Free Agent with Meg Schmitz - Ep 1.34 From Basement to Boardroom: How One Couple Built the Handyman Service That Became a 200-Territory Franchise Empire

Ep 1.34 From Basement to Boardroom: How One Couple Built the Handyman Service That Became a 200-Territory Franchise Empire

06/10/21 • 54 min

Have you ever had a business idea you didn't act on? We all have! But this week's guest took action, and I’m excited to share her story with you. Over the course of 23 years, Colette Bell and her husband took a handyman business that started in their basement and built it into an attractive franchise system other entrepreneurs wanted to invest in. When their success caught the attention of Ace Hardware Corporation, an unstoppable partnership and a bigger opportunity was born. In this week's episode, Colette shares the whole story, from the early wins, to the discoveries and pivots that took them from basement to boardroom. You’ll learn; How your choice of franchisee impacts the results of the entire organization and how you can set everyone up for success. How to keep your carefully-cultivated culture and intellectual capital intact as you expand What makes a larger company the perfect vehicle for impact, opportunity and market domination. The key shift that helped the business survive both the recession and the pandemic I love the passion Colette has for her role as a franchisor, and her perspectives on this will be valuable to anyone interested in the franchise world. You’ll enjoy this rare and delightful insight into the life of a franchisor, and get inspired to start seeing more entrepreneurship opportunities around you! Guest Bio Colette Bell is the VP of Franchise Development at Ace Handyman Services, and her husband Andy is the CEO. The first Ace Handyman Services office was in the basement of Andy and Colette’s Denver home, where they conducted business from a sheet of plywood placed atop an unused pool table. In the two decades since they started, The Ace Handyman Services Franchise Organization has expanded from coast to coast in 200 territories while continuing to embrace the same values and concepts. For more information, visit https://www.acehandymanservices.com/.

Previous Episode

Ep 1.33 Ken Theiler on Franchising: How to Choose the Right Entrepreneurship Vehicle & Explore an Unfamiliar Industry

If you've thought about moving from corporate into business ownership, this week's podcast episode is for you. After 15 years as a leader at Johnson & Johnson and DJO Global, Ken Theiler decided to scratch his entrepreneurial itch, making an unexpected but strategic choice. And I’d say it paid off in a huge way! Because of Ken’s laser focus on customer satisfaction, his loyal customer base followed him even after he separated from the franchisor; an incredible feat for someone with no background in that industry. Choosing the right business vehicle for you is such an important decision. For me, franchising is the perfect foundation to explore entrepreneurship with confidence, because you’re not alone. In today’s episode, Ken shares what made him gravitate to an entirely new industry, and the immutable laws of ownership that can allow you to thrive in any business. Ken also shared insightful golden nuggets on; Why franchising allows you to explore new pathways in your ambition and fully tap into the strengths that were suppressed in corporate. How his company is retaining a customer base that feeds the engine and building support mechanisms after stepping away from the franchisor. How to evaluate a business opportunity and run a company that preserves the integrity of your family. Whether you’re a corporate refugee preparing for your next move, or a business owner who wants to improve your results, I think you’ll really enjoy the wisdom Ken shares in this episode! Guest Bio Ken is the owner of Hometown Heating and Air. He is a highly accomplished global commercial leader with a stellar track record in marketing, strategic planning, and finance. With over 15 years of marketing experience, the majority with Johnson & Johnson, Ken has developed a deep understanding of market needs and customer behavior with outstanding success in launching successful products. Hometown Heating & Air provides a comprehensive list of services for customers to meet their HVAC needs. They have a solid understanding of what it takes to install, maintain, service, and repair HVAC systems, and they are committed to providing high-quality in-home comfort for their customers. For more information, visit https://yourhometownheating.com/ or contact Ken directly [email protected].

Next Episode

Ep 1.35 How to Strengthen Your Pivoting Muscle & Keep Your Business Viable in the Face of Disruption

What if a forced pivot is the best thing that could ever happen to you? That was the experience my guest, Mark Zucker, had. When the digital revolution threatened to eliminate his photography business after 15 years, something unexpected happened. Here's what you’ll learn from this week's conversation: The important decision that lengthened the runway of his wedding album business and has kept it profitable for the last 10 years. The power of applying a startup mentality to every business How working-from-home provides the perfect opportunity to explore entrepreneurship risk-free The financial, professional and mental health benefits of dabbling in a side hustle and potential opportunities you can go after. How he created off-the-chart growth in his outsourcing business by helping other entrepreneurs pivot and keep their business viable in the pandemic. Guest Bio Mark is the co-founder of MCVO Talent Outsource, and founder and CEO of Zookbinders. He is an involved leader who thrives on helping professional photographers run a more profitable business. Known for providing the wedding industry's finest quality photo albums, Zookbinders continues to innovate to keep pace with the changing needs of photographers. In 2017, Zucker co-founded an outsourcing company that helps US companies reduce costs by providing office talent from the Philippines. MCVO Talent Outsource has a unique business model that can help companies save 20K-30K per employee! Zucker is a mentor to young entrepreneurs and a frequent speaker on topics such as: innovation, finding your niche and helping small businesses improve profits. For more information on Mark’s outsourcing service visit https://www.mcvotalent.com/ and to learn more about the wedding album business visit https://www.zookbinders.com/.