home services

Multi-brand franchisor earns industry recognition for performance, culture and growth as it continues accelerating through the final months of 2025

RICHMOND, Va. — Empower Brands, a franchisor of award-winning brands in the home and business services categories, is heading into the final months of 2025 with extraordinary momentum, earning recognition across multiple industry platforms for its brand performance, franchise culture and continued innovation. From systemwide rankings to partnership honors, the company’s growing portfolio continues to demonstrate enduring strength and long-term scalability as it looks ahead to 2026.

At last month’s 2025 International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG) Conference, Empower Brands was named Runners-Up for Loyal Partner of the Year, reflecting the company’s long-standing commitment to collaboration and integrity within the franchise community. Bumble Roofing, one of Empower’s newest and fastest-rising brands, was also recognized as Runners-Up for Top Evolving Brand, underscoring its rapid growth and increasing visibility among emerging concepts.

“These honors are a direct reflection of our people, their consistency, their commitment and their passion for partnership,” said Scott Zide, CEO of Empower Brands. “From newer concepts like Bumble Roofing to legacy brands that continue to outperform, each plays a role in building the culture of trust and success that defines Empower.”

Recognition extended across Empower’s portfolio in Franchise Business Review’s 2025 awards program, which honored multiple brands for franchisee satisfaction, profitability and cultural excellence. Among the distinctions were:

• Top Franchises: Archadeck, Conserva Irrigation, FRSTeam, Jan-Pro System International, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives and Superior Fence & Rail
• Best Franchise Cultures: Archadeck, Conserva, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives and Superior Fence & Rail
• Top Franchises for Women: Conserva and Jan-Pro
• Top Low-Cost Franchises: Archadeck, Conserva, FRSTeam and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives
• Most Profitable Franchises: Archadeck, FRSTeam, Jan-Pro and Superior Fence & Rail
• Franchise Rock Star: FRSTeam

In addition, Franchise Times once again recognized Empower’s portfolio in its annual Top 400 ranking, with seven brands earning a place on the list due to their top-performing global systemwide sales: Jan-Pro System International, Superior Fence & Rail, Koala Insulation, FRSTeam, Archadeck, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives and Conserva Irrigation.

Further demonstrating its commitment to innovation, Empower Brands earned the Innovation in Support of Franchisee Profitability & Validation Award at the 2025 STAR Awards, presented by Franchise Update Media. The recognition highlights the company’s development of EPIC (Empower Partner Information Connection), a first-of-its-kind platform that streamlines how franchise consultants access brand data, territory availability and candidate registration, simplifying the path to ownership and supporting franchisee success.

Together, these achievements reflect Empower’s commitment to building franchise systems that are financially strong, people-first and positioned for sustained success.

These recognitions come during a period of continued growth and momentum for Empower Brands. In fiscal year 2025 to-date, the company has grown its network of franchise owners by 13 percent across the portfolio, increasing the total number of locations by 10 percent. This progress underscores Empower’s commitment to franchisee-first values by adding the right owners in the right markets at the right time and reflects the continued strength of its scalable, category-leading models.

With multiple new market launches, record system growth and a growing list of national awards, Empower Brands continues to build momentum heading into 2026. Each of its 10 franchise brands is actively expanding across the United States, offering franchise opportunities for entrepreneurs seeking strong unit economics, trusted leadership and proven operational models.

“As proud as we are of these accolades, what matters most is what they represent: a network of brands built to endure,” said Zide. “The energy and progress we are seeing across our portfolio right now point to an even stronger finish to 2025 and an incredibly bright path forward in 2026.”

To learn more about Empower Brands and its array of franchise opportunities, visit EmpowerFranchising.com.

RICHMOND, Va. — Empower Brands, a franchisor of award-winning brands in the home and business services categories, announced today the expansion of its Franchise Development Center of Excellence leadership team. R. Scott Sutton, Empower’s chief development officer, made the announcement in connection with its Empower Day event, where prospective new owners meet the Empower Brands team to learn about the company’s culture, support and strategy.

Stephen Schiller has joined Empower Brands as the company’s Vice President of Franchise Development and will work closely with Sutton on franchise development leadership and strategic initiatives while also driving franchise owner growth within the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives brand. Stephen is a franchise industry veteran who formerly served as an award-winning brand developer, Vice President, portfolio Chief Growth Officer and a Sales Excellence consultant for leading portfolio companies such as Neighborly, EverSmith Brands, & Home Franchise Concepts.

“We’re incredibly excited to have Stephen join our dynamic team,” said Sutton. “Stephen is a gifted leader with significant growth experience. He aligns perfectly with our culture to be franchisee-first and will be an integral part of our growth as we expand the reach of our world-class franchise brands.”

