small business opportunities

BLOOMINGTON, IN – According to a September 2017 article by CNBC, about 74 percent of restoration companies experienced sales growth in 2016, many citing weather as a primary growth factor. And with wild weather predicted in the future due to climate change, the growth of the disaster recovery and property restoration industry looks limitless.

With eyes wide open and crews ready, Service Team of Professionals (STOP), a full-service franchise that provides premier restoration services to residential and commercial clients across the country, looks to nearly double its national footprint by the end of 2020.

With 32 franchisees already operating 34 territories in 21 states, the Bloomington, Indiana-based business, recently recognized as one of the Best Franchise Opportunities for 2018 by Franchise Business Review, hopes to have a total of 60 territories nationwide by the end of 2020.

According to company CEO Brian Clark, the expansion will be accomplished exclusively through franchising.

“STOP is a proven concept built on a foundation of over 40 years of leadership and experience in the restoration services industry,” said Clark. “We’ve seen great success thus far and as the brand continues to expand, we look forward to not only helping homes and businesses restore and repair their buildings, but also aiding individuals become independent business owners as franchisees. We offer an array of services, including full disaster restoration as well as a number of scheduled services (non-emergency) such as duct cleaning, crawl space encapsulation and animal damage remediation. As we plan our next growth phase, we are seeking franchise partners who are enthusiastic about helping others and are system oriented, those partners are vital to our national expansion plans.”

Since 1971, STOP has been helping both residential and commercial clients recover from the unthinkable – water damage caused by broken or frozen pipes, house fires, smoke damage, and mold contamination. STOP even has experience in cleaning up hoarding situations, crime scenes, meth or drug labs, and vandalism.

“Disasters aren’t fun, but we can provide some peace of mind. Our highly qualified technicians restore homes or buildings to their pre-disaster condition as quickly as possible to help ease the stress of the situation,” said Clark. “From the initial cleanup to the final repair, we are meticulous about everything we do and consider even the smallest details. Our clients have enough to worry about, which is why we get the job done right the first time. We focus on customer service by providing restoration services with the compassion and understanding that our customers deserve.

To augment the company’s growth, STOP is looking for individuals interested in joining a proven business model in a recession-resistant industry, and notes that prior knowledge of restoration is not needed.

“While a number of our franchisees do have a background in the cleaning or construction industry, it is absolutely not necessary in order to own your own home damage restoration franchise with STOP. In fact, many of our franchisees do not have a background in the construction or restoration industries at all,” he added. “Our extensive training program, including technical training, provides our franchise partners with everything they need.”

Including a franchise fee of $48,000, the initial investment to open a STOP Restoration franchise ranges from $78,600 – $138,500. All STOP franchise territories are protected (up to 300,000 population) and typically are much larger than other restoration company competitors.

Columbia, MD – The Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille® today announced that, starting on World Turtle Day, May 23, its restaurants are going straw free, in an effort to protect marine life. Over 500 million plastic straws are used each day in the United States. By going straw free, The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille® is saving over 7 million plastic straws from entering the ecosystem. Biodegradable straws, provided by Aardvark straws, will be available for certain beverages and upon request.

In support of the restaurant’s effort, Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol with a vast collection of brands across spirits and beer, will donate $1 of every bottle of Naked Turtle Rum sold at The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille® to the Sea Turtle Conservancy to help promote awareness about the different species of sea turtles and the various threats to their survival. A few of the signature drinks at The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille® featuring Naked Turtle Rum include: “Original Blood Orange Hell in the Shell” (Naked Turtle White Rum, Tequila, Gin, Cranberry, Sprite, Blood Orange Sour, Peach Schnapps and New Amsterdam Vodka); “Hurricane Hell in the Shell” (Naked Turtle White Rum, Southern Comfort, Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Citrus Sour and Grenadine); and the “Light & Stormy” (Naked Turtle White Rum, Bitters and Gosling’s Ginger Beer).

“The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille® values protecting marine life,” said Layla Nielsen, Senior Director of Marketing at The Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille®. “We are excited to do our part by skipping the straw and helping reduce the number of plastic straws in the ecosystem.”

