The full-service restoration brand offers franchisees the opportunity to be a part of a scalable, recession-resistant business model as unexpected damage occurs for home and business owners.
United Water Restoration Group (UWRG), an 82-territory franchise brand, has been a premier water restoration and reconstruction provider for nearly 15 years. With a proven business model, the brand is now looking to accelerate its growth through franchising to meet the growing demand as extreme weather patterns increase.
The full-service restoration company specializes in water damage mitigation, mold remediation, fire and smoke damage restoration, reconstruction, sewage, flood, and disaster response while delivering a best-in-class customer experience to residential and commercial customers.
“One of the things that I think is a huge competitive advantage for us is we’re still in the restoration business. We’re not simply selling franchises. We have 13 extremely successful corporate locations,” said Bob Moore, Vice President of Development & Operations at UWRG. “There are things we learn and can pass along to our franchise owners.”
It’s difficult to turn on the television today without hearing a story about weather disasters or aging infrastructure. In fact, there are 14,000 water emergencies and 385,000 structural fires every year in the United States.
“Helping people recover their most valuable assets and get back to normal life after a disaster is an essential community service, and UWRG has been a dominant force in the restoration industry for the last 14 years,” said Moore.
The Company’s Founding
In 2008, Hungarian immigrants Lajos Nagy and Endre Banfi were both working in the home services industry, met, bonded over their backgrounds and capabilities and decided it was time to start their own restoration business. With a van full of equipment and a desire to serve their community, UWRG was born.
Founded in Florida during the recession, UWRG knows that regardless of what is happening with the economy, pipes still burst, mold still grows and natural disasters still strike. The same year the company opened, Florida had one of the worst hurricane seasons in its history.
After welcoming Zoltan Kurucz as a managing partner in 2010, Nagy and Banfi found the third piece of their leadership puzzle and quickly grew the company to 15 Florida offices. In 2015, using Zoltan’s experience, they decided to start franchising after seeing rapid growth and revenue of around $30 million.
Gearing Up for Franchise Growth
Right now, there are 82 franchise territories open across the U.S and Canada. However, despite having fewer locations than some competitors, UWRG has made a name in the industry.
With UWRG, prospective franchise owners have the opportunity to be a part of a scalable, recession-resistant business at a low cost of entry. The brand is aiming for 40 signings next year and is looking to add six this year. The franchise is also working with Raintree, a franchise development organization, to reach its development goals of expanding to over 150 units in the next two years.
“There is an ability, even in a contested market, to serve their community at a higher standard,” said Linton Dowling, Vice President of Marketing at Raintree. “Their focus on customer service and not being tied to insurance companies trying to cut corners stands out above all those franchises even in competitive territories.”
Finding the Right Franchise Partners
Every city in the U.S. experiences water, fire, mold or structural damage, so UWRG owners can thrive anywhere, but current target markets include metropolitan areas such as Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Baltimore and Washington DC, as well as California and Louisiana. Notably, 62% of franchisees are multi-unit operators.
Franchise Owners do not necessarily need experience in restoration or have a home-services background. The brand is looking for owners with skills such as sales, management, business development and leadership. They should also be willing to provide outstanding customer service, be dependable and possess empathy.
“Our owners are incredibly empathetic and always focus on that homeowner or business owner that we’re going out there and serving,” said Moore.
Ownership would also be a great opportunity for anyone in the remodeling or construction business to even out a potential downturn in the event of an economic crisis. Getting into the recession-resistant restoration industry will allow teams to keep busy even when other home services businesses are losing out.
The total initial investment to open and begin operation ranges from $159,342–$441,874. For more information on franchising, visit https://uwrgfranchise.com/investment-opportunities/.
*This brand is a paid partner of 1851 Franchise. For more information on paid partnerships please click here.
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