Handyman or home improvement franchise?

Whether it's a home improvement franchise, a handyman franchise, a remodeling franchise, or just choosing the right franchise to take advantage of the aging in place baby boomers market here are some interesting points and opinions.

Summary

We all know the challenges of finding a good handyman, remodeling or home improvement company. Millions of us face those challenges every year. We know it's so important to choose the handyman services company you can trust.That's the House Doctors franchise business opportunity.

Challenges in the industry show you the need for the House Doctors handyman franchise. 

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House Doctors President and CEO, Jim Hunter

The home improvement and remodeling industry seems to have more than it's fair share of unscrupulous, unreliable companies. Almost everyone has a horror story about contractors or handymen who at the least let them down by not turning up or in the worst case scenario did turn up to do bad quality work or even take their customers money without doing any work.

There are a lot of great home repair and remodeling companies out there who do good work but the reputation created by some of these less than professional companies has somewhat tarnished the handyman industry. So how do homeowners know which company to choose.That's the House Doctors franchise business opportunity.

Our aim is to create a national company that has professional franchisees who know the importance of great customer service. Their teams of technicians are scheduled to turn up on time in well marked vans. The handymen are uniformed, insured and bonded. They are prompt and precise producing good quality work and cleaning up after them. We follow up with customer support calls to make sure the home owner is happy with the work. We offer a guarantee.

 

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Choosing a handyman services company they can trust can be difficult for the homeowner

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So what happens when we come to the point where we can't put those repairs to our home off any longer or when we have decided that making those home improvements to our property just makes good sense. Choosing the "right" company that you can trust can be challenging. Here are a few pointers home owners consider when deciding which company to choose.

• Do they look and feel professional to you?
• How do they deal with you on the phone?
• Do they respond quickly to emails?
• What does their website look like?
• Do they carry any insurance?
• If so how much insurance do they carry?
• Can they show you a copy of their insurance?
• Can they provide testimonials and references from happy customers?
• Can you contact these customers?
• Do they offer any type of guarantee?
• Are their handymen experienced,uniformed, bonded?
• Are their vehicles wrapped or marked with their logo?

Choosing the "right" home improvement company just got easier with House Doctors

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Finding the "right" home improvement, handyman services company can seem a little daunting. Trying to find time to do your research, following up on references. Is there an easier way? Well if you have a known, trusted, national brand in your area that could help. Professional reliable home repair and home improvement companies have sprung up over the last few years because of the growing demand. Many offer a high level of service, carry insurance, guarantee their work and have knowledgeable staff. These handyman services companies are working diligently to bring professionalism to the home improvement industry by offering a reliable, trustworthy service. At House Doctors and House Medic two of the companies I am President of our vision is to make home improvements easier for homeowners. Our aim is to offer great customer service, and have experienced, uniformed, insured and bonded handymen arrive prompt and offer good quality work carrying a guarantee. Please watch our video.

Home improvements just got easier with House Doctors

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Buy a franchise in a growing market. Home repairs and improvements are on the rise

 

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The home improvement market including product sales is worth almost 300 billion in the U.S., so there are lots of people searching for reliable companies to help with their handyman, and home improvement needs. Most of these property owners face the same challenges of finding reliable contractors. Changes in demographics like 10,000 baby boomers a day turning 65 for the next 18 years are expected to see even more increases in demand for good professional companies we can trust to do home repairs and home improvements over the coming years. As the housing stock and the population ages we have a growing need to repair, maintain and modify the places where we live. Baby boomers aging in place modifying their homes to live in them longer is the fastest growth part of the remodeling industry today. Consider the changes that are also coming along due to increases in energy costs as we try to improve home energy efficiency and home performance. Building a relationship with a knowledgeable, reliable, trustworthy, company, who can repair, maintain, upgrade and enhance your property has probably become more important now than at any other time in our history.That's the size of the House Doctors franchise business opportunity.

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Home Improvement Research Institute 10117 Princess Palm Avenue, Suite 575 Tampa, FL 33610 p 813-627-6750 e admin@hiri.org

Growth rates of total Home Improvement market size for the current year and 5-year forecast periods are as follows:

Home Improvement Research Institute 10117 Princess Palm Avenue, Suite 575 Tampa, FL 33610 

 

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House Doctors

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• Handyman Services, Home Repairs, Home Improvements| House Doctors
  Call 1-888-HOUSEDOC to schedule an appointment with an expert House Doctors handyman for all of your home repair and home improvement needs.

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Ever thought of business ownership

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• House Doctors Franchise Opportunity House Doctors is the perfect handyman franchise opportunity for you. With low initial investments, a proven business model, hands on support and a booming industry, the possibilities are endless.

Why choose a handyman or home improvement franchise

There are lots of franchises out there from fast food franchises to a handyman franchise or home improvement franchise and everything in between. With the International Franchise Association predicting the number of franchises to increase in 2013 more and more people are turning to the franchising business model. Choosing a franchise is one of the biggest decisions in your life.  I know because I've been there.