FT. WORTH, TX – PRNewswire

HomeWell Senior Care, Inc., one of the nation’s premiere franchisors of senior home care services in the US and Canada, announced today that Bruce Haase has acquired a majority ownership position in the Company and will serve as Chairman of the Board. HomeWell was founded in 2002 by Joshua Hoffman, a former caregiver, in Seattle, Washington. Lori Yount, CEO, will continue to lead the company and execute a strategy to further enhance services to its franchise owners and expand the HomeWell brand nationwide.

Founder Joshua Hoffman commented, “Bruce brings significant franchising expertise to the company, having served in senior leadership positions in the hospitality industry – with Choice Hotels International and most recently as CEO of WoodSpring Hotels, a leading extended stay hotel brand. This is the right time for me to transition my ownership position in HomeWell and I look forward to supporting the company’s growth as a minority partner.” Mr. Haase stated that he is excited to partner with the HomeWell management team who possess deep experience in the senior home care industry. “Our growth strategy is straightforward,” said Haase. “We will grow the HomeWell brand by delivering best-in-class franchise services, education, training, and operating support to our franchisees and owners new to the industry delivered by industry professionals who truly understand the business. Our new ownership structure will enable HomeWell to further invest in the growth of the brand as we develop in new cities across the US and Canada.”

Lori Yount, CEO of HomeWell, said she has aggressive expansion plans for the brand in 2018. “We are building a stronger HomeWell to serve our franchise owners, which will enable the company to return to a strong growth trajectory this year. We are on target to add up to twenty- five new franchise partners in 2018, and the company has attractive territories available in many major metropolitan markets for the right franchisee.”

PALM BEACH, FL – PRNewswire

In honor of National Military Appreciation Month, Always Best Care of the Palm Beaches, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, has joined forces with Operation Support Our Troops America (OSOTA), to host an online care package drive in support of American soldiers overseas. Now through Memorial Day, May 28, local residents can give back to members of the military serving abroad by visiting www.yougivegoods.com/abc-supports-the-military and selecting from a variety of goods to purchase for donation.

“We are thrilled to partner with an organization like Operation Support Our Troops America and encourage families to take part in the online care package drive and help a great cause,” said Steve Snell, Always Best Care of the Palm Beaches franchisee. “Every donation, big or small, helps support the well-being of American soldiers who put their lives at risk to protect us and our great country.”

All contributions made to Always Best Care’s online care package drive will be sent to U.S. troops overseas at the end of the month. The drive is made possible through YouGiveGoods, an innovative company that connects tangible giving to community needs through a free, easy-to-use online service.

“We are so appreciative of Always Best Care doing a collection drive for us through YouGiveGoods,” said Jamie Nelson, Executive Director of Operation Support Our Troops America. “As we continue to have troops deployed in harm’s way, the care packages we send show that America has not forgotten them. And the thank you notes and photos we receive each week let us know how much it means to the troops. We thank the local community for their support of this drive and our mission.”

Always Best Care is one of the nation’s leading providers of non-medical in-home care, assisted living placement services and home health care. The company delivers its services through an international network of more than 200 independently owned and operated franchise territories throughout the United States and Canada.

For more information about the charitable initiative, or to learn more about services available through Always Best Care of the Palm Beaches, please call (888) 316-6178 or visit ssnell@abc-seniors.com.

WACO, Texas – Mr. Appliance®, a Neighborly company and North America’s leading appliance repair franchise, announced today it has kicked off a prominent brand refresh in an effort to reflect the company’s growth over the past several years. As part of this campaign, the company has unveiled a new logo, representing the first time the company has revamped its image since its founding in 1996. The new design features an updated tagline highlighting Mr. Appliance’s signature speedy expert service, as well as new fonts and colors that exude an image better aligned with the brand’s modern evolution.

“Mr. Appliance has emerged as the leader of the appliance repair segment by remaining at the forefront of technological trends and continually investing in our systems, processes and people,” said Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance. “We’re thrilled to be unveiling our new logo, which reflects how the brand has evolved over the past two decades and better communicates to consumers that Mr. Appliance is the best destination for efficient and dependable service.”

Mr. Appliance’s brand refresh comes on the heels of last year’s Neighborly community launch, which is a comprehensive home services platform offering a unique direct service function to provide consumers assistance with nearly all aspects of their home – from landscaping and plumbing to painting and more. Mr. Appliance is one of 13 brands across the U.S. that make up the Neighborly community, each owned by the Dwyer Group, one of the world’s largest franchising companies of trade service brands. The brand’s involvement in Neighborly is just one example of how it has continued to invest in its operations to enhance the customer experience, and its new logo was designed to reinforce how Mr. Appliance and its services have become increasingly modernized and advanced.