“I have tremendous respect for Scott Sutton’s leadership and have long admired the unwavering ‘Franchisee First’ commitment that defines Empower Brands under the guidance of Scott Zide, CEO,” Schiller said.  “When the opportunity arose a few months ago to join this incredible organization and contribute to its next phase of growth, it was simply one I couldn’t pass up. I’m thrilled to be part of what’s ahead.”

Jane Campbell will now serve Empower as its Vice President of Franchise Development Marketing, a new role that will be critical to the company’s aggressive growth expectations. Previously, Jane served as Empower’s Vice President of Marketing, driving consumer marketing efforts for the brands nationally and locally.

“Franchise development is one of the key growth levers a franchise has in its arsenal,” says Campbell. “From a marketing perspective, it requires strategy, messaging, and care. I’m thrilled to take this new role, telling the stories of our wonderful franchise owners and introducing new candidates to our portfolio of brands.”

Both Stephen and Jane join a seasoned franchise development leadership team that includes Sutton and Senior Vice President Erin Zide and Senior Director of Revenue Operations Cristin Smith.

“We’ve built a powerhouse team of leaders that’s firmly focused on growing our brands the right way, with the right new owners, in the right markets. The future is bright at Empower,” says Sutton.

Empower’s commitment to culture, brand excellence, and franchisee success continues to drive its reputation as a trusted platform for home service entrepreneurs and a magnet for high-caliber talent across the industry.

To learn more about Empower Brands, visit EmpowerFranchising.com.

RICHMOND, Va. — Empower Brands, a multi-brand franchisor of premium commercial and residential services, is accelerating into its next phase of growth with a strategic expansion of its leadership team. The additions spanning brand presidents, franchise operations and development, and national accounts, reflect Empower’s continued investment in its people, its franchisees, and its long-term vision to scale with purpose.

At the center of this momentum is a focus on deepening brand-level support while building shared infrastructure across the platform. As Empower’s brands continue to break into new markets, deliver record sales, and attract high-performing franchisees, the organization is bringing in seasoned leaders to help franchise owners thrive.

Justin Mayer joined the company last week as Brand President of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives (OLP), bringing a customer-first mindset and a track record of operational excellence to one of Empower’s legacy brands. His appointment reinforces OLP’s position as a category leader and sets the stage for new growth and innovation. Rich Young, long-time Brand President for OLP, will remain with the organization to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

In February, Heather Todd was promoted to Brand President of Conserva Irrigation after serving as Director of Franchise Operations. Todd, who has played a central role in Conserva’s rise, brings a franchisee-first approach and a deep understanding of what it takes to scale a service brand while staying rooted in operational integrity.

Conserva’s founder and long-time Brand President, Russ Jundt, is transitioning into a new role at Empower Brands. Jundt will lead three strategic areas across the platform: National Accounts (for Conserva and OLP), Strategic Partnerships and Procurement, and Conversion Franchising for Conserva. His new role reflects Empower’s evolution into a more integrated, future-ready organization.

To continue Conserva’s operational strength, Stacy Parkelj joined Empower last month as Director of Franchise Operations. She succeeds Todd in the role and will support the brand’s franchisees with hands-on coaching, systems leadership, and performance growth.

On the enterprise side, Brandon Yarnell has been named National Accounts Sales Manager for Conserva and OLP. He’ll work alongside Jundt to develop partnerships and build scalable solutions for clients with multi-location or commercial needs.

The leadership expansion also extends to Empower’s franchise development team. Katie Lepper has joined as Director of Franchise Development for Bumble Roofing, while Steve Griffith is the new Director of Franchise Development for Koala Insulation. Each will guide their brand’s growth strategy and recruit the next wave of franchisees.

“These aren’t just new roles, they’re key puzzle pieces in our long-term vision,” said Scott Zide, CEO of Empower Brands. “We’re scaling thoughtfully, building shared infrastructure where it makes sense, and empowering each brand to thrive with dedicated leadership. Every addition to our team is about reinforcing support for our franchisees and making sure we’re built for what’s next.”

Empower’s commitment to culture, brand excellence, and franchisee success continues to drive its reputation as a trusted platform for home service entrepreneurs and a magnet for high-caliber talent across the industry.

To learn more about Empower Brands, visit EmpowerFranchising.com.

Independent research data shows franchisees are highly satisfied with their investment in Archadeck Outdoor Living, Conserva Irrigation, FRSTeam and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives

RICHMOND, Va. — Empower Brands, a world-class franchising portfolio consisting of industry-leading residential and commercial service providers, announces that its brands Archadeck Outdoor Living, Conserva Irrigation, FRSTeam and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives are four of only 50 franchises selected as Franchise Business Review’s 2025 Top Low-Cost Franchises.

