Franchise News & Press Releases

Glass Doctor Franchisee Testimonials

“I was tired of the corporate life and wanted to own my own business. I joined Glass Doctor because it was in the service industry and because of their tested business systems. Everyone with Glass Doctor has been so helpful. They have been able to give me exactly what I need.”– Matt Kelly | Glass Doctor of Cleveland

“When I was searching for an opportunity, there were so many businesses that didn’t have honesty and integrity, so I thought I’d try one that did. And aligning with Glass Doctor was absolutely the best move I could’ve made.”– Kevin Tennant | Glass Doctor of Mat-Su Valley and Glass Doctor of Fairbanks

Glass Doctor – Franchisee Success Stories | Alan Look

AARON’S STORY

Glass Doctor Owner Since 2019

Aaron Look had been actively recruited to open a franchise for years before he opened Glass Doctor®. Ready to invest, he converted his existing auto glass shop into two Glass Doctor franchises in New York. Aaron appreciates the systems and team of experts Glass Doctor has in place to assist franchise owners. The brand recognition has been an asset, and the mentorship invaluable. Aaron immediately implemented the Code of Values in his local Glass Doctor businesses, which brought it to the next level.

Aaron became a franchise owner because of the opportunity for growth and to oversee a successful team. Although success takes time, franchise ownership, Aaron believes, is not only a rewarding endeavor but an enjoyable one, too.

"We all have the opportunity to listen, read, and live by our Code of Values."

Glass Doctor – Franchisee Success Stories | Laurel Miller

LAUREL’S STORY

Glass Doctor Owner Since 2007

When Laurel Miller and her husband, Mark, realized they could work just as hard for themselves as they did for others, they explored franchise ownership. They ditched their jobs and long commutes to open Glass Doctor® in 2007. The Miller’s jumped in with both feet and self-funded their franchise investment. There would be no “Plan B.” Their agenda? To grow the franchise, sell it, and retire.

Over the years, they’ve enjoyed getting to know other local business owners and being involved in their California community. They also appreciated the perks of business ownership, including answering only to themselves, and they agree that being happy in your work is the best benefit of all.

"Life is a banquet. Don’t starve."

Five Star Painting – Success Stories | Mark Lambert

MARK’S STORY

Five Star Painting Owner Since 2009

Mark Lambert is no stranger to franchise ownership. He owned two franchises before opening Five Star Painting® in 2009. An Army veteran, he converted his first painting company to Five Star Painting and has more than tripled his annual income and grown the company by 30%. Without Neighborly® and Five Star Painting, Mark says he’d still be on a ladder working as a residential painter.

Mark has been thrilled to watch the company’s growth. He enjoys working with his wife, Melinda, who handles accounting, and with his daughter, who excels at sales and project management.

Mark credits the corporate team at Five Star Painting and his franchise business coach for helping him learn the ropes and always being available. He gets excited about Neighborly’s business concepts added each year and looks forward to new opportunities.

"Don't procrastinate. The …

Five Star Painting – Success Stories | Anthony Kulikowski

ANTHONY’S STORY

Five Star Painting Owner Since 2017

Anthony Kulikowski has been a painter since high school, working as a contractor just before opening Five Star Painting® in 2017. He learned about becoming a franchise owner through a cold call— which made him realize he wanted a business worth selling one day. His aspirations paid off: Anthony now makes in one month what he once made in one year.

Since becoming a franchise owner, Anthony has enjoyed growing both personally and professionally. He appreciates the networking opportunities that Neighborly® provides with other franchise owners as well as with corporate staff. He loves seeing his team succeed, giving back to the community, and working with his mentors, gathering knowledge he can share with future franchise owners.

"We help our community by giving back in many ways, and I enjoy helping other franchise owners with advice that was given to me." Read more about Five Star Painting – Success Stories | Anthony Kulikowski

Five Star Painting – Success Stories | Amado Cano

AMADO’S STORY

Five Star Painting Owner Since 2019

There’s much to admire about businesses that were started during the pandemic. It wasn’t easy to stay afloat, but Amado Cano’s Five Star Painting® in Huntsville, Alabama, not only survived — but thrived. Amado opened Five Star Painting in 2019 with one crew and took on many roles, including estimator, project manager and office admin. In one year, he added four crew members and office staff, which enabled him to finally enjoy being an owner-operator. His wife, Indy, joined the business, and they hope to open more Five Star Painting locations soon.

Amado enjoys the mentorship Neighborly® offers franchise owners. Amado takes pride in giving back to the community -- from providing free materials and labor to a local homeless shelter in need of a fresh paint job, to training and mentoring other franchise owners, Amado looks forward to continued growth for Five Star Painting®.