“We know that today’s modern consumer prioritizes convenience more than ever, and being a part of the Neighborly community has been a tremendous asset for our customers by providing them an easy resource to quickly identify dependable home service experts in their area,” added Rogers.

With more than 220 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, Mr. Appliance is North America’s leading home and commercial appliance repair franchise system. The company is part of Neighborly, a community of home service experts that provides consumers assistance with nearly all aspects of their home care needs. Additional information about Neighborly can be found at www.GetNeighborly.com. For more information about Mr. Appliance, visit www.MrAppliance.com.

MADISON, NJ – PRNewswire

A house becomes a home when the ones you love move in. The Coldwell Banker® network, Gen Blue, knows what makes a house a home, and is committed to finding people and pets their perfect homes. “Old Dog, New Dog,” the latest ad from the brand, captures the heartfelt story of an affiliated agent giving back to her community by helping shelter animals find homes through the Coldwell Banker brand and Adopt-a-Pet.com “Homes for Dogs Project.”

“Old Dog, New Dog” tells the story of a local pet adoption event, part of the annual “Homes for Dogs Project,” from the Coldwell Banker brand and Adopt-a-Pet.com. At this event, a real estate agent is working with a volunteer who points out an older dog among the puppies. As the volunteer explains that older dogs have a harder time getting adopted, a young girl sees the old dog and is immediately drawn to him. Later, at a tea party in her home, the girl makes a toast to her best friend, Cooper, the rescue dog. Cooper is now dressed in his Sunday best, his outfit complete with a top hat and tie, both Cooper and the girl are beaming as they take in the joys of their new home.

“Old Dog, New Dog” ranked as the highest rated real estate ad of 2018, according to Ace Metrix, the leader in measuring the impact of television and digital advertising. The ad earned top marks for likeability and is the second highest rated real estate ad ever, right behind last year’s, “Somebody to Love,” also from the Coldwell Banker brand.

“Old Dog, New Dog” continues the theme of recent Coldwell Banker campaigns that tell stories about the experiences and memories that make a house a home. Recent spots include “Hoops” and “Somebody to Love.”

The spot honors the “Homes for Dogs Project,” a multi-year partnership between the Coldwell Banker brand and Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption website. Together, the organizations have helped find homes for more than 20,000 dogs through the “Homes for Dogs Project” and National Pet Adoption Weekend events. The next National Pet Adoption Weekend is October 13-14, 2018.

Learn how to get involved at coldwellbanker.com/homesfordogs.

“Old Dog, New Dog” can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/uYgxGZxBOHM

To Tweet: A house becomes a home when the ones you love move in – especially your dog. @ColdwellBanker’s new heartwarming “Old Dog, New Dog” ad highlights how Coldwell Banker agents support their communities through the “Homes for Dogs Project” https://bit.ly/2rx17uS

Quotes:

“We’ve been dedicated to the love of people and home since 1906. Beyond finding you the perfect home, our affiliated agents are committed to giving back to their communities. One of the most meaningful ways they give back is by supporting the ‘Homes for Dogs Project,’ which helps shelter animals find their forever homes.”
– Charlie Young, president and CEO, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC

“The ‘Old Dog, New Dog’ campaign shows how we understand more than just numbers when it comes to real estate, we understand what home is all about. We’re excited to kick off this year’s ‘Home for Dogs Project’ with the debut of ‘Old Dog, New Dog.’ National Pet Adoption Weekend takes place on October 13-14 this year, and we can’t wait to see the dedicated and creative ways our offices celebrate this event and connect with their communities.”
– David Marine, senior vice president of marketing, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC

The ad was conceived and created by Siltanen & Partners, the national advertising agency for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

Cheshire, CT – Wayback Burgers, America’s Favorite Hometown Burger Joint and one of the nation’s fastest growing burger franchises, is celebrating National Hamburger Day in grand fashion: by treating restaurant guests with a special deal. On Monday, May 28, 2018, all participating Wayback Burgers restaurants nationwide will feature a delectable deal – $5.28 for a Classic Burger.