“We are very encouraged by the feedback we received from the franchise owners of these four brands,” Empower Brands CEO Scott Zide said. “Our franchisees not only believe we have a strong team culture, but they also stated that they enjoy being part of their individual brand and are likely to recommend their franchise brand to others. Enabling entrepreneurs with more modest means the opportunity to buy into a franchise system is a goal Empower Brands is proud to have accomplished.”

Franchise Business Review (FBR), a research firm that conducts independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction, provides the only ratings of franchises based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of top franchises semi-annually in its Guide to Today’s Top Franchises, as well as industry reports throughout the year that highlight research on the top franchises in specific sectors.

More than 12,000 franchisees representing 125 low-cost brands participated in FBR’s franchisee satisfaction survey over 18 months. The brands that were named to the list of the best low-cost franchises to buy had to have high franchisee satisfaction and an investment of under $100,000 at the time their franchisees participated in FBR’s satisfaction survey.

The four Empower Brands franchisees were each surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training and support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, culture and financial opportunity.

“It’s a common misconception that buying a franchise is too expensive for the average person seeking to start a business. What many people don’t know is that there are very solid franchise opportunities that provide the satisfaction and perks of business ownership but don’t require a huge financial investment,” Franchise Business Review CEO Eric Stites said. “Approximately one-third of the award-winning brands on our list of the Top Low-Cost Franchises have initial investments starting under $75K. With financing, many can be started for as little as $20K, with a few options starting under $15K. More importantly, these 50 franchises have average owner satisfaction 20% higher than our industry benchmark, making them all excellent options for anyone considering franchise ownership.”

Empower Brands, founded in 2022, is an award-winning franchise platform consisting of industry-leading commercial and residential service providers across North America. Archadeck is led by Brand President Michael Reeder, Conserva Irrigation is headed by Brand President Heather Todd, FRSTeam is led by Brand President Holly Murry and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives is headed by Brand President Rich Young.

For more information about Empower Brands, visit https://empowerfranchising.com/ or call (804) 353-6999.

Independent Survey Shows Female Franchise Owners Are Highly Satisfied with Conserva Irrigation and JAN-PRO’s Performance

RICHMOND, Va. — Empower Brands, a world-class franchising portfolio consisting of industry-leading residential and commercial service providers, announced today that two of its brands, Conserva Irrigation and JAN-PRO Systems International, have earned spots on Franchise Business Review’s (FBR) 2025 Top Franchises for Women. Only 100 brands were chosen for the award.

“What a great way to celebrate Women’s History Month,” said Empower Brands CEO Scott Zide. “We are so proud of Conserva Irrigation and JAN-PRO’s commitment to inclusion and ability to attract outstanding females into the franchising world. And these awards are made even more important because it’s the franchisees’ satisfaction that determines whether a franchisor makes this list.”

Empower Brands, founded in 2022, is an award-winning franchise platform consisting of industry-leading commercial and residential service providers across North America. Its brands include Archadeck Outdoor Living, Bumble Roofing, Canopy Lawn Care, Conserva Irrigation, FRSTeam, Jan Pro Systems International, Koala Insulation, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, Superior Fence & Rail, and Wallaby Windows.

Conserva Irrigation is headed by Brand President Heather Todd, and JAN-PRO is led by Brand President Gary Bauer.

Franchise Business Review, a research firm that conducts independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction, provides the only ratings of franchises based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of top franchises semi-annually in its Guide to Today’s Top Franchises, as well as industry reports throughout the year that highlight research on the top franchises in specific sectors.

Conserva Irrigation and JAN-PRO were among 350 franchise brands, representing nearly 9,000 female franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research on the Top Franchises for Women. Both Empower Brands franchises were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including leadership, training & support, financial opportunity, and work/life balance.

“Franchising is a fantastic option for women seeking business ownership on a full- or part-time basis,” FBR President and COO Michelle Rowan said. “With so many franchise opportunities to choose from, it’s critical to do in-depth research to understand how satisfied current female franchise owners are with the training and support, work/life balance, financial opportunity, culture, and leadership of any brand they’re considering before making an investment. When you look at the brands on this year’s list of the Top Franchises for Women, 88% of women said they enjoy being part of their franchise organizations, and three of four said they would recommend their franchise to others—powerful feedback for women considering the transition to business ownership.”

Visit https://FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full list of the 2025 Top Franchises for Women.

RICHMOND, Va. — Empower Brands, a multi-brand franchisor of premium commercial and residential services, celebrates another year of exceptional growth, setting new records across its expanding portfolio.

In 2024, Empower Brands awarded 287 new franchise territories and welcomed 113 new franchise owners—including 97 new owners and 16 who joined through transfers—while surpassing $1.3 billion in systemwide sales.

