Category: News

Pillar To Post prides itself on being a family-friendly franchise. Many of our franchisees are husband-wife teams, parent-child teams, or siblings. They really enjoy working through the business ownership process together and experiencing the entrepreneurial thrill. The family dynamic is also well suited to tackling common challenges like hiring, budgeting, and brainstorming creative marketing ideas. Meet husband and wife duo Laura and Tim James, who were recently named Pillar To Post’s “Rookie of the Year” franchisees. They posted the best start-up year in Pillar To Post franchise history, and were also awarded the Affiliate of the Year by the local realtors’ association. We look forward to welcoming more family duos like Laura and Tim into our ranks in the years to come. Learn more here.

The numbers speak for themselves when it comes to franchising. The industry is expected to grow by $36 billion to $710 billion this year, according to the International Franchise Association. The IFA also reported that personal services franchises were ranked No.1 among all franchise types for growth in 2017 and that Colorado was named among the top five states for franchise employment growth. Those numbers bode well for 46-year-old Mathew Martini of Aurora, who became a Pillar To Post Home Inspectors^® franchise owner last month.

Read the full story here.

Tim James has always been comfortable working with his hands, which makes his initial career choice as a corporate tax professional puzzling to everyone, including Tim himself. After 15 years in corporate tax, Tim realized something: “I was not born to sit in a chair and do what I was doing as a career and I desperately needed a change.” That’s when he started thinking about going out on his own as a business owner.

Useful Skills

It comes as a surprise to many franchise owners that a corporate background teaches a variety of useful skills to business owners and home inspectors. Tim explains, “This is a business at the core, not a job that you purchase, so my background was a huge help in understanding how to run it that way.”

Some of the skills that Tim uses in his franchise include:

• Explaining complex concepts in an easy-to-understand way
• Working well with team members at every level
• Cultivating a community with other franchise owners and employees

Tim’s philosophy on working as part of any company—franchise or otherwise—is simple: “You are only as good as the people that surround you.”

Overcoming Challenges

When Tim first started out, he was concerned that his corporate background would hold him back. Even though he had some experience and understanding of building and construction, Tim worried that realtors and clients wouldn’t take him seriously because of his past career in corporate tax. This worry proved unfounded, as most realtors “assume and expect that you are qualified.”

Even better, Tim and his team were able to quickly show their realtor connections that Pillar To Post franchisees are well-trained with both technical aptitude and service. He explains, “What [realtors] really care about is what you have to offer and how consistently you can deliver and exceptional level of service.”

The Pillar To Post Difference

Tim and his franchise were able to meet their 5 year revenue and inspection volume goals in just 2 years, and they are continuing to expand. The support that he has received from his startup and regional directors has proven useful, as they ensure “you have the level of support you need without getting in the way.”

The Pillar To Post support team has helped Tim and his franchise get where they are now. From the beginning, the startup director helped Tim stay on track to meet his goals and follow his plans. Then as his business came out of the startup phase and into the growth phase, the regional director was there to help keep his eyes on the broader horizon.

A Bright Outlook

Like many people who feel stuck in a job they have no passion for, Tim used to “lay in bed thinking of a halfway decent excuse to stay home [from work],” but not anymore. Now that he owns his business, Tim greets each day with optimism and enthusiasm for the challenges ahead.

He and his wife, Laura, work hand in hand to make their business grow. Together, they have built a franchise that is growing rapidly. They are optimistic that within a short time they will be able to spend more time working on their business, rather than working in their business, which will give them the freedom to spend time watching their three young daughters grow.

Advice for New Franchisees

Tim advises prospective franchise owners to enter into the opportunity with a realistic expectation of how much work is required. A “drive to succeed” is essential, as well as passion for the work and “trust in the product or service that you provide.” These things together will help you keep your eyes on the prize.

Tim also reminds that your franchise will have its ups and downs, but he offers this piece of encouragement: “Understand that the effort you put forth will be in direct correlation with the results you achieve…that is exactly what we are experiencing with Pillar To Post.”

The bottom line for Tim? “Your own success depends upon your own effort.” In just 2 years as a Pillar To Post franchisee, Tim has been able to see his business grow into the fastest growing and most respected home inspection team in his area. We can’t wait to see where he goes next.

To start your own journey with Pillar To Post, get in touch with us!

Interested in finding a franchise that fits your budget? Pillar To Post was recently named a top Low Cost Franchise. Check out the top 5 Low Cost franchises below, or here to see the full list.

Frank Herbik checks all the right boxes when it comes to running a successful home inspection business. Like many of us, he’s also a graduate of the school of hard knocks, which means he tries a little harder and brings a sense of determination with him each and every day.

Herbik formerly worked as a firefighter/paramedic from 1989 to 2003 then owned an electrical contracting business from 1997 to 2014. Afterward, he worked as a consultant. “I was a victim of the 2008 recession,” Herbik said. “I survived the recession but was unable to survive long enough to capitalize on the construction rebound in the Chicago area.”