Yes – on National Hamburger Day (also Memorial Day), May 28, guests will be able to get a Classic Burger for just $5.28 – see what we did there?! Each guest capitalizing on the deal will receive the Classic Burger – two beef patties cooked-to-order, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and of course, ketchup and mustard. These guests can customize this burger further by selecting from ten flavorful sauces to dunk, dip, or spice it up, and they can add bacon, chili or additional cheese for an extra charge. One “$5.28 on 5/28” Classic Burger deal per guest. Valid on in-restaurant purchases only.

Wayback Burgers’ President John Eucalitto, says this promotion is the perfect reward for loyal guests who want to kick off the summer season with a satisfying National Hamburger Day treat.

“The ‘$5.28 on 5/28’ deal is our way of celebrating National Hamburger Day with the people we enjoy being with the most: our wonderful guests,” says Eucalitto. “Nothing says Memorial Day quite like our fresh, cooked-to-order burgers. This deal will allow guests to enjoy filling-up on burgers with their family without the flare-ups that come with slaving over a hot and uncooperative grill. Let us do the cooking while you spend quality time with your family!”

At Wayback Burgers, the fun, and deals, never end. That’s the case throughout the month of May as we continue Wayback Dashback! In recognition of National Hamburger Month, guests who visit Wayback Burgers restaurants through May 31 are encouraged to hang on to their receipts. The bottom of every receipt will display this message: “It’s National Hamburger Month! Show this receipt tomorrow to get 50% off any burger or sandwich purchase.”

“We believe there’s never too much of a good thing, particularly when it comes to the delicious food at Wayback Burgers,” says Patrick Conlin, Wayback Burgers’ Senior Vice President. “We enjoy serving up cooked-to-order burgers anytime. This ‘Wayback Dashback’ promotion provides amble opportunity for guests to enjoy a Double Bacon Burger one day, followed by a 50% off Cheesesteak the next. Guests have the opportunity to stash their savings, but we’ve seen many use the extra cash on an extra order of fresh fries or one of our hand-dipped milkshakes.”

For more information on Wayback Burgers and all promotions/limited time offers, please visit their website (https://waybackburgers.com/) and social media profiles – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

For more information on the Wayback Burgers franchise opportunity, please visit https://franchise.waybackburgers.com/.

Anaheim, CA – Pizza lovers rejoice, The Pizza Press, a leading fast-casual, build-your-own pizza restaurant, is rolling out new limited time offers just in time for National Pizza Party Day on May 18. The new LTOs will include a mouthwatering All-Beef Italian Meatball pizza topping and crisp Ace Berry Cider, which will be available May 16 through June 30.

The expertly prepared All-Beef Italian Meatball gives customers a fun new twist on their regular pizza toppings. It pairs especially well with The Pizza Press’ signature red sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, and garnished with fresh basil, Italian seasoning and a sprinkling of aromatic parmesan cheese. With endless options, customers are encouraged to craft their own story and customize the pizza to their liking with local and fresh ingredients.

“The Pizza Press always strives to be a newsworthy place for family and friends to gather, and we’re hoping National Pizza Party Day serves as a reminder for people to get together and enjoy company over deliciously crafted pizza and top quality drinks,” says Dara Maleki, Founder and CEO of The Pizza Press. “Our LTOs will be a flavorful addition to our menu to kick off summer. The All-Beef Italian Meatball is a great compliment to any pizza and the Ace Berry Cider is a light and elegant cider perfect for the warm, summer weather. The cider offers a nice twist to our extensive craft beer selection we have on draft.”

The Ace Berry Cider will be The Pizza Press’ special featured beer for May and June. Ace Berry is a sweeter cider with apple juices fermented for dryness and has subtle raspberry and blackberry notes. The cider pairs well with spicy food or makes for the perfect summer liquid dessert by itself.

The Pizza Press is a unique concept dedicated to elevating the build-your-own pizza model to an experiential level, by creating an immersive 1920s Americana newspaper theme in which great food, craft beer, ambiance, and service are combined. Inspired by the mechanized dough press, The Pizza Press harkens back to an industrialized era when newspapers were the foundation of the community.

Editors help guests create their own custom pizzas or select one of the signature pizzas named after major newspapers such as The Times, The Tribune, The Chronicle, and others. The pizzas are published in just under four minutes and can be paired delectably with more than a dozen different craft beers on tap, which change regularly and regionally. Build your own and deliciously prepared salads, gluten-free dough, and vegan cheese and topping options are also available.

For more information on The Pizza Press, please visit https://www.thepizzapress.com/