“Each milestone we’ve hit this year reinforces the power of our franchise system and the strength of our brands,” said Scott Zide, CEO of Empower Brands. “Our continued success is a testament to the dedication of our franchise owners, corporate team, and strategic partners who are committed to building strong businesses and delivering exceptional service in their communities.”

The exceptional growth has garnered recognition for Empower Brands in prominent industry listings, including rankings in Inc. 5000, Franchise Business Review and most recently, Entrepreneurs Franchise 500 with rankings for six of its brands.

Empower Brands remains committed to its franchisee-first mission, expanding its leadership team, investing in new resources, and supporting emerging brands through its incubation program. The company’s strategic investments have enabled brands like Bumble Roofing to gain traction, with 15 new agreements this year.

As Empower Brands moves into 2025, its focus will be on continued expansion through additional brands and unit-level growth. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, refining operational efficiencies, and investing in franchisee success, the company is positioned for another great year.

Furthering its commitment to success in 2025, Empower Brands kicked off the year with its 25th Annual Meeting at the Fairmont Austin, where franchisees, corporate leadership, and industry experts gathered for impactful learning and collaboration. The theme of this year’s meeting, Make Your Mark, urged attendees to take bold steps in shaping their personal legacies while driving collective growth across the Empower Brands system. From powerful keynote sessions to breakout workshops focused on innovation, leadership, and operational excellence, the event offered fresh insights and practical strategies to equip franchisees for a strong year ahead.

For the second year in a row, the event welcomed more than 1,000 registered franchisee and vendor partners. Keynote speaker Amy Jo Martin shared her Why Not Now? philosophy, encouraging attendees to stop delaying and start taking action on long-standing business and personal goals.

During the event, CEO Scott Zide and Chief Marketing Officer Felicia Reeves emphasized the importance of meeting today’s evolving customer where they are—by delivering personalized, relevant experiences that resonate on a local level. They encouraged franchisees to leave the meeting with a renewed focus on engaging with their communities, strengthening their personal brands, leveraging data to drive smarter strategy, and expanding their marketing mix beyond digital channels to build a more well-rounded and authentic presence.

Empower Brands recognized the most awards the brand has seen since its inception, honoring top performers across its brands with the coveted Franchisee of the Year Award:

• Conserva of Myrtle Beach – Bill & Dawn Hester, Pam & Jay Griffith
• Superior Fence & Rail of Eastern NC – Billy Casey
• Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Chicago – Rick Norwood
• Archadeck of Kansas City – Dan & Bonnie Hall
• FRSTeam by Rogers of Orlando, FL – Kristen & Mitchell Rogers
• Bumble Roofing of Philadelphia – Greg Van Horn
• Wallaby Windows of the Triangle – Ashley Selzer (Clearly Different Award)
• JAN-PRO Franchisees of the Year: Dallas-Fort Worth – William “Bill” Davis; NW Arkansas – Nolen Hughes; Milwaukee – Richard Johnsen; Columbus – Robert “Bobby” Springer
• Koala Insulation of New Mexico – Pranav, Avinash, and Akash Patel

To learn more about franchising with Empower Brands, visit EmpowerFranchising.com.

RICHMOND, Va. — Empower Brands, a world-class portfolio of industry-leading residential and commercial service franchises, announced today that six of its brands have been recognized by the Entrepreneur Franchise 500®, the world’s first and most comprehensive franchise ranking.

Included on the influential list are:

• Jan-Pro Systems International, ranked at No. 77
• Koala Insulation, ranked at No. 116
• Superior Fence & Rail, ranked at No. 137
• Conserva Irrigation, ranked at No. 328
• Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, ranked at No. 367
• Archadeck Outdoor Living, ranked at No. 440

“We are thrilled to see six Empower Brands franchises recognized on such an esteemed list as the Entrepreneur Franchise 500,” said Empower Brands CEO Scott Zide. “The hard work and dedication of our franchise owners has helped each of these brands earn this honor. This is also proof that Empower Brands’ ongoing support, training and technical assistance has helped our franchisees deliver premium services to their customers.”

Of the six brands that made the list, three also ranked No. 1 in their individual categories: Archadeck won in the Outdoor Space Construction/Remodeling category, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives won in the Lighting Services category, and Superior Fence & Rail ranked at the top of the Fencing category.

For 46 years, achieving placement on the annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500® has been a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry and is recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees.

“The Franchise 500 is more than a list,” said Jason Feifer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine. “It’s really a collection of life-changing opportunities, featuring strong and resilient brands that future franchisees will be proud to be a part of. This year’s honorees represent the bold ideas, operational excellence, and adaptability that make franchising a cornerstone of entrepreneurial success.”

In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s 46-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The editorial team researches and assesses several factors, including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order.

To view the full rankings, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2025 issue of Entrepreneur, which became available on newsstands this week.