The Restrepo family did their homework and now it’s your turn to discover how to turn your next business into a high-yielding franchise. They didn’t just rely on secondary research to understand what it takes to become a PuroClean Franchise Owner – their success was shaped by the real world. By combining their shared life experiences, husband-and-wife team, Alejandro and Jennifer were well-positioned to start a successful remediation and restoration business. They also recently used what they learned in opening their first PuroClean location to open a second location closer to home.
After going through the process of opening a new location all over again, the Restrepos share their insights and tips for business owners looking to join the PuroClean family.
What Does a Remediation and Restoration Company Do?
When a home or commercial business is damaged by a fire or flood, someone needs to start cleaning up the mess left behind. What gives PuroClean a competitive edge is its focus on working with insurance companies and contractors to help clean up the mess quickly and safely.
Allowing families to return home or a business to open back up with as few surprises as possible, PuroClean Franchise Owner duties range from the remediation to restoration of property damaged by flood, fire, or mold. This includes offering a remediation service that will safely address and clean up environmental contamination by removing, treating or containing hazardous materials.
As part of the restoration industry and with a network of nearly 500 locations across the United States, PuroClean Franchise Owners are experts in water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold removal, biohazard cleanup, and reconstruction services.
You Already Know More Than You Think
Doing your research and knowing the restoration and remediation industry inside and out is only one piece of the puzzle. Before becoming a PuroClean Franchise Owner, Alejandro had been following the industry as a working profession for decades, first as an insurance adjuster, then from a financial perspective as a banker, until switching to property management. Every previous job he had helped him create a well-rounded perspective of what it would take to run a profitable remediation and restoration company.
“The goal of [franchise] ownership was always in the back of our minds, but the COVID pandemic ultimately drove the decision to move forward. So, we researched how to fund a business with our retirement accounts and met with a franchise broker,” he said in an interview in the Heartbeat, PuroClean’s internal franchise magazine, after receiving the 2023 On the Move Award.
Where to Find the Know-How for Success
Knowing that first-hand experience is often the most valuable, the couple also took the time to speak with more than a dozen PuroClean Franchise Owners.
“The positive feedback we got from our research convinced us that PuroClean was the best fit,” Alejandro said.
Using his insurance background, Alejandro also knew what to look for in a company that was strongly positioned for growth, as well as the red flags he should avoid. For example, he noticed that time and time again, PuroClean’s name was frequently listed with insurance agencies across the United States as a preferred vendor of choice. He also watched the business continue to climb the charts in Entrepreneurship Magazine’s top franchises.
Where Alejandro excelled in knowing the business, it was Jennifer who excelled at knowing people. As a teacher, she leans on her professional experience to ensure her team receives the best training opportunities possible, which includes sharing everything she learned from the PuroClean Academy as a Franchise Owner with her employees.
It was also the personal experience of surviving a massive flood that gave her an invaluable edge as a restoration service provider. She knows firsthand what it’s like to deal with insurance, remediation, construction, plumbers, electricians, phone calls, and emails geared toward fixing the damage, and uses this knowledge to build strong personal relationships with their customers and clients.
Advice for First-Time Franchise Owners
“Our initial cash flow came through referrals from friends in the industry, SEO, and local advertising. Those early referral sources funded our organic growth and long-term marketing strategy, which centers on trade shows, community involvement, and agent marketing,” explained Alejandro. “Once we have the client, we seize on our opportunity to shine and keep the business. We do an awesome job, and we [reward our team when they get reviews from customers]. Along with word of mouth, those positive reviews drive more business.”
He said they get to make a living by helping people every day and get satisfaction in giving people’s homes and businesses back to them. They develop a human connection between their team and the homeowner, and they treat each home the way they would want their own home treated.
“After one of our early mold jobs, the customer hugged us and said how much he loved everyone on our team. We still keep in touch with that customer,” added Jennifer.
These are just a few of the tips for business owners that PuroClean Franchise Owners can provide. Find out for yourself why PuroClean is one of the top franchises in America – get started today by downloading a FREE franchise information kit!