AdvantaClean Announces Aggressive U.S. Growth Plans for Untapped Environmental Services Franchise
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (PRWEB) October 22, 2015 -- Jeff Dudan has always been an entrepreneur at heart. As a college student, his enthusiasm and dedication led him to become the owner of two successful businesses: a car detailing shop and a painting company that would grow to the largest of its kind in Boone, N.C. However, these experiences were only a precursor to his most successful venture – AdvantaClean, the country’s leading provider of Light Environmental Services™, which is on pace to add 20 new locations this year and double in size in the next five years.
When Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992, Dudan and his business partner responded to an opportunity to assist in rehabilitating South Florida following the devastation left in the storm’s wake. For nearly two years, they worked to rebuild and restore properties throughout the region. The experience exposed them to different aspects of the restoration industry, including the intricacies of property insurance claims. Building off their newfound knowledge, the company that would one day become AdvantaClean was founded in 1994 in Winter Park, Fla. as a contracting business specializing in emergency loss mitigation services and structural repairs to homes and buildings. Dudan launched the Winter Park operation as the Director of Sales and Marketing, and then moved to Charlotte in 1995 to spearhead the company’s second location.
However, Dudan saw something more in AdvantaClean’s future. Rather than chasing insurance companies like the brand’s competitors, he repositioned AdvantaClean to pursue the indoor air quality movement, which gained significant momentum in the early 2000s. He intentionally crafted the offering mix by eliminating services that did not meet certain margin, production, or customer acquisition requirements, creating the blend of Light Environmental Services™ that AdvantaClean champions today.
In 2004, Dudan bought out his last partner, paving the way for him to pursue franchising full time as a means to help other business owners achieve their dreams through AdvantaClean.
“The AdvantaClean business model is proven, scalable, recession-resistant, and very lean, providing our franchised business owners with the tools and support to operate with a low-overhead. Our high-margin Light Environmental Services™ business model allows us to partner with business savvy franchise owners to rapidly expand the brand throughout the United States. Today we have more than 100 ownership groups operating over 200 territories in 33 states,” said Dudan, founder and CEO of AdvantaClean. “AdvantaClean provides a lucrative opportunity to business owners who want to help others resolve issues in their homes and businesses while making a difference in their community.”
The company found its niche, offering Light Environmental Services™ that make homes and businesses clean, safe, healthy and energy-efficient by cleaning mold, air ducts, dryer vents and HVAC coils. These offerings, coupled with emergency water removal and structural drying, provides both schedulable and profitable services on a daily basis for a business owner, with a high-margin emergency offering to drive extra profits.
“We are not a typical restoration franchise; rather an alternative that has found success by avoiding many of the complications and headaches that come with a traditional restoration business model,” Dudan added. “What we learned about the restoration business is that it’s hard on owners, employees, cash flow and margins. Our model is a lower investment, more manageable business model, with higher margins and a better quality of life. We smartly centralized many aspects of the business to allow the franchisee to focus on local activities, and on making money.”
AdvantaClean isn’t just a franchise that offers a needs-based, recession-resistant and profitable business – it’s a franchise that puts its franchisees at the forefront of everything they do. The brand streamlined its offerings and implemented a unique call center that answers all calls for franchise owners and gives immediate resolutions for the customer.
“Our call center is really a solution center. We start solving the customers issue right away. It is a big differentiator for AdvantaClean,” said Dudan. “It is an expensive investment on our part, but is worth it to allow our franchisees to really focus on helping our customers, rather than being tied up with administrative tasks and managing call center personnel in their own offices.”
As the brand continues to grow, it also continues to be first and foremost about the franchisees and making them as successful as possible, which is something that is very close to Dudan’s heart. In fact, he wrote a book called “Hey, Coach!” which offers perspective on important questions for parents and coaches of youth athletes – a skill that translates both on the field and in his business life, and one that he has put into place when it comes to leading his franchisees.
“We are a ‘People First’ culture, and one of respect and resolution. Our franchise model is intentionally high engagement, and through the call center, we talk three, four, five times a day to our franchisees. Our ability to stay engaged directly correlates to our success in working together to improve their business, whether it’s help with marketing or training or just about anything else,” said Kevin Drudge, vice president of franchise development. “People don’t join AdvantaClean just for the things we do. People join for the people, culture, systems, tools and our full commitment to stay engaged, keeping them happy, growing and profitable.”
The brand is looking to add 20 new locations in 2015 and an additional 25 locations in 2016, with plans for development in markets all over the country, including Arizona, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Alabama.
“The ideal candidate for AdvantaClean has solid business acumen, is committed to success and is ready and eager to take our proven model and run with it,” said Drudge. “This isn’t just a contracting job. It’s a highly engaged, proactive business, and success can’t be achieved from behind a desk. These people want to be the face of AdvantaClean in their community, and do well by making a difference.”
AdvantaClean offers single-unit territories starting at $126,500 when a franchisee finances a vehicle and equipment package, which includes working capital. It requires a minimum of $75,000 in liquid capital, and a minimum of $200,000 in net worth. Multi-unit opportunities are also available to qualified candidates who have a proven track record of building and leading businesses.
“Even at 100 units, AdvantaClean still has such a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that I am so proud of,” added Dudan. “I know that this opportunity can and will benefit so many people who are looking for the next step to utilize their business or contracting experiences. We won’t settle until we’re a billion dollar brand spreading our goodwill nationwide.”
For information about franchise opportunities, visit http://www.advantacleanfranchise.com.
About AdvantaClean Systems, Inc.
Founded in 1994 as a contracting business handling cleanup and repairs in South Florida, AdvantaClean, now headquartered in Huntersville, N.C., is the leading national franchised provider of Light Environmental Services ™ in the country. The company currently ranks 85th on Entrepreneur Magazine’s fastest-growing-franchises list, and is among Franchise Business Review’s Top 50 in franchisee-satisfaction ratings. In 2013-14, USA Today and the International Franchise Association recognized AdvantaClean as a Top Franchise for Military Veterans. Today, more than 200 AdvantaClean franchised territories operate in 33 states. For more information, visit http://www.advantaclean.com
Lauren Boukas, No Limit Agency, http://www.nolimitagency.com, +1 (312) 526-3996, [email protected]
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