Why Knowing What Was 'Under the Hood' at This Franchise Convinced Me to Become a Franchisee Darren Krerking never thought he'd go from working at corporate to being a franchise at City Wide Maintenance, but when the opportunity presented itself, he couldn't say no.

By Kate Taylor

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock

Franchise Players is Entrepreneur's interview column that puts the spotlight on franchisees. If you're a franchisee with advice and tips to share, email ktaylor@entrepreneur.com.

Before becoming a City Wide Maintenance franchisee, Darren Frerking served as the director of sales and business for City Wide corporate in Kansas City. He never planned on moving for work, or becoming a franchisee. However, when an opportunity presented itself for Frerking to take over a Houston City Wide location, he knew he couldn't turn down the chance to become a franchisee himself. Here's what he has learned.

Darren Frerking

Image credit: Darren Frerking

Name: Darren Frerking

Franchise owned: City Wide Maintenance of Houston

How long have you owned a franchise?

I have owned my franchise for approximately 10 months.

Related: That Old Saying About 'Death and Taxes' Helped Fuel This Franchise Choice

Why franchising?

Prior to assuming ownership of City Wide Maintenance of Houston, I served as the director of sales and business development for City Wide corporate in Kansas City. In my previous role, I never imagined I would one day relocate to Houston to purchase my own franchise. However, when the opportunity presented itself, it was a slam-dunk for me because I already had a chance to see "under the hood." Unlike other prospective franchisees, I intimately knew the franchise system I was purchasing. I saw first-hand the support City Wide Corporate offered its franchisees and knew I would be in good hands while taking on this transition.

What were you doing before you became a franchise owner?

I worked as a sales consultant and helped struggling businesses evaluate their sales plan and make the necessary changes to their personnel, processes, and performance to be successful. For this reason, I felt I had the skills and experience needed to succeed in business ownership.

Why did you choose this particular franchise?

I love the recession-proof nature of the maintenance management industry. I was also drawn to the recurring revenue element of the model.

How much would you estimate you spent before you were officially open for business?

This is not relevant in my case as I bought an existing location – I didn't launch the business from scratch.

Related: Why I Wanted to Bring a Smoothie Franchise to Military Bases

Where did you get most of your advice/do most of your research?

While I had insight into the financials because of my prior position with City Wide Corporate, I made a point to call other franchisees within the system. I also consulted with my family and friends. As much as I learned from working at City Wide Corporate, I still needed to do my own due diligence to explore the business from the franchisee's perspective.

What were the most unexpected challenges of opening your franchise?

At City Wide, we streamline commercial facilities and maintenance management of more than 20 services through a collection of independent contractors and alliance partners, including floor care, window washing, janitorial supplies, parking lot maintenance, and many others. My most unexpected challenge is finding contractors who can accommodate the rapid expansion of our business.

What advice do you have for individuals who want to own their own franchise?

As soon as you can find a way – DO IT! Research it, know the numbers, and most importantly, be passionate about whatever you choose. I never in my wildest dreams thought it would be building maintenance, or that I would be moving out of Kansas City – but I absolutely love it.

What's next for you and your business?

At our current growth rate, I hope to open a second Houston office within the next four years.

Related: This Franchisee Investigated a Restaurant Company He Liked and Signed On

Wavy Line
Kate Taylor

Reporter

Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at Entrepreneur. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

Editor's Pick

A Leader's Most Powerful Tool Is Executive Capital. Here's What It Is — and How to Earn It.
Lock
One Man's Casual Side Hustle Became an International Phenomenon — And It's on Track to See $15 Million in Revenue This Year
Lock
3 Reasons to Keep Posting on LinkedIn, Even If Nobody Is Engaging With You
Why a Strong Chief Financial Officer Is Crucial for Your Franchise — and What to Look for When Hiring One

Related Topics

Business News

'The Last Straw': Customers Furious as Netflix Begins Charging Accounts for Password Sharing

The announcement is long-anticipated — Netflix has been threatening a crackdown since last year.

Business News

The Virgin Islands Want to Serve Elon Musk a Subpoena, But They Can't Find Him

Government officials would like to talk to Tesla's owner as part of an investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Business News

'Iconic': Woman Defies Wedding Food Budget by Ordering Chili's for Guests

TikToker Madison Mulkey is going viral for her savvy spending decision.

Growing a Business

My Startup Scored a Multimillion-Dollar Contract With a Fortune 100 Client in Just 3 Years. Here's What We Learned.

There's no perfect litmus test to gauge if you're ready to go after big business or not — but if you don't take the risk, you'll never realize the reward.

Marketing

5 Questions to Ask a PR Pro Before Hiring Them

You probably haven't considered asking these questions, but they're a great way to find the right PR firm for your business.