Servpro

Servpro Franchise

Some franchises are all about creating products and selling them to customers. Others are about food service and offering a stellar customer experience. 

But organizations like Servpro provide restoration services, returning business premises and other locations to their former glory, making it a unique franchise opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Indeed, there are many great reasons why you might want to start a Servpro franchise. Keep reading for a closer look. 

Why should you start a Servpro franchise?

Servpro is a restoration company offering cleaning, repair and reconstruction services for commercial and residential buildings that have sustained certain types of damage. This includes fire and water damage restoration. 

Servpro began as a painting business based in California and Georgia in 1967, launched by Ted and Doris Isaacson. Still, it has expanded its products package to include carpet cleaning, air duct and HVAC cleaning and mold remediation over the years.

Based in Gallatin, Tennessee, the company has over 2000 units across the United States. New franchisees can take advantage of franchising opportunities like never before. 

There are lots of phenomenal reasons to consider working with this franchisor, including:

• The ability to get started quickly. Servpro has a tried-and-true, trusted franchising system, which includes extensive support resources and training.
• Servpro provides expansion opportunities for business owners who want to own multiple locations over time.
• Servpro operates in a recession-resistant industry. No matter how the economy changes, buildings will eventually require restoration and reconstruction. Servpro fills that niche.
• Servpro has excellent brand recognition. It has been highly ranked in the building restoration industry for over 20 years. Because of this reputation, you can immediately enter the industry and find a willing customer base looking for your services.

Franchise owners need to be willing to work around biohazards and cleaning chemicals. As a commercial cleaning business model, it doesn’t focus as much on real estate; instead, Servpro pursues business opportunities anywhere they’re found in the US and Canada.

It’s a hands-on job, but one that’s so necessary that Servpro Industries made the Franchise 500 list in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Note that all Servpro franchisees have to personally complete annual franchise financial and operational business reviews and attend a yearly convention, which occurs once a year in the summer. 

Franchisees don’t have to direct their businesses personally but must appoint a principal operator. This gives you some flexibility if you already have some business experience and would instead hand off the day-to-day operations to someone you trust.

Does Servpro offer franchisees exclusive territory?

In addition to the above benefits, Servpro franchise owners receive a designated territory, typically between 50,000 and 80,000 people. Larger territories cost more but could be beneficial if you have a larger team and want to expand your business over time.

However, remember that this is not the same thing as an exclusive territory. When you become a franchisee, remember that you may face competition from other franchisees or outlets that Servpro owns. 

One of the downsides of franchising with such a large, well-franchised organization is that it has many competing and subsidiary organizations offering some of the same broad services.

Related: One Degree of Restoration

What support does Servpro provide its franchisees? 

Servpro offers a tremendous amount of support for new franchisees. For starters, Servpro franchisees get access to a toll-free line, security and safety procedures and online support. These will enable them to contact corporate if they have questions or require assistance.

Servpro also provides access to a newsletter and meetings and conventions. With these tools, business owners can expand their social networks, learn the tips and tricks that other successful entrepreneurs have utilized and become an even more integral part of the Servpro brand in the coming years.

Servpro franchisees further benefit from proprietary software and the franchisee intranet platform. These complement field operations, helping franchisees make the most of their target markets and keep abreast of significant, brand-level shifts or decisions.

What about marketing? Servpro does a great job in terms of support here, as well. National and regional advertising services are included with the franchising package, so you’ll always have support marketing to the people in your target area and around the country.

Servpro provides extra assistance for online marketing, as well. This includes access to designated add templates, which are tried-and-true and proven effective with your core consumer group. 

That way, you don’t have to create marketing materials by yourself. Servpro will even help you set up a stellar website through website development services, plus SEO and social media marketing assistance, so your core customers can find you quickly and easily.

Related: The 5 Top-Ranks Restoration Franchises You Can Start

How much does opening a Servpro franchise cost?

To start a Servpro franchise, you must pay an initial franchise fee of $90,000. Servpro also wants franchisees to have about $110,000 in liquid cash to get started. Overall, expect to pay between $200,000 and $300,000 for your initial investment, with your total costs varying depending on location and the total amount of equipment you need.

When your business is up and running, you’ll have to pay a royalty fee that can be anywhere between 3% and 10%, plus an ad royalty fee of 3%. Royalty fees also vary based on your market competitiveness and projected profits.

On the plus side, terms of agreements only last for five years and are open to renegotiation and renewal. So, if your business does well in its first term, you could negotiate a lower royalty fee based on your past success. 

Servpro is well known for being willing to renegotiate terms of agreements and royalty fees with business owners that perform well and bring in greater profits and projected.

Does Servpro provide any financial assistance?

Servpro does provide certain forms of financial assistance, starting with a 20% discount on the franchise fee for veterans. Even if you want a veteran, Servpro offers in-house financing solutions to help you cover your franchise fee, equipment and inventory costs.

If that’s not enough to cover your expenses, Servpro also connects you to third-party lending institutions. You can get further financing to cover any costs you can’t pay for personally.

Related: Servpro’s Business is Booming as it Helps Clean Up COVID

What kind of training is required to open a Servpro franchise?

Servpro provides extensive training resources to ensure you run your business capably and successfully. It includes 53.75 hours of classroom training and 114.75 hours of on-the-job training.

Each new franchisee and owner has to complete a five-step training program called the Business Development Program or BDP. During this program, you must complete training on a third-party software platform and 3 to 5 days of on-the-job training with an existing franchisee approved by corporate.

After that, you must complete the prerequisite consultation, which can be on business premises or virtually. 

Then finish the New Franchise Training Program, which includes 15 days of classroom education and is offered nine times yearly. It combines in-person classroom and online training, so it's somewhat flexible based on your location.

The fourth step is business set-up, which incorporates five to nine days of on-site training meetings. Then you'll complete your business consultations, which include five days of on-site or virtual business consultant meetings.

As you can see, Servpro walks you through the process from start to finish, ensuring you have the formal education and confidence you need to thrive. 

After your initial training, you may need to complete refresher training programs from time to time, plus attend seminars or other activities related to operating your franchise location.

These are only required as the franchisor deems appropriate, though, so if your Servpro location does well, expect to only attend them occasionally. These training materials are excellent for new business owners and experienced entrepreneurs.

Related: 50 Franchise CMOs Who Are Changing the Game

Start a Servpro franchise today

Now you know what you need to start a Servpro franchise from scratch. Consider applying for this unique franchise opportunity today.

Check out Entrepreneur’s other articles for more information about Servpro and other franchising opportunities.