Put the franchise tag on your business

BY JOHN MESENBRINK,

chief editor

The name, logo and message of One Hour are designed to capture the consumer’s psyche.

In the National Football League, a team can opt to put the franchise tag on one player, designating that player of high value to the team. A franchise tag allows a team the privilege of retaining valuable free-agent players. Similarly, putting the franchise tag on your contracting business adds value to your success. Perhaps it’s time to put the franchise tag on your business to show how serious you are about contending and making a profit.

Founded in 1998 with headquarters in Sarasota, Fla., Clockwork Home Services, Inc. establishes and builds nationally branded franchises for the home services contractor market. Today, Clockwork boasts nearly 327 franchises with 430 territories. Led by a senior management team comprised of entrepreneurs with collective expertise in marketing, branding and franchising for home services, Clockwork aims to build national brands for nearly all services that are performed in or around the home.

Clockwork provides contractors with extensive training to enhance both customer services practices and technical acumen while also providing tools for better business management. Clockwork Home Services Inc. is dedicated to improving the operations, efficiency, customer service and profitability of contractors in the home services industry in North America through affinity group membership and nationally branded franchises.

 

In addition to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Franchising, its other companies include Plumbers’ Success International, BuyMax, Electricians’ Success International, AirTime 500, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating Franchising, Success Academy, AirTime Canada ulc, Mister Sparky Electric and company-owned One Hour operations in Las Vegas, Florida, California and throughout Canada.

Why franchise?

Lose the headache of working long, strenuous 80-hour work weeks. Ditch the paranoia of not having your phone ring. And have comfort in knowing good people will surround you. Clockwork builds branded companies in the home services market with a focus on superior customer service and technical knowledge. Clockwork also offers clients brand recognition, value proposition and a clean and harmless exit strategy.

Tab Hunter, now president of franchise operations for Clockwork Home Services, was a plumbing contractor in the early to mid-’90s who was looking for more out of his business. At the time, Hunter, similar to most contractors, was very good at what he did technically, but could have used a business-savvy boost.

“Tab Hunter had to be the smartest guy in the office. I wasn’t so sure about that,” said Hunter.

Hunter looked to franchising because it offered operational functions while continuing to grow his business. “Don’t feel handcuffed in daily operations to work on profits to toe the bottom line,” added Hunter.

Hunter joined Clockwork when Clockwork acquired his Benjamin Franklin and One Hour franchises in 2006. According to one of the franchising philosophies, every job is clearly defined where guaranteeing calls, answering calls and holding calls accountable are all in a day’s work. Consumers have changed over the generations, and contractors need a business that’s adept to change. Clockwork arms prospective clients with marketing skills, new technology wherewithal and customer service skills.

Check out a franchise near you

Clockwork features model centers across the United States where contractors, who are contemplating a franchising future, can go, free of charge, to obtain first-hand knowledge and take a hands-on tour. “This is a free resource we offer to prospective franchisees. There is no sales pitch because we believe that high-pressure sales will not work,” said Hunter.

But joining a franchise takes serious consideration from the contractor, and conversely from Clockwork.

Once contractors decide to make the switch to franchise, they are allowed to have their previous name attached to the new franchise for a period of time. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is a full conversion franchise. When franchisees come on board, they must identify themselves as Benjamin Franklin Plumbing from trucks to uniforms to how they answer the phone. The full conversion is essential and franchisees are required to fully convert their identity within six months.

Full training and consulting help franchising newbies. Clockwork offers its Sarasota, Fla., training center for live operational training. Contractors learn the ropes by attending core classes in franchising, with homework, receiving pertinent training and and garnering unlimited support.

Every franchise is assigned a coach who helps with the initial gameplan. This franchise business consultant’s (FBC) number-one priority is the success of the new franchise. The FBC reviews numbers daily and makes frequent on-site visits.

In addition to teaching contractors how to generate greater revenue in the most efficient way, Clockwork offers more freedom and enjoyment as well as the same kind of benefits and retirement programs available at large corporations. Clockwork contractors have access to state-of-the-art, private label equipment at affordable prices. Through Clockwork systems and business process software applications, contractors can sidestep business surprises that can plague an individual small business owner. And Clockwork’s robust marketing and communications efforts ensure strong brand affinity and high visibility wherever a franchise is located.

Franchises are subject to Clockwork’s high-level standards and specifications. A financial review, a security background check, a Better Business Bureau overview and a check with the Contractors State License Board is conducted.

Highlighting achievers

Every year, Clockwork recognizes its franchisees for hard work, professionalism and dedication to the community. For instance, Clockwork bestowed honors upon several of its franchisees as part of the company’s 2006 Franchisee Awards program during Clockwork’s annual Franchise Congress. The awards event capped off a highly successful year by honoring top performers in its One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating (One Hour) and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing (Benjamin Franklin) franchises. 

The top honor of Franchisee of the Year goes to franchisees that best demonstrate their ability to run their businesses at a high level and show significant growth in annual sales. 

The 2006 “Franchise of the Year” winners were: 

• Gabe and Michelle Wade, owner, Triple Service One Hour, Mendota, Ill.
• John Fontano, general manager of Clockwork-owned One Hour A/C & Heating, Winter Haven, Fla.
• Hallam Cottingham, owner, Benjamin Franklin, Greenville, S.C.
  
  

Franchisees receiving awards in the category of “Fastest Growing Franchise” included:

• James and Lori Larson, owners of First Response One Hour in Orem, Utah (125.3% year over year growth)
• John Fontano, general manager of Clockwork-owned One Hour A/C & Heating in Winter Haven, Fla. (87% growth)
• Hallam Cottingham, owner of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Greenville, S.C. (91.3% growth)

Clockwork also recognizes franchisees for their excellence in employee training, recruitment and retention with an “Employer of Choice” award. Employee satisfaction and retention are among Clockwork’s tenets for best business practices, and the company recognizes those franchisees that provide additional or exceptional incentives to their employees. Examples of such benefits include paid training, tool reimbursement programs, company vehicle availability and supplemented childcare programs. 

2006 Employer of Choice awards went to:

• Mike Fowler and Dan King, Dan King’s One Hour, Charlotte, N.C.
• Bruce Cook & Vaughn Goettler, 21 Degrees One Hour, Kingston, Ontario
• Dave & Rosann Kempker, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Jefferson