very good business, that doesn't necessarily mean that you want to start one from scratch.

When it comes to answering the question of how to start a handyman service, there are two main reasons why starting from scratch isn't the ideal path. The first reason is how you plan to do the work that customers request. Since you're just one person, it doesn't make sense for you to provide a long list of handyman services on your own. Instead, you want to be able to use your leadership and management skills to work with a team of professional handymen.

The second reason, which is directly related to the first, is the issue of scale. In order for a handyman service business to truly thrive, more than one person needs to be involved. Because there are only so many hours in each day, trying to maximize your own daily service hours isn't the right way to grow this type of business. Instead, keeping your focus on having a great team that provides excellent service and steadily growing that team will help you get where you want.

The Most Efficient Way to Start a Handyman Service

Since beginning from scratch isn't the answer to how to start a handyman service, you're probably wondering what is. The best way to start this type of business is through franchising. By going the franchise route, you don't have to worry about making all of the mistakes that often hold back new business owners from being successful. Instead, you'll have support from Day One. Not only will you have support, but you will be working with a business model that has been proven time and time again.

Franchisees Love House Doctors

Whenever you start looking at different franchise opportunities, it won't take long to notice that not all of them are equal in terms of what they have to offer. A common issue is that franchisors talk a great game, but aren't able to make good on all their promises.

As any House Doctors franchisee will be happy to tell you, that's not a problem you have to worry about with us. Because we're confident in the business model we've created and are 100% committed to helping every single one of our franchisees succeed, we know exactly how to successfully start a handyman service in new territories. You can get more information about becoming a House Doctors franchisee by calling 1-888-598-5297.

Aging in Place: Impressive Stats and Popular Trends Potential Franchise Owners Should Know About

One area of the home improvement market that has seen a huge spike in demand in recent years is the aging in place segment. This term refers to senior homeowners who want changes made that will allow them to maintain their comfort and independence by staying in their home. Research conducted by the AARP found that a full 90% of seniors want to stay where they're currently living. Even for people who require daily care, only 9% would rather live in a care facility. A big part of this is seniors are afraid that even if a facility provides a safe environment, they're going to be burdened by unwanted rules.

What Do Seniors Want?

Getting older creates a lot of mobility and safety challenges. Since seniors are aware of these issues, it shouldn't come as a surprise that they have strong opinions about what they want in terms of aging in place services. When surveyed, the eight improvements seniors feel are most important are:

·         Safety features (ex. non-slip floor surfaces)

·         Bathroom aides (ex. grab bars)

·         A way to call for help in an emergency situation

·         Entrances with no steps

·         Wider doorways

·         Doorknobs that feature a lever handle

·         Electrical outlets that are higher up the wall

·         Electrical switches that are lower on a wall

In terms of why seniors want these features, the most common is for their own safety. However, their decisions are also influenced by wanting to make their home more convenient for everyone, ensuring they can continue living independently, and providing features that another family member absolutely requires.

It's also worth mentioning that seniors themselves aren't the only people who are thinking about these issues. A full 88% of adult children think about their parents getting older on a regular basis. And of those, 54% feel strongly that their parents are going to need some form of help. Thanks to all these factors, the National Assocation of Home Builders believes this market will grow all the way to $25 billion in the near future.

Key Aging in Place Issues and Trends

Entering and exiting, going up and down stairs, and safely using the bathroom are three of the biggest issues related to aging in place. Because those issues present a wide range of challenges, many of the most popular trends address them in at least one way. For example, a lot of seniors are looking for ways to create a level entry and open up the space throughout their home so it's easier to navigate. This ties into many seniors' desire to be able to live on the ground floor.

Ensuring that storage is easy to reach and open is another significant trend that helps drive aging in place designs. This also influences many other design choices that enable someone to access what they need without having to bend. Also, creating bathrooms that balance comfort and safety plays a big part in satisfying the desires of aging in place customers.

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Learn More About Why the Home Improvement Market is Such an Appealing Business Opportunity

If you're in the process of researching new business opportunities, you may have discovered that becoming a franchise owner is a good fit for your existing skill set and future goals. Once you decide that you want to purchase a franchise, the next step in this process is deciding what market you should enter. While there are obviously lots of differences between the various franchises that are available within a market, starting with this factor will make it easier for you to ultimately narrow down your selection to the right choice.

The market we're going to discuss today is the home improvement industry. This industry includes property repair, home improvement, house maintenance, and aging in place. The first factor that makes this market so appealing is not only is it already quite large, but it's a market that continues to experience growth. For example, in regards to the aging in place niche, more people than ever are in need of home modifications that will allow them to stay there thanks to the current age of baby boomers.

Outlook for This Market

Currently, estimates peg the home improvement products and services market at around $300 billion. Although demand for a wide range of home services remained even through the stock market's lowest points, the fact that the US and world economy are regaining significant strength means demand will only continue to rise.

Another exciting aspect of this market is because more consumers are aware of issues like energy efficiency, there are more opportunities that weren't really available as recently as just five to ten years ago. For businesses that are agile enough to fill the demand for these new services, the sky really is the limit within this massive market.

The Right Partner to Make The Most of This Opportunity

Because the home improvement industry is such a ripe market, it shouldn't come as a surprise that there's a lot of competition. As a result, people who attempt to get a business off the ground without the right support system are probably going to experience a rude awakening. However, the fact that there is competition shouldn't deter your interest. Instead, it's confirmation that there's plenty of money to be made by providing home improvement services.

If you want to tap into this market and build a thriving business, we truly believe a House Doctors franchise is the way to go. There are several key reasons why we feel we're leaps and bounds above other home improvement companies. For one, our name and branding allow our franchise owners to offer many different services within this broad market.

Second, our size enables us to build strong relationships with product manufactures. The benefits of those relationships are passed directly to our franchise owners. Finally, we provide all the support and resources you need to launch and build your business the right way. Instead of spending valuable time trying to learn from mistakes, you'll be on a proven path to success from Day One! 

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