Read more about Five Star Painting – Success Stories | Amado Cano

Dryer Vent Wizard – Franchise Owner Success Stories | Ed Rauch

ED’S STORY

Ed Rauch is one of those people who has done a little bit of everything as a career. He has been a teacher and school administrator, owned an insurance agency, and served as the executive vice president of a college. Now add to his resume’ owner of Dryer Vent Wizard® of Greater Cincinnati.

Ed enjoys being a franchise owner because he can combine his love of working with his hands with finding solutions for customers while keeping them safe from fire. He’s focused on growing the business and enjoys training and mentoring employees. As a franchise owner, Ed meets new people every day, makes his own schedule, leads a team, and contributes to his community — his definition of “the risk is worth the reward.”

"I enjoy working and enjoy helping others. I invest in my employees to provide quality customer service to our customers."

Year opened: 2006Question: Number of employees: 12Question: Why franchise…

Dryer Vent Wizard -Franchise Owner Success Stories | Carl Hein

CARL’S STORY

After years of working in logistics, HVAC, and construction, Carl Hein was ready for a change. He researched becoming a franchisee and after deciding it was the right move, he opened Dryer Vent Wizard® of St. Paul in Farmington, Minnesota, in 2007. The change paid off and his business has grown significantly since opening.

Carl takes pride in working alongside his family, including wife, Judy; seeing the friends and family he hires succeed; and watching the glowing customer reviews stack up. He has always moved through his life with the motto, “God first, then family, then career.” For Carl, this has been a guiding compass that has helped him grow his franchise and will hopefully keep the Hein’s on the road exploring the country in their RV a little longer.

"It’s wonderful to have family members working for and with me. I’ve always wanted to be able to do that."

Year opened: 2007Question: Number of employees: 8Question: What…

Dryer Vent Wizard -Franchise Owner Success Stories | Gayle Patrick

GAYLE’S STORY

Gayle Patrick comes from a family of entrepreneurs, but this isn’t how she started her professional career. An Army veteran, she later worked as a corporate executive, but it was always her intention to one day work for herself. After doing research on service-based businesses, Gayle knew she wanted to invest in a business with a simple model and high net margins in a niche market. Dryer Vent Wizard® checked all the boxes, so she tapped into her entrepreneurial genes and opened a franchise in Newport News, Virginia, in 2019, funding it with her own capital.

Gayle says being a franchise owner has allowed her to finally have the work-life balance she needed. Outside of work, she enjoys mentoring other franchisee hopefuls and giving back to the community.

"I enjoy the camaraderie with other franchise owners and the genuine desire to help each other succeed. It is like an extended family of experts."

Year opened: 2019Question:…

Decorating Den Interiors – An Excellent Time to Consider an Interior Design Business

This can be an excellent time to start an interior design business, or take an existing one to the next level. Especially if you have the right team supporting you.

Why might this be a good time? Well, partly because people have spent so much time in their homes the last few months.

Consider these excerpts from home furnishings expert Jerry Epperson’s most recent issue of the authoritative Furnishings Digest Newsletter:

“Retail sales have been strong since mid-May. Not many expected the vigor of the consumer spending on the home that we have experienced… Our consumers are recognizing the need for home furnishings and giving it a higher spending priority… The housing sector is showing growth most of us have never experienced before. We are excited about this and its implication for the furniture industry… Looking at 2021, it will benefit from the housing turnover that is rebounding in terms of creating demand for home furnishings.”

Mr.…

Decorating Den Interiors – Building the Reputation of an Interior Design Business

The foundation of any interior design business is building one’s personal reputation in your local market. An important building block in that foundation can be being part of something bigger.

For example, when window treatments expert Charles Randall was beginning work on his newest book, Designer Window Fashions, an interior design writer he knows suggested a way for him to have access to large library of photos of window treatment designs. That library represents the work of some 300 design professionals who are Decorating Den Interiors franchise partner or designers who work in those businesses.

“My writer friend introduced me to Ross Feltz, who does public relations for those design business owners,” said Randall. “That began a year of working with Ross looking at hundreds of photos from several years of entries in the company’s annual Dream Room competition. The result was that nearly 100 photos from about 40 Decorating Den Interiors were used in m…

Decorating Den Interiors – A Ready-Made Interior Design Marketing Team

How do you build a marketing team for a sole proprietor interior design business? What tools do you have for differentiating yourself in your local market? How can you build your personal reputation as a “go-to” interior designer? For example, could you easily and cost-effectively form a team that could produce monthly Complete Marketing Packages that include a social media posts, a personalized email, a ready-made blog post, an article to submit to a local publication, direct mail and a design seminar power point—all on the same timely topic?

For Valentine’s Day, for example, the Complete Marketing Package our franchisee interior design businesses were provided was built around the theme: Is Your Home Romancing You?

In March, the Complete Marketing Package was timed for St. Patrick’s Day with the theme: A Shamrock Guide to Interior Design. For tax season, the theme was Working with an Interior Designer Need Not be Taxing. In the works are packages …