Ep 4.6: Home Services Franchise Freedom w/ Travis and Lou

Free Agent with Meg Schmitz

Have you heard these myths about becoming a franchise owner in the home services industry? Myth #1: Franchise owners have no control over their business. Myth #2: Franchise fees are too expensive and not worth it. Myth #3: Franchise owners are bound by strict rules and regulations. In this episode, our guest Travis will debunk these myths and reveal the truth about the advantages and freedoms of becoming a franchise owner in the home services industry.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Discover how stepping away from the corporate world and embracing entrepreneurship can open up exciting franchising opportunities.

• Realize the vital role of in-depth training and mastering the craft in successful franchise ownership.

• Unearth the numerous advantages and freedoms that come with being a franchise owner in the dynamic home services sector.

• Learn about the collaborative and promotional opportunities that thrive within the framework of the Premium Service Brands network.

• Witness surprising career transitions and how a shift in mindset can underscore autonomy and pave the way for non-traditional careers.

My special guests are Travis Nicolette and Lou Kim

Travis and Lou are seasoned veterans in the franchising industry. With an intriguing blend of both corporate and entrepreneurial backgrounds, these gentlemen have crafted successful paths in the home service sector. Lou, with an invigorating 20 years of corporate experience under his belt, chose to break free and tread his entrepreneurial journey with Prolif, a respected garage door service brand. Lou's leadership prowess and commitment to exceeding customer expectations have been key to his success. Similarly, Travis, a long-term Verizon team member, made use of his corporate learnings and applied those to his entrepreneurial venture. Fueled by the same endeavor of providing premier client experience, Travis' journey with Prolif has been invigorating.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Introduction, 00:02:00 - Lou's Journey to Franchising, 00:06:14 - Travis's Journey to Franchising, 00:09:43 - Impact of the Pandemic, 00:11:25 - Training and Support, 00:14:42 - Importance of Step-by-Step Training, 00:15:08 - Balancing Franchise Parameters and Business Ownership, 00:16:14 - The Regret of Not Spending More Time on Learning, 00:19:06 - The Importance of Hands-On Experience, 00:23:08 - Taking Over an Existing Franchise, 00:28:06 - The Importance of Trial and Error in Franchising, 00:28:41 - The Value of Validation Calls, 00:30:07 - The Benefits of a Mentoring Group, 00:31:20 - The Challenges of Starting a Franchise, 00:34:00 - Considerations for Diversifying and Investing in Another Brand, 00:41:52 - The Importance of Thinking Outside the Box, 00:43:23 - Embracing Non-Traditional Paths, 00:45:12 - Hiring Female Employees in a Non-Traditional Industry, 00:47:26 - Shifting Focus to Customer Service and Sales, 00:49:57 - Meeting Urgent Client Needs,