With more than 170 locations, 1-800 WATER DAMAGE is quickly establishing itself as an expert in full-service water damage restoration services. Steve Olson, senior director of franchise development for 1-800 WATER DAMAGE, talks about what makes the brand unique in its industry – and how the company has been helping its franchise owners succeed. By Rochelle Miller

With more than 170 locations, 1-800 WATER DAMAGE is quickly establishing itself as an expert in full-service water damage restoration services. Steve Olson, senior director of franchise development for 1-800 WATER DAMAGE, talks about what makes the brand unique in its industry – and how the company has been helping its franchise owners succeed.

What is the mission of 1-800 WATER DAMAGE?

We live by our tagline, ”Restoring what matters most.” Every day, we help our customers recover from catastrophic tragedies that often turn lives upside-down. When besieged by property damage from fire, flood, wind or water damage as a result of weather events or equipment failure, we help people get their lives, their possessions and their peace of mind restored.

What previous experience, personal qualities and professional characteristics are required to become a 1-800 WATER DAMAGE franchise owner?

Most of our franchise owners have little or no experience in the restoration industry. What they do have in common is a desire to help people and the ability to build relationships. We can teach them everything they need to know about the technical aspects of performing the work and running a business, but we cannot teach them to care about people and have a desire to help. That’s why we seek those with honesty and compassion along with a strong work ethic and a “servant’s heart.”

I understand 1-800 WATER DAMAGE is part of the BELFOR Franchise Group. What does this mean, and how does it benefit your franchise owners?

1-800 WATER DAMAGE is one of eight interconnected brands within the BELFOR Franchise Group (BFG), which is one of the world’s largest service business franchisors. In fact, BFG has more than 4,000-plus franchise territories in 40-plus countries around the world. Not only do our franchise owners refer work to one another, but they also receive referrals directly from BELFOR. For example, in a recent two-month period, BELFOR referred more than $12 million in “shovel-ready” jobs to our franchise owners.

What training do you provide to all new franchise owners? What about those who have no previous industry experience?

Our initial technical and business training is 11 days long, and it includes both classroom and field training in Ann Arbor, Michigan. New franchise owners earn multiple industry certifications during this program. We also provide additional training classes and certification opportunities throughout the life of the franchise. Franchise owners also receive ongoing support from regional coaches and BELFOR employees who are industry experts in every aspect of the restoration business.

What marketing support is provided to new franchise owners?

We provide a comprehensive marketing program and training to support new franchise owners in all aspects of marketing their business. We assist in all phases of developing an effective marketing plan, from creating a marketing plan and setting goals to performing market research and competitive market analysis. We support our franchise owners to leverage digital-marketing strategies, helping them to establish social media identities and build a stellar reputation in their local markets through online reviews and referrals.

Why is now a great time to become a new franchise owner with 1-800 WATER DAMAGE?

The crazy year that was 2020 confirmed our business to be recession-resistant and pandemic-proof! Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, we experienced significant growth both in franchisee revenue and the number of new locations. In fact, we added 75 new locations in 2020, growing throughout 170 territories in 36 states since adding our first franchise in 2016. We are also one of the more affordable franchise opportunities, and when you consider that we offer to finance up to 50% of the initial franchise fee, we become even more appealing to anyone who may have limited funds available to open a business. Perhaps most importantly, we are backed by BELFOR, the world’s largest and strongest company of its kind.

– Rochelle Miller

For more information regarding franchising opportunities with 1-800-WATER DAMAGE, visit 1800waterdamagefranchise.com or call 866-278-3905.