Summary

It's a career change, it's a new direction, it could be the biggest investment in time and money you'll ever make.  Choosing that franchise can be exciting, worrying, motivating, life changing. You're filled with mixed emotions.

When I was a franchisee I know I made the right decision because I grew the franchise for 10 consecutive years. We ran it profitably and generated a great income during that period.  We built it into a lifestyle business and an asset that we eventually sold to increase our equity.

Choosing the right franchise

Here are 3 tips from my experience that may help you choose the right franchise.

1.  Your franchise opportunity should be in the right market

Franchises take over from the "mom & pops" in growing markets by introducing the brands, systems, procedures and professionalism.  The markets are normally growing because of changes.  Think changes in our lifestyle for the fast food industry, or changes in technology for the printing industry, or changes in demographics for the home improvement industry. 

At House Doctors, we are excited about the huge home improvement and repair market our franchisees operate in. Talk about a market that will never go away, as the housing stock and population ages it is continually growing. People are starting to remodel again. Growth niches like aging in place as baby boomers modify their homes to live in them longer and energy efficiency keep adding to the space our franchisees operate in. 

Ask yourself, is the market you're considering growing?  Could changes in technology impact it negatively?

2.  Your franchise opportunity should be the right brand in that market

Once you've chosen a market that is growing you want a brand that sends right message out to your potential customers.  In the home improvement and repair industry House Doctors is known as one of the best names.  Many of our competitors are limited by having "handyman" in their name because today much of what we are asked for by our customers is much more than "handyman" services.  Our target customer is the woman of the household and she chooses one company over another by whom she trusts. House Doctors scores well again as the most trusting name in the industry.

3.  Your strengths should fit with the skills the franchise needs

Any good franchise company will have a profile of what skills a successful franchisee should have. Make sure your skills match the skills of successful franchisees.  Think about it...it takes different skills to run a fast food restaurant as opposed to a home improvement business.  I never could run a printing press very well in my franchise but my role was never to be the pressman.  At House Doctors we look for franchisees to be a personable manager and a good team builder.  But normally people who own a handyman franchise although they don't swing the hammer are  comfortable with home improvements and home repairs.

Are you interested in a handyman or home improvement franchise?

Here is how a House Doctor's franchised business works.

Franchise information

To achieve anything in life takes focus and determination. No matter which franchise opportunity you choose whether a handyman franchise or home improvement franchise or not, you will need persistence and drive when starting any franchise or small business. It can be tough especially in the beginning to get your business up and running but the exciting thing is business ownership opportunities can far outweigh those you  normally can have as an employee.


What is your experience? Do you agree with these 3 tips? Are there any other tips that you feel would be useful? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

3 ways to rate a handyman or home improvement franchise

Handyman franchise, home improvement franchise or business opportunity, what's the risk and the chance of success. Choosing a franchise or business opportunity comes down to getting all the information so that you can make an educated decision. IFA President and CEO Steve Caldeira shares great information on the value of working with a franchise. Here is a way to rate any franchise or business opportunity.

Summary

An article in the 70's I read about how entrepreneurs investing in any franchise or business opportunity should first rate the risk associated with it always stuck in my mind. The system was simple. Consider awarding 1-5 points for each of 3 elements in any business model; how quick you get paid, size of inventory needed, and dependence on location.Then compare the various businesses you are interested in against one another to see how they stack up.The author realised that there were certain common reasons for small business failures and focusing on businesses that scored well with this rating system would help reduce the risk. Although there are lots of other things in business that could impact your success over time this is a great place to start when initially considering your chances of success. By considering these 3 elements at the beginning you could reduce your risk of failure over the long term. Let's consider why cash generation, size of inventory needed, and dependence on location can be so important.

Franchising information to rate your franchise

1. Is the franchise or business opportunity you are considering a cash business?

Consider a cash business as a business where you get paid when you complete the service or deliver the product as opposed to a business where you have to wait for your money. Cash is king when starting a new business. Maintaining a steady cash flow is critical to enable growth of any business. I've experienced both sides of the coin and believe me when I say getting paid quickly for the product or service your offering goes a long way to helping you get through the ups and downs of business that invariably come along. Having a strong control on your receivables is therefore paramount to your success and one of the main reasons for business failure is obviously running out of cash. A good franchise will help you prepare a proforma including cash flow projections that will help you financially plan your business growth. 

2. How much inventory do you need to carry in the franchise or business opportunity?

Refer back to the first point if you need to think about this. Inventory is cash that's tied up, cash you can't use. Inventory is classed as an asset on a balance sheet but when starting a small business remember the number one asset is cash. Even when I owned a printing franchise which you would assume would carry lots of inventory I worked on minimizing it. We ordered the paper needed for the next day the night before and had it dropped off first thing in the morning. Sure we had some inventory in that business but with the proper controls we definately maintained it at a minimum. I remember visiting another franchisee. He had reams and reams of paper on the shelves. Interestingly enough when the economy suffered a downturn and his cash flow became tight he had to close his doors. I'd much rather save cash than paper for a rainy day.

