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Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Furniture Medic

Furniture restoration & repairs

Background

Founded: 1992 Franchising since: 1992
Joseph Lunsford wasn't looking to start a business when he moved into a new home and realized that several pieces of his furniture had been damaged in transit, but start one he did. He founded Furniture Medic in 1992 in response to his dissatisfaction with the long turnaround time that was common with most refurnishing shops. In 1996 Furniture Medic was acquired by ServiceMaster and has since grown to more than 600 locations throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

ServiceMaster's franchise family also includes franchisors Merry Maids, Terminix and AmeriSpec.

3839 Forest Hill Irene Rd.
Memphis, Tennessee 38125
Phone:
(800)255-9687/ (901)597-8600


Franchisor is a publicly-held company with 24 employee(s); 9 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 259 51 81 0
2008 279 55 89 0
2007 293 55 89 0
2006 328 54 88 0
2005 352 52 103 0

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Worldwide

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $37K-81.9K
Franchise fee: $24.5K
Ongoing royalty fee: 7%
Term of agreement: 5 years, renewable


Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee Yes No
Startup Costs Yes No
Equipment Yes No
Inventory Yes No
Accounts Receivable No No
Payroll No No

Qualifications
Net worth requirement: $60K-80K
Cash liquidity requirement: $15K-25K
Business Experience:
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

Operations
  • Franchise can be run from home
  • 40% of all franchisees own more than one unit
  • Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: 2 weeks
  • Home study/mentor program : 2+ weeks

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Internet
  • Security/safety procedures
  • Field operations/evaluations

Marketing Support
  • Ad slicks
  • National media

Other marketing support
  • Website template

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#188 (2009); #333 (2008); #271 (2007); #334 (2006); #150 (2005);

Low-Cost Franchises:
#37 (2009); #78 (2008); #68 (2007); #87 (2006); #35 (2005);

Top Home Based Franchises:
#44 (2009); #95 (2008); #73 (2007); #92 (2006); #32 (2005);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#146 (2009); #191 (2007); #104 (2005);