Read his full story here.

Scott Robertson knew he wanted to own his own business after leaving the military. That’s where Pillar To Post Home Inspectors came in. When Robertson left the military after a 25-year career, he went back to school and took a lot of education with home inspection and specialty courses.

“I then bought the franchise Pillar To Post so I could offer a professional product to clients,” he said.

Read Scott’s interview with theLaker here.

John Schroeder, a retired 52-year-old Emmy Award winning broadcast professional switched careers and started his new life as a Pillar To Post Home Inspector. For more than 24 years, Schroeder produced thousands of on-air and radio promos and launched the NFL on a major sports and programming network. When the network downsized and eliminated jobs, Schroeder was left without full time work. He researched many career and business ownership opportunities and chose Pillar To Post, a well-established brand and highly-rated franchise company where he could be his own boss.

Read more about John’s story here.

Jamie Brough served in the United States Air Force from 1995 to 1999 and has since been involved with the American Legion and volunteering his time to other veterans’ organizations. So when he decided to go into business for himself, it’s no surprise he chose to become a Pillar To Post Home Inspectors franchise owner, and will be launching his business in mid-August. Pillar To Post has been named the No.1 veteran-friendly franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine and G.I. Jobs and has also been recognized with five-star VetFran status from the International Franchise Association, one of only 100 franchisors of the 600 who participate in the program to be awarded five stars.

Read his full story here.

Lt. Col. Ginni Guiton, USA (Ret.) recently wrote in Franchise World Magazine ‘Why Veterans Should Consider Owning a Franchise’.

Here are the General Guidelines outlined in the article:

1. Determine the industry in which you would like to participate.
2. Each new business will take considerable time to build.
3. Are you hoping to own and operate more than one franchise unit over time, or just focus on one?
4. Determine the projected net revenue – your revenue minus your costs – across the next several years to decide wether owning this franchise will be sustainable for your family.
5. Consider the cost of purchasing a franchise, which can vary depending on the company.
6. As a franchise owner, you will spend tremendous time and energy building something of significance.

Read the full article here.

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is proud to be a 5 STAR VetFran Member and CFA Military Veteran Program Members. Learn more about why we have been ranked as one of the best franchises for Veterans here.

Greg Newman opened a Pillar To Post Home Inspectors franchise in October 2012. A U.S. Navy veteran with 21 years of experience operating and maintaining ships’ engineering systems, Newman serves Lehigh Valley and surrounding communities with his mobile business by providing detailed home inspection services as part of North America’s largest home inspection company.

Upon his retirement from the Navy, Newman spent 15 years managing corporate facilities for Fortune 500 companies. Long harboring entrepreneurial ambitions, Newman explored many opportunities before deciding that inspecting homes was the most logical fit for him. After interviewing multiple inspection franchises and considering going independent, Newman came upon Pillar To Post and liked what he saw.

“For a time I thought about running a home inspection business of my own,” said Newman. “But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to own a franchise instead. With Pillar To Post, I recognized the value of franchising for someone like me—I could still be my own boss, and get the right framework to quickly get my business off the ground.”

With Pillar To Post, Newman has since gained a foothold in the community, having performed over 1,500 inspections since opening. Newman employs an additional inspector and his eldest son has joined the team. Newman also works alongside his wife, a registered nurse for 25 years, who handles the administrative side of the business.

“The franchise system worked for me; there was no need for me to reinvent the wheel,” said Newman. “I worked the program, and in my first year was selected as Rookie of the Year for Pillar To Post. I’ve learned the importance of not being afraid to take the plunge when it comes to a business opportunity that’s a good fit. I wish I had done so sooner.”

As he grows his business, Newman places a special emphasis on giving back to his community in more ways than through the services he provides.

“Because of my military background, I want to lend a hand to other vets,” said Newman. “I offer special discounts to all active duty military and free wood destroying insect inspections to all veterans. I’m a big believer in giving back to the community; we are supportive of the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtor Association and back several of their events throughout the year.  I have been a sponsor at their Signature Events, Iron Pigs baseball game nights and 5K run, which raised funds for the Homes for Heroes program. I’ve also supported the philanthropic programs from several realty organizations, where we’ve provided Thanksgiving turkeys, Christmas gifts and Easter baskets for underprivileged families for the past several years. I am also the sponsor of a community softball team and the local high school cross country team.”

For Newman, having a hand in all facets of his business has allowed him to gain a special appreciation for the value of the services he provides for his clients.

“As a business owner, I’m entrenched in all aspects of running the business,” said Newman. “I spend most of my day actively inspecting homes. I love meeting clients and helping them to get to know their new homes. This is the biggest investment of their lives, and I really want them to feel good about their purchase. When I started the business, I was so concerned with whether or not I’d be able to find any clients, that I never considered the alternative. We gave ourselves two years to get the business off the ground, but it took off much more quickly than I anticipated. Now, the sky is the limit.”