3. Is the franchise or business opportunity dependent on a location?

Location, location, location, that sure is true for retail and restaurants. There is no doubt that any franchise or business opportunity dependent on a location for success does carry certain risks. I've seen businesses fail through no fault of their own when traffic is re-routed or competition opens across the street. What does the owner do if they are tied to a lease? Be wary of the expensive rents associated with certain types of business. No one wants to be working just for their landlord. Look around and consider the strip malls that were exciting when they started only to become yesterday’s news when a new development goes up.

With my experience now as I look back over the years I would have to say that I agree with this rating system as a first step to measure risk. It's not to say that you can't have a good, indeed even a great, franchise or business opportunity that doesn't score well with any of these elements but a franchise or business opportunity that scores well with this rating system invariably carries less risk over the long term. 

The good news is our House Doctors franchise scores very high on this rating system.


1. Is it a cash business?
The House Doctors franchisees invariably get paid by the homeowner when their technicians complete the jobs.

2. How much inventory do you need to carry?
The House Doctors franchise needs to carry very little in the way of materials and inventory and therefore does not need to tie up cash.

3. Is the business dependent on a location?
The House Doctors franchise is not dependent on a brick and mortar location. Many franchisees start from home and even when they grow only need a small commercial office/warehouse in their territory.


House Doctors handyman & home improvement franchise scores very high on franchising rating system. If you feel you have the necessary skills to manage one of our franchises please visit our franchise development web site for further information.


What is your experience? Do you feel that these 3 elements of a business model are important enough to rate? Are there any other elements that measure the risk? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Evaluate your handyman or home improvement franchise

Today franchising information and advice for choosing the right handyman franchise or home improvement franchise is readily available but what advice do you follow. When evaluating any franchise here are 7 important points any good franchisor should discuss with you.

 

Summary

Important advice for any would be franchisee is to consider not only what the franchisor brings to the table but also what strengths the prospective franchisee themselves have to offer. Do your own strengths fit in with the needs of the role that you will play in the new business? After 25 years in franchising during which I've experienced life both as a franchisee and a franchisor I've come to realize that no one can guarantee success. In a later blog we will consider what the would be franchisee should bring to the table to build a successful House Doctors franchise. But the first step for prospective franchisees is to decide on a concept of interest. Obviously feeling good about the market and the industry is important, but here are 7 points to consider when evaluating a franchise opportunity.

 

I use our concept, House Doctors, as a reference.Take a look at our video we use this to give prospective franchisees a simple demonstrating of what House Doctors is all about, making home improvements easier for homeowners. (See Item 1 below)

 

 

7 points any good franchisor should discuss with you during your discovery process

 

1.  What does the franchise stand for? Please watch our video to learn more.
Great franchise companies have clear visions and messages that franchisees feel part of. In our industry most people have had or know someone who has had a poor experience with a handyman or contractor.

House Doctors franchisees see the need for professionalism in the industry and buy our franchise to make a difference in their communities through making home improvements easier for homeowners. 

2.  What does it take to be successful? Is there a clear profile of a successful franchisee?
What do you need to bring to the table? During the discovery process you should speak with existing franchisees to get a feel for what your role would be.

House Doctors franchisees come from all walks of life and have 3 things in common; they are personable, have management and team building experience, and comfort with our industry.
 
3.  Is the culture of this franchise right for you?
Great franchise companies work hard at building a culture of success.

At House Doctors our goal setting and award winning culture backed by continual benchmarking against your peers supports our franchisees who strive to take their business to the next level.
 
4.  How long will it take to get it up and running?
Once you have decided on your franchise you want to get it up and running as soon as possible.

At House Doctors we have introduced fast start programs that see most franchisees ramp up more than 70% quicker than before then go on to reach stage one of growth in a matter of months.
 
5.  Is there a good lead generation program in place to help you grow?
How do you get your customers? Do you need to cold call?

At House Doctors we have developed a diverse marketing program from yard signs and mailers to SEO and SEM programs. Franchisees follow a plan to see continued lead generation for their business.
 
6.  Is there a plan to help you build the business after you've got it off the ground?
Now your up and running what next? Does the franchisor offer any business building plan? How easy and economical will it be for you to put it into place? 

The House Doctors business building program enables our franchisees to follow a simple step by step growth model using our national relationships, installation programs and existing partnerships to offer additional products and services to their customers as they grow.
 
7.  Is there a simple franchise information gathering process in place for you to follow?
Is it easy to get the information you need to make your decision?

At House Doctors prospective franchisees go through a professional step by step franchise discovery process so both parties feel comfortable that the partnership is the right fit for both parties before moving ahead.

No matter the franchise, handyman, home improvement, or fast food, these 7 points will help you valuate your franchise opportunity.

What is your experience? Do you feel that these 7 questions are worth asking? Are there any other questions that you should consider? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.